<p id=”par-1_14″>There’s good and bad news for fans of some of <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/cbs-2026-finale-dates-ncis-matlock-marshals-watson-dmv.html/”>CBS’s most popular dramas</a>. </p>
<p id=”par-2_43″>Hit series like <em>Fire Country, NCIS: Origins, </em>and <em>NCIS: Sydney </em>are all set to return in the 2026-27 broadcast season. But because the network has such a packed schedule, the upcoming seasons of all three shows will be shorter than in the past. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-fire-country-season-5-will-have-just-13-episodes”>‘Fire Country’ Season 5 will have just 13 episodes </h2>
<p id=”par-3_22″>First responder drama <em>Fire Country </em>will have just 13 episodes in season 5, <a href=”https://deadline.com/2026/05/cbs-fire-country-shorter-season-5-more-scripted-2026-27-1236878176/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Deadline</a> reports. That’s down from 20 in season 4. </p>
<p id=”par-4_53″><em>NCIS: Origins </em>and <em>NCIS: Sydney </em>will also both have shortened seasons. Prequel series <em>NCIS: Origins </em>Season 3 will have 10 episodes and begin airing in the fall, down from 18 this season. At midseason, it will be replaced on the schedule by <em>NCIS: Sydney, </em>which will also have 10 episodes, down from 20. </p>
<p id=”par-5_43″>Why the cuts? In the case of <em>Sydney </em>and <em>Origins</em>, CBS needs to accommodate another addition to the <em>NCIS</em>verse: <em>NCIS: New York. </em>The new show will feature <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/ncis-los-angeles-ll-cool-j-solo-rap-artist.html/”><em>NCIS: Los Angeles </em>alum LL Cool J</a> returning as Sam Hanna. Scott Caan will also star. </p>
<p id=”par-6_39″>The network also needs to make room for new dramas <em>Cupertino </em>(which will premiere in the fall 2026) and <em>Einstein, </em>which will debut midseason with a 13-episode season 1. One new comedy, <em>Eternally Yours, </em>is also on the schedule. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-fans-are-disappointed-by-shorter-seasons-for-ncis-origins-and-ncis-sydney”>Fans are disappointed by shorter seasons for ‘NCIS: Origins’ and ‘NCIS: Sydney’</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-1″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/NCISSydney.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”JD, Julian, and Mackey walking while wearing bulletproof vest in ‘NCIS: Sydney'” class=”wp-image-3882947″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Todd Lasance as Jim ‘JD’ Dempsey, Nic English as Julian Black, and Olivia Swann as Captain Michelle Mackey in ‘NCIS: Sydney’ Season 3 | © 2026 CBS Studios Inc. NCIS: Sydney and related marks and logos are trademarks of CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.</figcaption></figure>
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<span class=”related-article-flag”>Related</span>
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<a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/ncis-new-york-set-spinoff-ll-cool-j.html/”>
‘NCIS’ Gets New York-Set Spinoff With LL Cool J, But Some Fans Aren’t Happy </a>
</p>
</div>
<p id=”par-7_15″>Unsurprisingly, loyal viewers aren’t thrilled that they’ll be getting fewer episodes of their favorite shows. </p>
<p id=”par-8_23″>“So <em>NCIS</em> and <em>NCIS NY</em> getting 20 episodes, but <em>Origins</em> and <em>Sydney</em> only getting 10 episodes next year….,” one person commented on <a href=”https://www.instagram.com/p/DXz13VFkuFt/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Instagram</a>. </p>
<p id=”par-9_6″>“<em>Origins </em>is being sidelined,” another complained. </p>
<p id=”par-10_13″>“Seriously? Origins is the best IMO,” someone else replied. “Don’t short change us.”</p>
<p id=”par-11_15″>Meanwhile, a <em>Fire Country </em>fan hopes the reduced episode count will have a silver lining. </p>
<p id=”par-12_19″>“Hopefully this means it’s a tighter well written season, and the fat is trimmed off!” they wrote on Reddit. </p>
<p id=”par-13_6″>However, another viewer was less optimistic. </p>
<p id=”par-14_15″>“The writing and storylines stink this year,” they wrote. “Kind of shocked they renewed it.” </p>
<p id=”par-15_45″>The <em>NCIS: Origins </em>Season 2 finale airs May 5 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, the <em>NCIS: Sydney </em>finale airs May 12 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, and the <em>Fire Country </em> Season 4 finale airs May 22 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. All episodes stream on Paramount+. </p>
<p id=”par-16_11″><em>For more news and exclusive interviews, follow </em><a href=”https://www.instagram.com/showbizcheatsheet/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”><em>Showbiz Cheat Sheet’s Instagram</em></a><em>.</em></p>