Fans of “NCIS: Hawai’i” blame the new series “NCIS: Origin” for the cancellation of their beloved drama and are vocal about their frustrations on X, formerly known as Twitter. They’ve launched a boycott and renewal campaign, citing various reasons. Many believe CBS couldn’t afford both “Origin” and “Hawai’i” and chose the new series with a veteran franchise lead over the uncertain future of “Hawai’i.”
One fan, @nicolebbdos1, commented, “This is why NCIS Hawaii was cancelled…. budget for this show & NCIS Origins (think that’s the name) about Gibbs in his younger years leading up to him becoming a NCIS agent,” while not assigning blame. @julianna_author subtly suggested a boycott, and several fans pointed out the likely lack of diversity in a Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) origin story compared to “Hawai’i,” speculating that CBS might prefer such a show.
But was the drama really canceled to make way for a potentially fan-alienating Gibbs origin story? The answer is more complex.
Why was NCIS: Hawai’i canceled? According to CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach, the cancellation of “NCIS: Hawai’i” was due to a cost versus revenue equation, influenced by ratings and other streams. The schedule also played a role in the decision. In a statement to Variety, she explained, “It is incumbent on us to always keep the schedule fresh, keep momentum going. We had to make some really tough choices this year. Everything came back [from the SAG-AFTRA 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.”
So why choose an untested series like “Origins” over a proven hit like “Hawai’i?” Ironically, the success of “Young Sheldon” may have encouraged the network, as the “Big Bang Theory” spin-off has been very profitable, showing that audiences are interested in origin stories. With “NCIS: Origin” set to include narration from Harmon himself, the network might be hoping to replicate that formula. The true test will come this fall when “NCIS: Origin” premieres.