‘NCIS’ Reaches 500 Episodes: Showrunner Discusses Resilience Amid Cast Changes
NCIS marks a major milestone with its 500th episode airing March 24. The long-running procedural enters its 23rd season with a new landmark.
Episode 500 and what viewers can expect
The milestone episode is titled “All Good Things.” It centers on the son of a Marine reunited with the team. Showrunner Steven D. Binder promised twists, emotional beats, and surprises. He kept plot details under wraps to avoid spoilers.
No-spoiler promise
Binder told Filmogaz.com this is a no-spoiler conversation. He emphasized the episode will reinforce why audiences care about the characters.
Show leadership and longevity
Steven D. Binder joined NCIS in season three. He became co-showrunner in 2018 and sole showrunner in 2021. Binder has overseen much of the recent cast evolution.
He credits the series’ durability to its ensemble structure. He also warned that the broadcast business model remains crucial to the show’s future.
Cast turnover and successful transitions
The series has weathered many cast changes. Only one original cast member remains, Sean Murray. Two other long-tenured actors are Brian Dietzen and Rocky Carroll.
Mark Harmon departed in 2021. Gary Cole then stepped into the leadership role. Binder described Cole’s entrance as a deliberate, gradual transition modeled on a classic film dynamic.
From nemesis to leader
Cole’s character arrived as an adversary. Over several episodes, the show allowed audiences to reassess him. That strategy helped viewers accept the new team leader.
Past exits and established patterns
Other notable departures include Cote de Pablo in 2013, Michael Weatherly in 2016, and Pauley Perrette in 2018. The series navigated each loss and continued.
Binder pointed to the ensemble and the team dynamic as central to the show’s resilience amid cast changes.
Behind the scenes and production
NCIS shoots around Santa Clarita in Los Angeles. The series has a stable crew with many long-term veterans. Cast and crew praised the production atmosphere and catering.
At CBSFEST on May 7, 2025, several cast members attended the 2025-2026 schedule event. Gary Cole, Diona Reasonover, Wilmer Valderrama, Katrina Law, Sean Murray, Brian Dietzen, Rocky Carroll, and Binder were present.
How the writers handle realism and tone
The show sometimes consults real NCIS for procedure. Early on, the writers asked about protocols after an agent-involved shooting. Real NCIS had little precedent for that scenario.
Binder acknowledged the series’ high on-screen mortality rate. He also noted the fiction tends to present a very high case-closure success rate.
Ratings, records, and future prospects
Hitting 500 episodes places NCIS among television rarities. Shows with similar episode counts include Gunsmoke and Lassie. Other long-running series include The Simpsons and Law & Order franchises.
NCIS remains a top 10 program, even if it no longer ranks number one weekly. Binder said the show has declined less than the average broadcast drop.
He voiced optimism that the series could continue while the broadcast model survives. He also admitted eventual retirement is possible.
Legacy and spin-offs
The NCIS concept has supported several successful spinoffs. That reinforces the franchise’s adaptable premise. New characters and teams have kept storytelling fresh.
- 500th episode title: “All Good Things”.
- Episode air date: March 24.
- Current season: 23.
- Showrunner: Steven D. Binder (co-showrunner 2018, sole in 2021).
- Notable departures: Cote de Pablo (2013), Michael Weatherly (2016), Pauley Perrette (2018), Mark Harmon (2021).
- Longstanding cast: Sean Murray, Brian Dietzen, Rocky Carroll.
- Production base: Santa Clarita / Los Angeles.
- CBSFEST attendance: May 7, 2025, at Paramount Studios lot.
NCIS’s run demonstrates how a strong ensemble and careful casting can sustain a franchise. The series reaches 500 episodes while still adapting to change.
