History of NCIS: New Orleans in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 18, 2026

NCIS: New Orleans, an action crime drama and police procedural, premiered on CBS in 2014 as the third series in the NCIS franchise. Set and filmed in New Orleans, the show was created by Gary Glasberg and produced by CBS Studios, Wings Productions, and When Pigs Fly Incorporated (first four seasons). The series followed a team investigating criminal cases involving military personnel in the New Orleans area. After seven seasons, CBS announced its cancellation, with the final episode airing on May 23, 2021, making it the first NCIS series to conclude.

2001: 2001: A Space Odyssey Reference

In 2001, Liz Shannon Miller and Ben Travers of Indiewire compared NCIS to "the obelisk in 2001: A Space Odyssey", highlighting its pervasive presence.

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2012: Proposed NCIS: Red Spin-Off

During the 2012 TV season, CBS commissioned a proposed spin-off series titled NCIS: Red, written and produced by Shane Brennan.

February 6, 2013: John Corbett Cast in NCIS: Red

On February 6, 2013, John Corbett was cast as Roy, a retired special agent and the male lead in the proposed NCIS: Red series.

May 15, 2013: Pilot Not Taken to Series

On May 15, 2013, CBS announced that the pilot for NCIS: Red would not be picked up for a full series.

May 21, 2013: CBS President Statement

On May 21, 2013, CBS President Nina Tassler stated that protecting the NCIS franchise was important when deciding not to move forward with the NCIS: Red spinoff.

September 2013: NCIS Spin-Off Series

In September 2013, it was reported that a second NCIS spin-off series set in New Orleans would be introduced with a two-part backdoor pilot during the eleventh season of NCIS.

February 2014: Pilot Casting

In February 2014, Scott Bakula, CCH Pounder, and Zoe McLellan were cast as Dwayne Pride, Loretta Wade, and Meredith Brody in the NCIS: New Orleans pilot. Lucas Black and Rob Kerkovich joined as Christopher LaSalle and Sebastian Lund.

February 2014: "Crescent City" Filming

In February 2014, the two-part backdoor pilot episode titled "Crescent City (Part I)" and "Crescent City (Part II)" was filmed in New Orleans.

March 25, 2014: "Crescent City (Part I)" Aired

On March 25, 2014, the first part of the two-part backdoor pilot episode titled "Crescent City (Part I)", which introduced the NCIS: New Orleans series, aired during the eleventh season of NCIS.

April 1, 2014: "Crescent City (Part II)" Aired

On April 1, 2014, the second part of the two-part backdoor pilot episode titled "Crescent City (Part II)", which introduced the NCIS: New Orleans series, aired during the eleventh season of NCIS.

May 9, 2014: Series Picked Up

On May 9, 2014, NCIS: New Orleans was picked up as a full series after the backdoor pilot aired.

September 2014: Pilot Episode Review

In late September 2014, Jason Hughes of The Wrap reviewed the pilot episode of NCIS: New Orleans, praising the music, the city's portrayal, and Scott Bakula's casting.

September 23, 2014: NCIS: New Orleans Premiere

On September 23, 2014, NCIS: New Orleans premiered on CBS following the twelfth season of NCIS.

October 7, 2014: Australian Premiere

On October 7, 2014, NCIS: New Orleans premiered in Australia on Network Ten.

October 27, 2014: Full Season Pick-Up

On October 27, 2014, CBS picked up NCIS: New Orleans for a full season of 23 episodes.

January 12, 2015: Renewal for Second Season

On January 12, 2015, NCIS: New Orleans was renewed for a second season.

February 13, 2015: United Kingdom Premiere

On February 13, 2015, NCIS: New Orleans premiered in the United Kingdom on Channel 5.

April 2, 2015: South Africa Premiere

On April 2, 2015, NCIS: New Orleans began airing on South Africa's M-Net cable TV service and was also broadcast to several other sub-Saharan African nations via DStv.

June 2015: Cast Promotion

In June 2015, Deadline Hollywood reported that Daryl Mitchell and Shalita Grant were promoted to series regulars in season two of NCIS: New Orleans.

August 2015: Pakistan Airing

In August 2015, NCIS: New Orleans began airing on TVOne Pakistan.

