It's the 60th anniversary of Star Trek, and for the first time in a decade, there are no active shows in development. The cancellation of Starfleet Academy has seemingly left the door open to new ideas, and one of them has received a fair amount of traction lately. There's a community of fans who really want to see Scott Bakula return as Captain Archer for a pitch tied to Enterprise, and as a fan, I can't get behind it.

As franchise veterans like Jonathan Frakes talk about the future and how the sci-fi series will bounce back, there's a real question being asked about what will bring new fans in. Well, if there's one thing I can say with relative certainty, it's not going to be this project, for a litany of reasons.

What Scott Bakula's Enterprise Follow-Up Pitch Is

It was reported a while back that Scott Bakula and writer Michael Sussman had a pitch for an Enterprise follow-up they called Star Trek: United. Sussman, a producer on the original Enterprise, described the pitch of a show centered around Captain Archer and his work as the President of the United Federation of Planets.

The idea, according to Sussman, was for the series to be a more mature form of science fiction. Similar to what Andor did for Star Wars, the idea of this project was to offer Star Trek: United as an option for fans who wanted tense diplomacy, politics, and mature conversations. I'll candidly say now, it feels like a solution to a problem Trek never had, at least in the same way Star Wars has, but my issues with it extend far beyond that.

Paramount Took Meetings For The Pitch

What made this pitch stand out more than other ideas, such as Michael Dorne's Klingon series, was that Paramount actually held meetings to discuss the pitch. I'm not surprised that it happened, of course, seeing as Scott Bakula is a household name and one of the former Star Trek captains who had yet to appear in the new era.

Obviously, things didn't work out, but I still see the occasional post or comment online trying to encourage Paramount Skydance to shift in that direction. I'm sure there are a good number of Star Trek fans who would love to see this series come back, and we get a return to the Enterprise era. Five years ago, I would've been on board, but right now it's a terrible idea.

This Project Would Do Nothing To Entice New Fans To Franchise

Recent shows, like Starfleet Academy and movies like Section 31, were attempts by Star Trek creatives to try to entice a new and younger audience into the long-running franchise. It's reported that the belief within the franchise is that the fandom is "dying," and not because people are leaving. Rather, a lot of Trekkies are older and actually dying.

For this franchise to continue, we need a younger generation to get into Trek, so tell me what about a revival of Enterprise puts their butts in seats? I think a lot of people heard the pitch of "Star Trek, but if it were Andor," and got so excited, many forgot that Star Trek was Andor before Andor even existed.

I also love Scott Bakula, to be clear, but I don't see what his starring does to bring in a younger audience. I'm not sure how many in the Gen-Z crowd routinely tuned into NCIS: New Orleans, and I doubt many of them have caught up with his episodes of Quantum Leap on streaming. I do know of an audience that would eat that up, and unfortunately, they're the older crowd that Star Trek already has hooked.

The Series Sounds Landlocked, Which Presents More Issues

Based on what we've heard, the series was set to be primarily set on Earth. It makes sense, considering the President of the United Federation of Planets would not make a regular habit of flying around in space and putting himself in harm's way, given his important position.

Logical as it may be, I don't think a landlocked Star Trek series would be nearly as thrilling as how the franchise usually does things in space. At this point, it might as well be called The West Wing with aliens. Maybe once Paramount Skydance's merger with Warner Bros. Discovery is complete, someone can make that pitch.

That's not to say there aren't workarounds. Starfleet Academy made the school a working ship as well, making it possible for the characters to also have space adventures. I'm less worried about this compared to other issues with Star Trek: United, but I also think that the next series certainly shouldn't be one in which characters don't trek through the stars.

Why Revive A Series That Also Struggled To Find An Audience?

While I think Star Trek: Enterprise managed to find more of an audience and appreciation thanks to being available with a Paramount+ subscription, I'm not sure I see the value in reviving one of the most polarizing entries in the Rick Berman era. The series frequently struggled with ratings during its run, and was the death knell of Star Trek until it was resurrected by the Kelvin timeline movies.

Granted, I get that the original Star Trek series was not a runaway success and also had struggles in the ratings. At the same time, I can't imagine Star Trek: United bringing in a big enough audience to instill faith that the franchise is back on track. Even if I, personally, would love the idea, it just doesn't feel mainstream enough to be the answer for what Trek should do anytime soon, if ever.

I hate to rain on fellow fans' parades, or be a Debbie Downer, but I feel these are the conversations we need to be having during the gap period for Star Trek. Fans were what saved this franchise so long ago, and let's be honest, it might be on them yet again to save it during this time.

I continue to wait to see what the future holds for Star Trek. That is, unless it's the United pitch, in which I'll have a lot more questions. Here's hoping there are others with ideas out there!

It is always disappointing when a show is cancelled, something most of us have experienced countless times over the years. When our beloved long-running series gets sent out to pasture, or an up-and-coming show meets an early demise, it’s not rare for fans to take to social media to air out their grievances and drum up support for the recently departed. But what did fans do when back in the day, before social media was a thing, and when the internet was still in its infancy?

I recently picked up a 1993 edition of Starlog magazine at a comic book store, and the “Communications” section was full of Quantum Leap fans complaining about its cancellation, the show’s final episode, and other aspects of the series. Being the son of a father obsessed with the show and having paid attention to discourse over the years, I knew fans were mad. I just didn’t know they were this mad.

One Fan Called The Cancellation A ‘Horrendous Travesty’ And Organized A Write-In Campaign

I’m going to leave out the names of the fine folks who wrote into Starlog back in the summer of ‘93, but there were some choice comments about all matters of nerdom. From offering support for Space Rangers, to yelling about the Sci-Fi Channel not being pure science fiction (I wonder what they think of the channel now), and some bickering about spaceship design on Star Trek: The Next Generation, there was so much.

None comes close to the anger and pure bitterness of one fan who wrote a pointed missive laying out his complaints, not with the show, but the “horrendous travesty” of NBC pulling the plug:

The fan would go on to point out an issue that has long impacted shows, and continues to today on the 2026 TV schedule: the shuffling of timeslots. He would go on about networks, making it difficult for fans to find the programs they like by moving them around or putting them up against a rival network’s top show. So, what did he want other Quantum Leap fans to do about this? Well, a letter campaign, duh:

Before the days of social media, a letter campaign was the way to go. Too bad it didn’t persuade NBC to reverse course, though the network later rebooted the series before also cancelling it after two seasons.

Another Couple Asked For Help With Their Questions And Theories

There was another comment further down in the “Communications” section where a couple wrote in asking for help with their questions and theories following the Quantum Leap finale, “Mirror Image.” Unlike today, where you can immediately turn to the internet for clarification or conversations about something, it was a different story in 1993, as they wrote:

Most of these theories dealt with Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula) either dying or changing the past so much that he ended up not being born, Al Calavicci (the late Dean Stockwell) never joining the project, or the Bartender (played by Bruce McGill) being God. They never got those answers…

I really wonder what these people are up to 33 years after sending some very passionate letters to Starlog. Now I need to go back to that shop and see if I can track down the next issue. Until then…

Warning: SPOILERS for the NCIS: Origins episode “Feelin' Alright?” are ahead!

Last November, it was announced that NCIS: Origins would introduce the younger version of Dwayne Pride, previously played by Scott Bakula for the entirety of NCIS: New Orleans. Only Murders in the Building’s Shea Buckner was subsequently cast in the role, and tonight we saw the first official meeting of Pride and Leroy Jethro Gibbs on the 2026 TV schedule. CinemaBlend spoke with Austin Stowell, who plays Gibbs on Origins, ahead of “Feelin' Alright?” airing, and he explained to us why he didn’t turn to OG footage of Bakula and Mark Harmon together in order to prepare for this episode.

Back in 2014, the NCIS Season 11 two-parter “Crescent City” served as NCIS: New Orleans’ backdoor pilot, and we learned that Gibbs and Pride had been close friends for a long time. “Feelin’ Alright?” showed the birth of that friendship. Things got off to a rocky start, however, but more on that soon. At the start of my interview with Austin Stowell, I asked him whether he studied previous episodes where Mark Harmon and Scott Bakula were sharing screen time (you can stream those with a Paramount+ subscription), and he responded:

Technically Gibbs and Pride teaming up in this NCIS: Origins episode was their second meeting, as “Feelin' Alright?” revealed that in 1981, they crossed paths in Louisiana under less than ideal circumstances. Gibbs was at a bar to honor his late mother with his father Jackson, and they got into a disagreement with Pride, a sheriff’s deputy in New Orleans, that saw Pride punching Jackson, and then he and Gibbs being tossed out of the bar.11 years later, Pride, now an NIS agent from the Panama office, stopped by the Origins stomping grounds with his boss, Dan McClane, to help investigate a smuggling ring tied to the murder Mike Franks’ team was investigating.

It makes sense that Austin Stowell decided not to watch Mark Harmon’s Gibbs and Scott Bakula’s Pride on NCIS and NCIS: New Orleans ahead of time, because the younger versions of those characters did not have camaraderie with each other for the majority of this episode. Austin Stowell continued in his assessment of what Leroy Jethro Gibbs thinks of Pride and McClane when they come to the NIS Pendleton office:

That perception faded away by the end of “Feelin’ Alright?” after Gibbs and Pride went undercover and busted up the smuggling ring. They’re not exactly the best of friends at this point, but at least there’s respect between the two men now. Additionally, this NCIS: Origins episode also saw Special Agent Felix Betts being brought in to investigate the financial clues in this smuggling ring case. Once it was solved, him, Gibbs, Pride, McClane and Franks were dubbed the Fed Five for the press, although Vera Strickland really deserved Betts’ spot since he barely did anything and she came up with the inter-office coordination idea.

We know the Fed Five will reform in 1994 to hunt down the Privileged Killer, so depending on how long NCIS: Origins goes, it’s guaranteed we’ll see Dwayne Pride, Dan McClane and Felix Betts again. For now, there’s still plenty left in Season 2 to get through. So continue following along with new episodes Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS, and check back with CinemaBlend for more content from my interview with Austin Stowell.

