As NCIS prepares for its 24th season this fall, former executive producer Mark Horowitz believes the show’s success comes down to one key factor: its cast chemistry.
Speaking on the NCIS: Partners & Probies podcast with Brian Dietzen and Diona Reasonover, Horowitz said the series has continued to thrive despite the departures of fan favorites like Gibbs, Tony DiNozzo, and Abby Sciuto because the sense of family among the characters has remained strong.
Horowitz explained that while cast members have changed over the years, new actors have successfully brought fresh energy to the team. He pointed to the arrivals of Wilmer Valderrama and Diona Reasonover as examples of how the show has evolved while maintaining its core dynamic.
According to Horowitz, viewers are most invested in the relationships between the characters rather than the weekly cases. He believes fans keep returning because the team still feels like a close-knit family, which has always been at the heart of the series.
NCIS was renewed for Season 24 in January 2026 and is expected to return to CBS this fall.