With the end of the SAG-AFTRA strike, television news has been dropping quickly and we’re excited to get our calendars ready! CBS released their television schedule for all returning shows and NCIS will air quicker than expected.

The first episode of season 21 is slated to air on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024 at 9 p.m. ET. This will be the first season that will not feature actor David McCallum as Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard. The seasoned actor passed away in September 2023. While it is unknown if there will be a memorial episode for him, we’re looking forward to seeing how the show memorializes him upon their return.

Would a memorial episode for Ducky mean we’ll see Gibbs return? In a recent interview, Mark Harmon mentioned the possibility of returning, but at the moment, it doesn’t seem like we will see him in season 21. But in this instance, it would make for a touching episode to get a Gibbs mention regarding his late friend, depending on what they decide with Ducky.

So far, we do know that returning cast members include Gary Cole, Sean Murray, Rocky Carroll, Katrina Law, Brian Dietzen, Diona Reasonover, and Wilmer Valderrama. Season 20 ended on a cliffhanger with Valderrama’s character Nick Torres, so we will be looking forward to seeing how that is resolved!

Even though it’s still a few months out, at least we have a date for the show’s return! Previous episodes of NCIS are available for viewing on Paramount+. Continue to keep on eye on Hidden Remote as we update you on news pertaining to the NCIS franchise. The Hawaii spin-off will also return on Feb. 12, 2024 in the 10 o’clock slot, click here for a look at who’s expected to return. The latest series in this universe of shows, NCIS: Sydney, airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on CBS and also streams on Paramount+.