Back in late May, NCIS: Origins co-showrunner Gina Lucita Monreal shared that the prequel series was planning to address the Fed 5, the law enforcement group that counted Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Mike Franks and Dwayne Pride among its members. The group’s existence was revealed in the NCIS Season 11 two-parter “Crescent City,” which introduced Scott Bakula as Pride and paved the way for NCIS: New Orleans’ seven-season run. Now word’s come in that Origins is set to bring in the younger Pride, which has me eager to see a big moment between him and Austin Stowell’s Gibbs.

Just a week after Monreal confirmed to me that that NCIS: Origins still planned to “touch on the Fed 5, though not in the way people might think,” TV Insider has learned that the series is casting Pride for an appearance later in Season 2. At this stage of his life, the character, previously a sheriff’s deputy, is a “newly minted Probationary Special Agent” from the NIS Panama office who already has history with Gibbs, and they’ll need to “resolve their past tension as they go undercover on a case.” Monreal and co-showrunner David J. North had this to say about Origins featuring Pride:

During “Crescent City,” which aired back in 2014, Mark Harmon’s Gibbs told his team that he’d known Dwayne Pride for 30 years at that point and trusted him with his life. That means they met in 1984, when Gibbs was still a Marine sniper and Pride was presumably still a sheriff’s deputy in Jefferson Parish. Pride joined NIS in 1989, and Gibbs followed suit two years later. However, with NCIS: Origins Season 2 taking place in 1992, we’re still a couple years away from these two teaming up with Mike Franks, Dan McLane and Felix Betts to apprehend who they thought was the Privileged Killer (the true Killer was revealed in “Crescent City”). Harmon also appeared as Gibbs in four episodes of NCIS: New Orleans, which you can stream with your Paramount+ subscription.

Whenever the younger Dwayne Pride makes his debut on NCIS: Origins, hopefully we’ll get some exposition or even flashbacks of how he and Leroy Jethro Gibbs met eight years prior. After all, we need to learn the background of this “past tension.” More importantly, though, I’m looking forward to seeing how Gibbs and Pride overcome their differences and became “brothers,” as they referred to each other in “Crescent City.” I’m assuming whatever goes down in this undercover mission will be the catalyst for that, and perhaps this will even lead to Pride becoming a recurring character on Origins.

The news of Pride’s forthcoming NCIS: Origins entrance follows three weeks after Adam Campbell reprised the young Ducky Mallard after making several appearances on the flagship show. Season 1 featured a guest appearance from Lucas Dixon as the young Tobias Fornell, and last season’s finale also included Claire Berger and Kathleen Kenny as the young Lara Macy and Diane Sterling, respectively. The latter woman, who will become Gibbs’ second wife, has continued to appear in Season 2, which airs new episodes Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.

Are you a fan of TV shows like NCIS, JAG and Quantum Leap? Thank television producer Donald P. Bellisario, as he created these popular series and many others from the 1980s to early 2000s. NCIS is even still going strong, as it’s about to enter its 23rd season on the 2025 TV schedule this fall. Various actors from these shows got together this past weekend to celebrate Bellisario’s 90th birthday, including Scott Bakula, who affectionately poked fun at the man while giving a speech at the party.

JAG actress Catherine Bell shared a snippet of the speech Bakula gave to the attendees on her Instagram Stories. The actor, who starred as Sam Beckett in the original Quantum Leap, amusingly busted Bellisario’s chops with these words:

Look, having to overcome that kind of adversity as a child in the 1940s, it’s no wonder Donald Bellisario became a successful television producer! Seriously though, good-natured ribbing is to be expected at a celebration like this. Scott Bakula (also of Star Trek: Enterprise fame) and Bellisario go way back, so the former definitely has the leeway to tell a story like that about the latter, and everyone knows it’s coming from a friendly place.

Along with Scott Bakula and Catherine Bell (who played Sarah MacKenzie in all but the first of JAG’s seasons, as well as three episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles), other notable attendees at Donald Bellisario’s birthday party included NCIS actors Michael Weatherly, Cote de Pablo, Sean Murray, Brian Dietzen, Gary Cole and Diona Reasonover. Bell also reunited with JAG costars Patrick Labyorteaux, Karri Turner and Steven Culp, with Bell specifically mentioning in her Stories that she hadn’t seen the former two in about 20 years. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention that Bakula is also part of the NCIS franchise from his time as Dwayne Pride on NCIS: New Orleans, though Bellisario wasn’t involved in that spinoff’s creation.

Happy 90th birthday, Mr. Bellisario, and here’s to more celebrations in your future! If any of you reading now feel like revisiting the original Quantum Leap, it can be streamed for free on Roku. Otherwise, break out your Paramount+ subscription to check out JAG and all of the NCIS shows, which will include the platform-exclusive NCIS: Tony & Ziva in a few weeks.

20 years ago, Star Trek: Enterprise came to a (rather disappointing) end after four seasons, and with that also concluded the Star Trek TV run that had been going since The Next Generation premiered in 1987. But the franchise has been going strong again on the small screen front since 2017 for those with a Paramount+ subscription, with Strange New Worlds Season 3 currently airing on the 2025 TV schedule and Starfleet Academy dropping sometime next year. Now it turns out that Scott Bakula, who starred as Jonathan Archer in Enterprise, is helping put together a follow-up series for his character that sounds intriguing.

Enterprise producer Michael Sussman, who also wrote 22 episodes in the series, informed TrekMovie that he first thought of an idea to revisit Archer around the time Star Trek: Picard Season 3 was ending. Sussamn joked in an email with Bakula about when they’ll “see Star Trek: Archer on Paramount+,” then realized there was an actual nugget of an idea there. Specifically, Sussman and Bakula are keen to explore Archer’s tenure as president of the United Federation of Planets, and they want this show to have the same kind of mature tone that the Star Wars series Andor had. As Sussman put it:

The premise for this potential show originates from the Enterprise episode “A Mirror Darkly Part II,” where the evil Mirror Universe read information about his Prime Universe counterpart found in the database of the USS Defiant, a Prime Universe ship previously seen the Original Series episode “The Tholian Web” that had been sent back in time. There was a graphic showing that Archer entered the political life after retiring as an admiral in Starfleet and eventually achieved his presidential position in the Federation, which founded six years after the main events of Enterprise, as seen in the controversial series finale. Well, it turns out it was Michael Sussman himself who came up with this piece of trivia.

Sussman and Scott Bakula are calling this series Star Trek: United, with the former also comparing it to shows like The West Wing, Homeland and The Diplomat. Upon getting Bakula’s approval, Sussman took his “high-level overview” of United to Secret Hideout, the production company run by Alex Kurtzman, who’s been overseeing the Star Trek franchise’s TV side. The meeting apparently went well, and Sussman had been preparing a follow-up pitch going over “a pilot story, character arcs, and episode ideas.”

However, Secret Hideout and Paramount decided not to move forward with further development on the idea, and Michael Sussman and Scott Bakula have gone on to work on a non-Star Trek project together. Following Skydance’s acquisition of Paramount, Sussman is hopeful that he and Bakula can re-pitch Star Trek: United to the new regime. There was even a point where they decided to move the show’s setting from Earth to the planet Babel in order to thematically differentiate itself from Starfleet Academy, though it’s unclear if that change stuck.

While Star Trek: Enterprise is by no means my favorite of the franchise’s shows, I did like Scott Bakula’s portrayal of Jonathan Archer, and Star Trek: United sounds like a good way to catch up with him in a different kind of environment putting his political savvy to good use. If the day comes that United is added to the list of upcoming Star Trek TV shows, count on CinemaBlend to pass that news along.

Star Trek remains an acclaimed IP and continues to collect accolades in 2024. Just recently, many franchise stars were on hand to celebrate the series being the recipient of the Institutional Peabody Award at the organization's 84th awards ceremony. There's one particular franchise alum that truly caught my attention, though. Enterprise star Scott Bakula was on hand for the event and his appearance, in particular, has me psyched for a few reasons.  

Scott Bakula famously played Captain Jonathan Archer on Enterprise, which had a controversial ending that even its co-creator won't defend. With so many upcoming Star Trek shows on the way, I can't help but wonder if there are plans for the actor to make a return based on his appearance onstage at the event (which was posted on YouTube) and a couple of other key reasons.

Almost Everyone On Stage Has Been Recently Involved With Star Trek, So Why Is Scott Bakula There? 

As mentioned, Scott Bakula was far from the only Star Trek actor in attendance at the 84th Annual Peabody Awards. Yet he was one of the only ones who hasn't worked in the franchise in recent memory. Here's a rundown of who all showed up to support the franchise on the acting side of things: 

• Patrick Stewart
• Anson Mount
• Rebecca Romijn
• LeVar Burton
• Jeri Ryan
• Tawny Newsome
• Ethan Peck
• Wilson Cruz
• Doug Jones
• Sam Richardson
• Scott Bakula

Two interesting factoids stand out about this list. One, Scott Bakula was the only actor featured who hasn't worked on a Star Trek project in recent memory. Two, Sam Richardson was invited but hasn't officially debuted yet as part of the Section 31 cast. 

If one actor was invited to appear despite their latest project not having aired yet, would it also be possible for Scott Bakula to have received an invite for some future project we don't know about yet? Sure, he might've been invited simply to have some Enterprise representation but, if that were true, wouldn't we see someone from Deep Space Nine on the stage as well? Bakula's presence could be insignificant but, as a fan who just saw him sidestep any involvement in the Quantum Leap revival, I think it's interesting to see him in this context. 

Alex Kurtzman Hinted At Surprises Coming To Star Trek

Another detail that has me suspicious about Scott Bakula representing Star Trek at the Peabody Awards is that Alex Kurtzman confirmed surprises were on the way that fans don't know about. As much as I love watching old episodes of Enterprise with my Paramount+ subscription, I am bummed it never received a proper finale and wish the franchise would fix that. 

