CBS Suspends NCIS Franchise Programming for Election Night Coverage

Viewers tuning in to CBS on the evening of November 3, 2026, found the network's regular primetime schedule replaced by special election coverage. The broadcast, titled "CBS News America Decides: Election 2026," occupied the time slots typically reserved for the popular NCIS franchise, including the flagship series, NCIS: New York, and NCIS: Origins.

The decision to preempt the scripted dramas was made to accommodate extensive reporting on the U.S. midterm elections. While network television often utilizes hiatuses for holidays or production breaks, this specific scheduling change was a direct result of the election cycle. The coverage ran from 7:00 p.m. EST until midnight, leaving no room for original episodes or reruns of the NCIS series during that block.

Fans of the franchise can expect the shows to return to their regular schedules on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. The network has confirmed that the series will resume in their standard time slots, with NCIS airing at 8:00 p.m. EST, followed by NCIS: New York at 9:00 p.m. EST and NCIS: Origins at 10:00 p.m. EST.

Upcoming episodes promise significant developments for the characters. The flagship NCIS series is set to return with "Speechless," an episode featuring a guest appearance by the daughter of cast member Katrina Law. Meanwhile, NCIS: New York will continue its inaugural season with "True Love," an episode involving a naval interrogator and internal team tensions. NCIS: Origins, currently in its third season, will air "Baila Esta Cumbia," which continues to explore the past timeline of Leroy Jethro Gibbs.

The franchise remains a staple of the CBS lineup, though some entries have seen adjustments to their episode counts this season. NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Sydney have received reduced orders of 10 episodes each to make room for new programming on the network. Despite these changes, the original NCIS and the newer NCIS: New York are slated to maintain their traditional order of episodes.

In other news related to the franchise, actor Justin Bruening, who recently appeared as Lieutenant Bryce Prescott in an episode of NCIS, has been the subject of speculation regarding a potential role on the soap opera General Hospital. While his wife, actress Alexa Havins, acknowledged the ongoing fan interest and rumors, she neither confirmed nor denied the possibility of him joining the show, noting only that there is "always talk" about such a move.