NCIS delights fans with exciting announcement amid season 21 delay

NCIS has delighted fans with an exciting announcement about an upcoming event in honor of the show's 20th anniversary.

The drama's official Twitter, now X, account revealed that CBS is set to air an NCIS marathon on Monday to celebrate 20 years of the show. 

Alongside a video montage showing clips of scenes from over the years, the caption read: "We're celebrating 20 years of #NCIS! Don't miss the NCIS Day 20th anniversary marathon event Monday starting at 8/7c on CBS — and keep your [eyes emoji]  peeled for some exclusive content and special guests!"

Fans rushed to the comments section to express their excitement, with one person writing: "Yesssss I can't wait," while another added: "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

A third fan tweeted: "Never get tired of watching NCIS."

NCIS first premiered on September 23, 2003, on CBS as a spin-off series to the legal drama, JAG, which ran for ten seasons from 1995 to 2005.

It's the third longest-running scripted, non-animated US primetime show, surpassed by NBC's Law & Order and its spin-off show, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Mark Harmon played the leading role of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs from seasons one to 19, co-starring alongside Michael Weatherly until his departure in 2015.

Cote de Pablo and Pauley Perrette also appeared on the show for numerous years before their respective departures.

Meanwhile, David McCallum, Sean Murray and Brian Dietzen are all still starring in the drama and are expected to appear in the upcoming 21st season, which has been delayed due to the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. 

Why are the writers on strike?

Both SAG-AFTRA and the WGA are currently striking over ongoing labor disputes with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents major studios including Apple, Netflix, Amazon and Disney, as well as television networks such as CBS, NBC and ABC. 

WGA members went on strike on 2 May. One of their reasons for striking is how writers are compensated in the streaming era. Some of their other demands include a pay increase, a stable pay structure and guarantees that artificial intelligence won't be used in scriptwriting.

SAG-AFTRA called a strike on July 14, marking the first time in over 60 years that Hollywood writers and actors are striking at the same time.

When will NCIS season 21 air on CBS?

While new seasons of NCIS usually premiere in the fall, fans will have to wait a little longer to see the new episodes. 

CBS has yet to reveal exactly when season 21 will arrive. However, with the scripts not yet written and actors unable to film, it's likely that fans be waiting until 2024.

The cast of the drama have been very vocal in their support for the strike, with Brian Dietzen sharing a sweet tribute to the show on Instagram in July. 

"I love the people I work with. I'm proud to stand by them as we wait for a fair deal," he penned. "When we do reach an agreement, we'll be getting back to the stage to do what we do best."