Given that this IP is now loaded with stars who are Star Trek superfans, I would reckon I'm not alone. With another live-action show like Discovery finished, there's room for a miniseries or movie starring Jonathan Archer that could give a more conclusive ending to the Enterprise series than the one we received decades ago. 

Even if nothing is currently on the table, I'd like to think that Alex Kurtzman or at least one of the other creatives in attendance have broached the subject with Scott Bakula. Fans want to see Jonathan Archer again and, with so many stars being welcomed back in recent years, why shouldn't he be offered the same opportunity? With so many ways to bring him back in shows via holodeck or temporal distortion, this feels like something that would be easy to work out. Assuming the actor is interested and other tricky variables aren't at play here, there's no reason Trek couldn't pursue this. 

Until Scott Bakula is announced to be returning to Star Trek, we can only continue to stream Enterprise on Paramount+. Who knows, maybe conversations are happening behind the scenes that could result in fans seeing more of Captain Archer in the future, along with others members of his crew. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Quantum Leap Season 2 premiere "This Took Too Long." Read at your own risk!

Dr. Ben Song is finally back on our television screens, and Quantum Leap's other characters were very surprised to see him. While Ben worked to complete a leap without the help of his friends back in the present timeline, he did it largely on his own, at least until Ian finally popped in at the end to see him. Ben didn't have long to talk to his friend but heard enough to learn that he'd been considered missing for three years, and then presumed dead. CinemaBlend talked to one of the NBC sci-fi drama's executive producers, who shared how that reveal factors into the rest of the season. as well as how it could have more large-scale ramifications that could affect Scott Bakula's Sam Beckett. 

Ahead of the latest premiere, executive producer Chris Grismer was on hand  to speak to CinemaBlend about the Quantum Leap program has been shut down as Ben's friends have been dealing with his absence for three years. Viewers may have a lot of questions about that sizeable time-frame, considering Ben was seemingly unaware he'd lost any time at all. Grismer assured me that answers will come as Season 2 unfolds, saying:

Ben is in shock at the end of Quantum Leap's Season 2 opener, and who could argue against that being the only logical reaction? My jaw was on the floor as well, as my mind raced about what it could possibly mean. If the program was shut down, how did Ian even find Ben? Furthermore, where are Magic, Jenn, and Addison? Fortunately, it appears these answers will come in time, according to Chris Grismer, but man, what a way to set the stage for this new batch of episodes. 

The mystery of Ben's time distortion is riveting, and it also had me wondering if and how it could play into the whereabouts of Scott Bakula's Sam Beckett. The revival series confirmed in Season 1 that he never made it back home, and thus was either still leaping or dead. One can't help but draw some parallels, considering the same unknown fate surrounded Ben until Ian found him. 

When I asked the showrunner if this new storyline could re-open the door on speculation regarding Sam's situation, Grismer told me: 

There's still no word on whether or not Scott Bakula will appear on the new Quantum Leap, though he gave the revival his blessing early on. CinemaBlend did learn from showrunner Martin Gero that the show's execs have no intention of recasting the role, so if Sam Beckett does return, it'll be Bakula playing the character. 

Even if Sam's return isn't in the cards for Season 2, it will be good to hear some new theories regarding his disappearance and how he went missing between leaps and lost no time between the premiere and the cliffhanger ending of Season 1. My mind is already spinning with theories, which means I will need to fire up my Peacock Premium subscription all over again to watch this awesome premiere. 

Quantum Leap is back on NBC and airs on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Despite the wild reveal in the premiere, Ben still has a job to do in each and every leap he arrives at. In short, expect the fun, drama, and hijinks to continue, in addition to more wild reveals as we dive deeper into the season. 

Even though CBS' fall TV schedule is running light on new scripted episodes from its most popular dramas, NCIS fans didn't have to wait until September to see the franchise pull off a four-show crossover, or at least the closest thing that audiences are going to get in that department. To be fair, 2023 kicked off with its three then-currently airing dramas crossing over, as NCIS characters mixed it up with the leads from NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: Hawai'i. But then Daniela Ruah went and showed off an unexpected reunion that topped it all, thanks to Scott Bakula and another NCIS: New Orleans vet. Sadly, however, Mark Harmon was nowhere to be found. 

As amazing as it would be for Ruah’s pictures to come from the set of one of the CBS dramas,with the promise of a legitimate mash-up from four different NCIS dramas for the first time, that’s technically not something that could happen right now anyway. Seen in the Kinsey actress’ Instagram post below, she crossed paths with a variety of franchise vets while on the picket lines for the SAG-AFTRA actors strike and the WGA writers strike, and those will both need to end before any kind of future on-screen crossovers can happen. 

What a turn-out! As much of a bummer as it is to know that entertainment strikes are the reason these cast and crew members were together in L.A., it's hard to deny the power of everyone's smiling faces and positive energy as they fight for fair wages and myriad other issues. It's equally hard to tamp down the excitement from seeing four different NCIS factions coming together in one place, and that Scott Bakula and CCH Pounder were out there showing support for their guild. It obviously would have also been cool to see fellow former lead Mark Harmon representing, since he's been largely out of the public eye following his NCIS exit. But maybe we'll see him pop up before the strikes have been resolved.

Below is a rundown of just about everyone seen in Daniela Ruah's pics who are directly tied to the NCIS franchises.

• Daniela Ruah (NCIS: LA Actor)
• Kavi Ladnier (NCIS: LA Actor)
• Lesley Boone (NCIS: LA Actor)
• Don Wallace (NCIS: LA Actor)
• Brian Dietzen (NCIS Actor)
• CCH Pounder (NCIS: NOLA Actor)
• Scott Bakula (NCIS: NOLA Actor)
• Vanessa Lachey (NCIS: Hawai'i Actor)
• Kian Talan (NCIS: Hawai'i Actor)
• Frank Military (NCIS / NCIS: LA Writer / Director)
• Joey Wilson (NCIS: LA Writer / Producer)
• Adam Key (NCIS: LA Writer / Actor)
• Indira G. Wilson (NCIS: LA Writer / Producer / Actor)
• Jamil Akim O'Quinn (NCIS: LA Writer / Actor)
• Justin Kohlas (NCIS: LA Writer)
• Taschi Lynell (NCIS: LA Hair Department)

Oh, to have been a fly on the wall near these meet-ups. Despite the heat, I have to assume there were many fun conversations being had in these particular picket lines. And we might not have even known they happened if not for Daniela Ruah. If only her co-star and on-screen hubby Eric Christian Olsen wasn't busy promoting his new children's book, it would have been great to see him bringing their Densi energy out in public. 

Fans can literally spend much of the rest of 2023 binge-watching NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: Hawai’i, and NCIS: New Orleans, as all of those shows’ seasons are available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription. At least we know Mark Harmon’s Leroy Gibbs won’t be erased from any of the past seasons, even if he doesn’t show up for any new ones on the 2023 TV schedule.

Quantum Leap is back on television, and it’s already scored additional episode orders for its Season 1 run. It’s also garnered a solid batch of praise across the internet, with fans new and old on board with Dr. Ben Song and his quest to find a way back to his time period. Despite that, there are some people still wondering if they should catch up with their Peacock subscription or tune in for an upcoming episode, and I’m here to say they need to do that ASAP. 

As someone who watched a good chunk of the original show and is currently enjoying the revival, I’m fully on board with this new era of Quantum Leap. For those still on the fence or curious if the new series is worth their time, I can assure you there are plenty of reasons to make time for this show before Season 1 is over. 

The Revival Feels Like The Original Quantum Leap, But With More Meat To It

Fans of the original Quantum Leap won’t spend long watching the revival before they recognize these two things have a lot more in common than differences. Raymond’s leaps to other individuals play out a lot like Sam Beckett’s, and thus far, the whole story progresses seamlessly into the whole “adventure of the week” format that makes the original so easy to watch. The first three episodes saw Ben hop from a getaway driver to an astronaut to a professional boxer, so yeah, there’s a lot of variety to enjoy so far.  

One thing that is different, however, is that the new Quantum Leap introduced a more serialized aspect beyond the question of whether Ben will ever get home. There’s the additional story of why Ben jumped in the first place, which is something he forgot as a result of his jump. There’s also a greater conspiracy going on behind the scenes regarding the Quantum Leap project, as Ben’s coworkers attempt to figure out why Sam went rogue and why he uploaded a bunch of new code into Ziggy, the project's AI, from Janice, Al Calavicci’s daughter. 

Quantum Leap fans get to scratch their itch for the classic adventures of the original, but also get a serialized plot that visits what’s happening outside of Ben Song’s leaps in the present day, particularly the team’s efforts to try and bring him back. What’s better is the NBC series does a great job at balancing its episodic and serialized elements, so much so that I’d reckon someone could just rewatch an episode on a whim without feeling like they need to remember everything that came before. 

The Revival Acknowledges The Events Of The Original Series

One might assume that because Scott Bakula revealed he’s not involved in the revival that the new Quantum Leap might’ve tried to write around anything involving Sam Beckett. That’s not the case, as the series premiere doesn’t just go on to openly namecheck the original time traveler, but to confirm that downer ending of the original series. Yes, that’s right, Sam Beckett never returned home, and is either continually hopping from body to body in the present day or dead.

It’s more than just about Sam, though, as Ernie Hudson’s Herbert "Magic" Williams is in the series with meaningful ties to the original Quantum Leap. Magic is a Vietnam war veteran first seen in the original series when Sam jumped into his body during “The Leap Home (Part 2) - Vietnam.” Magic recently revealed that after he learned about the project and that he was one of the people Sam leapt into and changed the course of his life, he knew he had to get the project started again in an attempt to try and bring Sam back. 

For now, there are only a few callbacks to the original series, but they’re meaningful and substantial enough that one has to believe Quantum Leap will continue to make them should the series continue for multiple seasons. Of course, there’s one obvious way the show could acknowledge the events of the original series, which segues perfectly into the next major reason to watch. 

