NCIS is reaching a massive milestone with its 500th episode, airing Tuesday night — a rare achievement shared by only a handful of long-running shows like Gunsmoke and Law & Order. Now in its 23rd season, the series continues to rank among the top 10, defying expectations for a show of its age.
Executive producer Steven D. Binder has been part of NCIS since Season 3 and has led the show through major cast changes, including the departure of longtime star Mark Harmon in 2021. Despite constant turnover, the show has maintained strong audience loyalty, with only a few longtime cast members like Sean Murray, Brian Dietzen, and Rocky Carroll still tied to its earlier years.
Binder believes the show’s longevity could continue indefinitely. He suggests that NCIS may never truly end — unless the entire network TV model collapses — saying it simply feels like a series that will always exist.