The CBS fall 2026 schedule is aligning to bring the NCIS franchise’s most iconic leads back to the same night of television for the first time in a decade. Michael Weatherly is confirmed to return to the flagship series for a season-long arc during Season 24, appearing alongside a lineup that includes the Mark Harmon-executive produced prequel, NCIS: Origins.
This programming shift, internally dubbed “Super Tuesday,” marks a significant structural change for the franchise. Starting October 6, 2026, CBS will devote its entire Tuesday night block to the property. The flagship NCIS will air at 8 p.m., followed by the series premiere of NCIS: New York starring LL Cool J at 9 p.m., and NCIS: Origins at 10 p.m.
The return of Anthony DiNozzo as a recurring presence on the main series comes after the reported cancellation of the planned Paramount+ spinoff, NCIS: Tony & Ziva. With that project no longer moving forward for a second season, Weatherly’s transition back to the primary show allows the character to rejoin the D.C.-based narrative in a more permanent capacity. According to Paramount Press Express, Weatherly’s return as DiNozzo will span a season-long arc, providing the first extended look at the character on the flagship series since his departure in 2016.
The 2026 season represents a ten-year milestone for the franchise. Michael Weatherly and Mark Harmon have not shared a screen together since Weatherly left the series at the end of Season 13. While Harmon’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs retired to Alaska in Season 19, his continued involvement as the narrator and executive producer of NCIS: Origins—which explores the character’s early years in 1991—places both original leads back in the active CBS fold simultaneously.
The addition of NCIS: New York further expands the “Super Tuesday” strategy. LL Cool J, who previously played Sam Hanna on NCIS: Los Angeles and appeared as a recurring guest on NCIS: Hawai’i, will lead the new expansion in the 9 p.m. slot.
By grouping the flagship series, a new expansion, and the prequel together, the network has created a logistical pathway for potential crossovers that was previously hindered by production schedules and different filming locations. While no specific joint scenes between the present-day DiNozzo and a present-day Gibbs have been officially confirmed, the scheduling alignment brings the two characters into the same primetime block for the first time since the “Very Special Agent” originally turned in his badge.