The Show Is Seemingly Leaving The Door Open For Scott Bakula To Reprise Sam Beckett

If there’s one thing that feels really obvious about the new Quantum Leap in these early episodes, it’s that the show is being very careful with how much information it rolls out regarding Sam Beckett. Right now, the characters theorize that he’s still out in the universe either hopping from body to body or he’s dead, which feels like the ideal scenario for fans at the moment. 

Essentially, it sets the character of Sam Beckett in a holding pattern and keeps the door open for his return should Scott Bakula find time in his schedule to join Quantum Leap. That’s assuming Bakula isn’t already secretly involved in some way, of course, though we have no real reason to assume that beyond he was originally involved with the new Quantum Leap when it was first announced. I could see why Quantum Leap wouldn’t immediately want to spoil Sam Beckett’s return, as it could undermine the new cast and make them too anxious to see Bakula back in action. Again though, this is all speculative, and we have no real reason to suspect Bakula is secretly involved in the series at the moment. 

The important takeaway here is that Quantum Leap hasn’t closed off the possibility of Scott Bakula reprising his role as Sam Beckett, which means there’s a chance it can happen. Personally, I have a hunch that whatever Ben did with that new code is going to help him attempt to triangulate where Sam is and attempt to bring him home. Of course, I could be completely off base on that, but I’m eager to learn more and see if that’s where things are headed. 

Raymond Lee Is A Fantastic Lead With A Great Supporting Cast

I’m of the opinion that the original Quantum Leap was a good show made great by fantastic performances by Scott Bakula. The revival is off to a very strong start, and that’s thanks in no small part to its Dr. Ben Song actor, Raymond Lee. It’s not often I’m instantly all-in on the lead of a series and everything their character is about, but that happened with Ben Song. That’s really saying something considering his bone-headed move of jumping before the Quantum Leap tech was stabilized, but those who watch should understand quickly enough. 

And just to be clear, Raymond Lee’s performance is only bolstered by his co-star Caitlin Bassett. Their great Sam/Al-like chemistry is well worth the price of admission alone, and there’s more to love outside of that. Bassett, of course, carries a lot of the story outside of the leaps and interacts with others in the cast like Mason Alexander Park's Ian and Nanrisa Lee’s Jenn. Ernie Hudson is also an absolute gem as Magic, and will hopefully get his flowers by the time the season is up. In short, I love the talented Quantum Leap cast and can’t wait to see how much they grow in these roles as Quantum Leap continues. 

If you’re now convinced now is a great time to watch Quantum Leap, check it out on NBC Mondays at 10:00 p.m. ET. It’s one of many quality shows appearing in the 2022 TV Schedule, so be sure to take a peek at that and see what else is on the way. 

The Quantum Leap revival is off to a great start at NBC, even with former franchise lead Scott Bakula’s decision to not join the show. With that said, the series keeps mentioning his character Sam Beckett and, while we know Bakula doesn’t currently have any plans to join, the story seemingly remains open-ended for Sam to return at a later date should things change. Now, comments from showrunner Martin Gero have provided some clarity regarding where things stand with Bakula and Beckett,  despite the feelings the actor presently has.

Martin Gero took some time to share how he’s proceeding with the veteran actor's rejection and not having him involved. Gero mentioned to Collider that he will respect his decision, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to quit reaching out: 

The Quantum Leap showrunner expressed that he’d love to welcome back Scott Bakula, possibly as Sam Beckett, but he’s unsure if it’ll happen. While Bakula previously said that he’s rooting for the revival and that it has his support, he hasn’t exactly given an explicit reason as to why he’s not involved. Bakula is still an in-demand actor, however, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he simply had a previous commitment that prevents him from being involved. Bakula was linked to an NBC pilot earlier this year, but it's since been reported that the project isn't moving forward. 

It’s also possible that everyone involved is playing coy to hide the surprise that Scott Bakula will eventually join the cast of Quantum Leap. Early reports about the series once pointed to Bakula’s involvement though, obviously, it seems more likely that he's completely uninvolved at this point in time.

The revival’s premiere noted that Sam Beckett was never found after his jump and that he was either still out in the universe making jumps or dead. That feels like an intentional placeholder for Beckett to come back into the story at some point. It's also vague enough that it would give the actor some flexibility in regard to finding th time to return and shoot footage with this Quantum Leap's absolutely stacked cast. 

If Scott Bakula returning as Sam Beckett isn’t in the cards, the series seems more than content right now, building the story around Dr. Ben Song. Ben unexpectedly made a jump without his colleagues' approval or knowledge and, now, that the jump has taken away his memories. The show continues to dole out breadcrumbs that may reveal his motivations for embarking on such a dangerous journey that he may never return from. In short, it’s doing fine without Beckett for the time being, though I’m sure many fans would love to see him return at some point just as Martin Gero does.

Quantum Leap airs on NBC on Mondays at 10:00 p.m. ET. The series has only just started, so now is a perfect time to catch up and join in on the speculation for why Ben jumped without consulting anyone. Those who would like to check it out can stream the series using a Peacock subscription.

Quantum Leap is on the way back to television this fall, nearly three decades after the series finale of the original show abruptly ended the story of Dr. Sam Beckett, played by Scott Bakula. Although early reports suggested that Bakula could be involved in the upcoming NBC revival, the actor himself has now clarified his connection to the series… or, more specifically, lack of connection. 

Just days before the Quantum Leap revival (starring Raymond Lee) premieres on September 19, Scott Bakula took to Instagram with a message addressed to “Quantum Leap fans around the world.” He thanked them for hanging around over the decades since the original series, but wanted to “quiet the rumors and move on.” He wrote: 

Scott Bakula’s comments track with what happened when news first broke back in January that a Quantum Leap revival might actually happen. At the time, it was reported that the actor (who was absent from primetime after NCIS: New Orleans came to an end months before) was expected to be involved. According to him now, he did receive a script in January, but it did not lead to his involvement in the revival of the sci-fi series. 

Fans of the original may be glad to see that he made a special mention of Al, played by the late Dean Stockwell, when addressing the question of how this show could happen without Sam. The actor didn’t explain exactly why he’s not involved in the new show, but he did go on to elaborate on the situation and his hopes for the project:

It evidently wasn’t an easy decision for Scott Bakula to pass on participating in NBC’s new Quantum Leap, but the actor (whose NBC pilot didn’t get the green light earlier this year) also only had good things to say about the prospect of the new take on his beloved series coming back to television. He has high hopes for the team behind Quantum Leap to recapture what worked so well back in the original five-season run from 1989 - 1993. He finished his message by saying that he wishes them “good luck and happy leaping.” Check out the full post (and Quantum Leap photo that he chose) below:

If you want to revisit Scott Bakula’s time as Dr. Sam Beckett, you can find all five seasons of the original Quantum Leap streaming with a Peacock subscription now. The new show will premiere on NBC on Monday, September 19 at 10 p.m. ET, in what is the unofficial first night of the broadcast network fall TV premiere season. Monday night also sees the returns of some of television’s other biggest network shows, including NCIS and NCIS: Hawai’i on CBS for a crossover event and 9-1-1 over on Fox with its Season 6 premiere. 

For more viewing options in the not-too-distant future, be sure to check out our 2022 TV premiere schedule to start planning ahead for the fall. 

Scott Bakula was a familiar face on network TV for the better part of a decade thanks to his starring role as Dwayne Pride on CBS' NCIS: New Orleans, but the NCIS spinoff came to an end back in 2021. Now, the actor has landed a new project at NBC that could bring him back to network TV, which raises the question: could the Quantum Leap revival at NBC be next? 

The actor was best known for his work in science fiction before portraying Pride for NCIS: New Orleans, as star of Star Trek: Enterprise and Quantum Leap, the latter of which has a sequel series in development at NBC. The latest casting news for Scott Bakula doesn’t concern Quantum Leap, but does bring him to NBC. 

Scott Bakula landed a lead role in the upcoming NBC drama pilot called Unbroken, and Variety reports that the project follows a trio of dynastic ranch families on the coast of California. They’ll deal with everything from love and war in their fight to survive, but may be able to come together to support a group of young women in their bid at the National Championship of Rodeo. 

Bakula would play a retired saddle bronc rodeo champion by the name of Ash Holleren, whose family ranch is in jeopardy with falling profits and neighbors with their eyes on his land. Along with the rest of the family, Ash will have to work to find a way back to a life of prosperity on the ranch like they had before… if they can. 

The actor joins a cast already comprised of The Code’s Anna Wood, United States of Al’s Amanda Payton (who also had some memorable appearances as Celeste in the current season of Chicago P.D. on NBC), The Bold and the Beautiful’s Delon de Metz, and American Gods’ Olunike Adeliyi. 

Now, Unbroken is currently only in the pilot stage of development, so there’s no guarantee that NBC will give the project a series order and viewers will see Scott Bakula playing Ash on television. It does have a unique premise that stands out from other offerings on broadcast TV, plus the ranch element could attract some Yellowstone viewers. (And there are plenty of Yellowstone viewers!) Bakula is a proven leading man, so there is a lot going for this project. 

But what does a potential new show at NBC that isn’t Quantum Leap have to do with Scott Bakula potentially reprising his iconic role as Sam Beckett? Well, back in January, news broke that NBC had given a pilot order to a Quantum Leap revival, with a premise centering on a new team trying to figure out more about the machine and locate Dr. Beckett, who vanished into the accelerator decades ago. Although not confirmed, it was reported at the time that Bakula was expected to be involved in the pilot. 

If Scott Bakula is already working with NBC, and if Sam Beckett wouldn’t be necessary as a series regular for a Quantum Leap revival, it’s not hard to imagine him reprising the role for a cameo or guest-star appearance. Bakula did say that he’s “thrilled to be working with” NBC for Unbroken. With both projects seemingly still in development, fans can always hope that Bakula coming to NBC is a good sign!

For now, only time will tell if Unbroken gets a series order beyond its current pilot stage to bring Scott Bakula back to TV as a series regular. If you want to revisit Bakula’s previous shows, you can find Quantum Leap streaming on Roku, and both NCIS: New Orleans and Star Trek: Enterprise with a Paramount+ subscription. If you’re in the market for some more viewing options, take a look at our 2022 TV schedule.

