CBS Orders Full Seasons for “NCIS: Origins” and “Poppa’s House” After Strong Debut Ratings

The new drama dives into Gibbs’ early NCIS days, while the comedy highlights a father-son duo’s laugh-filled journey—both shows find success on CBS and Paramount+.

CBS has greenlit full season orders for two of its new series, the prequel drama NCIS: Origins and the family comedy Poppa’s House. Both productions come from CBS Studios and have been received enthusiastically by audiences.

“NCIS: Origins brings a fresh layer to the NCIS franchise, offering an origin story for Leroy Jethro Gibbs and a cinematic take on the ’90s with its unique characters, gripping stories, and classic crime-solving elements,” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment. “Meanwhile, Poppa’s House shines with the father-son chemistry between Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr., portraying heartfelt, family-centered humor that resonates deeply with viewers.”

Each show will deliver 18 episodes in its debut season, marking them as CBS’s latest full-season orders this fall. Other recent pickups include Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, a Young Sheldon spinoff, and a second season renewal for Matlock, led by Kathy Bates.

NCIS: Origins premiered on October 14 and garnered an impressive 9 million viewers across CBS platforms within its first week, according to data from VideoAmp and CBS streaming. Poppa’s House, which launched October 21, followed suit with 6.41 million viewers after seven days of multiplatform viewing.

The cast of NCIS: Origins features Austin Stowell as a young Gibbs in 1991, with the story set around his early days at NCIS’s Camp Pendleton office. He joins a rugged team led by NCIS icon Mike Franks, played by Kyle Schmid. Mark Harmon, who originally portrayed Gibbs in NCIS, returns as the series’ narrator and executive producer, joined by his son Sean, David J. North, and Gina Lucita Monreal. Additional cast members include Mariel Molino, Tyla Abercrumbie, Diany Rodriguez, and Caleb Foote.

On the comedy front, Poppa’s House stars Damon Wayans as “Poppa,” a well-known radio host and happily divorced father, who faces challenges when a new female co-host (Essence Atkins) enters his work life, and at home, where he continues parenting his adult son (Damon Wayans Jr.), an idealistic dreamer striving to balance family and career. The series is executive produced by Dean Lorey and the Wayans.

Both shows are expected to continue resonating with CBS and Paramount+ audiences as part of the Monday night lineup, offering a balance of drama and comedy that appeals to a wide range of viewers.