History is about to be made within the NCIS franchise, as CBS prepares to turn over its entire Tuesday night lineup to the beloved series starting this fall. This marks a significant milestone, as it will be the first time in the franchise's history that CBS airs an entire night dedicated solely to NCIS shows. Fans of the franchise can expect an exciting lineup that includes the flagship series, along with its two current spinoffs, NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Sydney.
In a strategic move, CBS has decided to return NCIS to its original timeslot on Tuesday nights at 8 p.m., a position it held for 18 years before moving to Mondays in the 2021 season. Following NCIS, NCIS: Origins will air at 9 p.m., with NCIS: Sydney closing out the night at 10 p.m. This new arrangement has been branded as "Super Tuesday" by CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach, highlighting the network's commitment to the franchise.
The return of NCIS to Tuesday nights comes as part of a broader reshuffling of CBS’s programming. The FBI franchise, which previously occupied the Tuesday night slot, is moving to Mondays. The FBI series will now lead into a new show, CIA, which will air at 10 p.m. on Mondays, following FBI at 9 p.m. The shift comes after CBS concluded that the FBI franchise would be scaled back from three shows to just two, allowing NCIS to reclaim its former glory.
This fall's CBS schedule will see a mix of returning favorites and new series. On Monday nights, viewers can look forward to The Neighborhood at 8 p.m., followed by DMV at 8:30 p.m., before FBI takes over the 9 p.m. hour, leading into CIA. The Tuesday lineup will be entirely NCIS-focused, with NCIS at 8 p.m., NCIS: Origins at 9 p.m., and NCIS: Sydney at 10 p.m.
In addition to the NCIS changes, CBS has introduced several new series to its lineup for the 2025-2026 season. Notably, the workplace comedy DMV will join the Monday night roster, while the new series Boston Blue, a spinoff of Blue Bloods starring Donnie Wahlberg, will air on Fridays at 10 p.m.
Other significant changes include the return of Survivor to its Wednesday 8 p.m. timeslot, followed by The Amazing Race at 9:30 p.m. In the spring, the 50th season of Survivor will lead into a new cooking competition series hosted by Padma Lakshmi, titled America’s Culinary Cup.
Fridays will also see a stacked lineup, with three Jerry Bruckheimer shows airing in succession. The night will kick off with Sheriff Country, a new spinoff of Fire Country, followed by Fire Country itself, and then Boston Blue at 10 p.m. This programming strategy is designed to leverage the popularity of Bruckheimer's productions.
As CBS continues to adapt its programming to audience preferences, the network aims to strengthen its overall performance with these strategic changes. The decision to dedicate an entire night to NCIS is particularly noteworthy, as it reflects the franchise's enduring popularity and the network's confidence in its ability to attract viewers.
In summary, CBS has unveiled an ambitious schedule for the upcoming fall season that emphasizes the NCIS franchise while introducing several new series to the mix. With the full NCIS lineup on Tuesday nights, fans can expect a thrilling evening of crime-solving drama, while the network's other nights promise a diverse range of entertainment options.
As CBS prepares for the fall season, viewers can look forward to these exciting changes that aim to enhance their viewing experience. Whether it's the return of NCIS to its rightful place on Tuesdays or the introduction of new series, CBS is clearly focused on delivering quality programming that resonates with its audience.