Quantum Leap is a classic sci-fi series that has had rumors of returning in some form or other for years, and now the potential revival is seemingly closer than ever. A sequel series is reportedly in the works at NBC, and original series star Scott Bakula is said to be involved. 

A Quantum Leap revival has gotten a pilot order from NBC, according to Variety, which cites a source stating that original star Scott Bakula (not too long after his previous network TV show was cancelled) is expected to be involved in that pilot project. The premise of the revival is said to center on a new team restarting the Quantum Leap project and trying to figure out what remains unknown about the machine… as well as Bakula’s Dr. Sam Beckett, who vanished into the accelerator 30 years ago.

There are no further details about the cast who would anchor the new Quantum Leap project if it receives a series order to become a show, and all signs point toward the revival still being in the very early stages, if it has only just received a pilot order. NBC has not commented on the reports of Quantum Leap coming back at the time of writing, although it was the home of the show during its original five-season run in the late 1980s to early 1990s. 

Donald P. Bellisario, who originally created Quantum Leap, will reportedly serve as an executive producer. Interestingly, he also created (as well as wrote, produced, and directed for) NCIS, which anchored a franchise that would go on to employ Scott Bakula for seven seasons as leading man of NCIS: New Orleans. Bellisario was not, however, responsible for the creation of the New Orleans spinoff. 

The reports of a revival in the works at NBC arrived just months after the death of Dean Stockwell, who shared the screen with Scott Bakula as fan-favorite Al. He died at home on November 7, 2021 at the age of 85. Al was a beloved and instrumental part of the original run of Quantum Leap; if the revival happens and does feature Scott Bakula in the pilot, then hopefully Al would get at least a mention. And hey, if the new characters are invested in the mysteries of the original and Sam, maybe Al will be as much of interest as Bakula's character!

The original Quantum Leap starring Bakula and Stockwell ran for five seasons and just shy of 100 episodes on NBC from 1989-1993. Similarly to Battlestar Galactica, the original remained a cult hit in the years after its end. And hopefully, a revival could also be similar to BSG, insofar as it brings the show back to pop culture and creates a new generation of fans.

Of course, SYFY's Battlestar Galactica was a reboot whereas the potential new Quantum Leap project is said to be a sequel series and revival. Still, it would be an interesting addition to the NBC lineup. Although the network has some unconventional shows like Ordinary Joe and of course La Brea, it doesn't really have a primetime sci-fi offering. In fact, the closest thing in recent years was arguably Manifest, which was cancelled at the end of the 2020-2021 TV season. 

For now, fans can only wait for official confirmation that a new Quantum Leap is in the works with Scott Bakula attached at least to the pilot. A pilot order is just an early step in the process of producing a show and far from a guarantee that a show will happen, but certainly a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, the original run of Quantum Leap isn't currently available without rental/purchase on any major streaming service, but you can check out our 2022 winter and spring premiere schedule for some TV options during the wait for more Quantum Leap updates. 

Legendary actor Dean Stockwell passed away at his home earlier this week, at the age of 85. While many of his fans, friends, and co-stars have paid tribute to him since the news came out, people who became acquainted with the actor’s work because of NBC’s feel-good, time-jumping series, Quantum Leap, will be glad to know that his co-star on that show, Scott Bakula, has now shared some very loving words about Stockwell.

Fans who loved Quantum Leap know the friendship between Dean Stockwell and Scott Bakula well. The duo played Admiral Al Calavicci and Dr. Sam Beckett, respectively, and it was Stockwell’s cigar-chomping hologrammed best bud who helped Bakula’s character through his many adventures as he involuntarily time-traveled by randomly jumping into others' bodies. Now, Bakula has reminisced on his time working with Stockwell, in a statement provided to Deadline, and said:  

Though many fans only came to know Stockwell because of Quantum Leap, the actor had worked since he was a child and was already very well-known and respected in the industry. So, him agreeing to audition for the series was a big deal, and, as Bakula noted, helped to show how much he liked the premise of the series. Of course, after working since he was about nine years old, Stockwell found himself nominated for an Oscar right as QL was in its infancy, but he again proved his commitment to the show by sticking with it.

Bakula continued, noting how working with Stockwell impacted him and others on the Quantum Leap set:

While there was likely a lot less understanding at the time of what it was like for kids to work in the entertainment industry, Stockwell understood it very clearly because of his life experience, and used that to try and make sure the child actors who appeared on Quantum Leap had the support they needed, which made Bakula and others take notice, as well. 

Bakula also reflected on how close they became off-screen, and those who tuned in for their now classic sci-fi show could tell you that it did translate to what we saw from Sam and Al in the show. This is so true, that their friendship could easily be noted as one of the aspects that made Quantum Leap so beloved to its fans, to the point where they’ve been hoping for a revival the entire 28 years the show has been off of the air. That’s an amazing claim to fame that not many long-departed shows get to have.

In the end, Bakula spoke about how enjoyable it was to work with his friend and see how he approached both work and life, saying, in part:

While we won’t get the Quantum Leap reunion with Dean Stockwell and Scott Bakula that we wanted, it’s good to know that their time on the show was well-remembered, and led to a great real-life friendship that stood the test of time. 

It's been a looong time since fans have had any new episodes of NBC's sci-fi series Quantum Leap to fawn over. Many shows air the series finale and have viewers hoping for more, but few such series have led audiences to hope for a revival / reboot for a full 28 years, which is how long the beloved series, which starred Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell, has been off the air. Over the decades, there have been several rumblings of reboots, none of which have come to fruition. But, now, Bakula has an exciting Quantum Leap update for fans.

The most recent hope of a Quantum Leap reboot began earlier this year, when it was announced that Scott Bakula would no longer be spending most of his working life as Special Agent Dwayne Pride on NCIS: New Orleans. That show wrapped on CBS in May, after seven seasons, and the actor revealed then that he "would wish whoever did it luck" if a reboot were to get off the ground finally. Recently, in a chat on the podcast Bob Saget's Here For You, Bakula was asked by the host how a Quantum Leap reboot would work, and he responded:

OK, the good news here seems to be that people are actively talking about bringing us new Quantum Leap again, so there's a possibility that something might happen, though Bakula doesn't know where such a project would end up or whether or not it would be a movie, miniseries, potential full series, or what. While this is lovely, we should all pump our breaks a bit before getting too excited about the possibility.

As noted earlier, we have been here before with the idea of the 1989-1993 classic time travel series returning to our screens for new adventures. There was talk of a theatrically released film in 2009, with show creator Donald P. Bellisario (who also created the original NCIS) saying he'd completed a script for said movie many years later, in 2017. Obviously, nothing became of that script, and whatever "conversations" are happening now may or may not be taking ideas from it to create something new for Quantum Leap fans.

With regards to Bakula's suggestion that there were rights issues that kept the show from coming back sooner, all I could find were problems with the large amounts of classic music used in the series, that had to be removed / changed for home video versions, and that wouldn't lead to a problem for any new film or show.

Of course, people will want to know who might be shepherding more Quantum Leap to us, and how the new idea would work, and when Bellisario was brought up, Bakula said:

Basically, this means that we likely have a long way to go until we know whether or not the storyline of the original would continue with a potential new Quantum Leap in some fashion, or if it would be a total reboot. All we can do is continue to wait and see what happens next.

Everyone's mileage varies when it comes to the annual Primetime Emmy Awards, which have been more extra than usual in recent years thanks to hosting choices (or a lack thereof) and the pandemic. This year's televised ceremony on CBS was no different, as Cedric the Entertainer gave viewers some enjoyable moments (like that opening tribute) mixed with some truly baffling attempts at comedy (the non-timely fly callback). Even though the telecast is still happening at the time of this writing, I can already say with confidence that the funniest few minutes of the night went to the "No Emmy Support Group," featuring Jason Alexander, Scott Bakula, Zooey Deschanel, and Alyson Hannigan, along with a couple of special guests.

Check out the hilarious sketch below, and try not to freak the hell out wondering how none of the actors in the video have ever won an Emmy award.

I love that this wasn't a room full of celebs being faux-candid about not having been recognized for their efforts across the past few decades of television, and that it almost immediately went from "Woo, Scott Bakula!" to a metaphorical measuring contest between Bakula and Jason Alexander. ("The Contest" reference intended.) Considering Alexander has shown off his acting chops in dramas here and there, I kinda hope Bakula follows up on his years at NCIS: New Orleans with an offbeat comedy where he can lean into those instincts. He could get a sixth mansion going that route.

In the years since Seinfeld ended, it seems wild to think that Jason Alexander lost out on Emmys to his co-star Michael Richards, but that's how it goes, I guess. He obviously lost to other actors as well, so we can't hold too many grudges. But hey, since HBO Max is doing a dramatized version of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, what if somebody created a dramatized version of George Costanza's life? I feel like either Paul Dano would kill it in that role, with Michael Shannon as Kramer. But seriously, that shouldn't happen.

And with ABC's upcoming The Wonder Years reboot premiering soon, it was quite the timely appearance from O.G. star Fred Savage, who has somehow never won an Emmy either for his work as Kevin Arnold — he was nominated twice, in 1989 and 1990 — or for his directing work. Now, while Dr. Phil McGraw doesn't have any Primetime Emmys on his shelves, he has technically won Daytime Emmys, so he was the reigning champ in the room in that respect.

While there are obvious optics issues with having a Black host talk to a room full of white actors about their Emmy woes, we'll just recognize that and move on, since the segment itself didn't dig into those topics. And Cedric the Entertainer did get confirmation in another silly moment that it isn't impossible for him to win an Emmy next year. Speaking of...

Maybe Jason Alexander will win a Guest Star Emmy for his upcoming work on ABC's The Conners. Maybe Zooey Deschanel will win for her hosting work on The Celebrity Dating Game. Fred Savage could win for directing The Wonder Years' reboot pilot. Maybe Alyson Hannigan and Scott Bakula will win for something that hasn't come out yet. Anything can happen!

