CBS Threatens To End NCIS's Most Charming Quirk After 23 Years

Published Sep 6, 2026, 9:00 AM EDT

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NCIS's most charming quirk might no longer exist in season 24. There are several projects to be excited about in CBS's fall 2026 lineup, but there's a different level of hype that the network's longest-running procedural now has. It's easy to forget that just a couple of years ago, the future of NCIS felt like it was in jeopardy, as it navigated the time on the heels of Mark Harmon's exit as Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Now, the series is near the end of this transitional period while also laying the foundation of the next few years.

CBS may have revamped NCIS's Super Tuesday, but the flagship will remain as the three-hour block's opener. Following a much better 2025-2026 cycle, the pressure for the series to at least maintain its storytelling quality is high. NCIS is also ramping up the nostalgia factor with the return of Michael Weatherly's Tony Dinozzo Jr. for a season-long arc — his first one since he left MCRT a decade ago. Beyond the narrative elements, the procedural could also be due for a major visual change, as hinted by an official update from CBS.

NCIS Season 24 Image Hints At A New Wall Paint Color For The Bullpen

CBS

As the Eye Network starts rolling out new details about their upcoming premieres, pertinent reveals about the NCIS season 24 opener have been shared, including a slew of fresh images from the episode titled "Wayward Son." There are several interesting takeaways from them, but arguably the biggest one is the seeing the orange walls of the bullpen being painted. As seen in the above image, it seems like NCIS season 24 is going to finally change the iconic, albeit peculiar, color of the MCRT quarters, and it appears that they are considering either apple green, ivory, or dark grey.

Recently, original executive producer Mark Horowitz explained the origin of NCIS's orange walls, which have been part of the series since its inception. Apparently, it was a matter of logistics that led to them, as they were looking for a place to film for the two-part JAG backdoor pilot. They stuck with the location that they chose, and when NCIS was finally sold as a series, they had to build something that was similar to their original filming space for continuity. Throughout the years, the orange walls have become part of the procedural's identity. It has served as the backdrop to so many iconic moments, that changing it now would be bittersweet.

Will NCIS Really Change The Bullpen's Orange Walls?

While it will be sad to paint the orange walls a different color, it could mirror the bigger shift that is happening in NCIS. Director Leon Vance's death during the 500th episode ended a nearly two-decade reign while also opening up the position to a brand new person. The NCIS season 23 finale saw Gabriel LaRoche expressing his interest in the role, but at this point, it's very difficult to argue against the argument that Timothy McGee deserves it the best. Whatever the case may be, NCIS getting a new director would start a new cycle, and having fresh walls can further highlight that.

On the other hand, NCIS has been leaning a lot on nostalgia recently. Even outside the flagship, other spinoffs are bringing back legacy characters, such as Harmon's Gibbs and LL Cool J's Sam Hanna. The procedural is one of the very shows that have over 20 years under its belt. Given that, CBS may just be contemplating the change without any plans to actually move forward with it. NCIS has done something similar before after an attack on Navy Yard prompted renovations, but in the end, they eventually dropped it and stuck to the orange walls.

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NCIS

6/10

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  Sean Murray

  Timothy McGee

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  David McCallum

  Dr. Donald 'Ducky' Mallard