Why did NCIS: Los Angeles end after 14 seasons? The real reason behind the cancellation

One word: money. The real reason CBS never gave an official explanation, but the industry consensus — first reported by Deadline — is that the show had simply become too expensive to keep making. NCIS: LA filmed on location in Los Angeles, one of the priciest production cities in the world, with big-name leads in Chris O'Donnell and LL Cool J whose salaries had grown over 14 seasons. That's the standard economics of long-running network TV: the older a show gets, the more it costs, even when the ratings hold. The timing made it sting more. The cancellation came right after a hugely successful three-way crossover event with NCIS and NCIS: Hawai'i that delivered some of the franchise 's best ratings in years. How the cast reacted Publicly, with grace. LL Cool J posted on social media in 2023: "After 14 seasons, this is the perfect time to end @ncisla on top of our game!!!" O'Donnell thanked fans for "an amazing 14 year ride." Behind the scenes, though, reports described the news as a surprise to the cast and crew. The silver lining: CBS told showrunner R. Scott Gemmill early enough for him to write a real ending rather than an accidental one. How it ended The finale aired in two parts — "New Beginnings" on May 14, 2023, and "New Beginnings, Part Two" on May 21, 2023 — capped by a CBS tribute special hosted by Kevin Frazier. The send-off included a wedding, giving longtime fans the closure most canceled shows never get. A few numbers that put the run in perspective:14 seasons — premiering in September 2009 as the first-ever NCIS spinoff. Fifth longest-running — among CBS primetime scripted series, behind only Gunsmoke, Lassie, CSI, and Criminal Minds. Both leads went the distance — O'Donnell and LL Cool J stayed from the pilot to the finale, a rarity in the franchise. And Sam Hanna didn't stay gone long. LL Cool J turned up in the NCIS: Hawai'i season finale weeks later, keeping at least one member of the OSP team on the board. Canceled on top. Not many shows get to say that.

Why did NCIS: Los Angeles end after 14 seasons? The real reason behind the cancellation

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