While waiting to see if any of that happens, check out everything heading to TV soon with our 2021 Fall TV schedule.

Normally, at this time of year, network TV shows are gearing up and getting ready for production once more, but for the stars of NCIS: New Orleans that cycle of work, then play will not be happening this year as CBS cancelled the series ahead of what would have been it’s eighth season on the air. But how does the cast feel about the cancellation? Scott Bakula shared one reason the CBS cancellation hit him so hard.

It’s been two months and some change since Scott Bakula and the rest of the cast of NCIS: New Orleans saw their show make its final bow on the airwaves, though it’s been even longer since the cast was on set filming the series. While cancellation is a part of most show’s life cycles, Bakula explained why New Orleans in particular was so hard to let go of. A lot of it had to do with the city and the people in it, per what he told TV Insider:

Scott Bakula had previously talked about his “surprise” over the show being cancelled, but his feelings about where NCIS: New Orleans filmed are a different thing. Reportedly the cast and crew found out the series would be ending at the end of Season 7 while they were shooting Episode 13. Scott Bakula wasn’t the only person who was beat up about the decision from CBS, as executive producer Jan Nash also said she was gutted after learning the news from the Eye Network.

The good news is that Season 7 of NCIS: New Orleans ultimately featured 16 episodes. That’s actually a rather short season for network TV, but given the cancellation news came down the pipeline in February and given there were a few more episodes left to film, the writing team figured out a way to wrap the series on a high note and one that would resonate with the fans.

That episode, “Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler” aired back in May. It also featured a wedding, although Pride and Sasha’s storyline ended on a different note. Over the years, the show had changed and shifted in terms of its characters, but the finale really wanted to focus in on the here and now of what was going on with Season 7--to focus on the future and not the past as the series said its final goodbye to the fanbase.

At the end of the day, some NCIS: New Orleans alums have already moved on to new projects. CCH Pounder, for one example, will be in the upcoming Avatar sequels, but will also be heading back to TV for a new role in The Good Fight. Bakula hasn’t signed on for another role yet, but given how much he seems to love NOLA, maybe something will crop up to film in the area. We’ll have to wait and see.

For now, fall TV is getting back into production, with a slew of shows that were renewed -- including Law & Order: Organized Crime and SEAL Team -- already moving forward. To see when your favorites that weren’t cancelled are coming back, take a look at our fall TV premiere schedule.

Spoilers below for the series finale of NCIS: New Orleans, so be warned if you haven't yet watched!

Here in the midst of finale season, it's getting harder to keep track of what's only ending for a few months and which shows are wrapping up for good. Over the weekend, CBS said farewell to its crime drama NCIS: New Orleans with its seventh and final season finale, and the episode somewhat surprisingly ended on a good note for Scott Bakula's Dwayne Pride & Co. (Less so for Callie Thorne's Sasha Broussard, but that's probably fine.) But there was a little less joy for any longtime viewers hoping to see last-minute tributes to Lucas Black's Christopher LaSalle and other former cast members.

It would have been fun to see Lucas Black's LaSalle painting New Orleans red while celebrating Pride and Chelsea Field's Rita getting married, especially with Pride's relatively newfound discovery that he and Sasha had a son together named Connor (as portrayed by Drew Scheid). That obviously couldn't have happened, with LaSalle being shot and killed back in Season 5 in what was arguably the biggest shock of NCIS: NOLA's entire run. The CBS drama's executive producers Christopher Silber and Jan NasH answered some of CinemaBlend's questions about the big series finale, and here's what they had to say about sidestepping references to former characters and cast members:

To be fair, New Orleans residents tend to honor the dead in much the same way that they honor the living: by drinking and partying with lots of live music involved. So the episode might not have looked any different had the writers indeed injected some kind of memorial element into the series finale. But that wasn't meant to be.

I suppose the episode's title, "Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler," was an immediate sign that NCIS: New Orleans' last episode would focus more on the good times rather than dwelling on mournful looks back at LaSalle's death or Brody and Percy's respective resignations. As nice as it would have been to see Lucas Black, Zoe McLellan and/or Shalita Grant back in the NOLA flow in one way or another, executive producers Christopher Silber and Jan Nash had enough going on by way of wrapping up Sasha and Connor's story in a way that fed into Pride and Rita's future.

As hard as it is for fans to say goodbye to a beloved show such as NCIS: New Orleans, it can be just as hard for the cast and crew to leave the Southern setting that they've grown so accustomed two over the drama's seven seasons. When I asked the EPs what they would miss the most about New Orleans in any capacity, here's how they answered:

As a Louisiana native myself, I can definitely give their assessment of New Orleans a thumbs up, and I can only imagine it's even more fun when hanging out with Scott Bakula and CCH Pounder. Here's hoping we'll get to see the characters popping up elsewhere in the NCIS franchise, from the flagship show to Los Angeles to the upcoming NCIS: Hawaii spinoff.

NCIS: New Orleans has now reached its ultimate conclusion on CBS, but fans can relive the entirety of the spinoff drama streaming on Paramount+ while waiting for the 2021 Summer TV season to take over.

Spoilers below for NCIS: New Orleans' series finale, so be warned if you haven't yet watched!

Many NCIS: New Orleans fans (not to mention Scott Bakula himself) are still in shock that Season 7 is the end of the line for the CBS drama, with the network dropping the cancellation news earlier this year. In spite of such disbelief, the episode "Laissez les Bons Temps Rouler" did indeed wrap things up for Scott Bakula's Dwayne Pride and the spinoff's other beloved characters...and not so beloved characters. Thankfully, things ended pretty happily for Pride, who gained two permanent new family members, but less happily for Callie Thorne's Sasha Broussard, whose story was given a looser end.

CinemaBlend reached out to NCIS: New Orleans showrunner and executive producer Christopher Silber and fellow executive producer Jan Nash, who answered a few of my big finale questions via email. So without further ado, let's dive into some of those answers.

Why NCIS: NOLA Gave Pride Such A Happy Ending

Happy TV endings aren't exactly rare, but they're a bit harder to find in this day and age, and NCIS: New Orleans hasn't exactly avoided dark storylines in the past. However, the series finale did indeed live up to its title when the good times started rolling after the third act arrived. Dwayne Pride became a married man once again by marrying Rita Devereaux, and the ceremony was as cute as one would expect, considering Rita is played by Scott Bakula's real-life wife Chelsea Field. And the family grew by one more by way of Drew Scheid's Connor Davenport, who was recently revealed to be Pride and Sasha's son.

After seeing how much fun Connor was having with Pride's friends and family at the wedding, Sasha made the impulsive (but probably inevitable) call to make a swift escape, thus giving Pride a chance to raise his son for a few of his remaining teenage years. I asked executive producers Christopher Silber and Jan Nash about ending Pride's story in this way, and here was the answer:

It was indeed a cyclical ending for Dwayne Pride, and made all the more meaningful for Chelsea Field to have joined the show as at least one catalyst for Pride's happiness beyond the show's conclusion. It's of course a shame that we didn't get a post-credits tag featuring Shanley Caswell's Laurel Pride having family dinner with her father, Rita and Connor, but we can imagine that this would have happened at some point sooner rather than later.

What Happened To Sasha Broussard?

Though NCIS: New Orleans' creative team wrapped Pride's story up pretty conclusively, at least in terms of dramatic mysteries, they went a slightly different route with Sasha's final moments. Having already given the WITSEC agents the slip, Sasha followed her call to Pride by ditching her phone out a car window and driving away, presumably with a far-away destination in mind. Only it wasn't that simple, as another vehicle quickly pulled out and began following Sasha as she drove off. Dun dun dun!!

As it turns out, whatever ending you think went down is kind of the one that NCIS: New Orleans' executive producers wanted you to think happened. Here's why they kept Sasha's final moments so vague:

So if you think Sasha gets followed for a while until her car is sideswiped in the middle of nowhere, and she gets killed by rogue assassins, that could be the case. If you think whoever was following Sasha was a good Samaritan who called the cops on her for throwing her phone out of the window, thus landing her back in the government's clutches, that could have happened. Or if you think she out-maneuvered those following her and got away from all of her troubles and relocated to a gorgeous island, that could also have been Sasha's outcome. It really depends on whether you're a pessimist or an optimist, I guess.

Unfortunately for fans, NCIS: New Orleans is now completely finished after seven seasons on CBS, but anybody who wants to relive any of the past seven seasons is able to do so along with many other dramas on the Paramount+ streaming service. But before anybody gets too sad about anything, remember there are lots of awesome shows coming our way through the 2021 Summer TV schedule.

Of all the TV shows that are coming to a permanent close in 2021, one of the biggest surprises has to be CBS' NCIS: New Orleans, which is being sent up the (Mississippi) river after Season 7. Even beyond the tropey jokes about NCIS dramas staying on the air for all eternity, the Scott Bakula-fronted crime drama managed to earn reasonably consistent numbers across its various time-slot changes over the years. And that core fanbase is part of the reason why even Bakula himself was taken aback by the cancellation news when it dropped.

Having previous fronted two series (among many) that built up fanatical fandoms - with Quantum Leap and Star Trek: Enterprise - Scott Bakula is well-seasoned when it comes to ending shows that fans don't want to say goodbye to. While he hasn't spoke up much about the cancellation news in recent months, the actor shared his thoughts on the matter with TV Insider, saying:

Clearly, the decision to cancel NCIS: New Orleans was made by execs pretty high on the CBS food chain, if a long-term star and industry vet like Scott Bakula is kept out of the loop entirely. One might assume that if NCIS: NOLA's showrunner Christopher Silber had been clued in early on, he might have given the cast and crew and inkling that the end was nigh. Alas, it doesn't seem like things played out that way.

Giving fans credit for following the show from its time-switches on Tuesday nights to its sometimes-delayed-by-NFL-games Sunday night airings, Scott Bakula said:

By all means, Scott Bakula will likely be talking to fans about NCIS: New Orleans for the rest of his career, such is the power of his character Dwayne Pride, who will cap off the series' seven-season run with a big wedding. Pride will be marrying Rita, who's played by Bakula's real-life wife Chelsea Field, so hopefully filming that final episode gave everyone a good sense of closure. Not that it's impossible for Pride to show up elsewhere in the franchise in the years to come.

