Why Was NCIS Hawai’i Canceled? The *Real* Reason, Revealed
We have sad news for NCIS fans. The beloved spinoff NCIS: Hawai’i will be ending in May 2024 after three seasons. But why was NCIS Hawai’i canceled? Here’s everything to know about the shocking news.
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NCIS: Hawai’i is a CBS crime drama and the fourth spinoff in the NCIS franchise. The Hawaiian island-based series follows Jane Tennant (Vanessa Lachey) — the first female NCIS lead —and her team of special agents from Hawaii’s Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Her team is responsible for investigating incidents relating to military and national security. The cast also features Alex Tarrant, Yasmine Al-Bustami, Tori Anderson, Noah Mills, Jason Antoon, and Kian Talan.
On April 26, Variety reported that NCIS: Hawai’i was ending after Season 3. The season finale, slated to air on May 6, 2024, will now be the series finale. Hawai’i is the third NCIS series to get the axe in recent years. NCIS: New Orleans and NCIS: Los Angeles ended in the last few years after seven and 14 seasons, respectively.
In this latest season, NCIS: Los Angeles star LL Cool J even reprised his role as Sam Hanna in Hawai’i after his show ended last year. So, what happened and why was NCIS: Hawai’i canceled after three seasons? Here’s what to know.
Why was NCIS: Hawai’i canceled by CBS?
Why was NCIS: Hawai’i canceled by CBS? CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach told Variety after the news that NCIS: Hawai’i due to the network’s stronger evaluation of its content and finances after the Writer’s Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes. “It is incumbent on us to always keep the schedule fresh, keep momentum going. We had to make some really tough choices this year,” Reisenbach said. “Everything came back [from the Hollywood strikes] really strong, but ultimately we have to look at the cohesiveness of the schedule flow. We have to evaluate the financials and the performance overall, and we make tough decisions.”
Reisenbach also confirmed that there is no chance of an “un-cancellation,” as S.W.A.T. previously received twice, and TVLine also confirmed that NCIS: Hawai’i isn’t being shopped at other networks.
According to Deadline, the show also became “a casualty of a strong schedule, a cost-management drive, and overall uncertainty at the parent company Paramount Global, which is in the process of being sold.” In summary, making NCIS: Hawai’i was going to be expensive, and it was likely not worth the network’s time at this moment given CBS’ investments in new NCIS shows.
Our sister site notes that, while last year, a renewal for Hawai’i would’ve been a no-brainer, CBS has three other NCIS series slated for next season, including the second season of NCIS: Sydney, the Young Gibbs prequel NCIS: Origins and the new Tony & Ziva NCIS spinoff series on Paramount+. In addition to expanding the NCIS franchise, CBS also has committed to new scripted series for next season following the Hollywood strikes, including Matlock, Watson, NCIS: Origins, Poppa’s House, and a Young Sheldon spinoff.
Hawaii Five-0, which also filmed in Hawaii and aired on CBS, was also canceled by the network in 2020 after 10 seasons. Many suspect that the series was also canceled due to the high cost of filming in Hawaii, which may have had an effect to NCIS: Hawai’i‘s run as well.
Vanessa Lachey responds to NCIS: Hawai’i‘s cancellation
After the news of NCIS: Hawai’i‘s cancellation, many cast members shared their reactions to the news on social media, including lead star Vanessa Lachey, who posted her initial thoughts via her Instagram story. “Gutted, confused, blindsided,” the actress wrote. “Grateful, confident, beloved fans.”
“Processing this news and still being present with my family,” Lachey added. “I love you all! Maholo Nui Loa.” Days after the news, Lachey shared a longer Instagram post looking back on her time on NCIS: Hawai’i.
“Forever your Sweet Jane… This was the same spot where I filmed episode 1,” she captioned a video of her at the beach in Hawaii. “I sat here at 2am on June 2021 and stared into the ocean. I asked her to protect me, my family, my crew and our show. I told her we will do all we can to protect the grace and integrity of Hawai’i while also sharing her Beauty with the world.”
She continued, “As I sat here today, knowing our show is over, I turned to her again… what do we do now….(please protect us all) She answered with ease. Just as the air hits the water & the water hits the land, the waves connect to the shore, some with a huge impact, then… it goes back out. You see… we aren’t meant to be here forever, we are on borrowed time. We appreciate what was given to us for our use, we nurture it and then we leave it better for the next dreamer.”
Lachey went on to encourage anyone reading her post to hire the cast and crew of NCIS: Hawai’i now that they’re available after the series’ cancellation. “I’m wishing for my crew and my cast that we all remember the Beauty of what we had…” she wrote. “we will spread this Aloha in every direction we go. I wish we had more time, I’m sorry we don’t. I wish we had a proper good-bye, I’m sorry we didn’t. I know we ALL are connected deeper than any TV show. I will go to the ends of the earth for my cast & crew! If you come across ANY of them… hire them! You won’t be disappointed.”
She concluded her post. “Salt of the earth people! In Hawai’i we don’t say ‘Good-Bye’, we say ‘A Hui Hou’ it means ‘until we meet again’. To you all & especially the beloved fans… A Hui Hou.”
Lachey wasn’t the only cast member who paid tribute to the series. Tori Anderson, who portrayed FBI agent Kate Whistler, said, “Having a really hard time processing this one,” she penned on X. “Thank you to our incredible crew who made every single day feel like I was living a dream. I want to say thank you to all the fans. My heart breaks for you as well.”
“This is a huge loss for representation,” Anderson added of the cancellation. Jason Antoon, who plays Cyber Intelligence Specialist Ernie Malik, commented, “This business is brutal and makes no sense.” He continued, “Mahalo to all and everyone who supported us – we had soooo much fun. Best and nicest cast and crew ever!” the actor wrote on X on April 26.
Co-creator and executive producer Christopher Silber also shared his reaction on X. “Four years ago, @JanNash100 @mattbosack and I started something very special. We joined with an incredible cast, amazing writers and crew… and gathered in Hawai’i to make a show. But ended up creating an ohana. I’m so grateful to you all.”
Co-creator Matt Bosack added on X: “[NCIS: Hawaii] was a dream. And while it’s ended, I am forever grateful to my partners, [Christopher Silber] and [Jan Nash], our amazing cast, led by [Vanessa Lachey], the entire crew, and this wonderful island I call home. I’m proud of the stories we were able to tell over these 3 seasons. To tell fun Navy crime mysteries but also dig into ideas about family, life, love, identity… To all the fans, especially those who saw themselves in these characters, mahalo nui loa. A hui hou.”
NCIS: Hawai’i airs on Mondays at 10 p.m. on CBS.
For more on NCIS, check out our gallery below on how to watch all 65 crossover episodes in order.
