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Why is NCIS: New Orleans Season 7 only getting 16 episodes?

ByAlexandria Ingham|
"Something in the Air, Part I" -- As New Orleans grapples with the effects of Covid-19, Pride sends Tammy and Carter to investigate a suspicious death aboard a humanitarian ship docked offshore, where once on board they learn that some of the crew have become infected with the deadly disease. Also, Wade is overwhelmed by the amount of bodies coming into the morgue due to Covid-19, on the seventh season premiere of "NCIS: NEW ORLEANS," Sunday, Nov. 8 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Pictured L-R: Chelsea Field as Rita Devereaux and Scott Bakula as Special Agent Dwayne Pride Photo: Sam Lothridge/CBS ©2020 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved
"Something in the Air, Part I" -- As New Orleans grapples with the effects of Covid-19, Pride sends Tammy and Carter to investigate a suspicious death aboard a humanitarian ship docked offshore, where once on board they learn that some of the crew have become infected with the deadly disease. Also, Wade is overwhelmed by the amount of bodies coming into the morgue due to Covid-19, on the seventh season premiere of "NCIS: NEW ORLEANS," Sunday, Nov. 8 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Pictured L-R: Chelsea Field as Rita Devereaux and Scott Bakula as Special Agent Dwayne Pride Photo: Sam Lothridge/CBS ©2020 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved

NCIS: New Orleans Season 7 will only have 16 episodes

The 2020-2021 season is not going to look like all the others. Not only have we started the season late, but many TV shows are going to be shorter than usual. NCIS: New Orleans Season 7 will only have 16 episodes.

Usually, the show has between 22 and 24 episodes to the season. It’s one of CBS’s biggest shows, so the longer season order makes sense. However, CBS is having to make some tough decisions this year, despite viewers complaining to say they need more original content and not less.

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CBS is looking at the bigger picture. In fact, the decision suggests that NCIS: New Orleans Season 8 may already be open for discussion.

Why is NCIS: New Orleans Season 7 cut short?

According to The Hollywood Reporter, it’s all about timing. CBS doesn’t want it’s big shows to run into the summer, which is when live ratings take a big hit. That means wrapping up the season in May or early June at the very latest.

There’s also the need to get everything back on track for the 2021-2022 season. The summer is going to have to be used for filming to make sure fall shows can return in September 2021 instead of being delayed again. Productions need time off between seasons for writing, pre-production, etc. so behind-the-scenes schedules need to be considered.

To start filming in July, filming on the previous season usually stops around April. It takes eight to 10 days to film an episode in the majority of cases, and that doesn’t always include weekends. So, to wrap up in time for the break and to return to filming in July, the best option is to reduce the episode count.

NCIS: New Orleans Season 7 was one of the last CBS shows to return to production in September. So, while NCIS: Los Angeles Season 12 gets 18 episodes (it had an extra three weeks or so of production), New Orleans will need to cut down by an extra two episodes.

Not all CBS shows have been decided yet. Expect reduced episode counts on a lot more, including FBI and FBI: Most Wanted. Other networks will also likely follow the same pattern.

While it is disappointing for viewers, it makes a lot of sense for the networks and production companies.

NCIS: New Orleans Season 7 premieres on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 9:30/8:30c on CBS.

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