Plus, just because it's losing one spinoff doesn't mean the NCIS franchise is actually shrinking, since CBS has already put in a series order for the beach-bound spinoff NCIS: Hawaii, which will be the franchise's first series led by a female character. Plus, we have new seasons of NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles to look forward to in the fall. Before all that, though, fans still have to watch the final episodes of NCIS: New Orleans, which will air Sunday nights on CBS at 10:00 p.m. ET.

Saturday Night Live has been a television institution for 46 seasons now, so it's pretty easy to imagine that tons of hopefuls have auditioned for the sketch comedy series over its dozens (upon dozens) of years on the air. Of course, many of those hopefuls didn't quite make the cut, but did go on to have successful careers without appearing on the show. It turns out that one such person who tried out was current NCIS: New Orleans star Scott Bakula, and he recalled the time he bombed his SNL audition with the worst joke.

While those of us who know Scott Bakula as Dwayne Pride on NCIS: New Orleans might have a hard time seeing the actor as one of the players on Saturday Night Live, it's easy to see why anyone who had the opportunity would audition for the show. Unfortunately, when Bakula got his shot, he didn't do as well as, I'm sure, he'd hoped, and ended up bombing with the worst joke. Listen to him explain what happened during his appearance on Arsenio Hall's revamped talk show during its 2013-2014 season, which was posted recently by The Saturday Night Project:

Ooof. This sounds, well, just terrible, right? As Scott Bakula admitted, his experience of auditioning for SNL went so badly that it was something he didn't even speak about publicly, which sounds like what a lot of us would have done, had we so completely bombed an important moment like this. Like he said, though, he's not even a comedian, and also may not have had much experience as an improv or sketch performer, so he was likely already fighting an uphill battle by trying out for the show when what they do weekly wasn't really a part of his skill set, anyway.

So, I think we all need to admire Scott Bakula's determination to try a difficult thing and step out of his comfort zone. And, you know, once we've done that we can cringe along with him at how truly terrible his audition idea was. To be completely honest, I am shocked that anyone in Arsenio Hall's audience even laughed. It would seem that there were other people who knew to what Bakula was referring in that audition when he said he sang a play on the song, "They Call the Wind Maria," because I can totally admit that I did not.

The song was written for and performed in a 1951 Broadway musical, Paint Your Wagon, which had a 1969 film version starring Clint Eastwood. At any rate, the song was very popular, and at least a part of Bakula's audition focused on him singing the song and just calling the wind "the wind." I do wonder why he had to tie himself to the doorknob, though. Was he also miming the fact that it was so windy he needed to be tied to something to stay on the ground while singing? That sounds...even worse, doesn't it?

Obviously, Scott Bakula didn't get the gig on SNL, but that's OK. If he had, we may not have gotten the Dr. Sam Beckett in Quantum Leap we all deserved, or the Captain Jonathan Archer we needed in Star Trek: Enterprise. Who knows? Maybe bombing his SNL audition was the actual thing which, somehow, led to those other amazing opportunities for Scott Bakula, and that's a very good thing.

NCIS: New Orleans will end with its current season, but you can watch Scott Bakula solve crimes until the Season 7 finale on CBS, Sunday, May 23, at 10 p.m. EST.

As the third addition to the expanding NCIS franchise, NCIS: New Orleans took the procedural drama's familiar format to the Big Easy, resulting in some unique locales, high-profile cases, and memorable characters. With an ensemble that includes Scott Bakula, Lucas Black, CCH Pounder, Vanessa Ferlito, and Necar Zadegan, this CBS spin-off series is filled with familiar faces — though you might have trouble remembering where you've seen these actors before. Especially if you're catching up on this show before its series finale in May, here's how you recognize the NCIS: New Orleans cast.

Scott Bakula (Dwayne “King” Cassius Pride)

As Dwayne "King" Cassius Pride, an NCIS Supervisory Special Agent, Scott Bakula plays the main character in CBS's NCIS: New Orleans. Most notably, Bakula is known for his Emmy-nominated, Golden Globe-winning performance in Quantum Leap. He also starred in Star Trek: Enterprise. His other notable TV credits include Men of a Certain Age, Looking, Chuck, Murphy Brown, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Two and a Half Men, Boston Legal, Desperate Housewives, Law & Order: SVU, Gung Ho, Designing Women, Matlock, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and NCIS. He also appeared in HBO's Behind the Candelabra and he was heard in a recent episode of The Simpsons.

Additionally, Scott Bakula's other film credits include American Beauty, The Informant!, Source Code, Major League: Back to the Minors, Color of Night, Necessary Roughness, My Family, Life as a House, Elsa & Fred, Me Him Her, Summertime, and Basmati Blues.

Lucas Black (Christopher LaSalle)

In the role of Christopher LaSalle, a senior NCIS Special Agent, Lucas Black was a major character on NCIS: New Orleans for its first six seasons. Additionally, Black starred in CBS's American Gothic. He can also be seen in Chicago Hope and NCIS. Most notably, Black is known for his roles in movies like Sling Blade, Flash, All the Pretty Horses, Jarhead, Friday Night Lights (2004), Legion (2010), Get Low, Crazy in Alabama, Seven Days in Utopia, Cold Mountain, and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. The actor can also be seen in The X-Files (1998), Promised Land, 42, Killer Diller, The Miracle Worker, Ghosts of Mississippi, The War, and Furious 7. Next, Lucas Black appears in the upcoming F9.

Zoe McLellan (Meredith Brody)

Playing the part of Meredith Brody, an NCIS Special Agent, Zoe McLellan was a lead in the first two seasons of NCIS: New Orleans. Previously, McLellan had a recurring role in JAG. She was also in the main cast for Dirty Sexy Money. Her other TV credits include Star Trek: Voyager, The Mentalist, House, Suits, Law & Order: SVU, Royal Pains, and NCIS. Additionally, the actress starred in the TV movie, Deadly Honeymoon.

Additionally, Zoe McLellan's film credits include Dungeons & Dragons, Inventing the Abbotts, Mr. Holland's Opus, Imaginary Crimes, Conversations with God, and One Fall. Following NCIS: New Orleans, the actress played a main role in Designated Survivor Season 2. Most recently, McLellan starred in the TV movie, Is My Daughter Really Dead?

Rob Kerkovich (Sebastian Lund)

As Sebastian Lund, a Jefferson Parish forensic specialist who joins a Pride's team as a Forensics Agent, Rob Kerkovich plays one of the main characters in CBS's NCIS: New Orleans. In addition to starring in this show, the actor also wrote an episode in 2018.

Away from NCIS: New Orleans, Rob Kerkovich can be seen in Cloverfield, CSI: Miami, The Rebound, Modern Family, 2 Broke Girls, Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, New Girl, Masters of Sex, House of Lies, and Chasing Life. He also appeared in movies like Galaxy of Horrors, The Atticus Institute, Flesh Computer, Our RoboCop Remake, and Still Waiting... Additionally, Kerkovich served as a writer and actor for Happy Endings.

CCH Pounder (Dr. Loretta Wade)

In the role of Dr. Loretta Wade, the coroner of Jefferson Parish, CCH Pounder plays a smart, eccentric medical examiner in CBS's NCIS: New Orleans. Away from this series, Pounder is known for her work in ER. She also starred in The Shield. Additionally, the TV actress lent her voice to the role of Amanda Weller in Justice League: Unlimited. Her other television credits include Law & Order: SVU, Brothers, Warehouse 13, Revenge, The West Wing, Sons of Anarchy, The X-Files, Women in Prison, L.A. Law, and NCIS. Additionally, Pounder can be heard in Beware the Batman, The Lion Guard, and Archer.

Away from TV, CCH Pounder can be seen in films like All That Jazz, Face/Off, Postcards from the Edge, Avatar, Prizzi's Honor, Go Tell It On the Mountain, Pyscho IV: The Beginning, Benny & Joon, Orphan, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, Demon Knight, End of Days, RoboCop 3, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and The Importance of Being Earnest. Next, CCH Pounder reprises her role in Mo'at in the upcoming Avatar sequels.

Shalita Grant (Sonja Percy)

Playing the part of Sonja Percy, an NCIS Special Agent who joins the FBI, Shalita Grant starred in the first four seasons of NCIS: New Orleans. Outside of this series, Grant is known for her recurring roles in Mercy Street, Santa Clarita Diet, and Search Party. She also appears in Bones, The Good Wife, Melissa & Joey, and Battle Creek, as well as the original NCIS. Most notably, Grant is Tony-nominated for her performance in 2013's Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. Next, the actress will be seen in You Season 3.

Daryl “Chill” Mitchell (Patton Plame)

As Patton Plame, nicknamed "Triple P," an NCIS investigative computer specialist, Daryl "Chill" Mitchell was a recurring character who became a lead starting in Season 2. Away from NCIS: New Orleans, Mitchell appeared in The John Larroquette Show, Alex Haley's Queen, Veronica's Closet, Ed, and Brothers. Currently, the TV actor plays a recurring role in AMC's Fear the Walking Dead. He was also recently heard in Netflix's F is for Family. Furthermore, Mitchell's other notable television credits include The Game, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Law & Order, Desperate Housewives, and Wizards of Waverly Place.

Additionally, Daryl Mitchell can be seen in movies like House Party, House Party 2, Galaxy Quest, Boomerang, 10 Things I Hate About You, The Country Bears, Inside Man, Home Fries, Sgt. Bilko, A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, Lucky Numbers, Black Knight, 13 Moons, and Playback. Also, the actor was recently seen in Love & Debt.

