While everyone expected the writers’ and actors’ strikes to take a toll on the entertainment industry, no one could really predict how quickly the effect would be felt. For Hollywood productions that take years to make, it would cause more problems in the months to come. Television, however, began to suffer immediately.
By the beginning of the summer, it was clear that with both strikes in place, there would be no chance of returning with new seasons of popular shows in the fall. Major networks such as ABC and CBS had to completely change their schedules for the start of the 2023/2024 TV season, removing or postponing all scripted content.
CBS, which relies most heavily on such series, took the biggest hit. However, the network managed to create a new schedule by borrowing content from Paramount Plus and moving it from streaming to television.
Among the shows you can catch on air are Paramount Plus’ reboot of the comedy Frasier, the neo-western hit Yellowstone and the British sitcom Ghosts. Those are not all the surprises CBS has up its sleeve. With the original NCIS Season 21 delayed, the network is premiering an overseas spinoff, NCIS: Sydney.
The series marks the first international spinoff of the popular procedural drama. Back in 2022, when production of the show was announced, it wasn’t clear if the show would even be available to U.S.-based NCIS fans. But with the strikes in play, going global is the best possible solution for any broadcast network or streaming service.
“NCIS is one of the most popular series in the world and we’re thrilled to expand this franchise with a uniquely Australian twist. <…> Featuring the stunning backdrop of Australia, the new series will incorporate the high-stakes intrigue, humor, and camaraderie that have kept fans captivated by the NCIS teams for over two decades,” Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment, teased in her statement.
If you are interested in seeing what the special Australian twist would bring to the familiar NCIS setup, you can tune in to CBS. NCIS: Sydney premieres on November 13th at 10 pm ET/PT, so mark your calendars to make sure you do not miss the pilot.