Vanessa Lachey ‘Blindsided’ By CBS Cancelling ‘NCIS: Hawai’i’ After Three Seasons

CBS has reportedly cancelled the show “NCIS: Hawai’i,” leaving star Vanessa Lachey “blindsided” and “gutted.”

Lachey ‘Gutted…Blindsided’

“Gutted, confused, blindsided,” Lachey, 43, wrote on her Instagram Story alongside the “NCIS: Hawai’i” logo. This came just three weeks after she had posted a cast photo about wrapping season three of the show, describing her fellow actors as being “the BEST Team I could have ever asked for.”

“I TRULY could not do this show, or season, without you ALL!” she stated. “Mahalo Nui Loa for making us US! “One Team, One Fight!” I Love You!”

Unfortunately for Lachey, however, CBS has confirmed that “NCIS:Hawai’i” will not be returning for a fourth season. The season finale is scheduled to air on May 6, but sources told Deadline that this episode was not meant to be a finale and included a teaser for things to come in a potential fourth season.

Despite Lachey saying that she was “blindsided” by the cancellation, reports had been circulating that “NCIS: Hawai’i” was on the bubble to get the axe.

However, it still came as somewhat of a surprise, given the fact that a significant effort was being made to convince CBS to at least green light an abbreviated fourth and final season, with producers even agreeing to a massive budget cut to make this happen. They also told CBS that they were open to making other concessions in order to make this happen.

Related: Former ‘NCIS’ Star Lucas Black Reveals Why He Puts God And Family Ahead Of Hollywood Glory

‘NCIS: Hawai’i’ Makes History

“NCIS: Hawai’i” was the first in the “NCIS” franchise to be led by a woman, something that Lachey celebrated publicly just two weeks ago.

“It’s an honor to be able to add to this incredible franchise and to do it as the first female lead has meant more to me than I can ever express,” Lachey told People Magazine. “It shows the incredible evolution and longevity that ‘NCIS’ continues to give its fans.”

Lachey went on to say that her favorite thing about being part of the “NCIS” universe is that she gets a “family” both “across the generations as well as continents” 

“Not only with our cast but the fans as well,” she added. “The ‘NCIS’ franchise is all over the world and it brings people together to watch and talk about, as well as provide comfort and entertainment, which is what you want when you dive into a show.”

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

Lachey Moved Her Family To Hawaii For Filming

Lachey moved her family, which includes her husband Nick Lachey and their three children, to Hawaii to film this show on location.

“I just gave him the biggest hug,” she recalled of her husband, who rose to fame as the lead singer for the band 98 Degrees in the 1990s. “He said, ‘This is your time. And I will do whatever I need to do to support you in that. I’ve seen you work so hard. This is your time. Let’s go.’ And I’m like, thank you!”

“NCIS: Hawai’i” now has the dubious distinction of being the first show in the “NCIS” franchise to not be given a proper sendoff, as both “NCIS: Los Angeles” and “NCIS: New Orleans” ended their runs gracefully after fourteen and seven seasons respectively.

“NCIS: Hawai’i” had relatively strong ratings, yet CBS still decided to cancel it. This just goes to show how cutthroat the world of television really is, as you never know when a network will decide to end your favorite show.