Vanessa Lachey didn’t see it coming.
Three weeks after posting a cast photo about wrapping season three of NCIS Hawai’i, the actress, 43, who moved to Hawaii with her husband Nick Lachey and their children, learned there will not be a fourth season of the crime solving drama.
‘Gutted, confused, blindsided,’ the leading lady wrote over an NCIS: Hawai’i logo in her Instagram Stories.
‘Grateful, confident, beloved fans! said the actress who starred as Special Agent in Charge Jane Tenant, continued, adding, ‘Processing this news and still being present with my family. I Love You all,’ and ending with the traditional ‘Mahalo Nui Loa.’
CBS made the announcement Friday, ending any hope the cast and crew would be able to bring the franchise to a natural end with a fourth and final season.
The show was the first in the NCIS franchise to be lead by a woman and the first to not receive a proper sendoff.
Spin-offs NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: New Orleans were both allowed to bow out gracefully after 14 and seven seasons respectively.
Although NCIS: Hawai’i had strong ratings, and added Los Angeles veteran LL Cool J to the cast, the network made the decision to cut the show, in spite of producers offering to make big concessions in order to get a fourth season, according to Deadline.
Overall uncertainly about the future of the network may have played a part as well. The parent company Paramount Global is in the process of being sold.
Noal Mills, who played Special Agent Jesse Boone, shared a photo of a golden sunset writing, ‘It was soooo much damn fun while it lasted!’
‘I will miss so many and so much about making this show. Incredibly grateful for the memories and to the AMAZING people on the great island of Oahu, Hawai’i. I cannot thank you enough for allowing me to visit, live, play, work and grow in such a special place. Boone man out.’
Jason Antoon, who starred as Tech Specialist Ernie Malik shared, ‘This business is brutal and makes no sense. But we had soooo much fun. Love you all and mahalo.
Seana Kofoed, who is married to Antoon and played Medical Examiner Chase, wrote a nice eulogy for the show.
‘So much ❤️ to our #ncishawaii fans. We continue to believe in the power of creating great entertainment while representing the world in which we live. Mahalo to (creators) Christopher Silber, Jan Nash and Matt Bosack for bringing this fantastic Ohana to life!’
‘To the incredible Hawai’i crew, our truly one-of-kind leader,@vanessalachey, this gift of a cast, and to the fiercely fabulous #ncishawaiiohana online. Mahalo nui loa. ❤️’
The Paramount Original series NCIS: Sydney, set in Australia will return for a second season and fans can look forward to new spin-offs, including an origin story for Mark Harmon’s character Leroy Jethro Gibbs and another focusing on NCIS characters Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David, played by Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo.
The final episode of NCIS: Hawai’i will air May 6.
