NCIS’ parent show is finally getting all of its episodes available for streaming. More than two decades since it premiered in 2003, the famed police procedural created by Donald Bellisario and Don McGill remains a primetime staple for many. It continues to be among the most-watched shows on TV, with NCIS season 21 becoming the second highest-rated project on TV last year, only bested by Justin Hartley’s small-screen comeback, Tracker. Despite its popularity, however, one of the most overlooked aspects of NCIS is the fact that it isn’t an original show but a spinoff.
Now, all 227 episodes of NCIS’ parent project, JAG, are officially coming to Prime Video, according to a new report by TV Line. While Paramount+ has been housing the Navy procedural for quite a while, the streamer has only a handful of episodes available on its platform — not including the two-part backdoor pilot for NCIS, “Ice Queen” and “Meltdown.” All 10 seasons of JAG will be on Prime Video starting July 1.
How JAG’s Streaming Arrival Can Impact NCIS’ Future
JAG’s Streaming Arrival Can Result In A Popularity Resurgence
Originally airing on NBC, JAG eventually moved to CBS, where it lived until it ended in 2005 — just two years after the flagship NCIS debuted in 2003. Like NCIS, it was also created by Bellisario, hence the backdoor pilot. Despite its end, CBS has found a way to incorporate their connection with cameos from the show’s “uniformed lawyers.” Lieutenant Commander Faith Coleman has had multiple appearances during the earliest years of NCIS, while Navy Captain Harmon Rabb Jr., while Lieutenant Colonel Sarah “Mac” MacKenzie returned for a three-episode arc on NCIS: L.A.
With NCIS season 22 now confirmed, perhaps CBS can start reincorporating JAG personnel into its current leading procedural, especially if the procedural gets a popularity resurgence by being on Prime Video. It has been a while since the “uniformed lawyers” worked with the Major Case Response Team (MCRT). Admittedly, they haven’t always been helpful with NCIS’ investigation, although they have the same goal. With Mark Harmon’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs now gone, as well as the majority of his squad, it would be curious to see how Alden Parker handles them if they find themselves back on Director Vance’s turf.
Aside from being involved in the main NCIS series, perhaps some JAG characters can appear in any of the upcoming spinoffs. Admittedly, it may be a stretch to see them involved in Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David’s European story in NCIS: Tony & Ziva. However, their presence in NCIS: Origins — Gibbs’ prequel story, could create some intriguing plots.