After NCIS season 22’s slip in ratings, CBS appears to be determined to bring the show back to its glory days. Impressively, its current run has released only solid episodes thus far, as it’s able to balance compelling cases with great character arcs. In the biggest NCIS franchise, however, the quality of storytelling has also been great, with both NCIS: Origins season 2 and NCIS: Sydney season 3 elevating their narratives.
Tonight, however, fans will have to keep an eye on some scheduling changes, especially for NCIS season 23, episode 5, “Now and Then”.
NCIS Season 23 & NCIS: Origins Season 2 Are Switching Their Timeslots Tonight (November 11, 2025)
After inhabiting the 9 PM ET timeslot on Monday nights, CBS’s Super Tuesday campaign effectively moved NCIS to its original airing day on Tuesdays. With that also comes the flagship broadcasting an hour earlier than usual, opening the three-hour block at 8 PM ET. It’s eventually followed by NCIS: Origins season 2 at 9 PM ET and NCIS: Sydney season 3 at 10 PM ET.
For tonight, however, NCIS and NCIS: Origins are switching up their broadcast times. This means that instead of opening Super Tuesday with the flagship, it’s Gibbs’ prequel that will be airing at 8 PM ET. It will be followed by NCIS season 23 at 9 PM ET. Meanwhile, NCIS: Sydney will maintain its regular airing slot at 10 PM ET.
Why CBS Is Switching NCIS Season 23 & NCIS: Origins Season 2 Timeslots This Week
For the first time in a while, the NCIS franchise is reviving its crossover efforts. While the universe is not new to these kinds of specials, this will mark the first time that the TV event will involve shows from different points in the timeline with NCIS and NCIS: Origins.
The case of the week begins 30 years in the past, as Mike Franks’ scrappy NIS team in Camp Pendleton work on it in the prequel. Three decades later, Alden Parker’s MCRT gets a break that prompts them to re-examine the mystery. Because of the way the overall story is set up, NCIS: Origins season 2, episode 5, “Funny How Time Slips Away” needs to kick off the 2-hour crossover, followed by its resolution in NCIS season 23, episode 5, “Now and Then”.
Aside from marking Mark Harmon’s return to the NCIS franchise, bar his narration in the period spinoff, the CBS special is also in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy.
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