‘NCIS’ And ‘Blue Bloods’ Win Big In The Ratings

“NCIS” and “Blue Bloods” are two beloved pro- law enforcement shows that have each been around for years, with the former premiering in 2003 and the latter debuting in 2010. Unlike many other shows on television, “NCIS” and “Blue Bloods” are shows that the whole family can enjoy together, which is why it’s come as such good news to learn that they’re both still dominating the ratings!

‘NCIS’ And ‘Blue Bloods’ Score Big In Ratings

The CBS shows “NCIS” and “Blue Bloods” each made it into the top four in terms of the number of viewers for television programs for the 18-49 demographic in the seven-day ratings for October 3-9, according to The Hollywood Reporter. While the most number of viewers, 16 million, tuned into “Sunday Night Football” (no surprise there), the second highest number of viewers watched that week’s episode of “NCIS,” with 9.95 million tuning in. 

“Blue Bloods” narrowly missed coming in third in total viewers, with 9.83 million watching the show, coming up just short of the 9.89 million who watched “Chicago Fire” on NBC. It should also be noted that “Blue Bloods” managed to add the most viewers in the week after it aired, as it 3.43 million more people watched it.  

Here are the full stats of that week: 

Total Viewers

‘NCIS’ Still Popular After Departure Of Mark Harmon

“NCIS” has managed to remain popular with viewers even in the wake of Mark Harmon leaving the show last year after nineteen seasons starring on it as Leroy Jethro Gibbs. 

“What has always drawn me here is the character I play and to keep it fresh and to keep it challenging,” Harmon told Entertainment Tonight earlier this year of his exit from the show. “Plot-wise, this character has taken the path that it did. I thought it was honest and OK with.”

However, Harmon made sure to let fans know that a return to “NCIS” in the future isn’t out of the question for him.

“I’m not retired,” he said. “The character is living in Alaska as far as I know.”

Related: Mark Harmon Finally Breaks His Silence About Leaving ‘NCIS’ After 19 Seasons

Showrunner Steven D. Binder has also eluded to a potential return for Harmon. 

“As an executive producer and dear friend, Mark continues to be an integral part of the fabric of the show,” he told Entertainment Weekly. “Our north star has always been staying true to our characters, and that truth has always guided the stories we tell and where those characters go. So regarding the future of Gibbs, as long-time fans of the show may have noticed over the years… never count Leroy Jethro Gibbs out.” 

Success Of ‘Blue Bloods’

Meanwhile, Tom Selleck is showing no signs of slowing down on “Blue Bloods” after starring on the show for twelve years as NYPD Commissioner Frank Reagan. Ahead of the season premiere back in September, Selleck told TV Insider that he’s “game” to make many more seasons of the show in the years to come. 

Selleck also opened up about why he feels “Blue Bloods” has remained so popular with audiences over the years. 

“If you write an episode for episodic television, an hour episodic television, it’s been hanging around for about four months … And we deal with some real issues, but we’re not trying to mimic the headlines,” the former “Magnum P.I.” star explained to CBS News last month. “And when that comes up, it’s been remarkable the coincidence that the issue just happens to be in the press even though we were thinking of it four months ago.”

“The other thing we try very hard to do is have worthy adversaries and not just tell one point of view, and I think that’s really important because I don’t think television should hit people over a sledgehammer,” Selleck added. “It should make them think and maybe decide for themselves.”

Related: Tom Selleck Celebrates Success of His Show ‘Blue Bloods’

There is so much gratuitous sex and violence on television these days that it oftentimes seems like it’s impossible to find shows that families can actually enjoy together, which could be part of why both “NCIS” and “Blue Bloods” have remained so successful over the years. It should be noted that each of these shows have refused to go “woke” by being anti-police, and have continued to largely portray law enforcement in a positive light. 

The continued success of “NCIS and “Blue Bloods” should send a message to network executives that these are the kinds of shows people want more of right now. It would certainly be great if these shows could spur networks to make more family-friendly and pro-police programs in the future!