September 22, 2015: Second Season Premiere

On September 22, 2015, the second season of NCIS: New Orleans premiered.

January 2016: Kern Took Over as Showrunner

In January 2016, Brad Kern took over the reins of NCIS: New Orleans as showrunner.

March 25, 2016: Renewal for Third Season

On March 25, 2016, NCIS: New Orleans was renewed for a third season.

July 2016: Cast Changes

In July 2016, Zoe McLellan, who played Special Agent Meredith Brody, left NCIS: New Orleans "for creative reasons", and Vanessa Ferlito joined the cast as Special Agent Tammy Gregorio as a series regular.

September 20, 2016: Third Season Premiere

On September 20, 2016, the third season of NCIS: New Orleans premiered.

September 28, 2016: Death of Gary Glasberg

On September 28, 2016, Gary Glasberg, the creator and showrunner of NCIS: New Orleans, died.

March 23, 2017: Renewal for Fourth Season

On March 23, 2017, NCIS: New Orleans was renewed for a fourth season.

September 26, 2017: Fourth Season Premiere

On September 26, 2017, the fourth season of NCIS: New Orleans premiered.

December 2017: TNT Reruns Begin

In December 2017, reruns of NCIS: New Orleans began airing on TNT.

January 2018: Shalita Grant Departure

In January 2018, it was announced that Shalita Grant, who plays Special Agent Sonja Percy, would be departing the series near the end of the fourth season of NCIS: New Orleans.

April 18, 2018: Renewal for Fifth Season

On April 18, 2018, NCIS: New Orleans was renewed for a fifth season.

May 17, 2018: Kern Exits Role

On May 17, 2018, it was reported that Brad Kern was exiting his role as executive producer and showrunner of NCIS: New Orleans, but would remain as consulting producer, with Christopher Silber replacing him as showrunner.

June 2018: Kern on Suspension

In June 2018, Brad Kern was placed on suspension when CBS launched a third investigation into claims of harassment.

July 20, 2018: Move to Fox UK

Beginning July 20, 2018, NCIS: New Orleans moved to Fox UK after airing for four seasons on Channel 5.

August 2018: Necar Zadegan Joins Cast

In August 2018, it was announced that Necar Zadegan would join the cast of NCIS: New Orleans as Special Agent Hannah Khoury as a new series regular for the fifth season.

September 25, 2018: Fifth Season Premiere

On September 25, 2018, the fifth season of NCIS: New Orleans premiered.

October 2018: Kern Fired

In October 2018, Brad Kern was fired by CBS following investigations into inappropriate behavior.

2018: Jason Alan Carvell Cast

In 2018, Jason Alan Carvell was cast as James Edwin "Jimmy" Boyd, who is the paternal half-brother of NCIS Special Agent Dwayne Pride.

April 2019: Controversy with Georgian Government

In April 2019, CBS released the plot of the show's fifth season finale, "The River Styx, Part I", which takes place in South Ossetia. The show described South Ossetia as a "war-torn Russian province", which raised concerns from the Georgian government.

April 22, 2019: Renewal for Sixth Season

On April 22, 2019, NCIS: New Orleans was renewed for a sixth season.

September 24, 2019: Sixth Season Premiere

On September 24, 2019, the sixth season of NCIS: New Orleans premiered.

November 2019: Lucas Black Departure

In November 2019, Lucas Black, who portrayed Agent Christopher LaSalle, announced he would be departing NCIS: New Orleans in the sixth episode of the sixth season.

February 5, 2020: Charles Michael Davis Cast

On February 5, 2020, it was announced that Charles Michael Davis had been cast as Quentin Carter, and would appear as a series regular on NCIS: New Orleans.

May 6, 2020: Renewal for Seventh Season

On May 6, 2020, NCIS: New Orleans was renewed for the seventh season.

May 2020: Show Renewal

In May 2020, NCIS: New Orleans was renewed for a seventh season, which was later announced to be its last.

September 29, 2020: Chelsea Field Promoted

On September 29, 2020, it was announced that Chelsea Field portraying attorney Rita Devereaux would be a series regular for the seventh season of NCIS: New Orleans after recurring for the previous four seasons.