Before NCIS became a massive TV sensation with Mark Harmon at the center, CBS had a sneaky trick up its sleeve. The show was quietly introduced through a backdoor pilot hidden in another long-running hit drama. Fans at the time didn’t realize they were witnessing the birth of what’d become a TV phenomenon.
CBS cleverly planted the seeds, blending one iconic universe with another to create something brand new.
JAG: The iconic legal drama that launched NCIS and revolutionized TV crime series forever
Long before NCIS became a primetime powerhouse, it was quietly born out of another CBS hit: JAG.
Originally known as Navy NCIS, the show was born from JAG’s military legal drama universe, which ran from 1995 to 2005. JAG itself survived a rocky start, canceled after just one season by NBC, only to be revived by CBS, where it soared for nine more seasons (via The Things).
JAG’s premise: A mix of courtroom drama and military action. The plot followed Commander Harmon Rabb Jr. and Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie as they tackled Navy and Marine personnel crimes.
Think Top Gun meets A Few Good Men — with some sizzling chemistry thrown in. But here’s the twist: while JAG was wrapping up, NCIS emerged. The show, starring Mark Harmon as Gibbs, took off, blending crime-solving with military vibes, creating an empire of spin-offs.
In its 19 seasons, NCIS not only cemented its place in TV history but gave birth to NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, and NCIS: Hawai’i. Sadly, NCIS: New Orleans met its end after seven seasons.
Each episode pulled from real-life events — USS Cole bombing, Cavalese cable car disaster — you name it. Plus, there was CIA intrigue thanks to Clayton Webb, adding some spy-level tension.
It was a courtroom drama with a twist, and it wasn’t just entertaining; it helped birth the NCIS franchise. Talk about a legacy!
How NCIS broke away from JAG’s shadow and carved its own path to success
NCIS wasn’t about to ride JAG’s coattails – it was too busy making its own mark. As Mark Horowitz put it, the show needed a fresh vibe, so it ditched the old-school, classic shots of JAG and went full throttle with fast cuts and that edgy, rock-video style.
Even the scripts were shorter – punchier, snappier, and designed to keep the audience on their toes. Per Cinemablend, Horowitz explained:
It was all about getting that energy, and three cameras rolling meant no room for slow-mo. The rest? Well, we all know how that played out – NCIS went on to crush it long after JAG had its run.
Watch JAG and NCIS on Paramount Plus and Apple TV.