'NCIS' renewed for 11th season

In today's edition of the "no duh" department, CBS has opted to renew NCIS for an eleventh season. The crime procedural (which most people have probably forgotten was itself a spin-off of the show JAG) remains the most watched scripted program on network television. The series has reigned at the top of that chart since the 2009-2010 season, and has actually managed to increase its audience share by over seven percent in season ten. Most popular shows top out around season four or five, if they even get that far, which makes NCIS' ongoing growth very impressive indeed.

CBS also announced today that series star Mark Harmon has officially extended his contract for another year, so fans won't be left with any CSI-type situation where the lead actor is replaced but the show goes on. Harmon's previous deal was due to expire at the end of the current season.

The NCIS franchise has been a huge winner for CBS all around, with the mothership still going strong, the Los Angeles based spinoff continuing to do very well, and a third series set in the NCIS universe to be introduced via a two-part backdoor pilot later this year. The long-running lawsuit between the network and NCIS creator Donald P. Bellisario was also resolved recently, clearing the way for even more success.

Are you glad the NCIS team will be solving crimes for another year?