NCIS has officially entered its 23rd season, and later this year it will hit the massive milestone of 500 episodes. Few primetime dramas have lasted this long, and longtime cast member Sean Murray (Timothy McGee) told CinemaBlend why he thinks the show continues to thrive more than two decades later.
Speaking about the milestone while discussing the recent episode “Page-Turner”—where McGee hallucinated his team as characters from his Deep Six novels—Murray said the secret to NCIS’ longevity is its constant desire to evolve:
“We’ve always tried to push forward. We’re not resting on our laurels. Even 500 episodes in, we’re doing things differently, not just making something easy and digestible.”
Murray, who first appeared in Season 1’s “Sub Rosa” and became a regular in Season 2, is now one of the show’s leads following Mark Harmon’s exit. He praised the series for staying fresh, saying the team behind the scenes is more energized than ever:
“We’re more excited than ever to tell these stories… There are things coming this year that will legitimately drop jaws. Not fake-outs—real deal stuff.”
Season 23 has already delivered big moments: McGee’s author storyline returned, Alden Parker’s sister was introduced, the Carla Marino arc wrapped, and the team revisited a case tied to NCIS: Origins. But according to Murray, even bigger surprises are still ahead:
“After 500 episodes, it’s fun to throw curveballs. I’ve never been bored doing this. I’m proud of what we’re doing this year.”
Murray also reflected on how rare it is for a show to last this long, calling it “a miracle” anytime a series gets made, renewed, and survives year after year. NCIS, however, has beaten the odds—and now it’s about to celebrate one of TV’s biggest milestones.
