CBS’ NCIS reaches a rare milestone that has only been achieved four times before in TV history. Marking its 23rd season during the 2025-2026 network season, the long-running procedural has offered some of its most solid storytelling in years during its ongoing run. For a period of time, NCIS dominated the broadcasting landscape by being its most-watched show, but that changed when Justin Hartley’s Tracker debuted.

Still, it doesn’t mean that NCIS has fallen into obscurity. The drop in ratings may be disappointing, but it continues its place in terms of the pop culture zeitgeist by being one of the most-watched shows on TV — be it via new broadcast, syndication, or streaming. A solid proof of that is the NCIS franchise‘s evolution, with three other spinoffs releasing fresh content this year alone: NCIS: Sydney, NCIS: Origins, and NCIS: Tony & Ziva, alongside the flagship.

Just for the mothership, however, NCIS celebrates reaching 500 episodes. As seen in the official celebratory photo, the cast of the procedural commemorates the occasion similar to what it usually does when it achieves a TV milestone. Cast member Wilmer Valderrama also took it to his official Instagram account to share a video of the celebration. Check them out below:

Not to be confused by NCIS‘ 1000th episode special that was celebrated in season 21, this one counts only the episodes released in the 23 seasons of the mothership. The previous one included all the outings from other spinoffs, such as NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, and NCIS: Hawai’i. Specific plot details for NCIS‘ 500th episode are still tightly under wraps, but its preceding special offering referenced “Yankee White” — the very first case that Gibbs’ MCRT tackled in their own show.

Looking at the photos, what’s curious is if CBS has some major surprises in store for fans of the project. Reaching the 500th episode milestone is no small feat, as it has only been done four times before —Gunsmoke (635), Lassie (591), Law & Order (531), and Law & Order: SVU (581). The Simpsons on Fox currently has 799 episodes, but production for that is different from live-action shows like the aforementioned procedurals.

There is no shortage of possible surprises that NCIS’ 500th episode may have. Mark Harmon’s proper return as Leroy Jethro Gibbs would arguably be the most special, considering what he means to the show and how much he’s missed in the Navy Yard bull pen. That said, there are also some rumors about Ellie Bishop returning to NCIS, which will also be a welcome treat for long-time fans of the series.

NCIS

6/10

Release Date

September 23, 2003

Showrunner

Donald P. Bellisario

Directors

Dennis Smith, Terrence O’Hara, Tony Wharmby, James Whitmore Jr., Thomas J. Wright, Michael Zinberg, Arvin Brown, Rocky Carroll, Diana Valentine, Leslie Libman, Tawnia McKiernan, Colin Bucksey, William Webb, Bethany Rooney, Alrick Riley, Jeff Woolnough, Alan J. Levi, Lionel Coleman, Martha Mitchell, Peter Ellis, Michael Weatherly, Edward Ornelas, Stephen Cragg, Tom Wright

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  Sean Murray

  Timothy McGee

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  David McCallum

  Dr. Donald ‘Ducky’ Mallard