Vanessa Ferlito (Tammy Gregorio)

In the role of Tammy Gregorio, a Washington FBI Special Agent who becomes an NCIS Special Agent, Vanessa Ferlito became a main character on NCIS: New Orleans starting in Season 3. Away from this broadcast series, Ferlito is known for her roles in 24, Graceland, The Sopranos, Law & Order, CSI: Miami, and CSI: NY. Outside of TV, Ferlito's movie credits include Spider-Man 2, Death Proof, Madea Goes to Jail, Julie & Julia, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, Man of the House, 25th Hour, Shadowboxer, Descent, Nothing like the Holidays, Stand Up Guys, The Tollbooth, and All Mistakes Buried.

Necar Zadegan (Hannah Khoury)

Playing the part of Hannah Khoury, a former NCIS Senior Field Agent, Necar Zadegan joined NCIS: New Orleans starting in Season 5. Outside of this broadcast series, Zadegan is known for her work in 24 and Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce. The actress was also in the main cast for short-lived shows like Rake and Emily Owens, M.D., Her other television credits include Nip/Tuck, How I Met Your Mother, CSI: Miami, Lost, The Shield, The Event, Legends, The Good Doctor, Here and Now, Documentary Now!, Extant, Major Crimes, Masters of Sex, The Bernie Mac Show, Star Trek: Picard, and NCIS.

Away from TV, Necar Zadegan appeared in Unthinkable, Elena Undone, Joshua Tree, Eleven Eleven, and Meth Head, which she produced. Additionally, the actress was heard in video games like The Elder Scrolls Online and Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds. Previously, Zadegan made her Broadway debut in Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo.

Charles Michael Davis (Quentin Carter)

As Quentin Carter, another NCIS Special Agent, Charles Michael Davis became a main character in the sixth season of NCIS: New Orleans. Additionally, Davis is in the main cast for TV Land's Younger. He's also known for The CW's The Originals. Previously, Davis played recurring roles in Switched At Birth, The Game, Grey's Anatomy, and Chicago P.D., as well as a main role in For the People. His other TV credits include That's So Raven, Jane the Virgin, Z Nation, and Noah's Arc. Outside of TV, Davis can be seen in Battle Scars, No Sleep 'Til Christmas, and Same Time, Next Christmas. Recently, the actor appeared in Kygo & Tina Turner's "What's Love Got to Do With It" music video.

Chelsea Field (Rita Deveraux)

In the role of Rita Deveraux, New Orleans' District Attorney, Chelsea Field joined NCIS: New Orleans in Season 3. She's also married to Scott Bakula and worked as a choreographer in one episode. Field's other television credits include Capital News, Nightingales, Angels Falls, Secrets and Lies, Tales from the Crypt, and Without a Trace, as well as Cold Case, Thirtysomething, A Year in the Life, and An Inconvenient Woman.

Away from television, Chelsea Field appears in films like Commando, Masters of the Universe, Perfect, The Last Boy Scout, I'll Do Anything, Flipper, Andre, The Dark Half, Extreme Justice, The Birds II: Land's End, and Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man.

You can stream NCIS: New Orleans on Paramount+ here.

Spoilers below for the latest episode of NCIS: New Orleans, titled "Homeward Bound," so be warned!

The metaphorical writing is on the wall for CBS' long-running drama NCIS: New Orleans, which will be closing out its Big Easy investigations when Season 7 is complete, with CBS having announced the cancellation in mid-February. Thankfully, the writers were apparently already setting up some big moments for Scott Bakula's Dwayne Pride before that news went public, and fans got to watch a big and meaningful reveal for his personal life: Pride is getting married!

NCIS: New Orleans made a perfect casting choice back in Season 3 when Scott Bakula's real-life wife Chelsea Field was added as U.S. Attorney Rita Deveraux. Rita, of course, became the key love interest for Dwayne Pride, and their relationship has been a cute one to witness, even if Rita's work causes her to do quite a bit of traveling. In fact, the latest episode revealed that she was offered a new job in Kansas City, but she shared with Pride later that she turned the gig down specifically to stick with him in New Orleans. That heartwarming info inspired him to pop the big question, only things went sideways when Pride couldn't find the ring he planned to give Rita.

Amusingly enough, Rita is the one who moved the ring, having witnessed Pride hiding it the day before, but clearly not doing a good enough job with that. So any idea plans that Pride may have had went right out the window, but that disappointment was quickly swallowed up by the joy that Rita basically accepted his quasi-proposal without hesitation. There's probably going to be a wedding, y'all, even though I believe Scott Bakula and others had previously stated that the show wouldn't go that route with Pride and Rita. I guess cancellation news changes things.

Check out the scene in question below, as shared by NCIS: New Orleans.

It was a relatively quiet moment for such a big life change for these characters, but considering all the times TV shows have delivered large-scale proposals, the subdued approach was kind of refreshing. And it makes enough sense that Pride didn't have an elaborate proposal plotted out, not only because NCIS: NOLA's narrative is set during the pandemic, but because Pride just isn't exactly the biggest Casanova.

And as one fan pointed out on social media, Scott Bakula isn't known to be the more romantic one in his relationship with Chelsea Field, so they also weren't surprised by Pride's limited social graces.

Even though NCIS: New Orleans is coming to an end, the franchise definitely isn't drying up as a whole. The flagship series is still running strong as far as ratings and viewership are concerned, but with some rumors floating around that star Mark Harmon may not fully extend his contract after the ongoing Season 18. It's been reported that Harmon has had conversations with producers and network execs about returning part-time as a stipulation to secure the show's nineteenth season getting ordered. Plus, there are also talks about another coastal spinoff in the form of NCIS: Hawaii, and I'm thinking Pride and Rita are going to need to go somewhere for their honeymoon. (Perhaps they'll run into Quantum Leap's Sam Beckett, since Bakula is already getting pegged with questions about that classic show's potential return.)

With just six episodes left to go in the pandemic-shortened Season 7, NCIS: New Orleans airs Sunday nights on CBS at 10:00 p.m. ET. Be sure to tune in to see how things wrap up for Pride, Rita, Tammy Carter and the rest, since we might not see them again outside of possible cameos on other NCIS shows. I mean, unless that whole Gregorio & Lund spinoff comes to life (which probably won't happen).

Fans of the NCIS franchise were shocked a few days ago when it was revealed that NCIS: New Orleans, the second spinoff of the super long-running mothership series, would be leaving the air after its current seventh season. Star Scott Bakula has now been a major part of three shows with very dedicating followings, and while a lot of fans would like to see him return to his Star Trek: Enterprise role of Captain Jonathan Archer, there are many who would also like to see Bakula take up his Quantum Leap mantle as Dr. Sam Beckett again. Now, after the cancellation of NCIS: NOLA, Bakula is talking about a possible Quantum Leap return.

With the end of NCIS: New Orleans coming up so fast, it's only natural for everyone who's been watching Scott Bakula run things as Special Agent Dwayne Pride for seven seasons to wonder what he might do next. And, if you've been a fan of his from way back, there would be a pretty big question mark where Quantum Leap is concerned. There have been rumors and even tentative plans for a reboot, revival or movie for many years, and when asked about any renewed possibility by TV Line, Bakula said:

Scott Bakula makes a very good point when talking about what he thinks would be most important if someone were to get a reboot of Quantum Leap off of the ground today. In case your memory for the 1989-1993 series, which aired on NBC, is a bit fuzzy, Bakula's Sam was literally able to live life by "walking in another man or woman’s shoes," after the scientist had an experiment in time travel go wrong and he was stuck randomly "leaping" into the bodies of strangers who'd lived during his lifetime, and using his time there to fix historical wrongs.

Sam was able to experience a wide variety of personal trials and triumphs, and through the lens of several different viewpoints, whenever he leapt into another person's body and life. Viewers who tuned in weekly loved not knowing where Sam was going to end up next or what he would learn while there, and seeing if he would ever get closer to being able to find a way home permanently. Unfortunately, Quantum Leap was cancelled after Season 5, and fans were told in the finale that Sam was never able to return home to stay.

That ending was, of course, met with very mixed feelings, which has kept fans wanting more from the series for almost 30 years. And, as Scott Bakula noted, the messages which were often found in Quantum Leap are still (unfortunately) unbelievably relevant right now, so his hope is that any new series would continue to lean into that.

When asked if he'd want to see the original show's mythology continued, like maybe picking up with any potential children Sam had during his adventures (which include two leaps home), Bakula said:

Oh, the idea of being able to go back and fix what you (or someone else) messed up certainly is "comforting," Scott Bakula. But, we'll just have to wait and see if Quantum Leap does, in fact, give us a chance to live out those fantasies once again. In the meantime, you can watch Bakula wrap up his time on NCIS: New Orleans, which airs Sundays at 10 p.m. EST on CBS, with the finale airing on May 16.

Star Trek has been full of surprises in its recent television resurgence, and it looks like there are even more on the way with a recent rumor. As Star Trek: Picard and others will indeed look to incorporate characters from the franchise's past, a B-name has sprung up as a face we may be seeing soon. It appears Scott Bakula may be returning to modern Trek television soon and could be around for much more.

The reports come from Giant Freakin Robot, who said this source was the same person who told them Don Cheadle would appear in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The story now is that Paramount would like to see Scott Bakula return to Star Trek via one of the television shows on CBS All Access (soon to be Paramount+) for a cameo appearance.

If the cameo is well-received, then the idea from there would be to work Scott Bakula into his own spinoff series, presumably as Captain Archer. Jonathan Archer is the lead of Star Trek: Enterprise and the captain of the first Warp 5 starship Enterprise. Star Trek: Enterprise is, timeline-wise, considered the first series in the lore, taking place a little under 100 years before Season 1 and 2 of Star Trek: Discovery.

As for where Scott Bakula would appear as Captain Archer, anything is possible in Star Trek. While Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Picard are now set beyond the borders of when Archer would be alive, time travel and holographic banks of data could easily place the Captain on the show. Maybe he was such a good Captain he was cryogenically frozen to help with some disaster centuries in the future. This is the world of science fiction!

From a story perspective, I think Scott Bakula's Captain Archer's most likely appearance would happen on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Captain Pike and Spock's timeline is still a ways off from where Captain Archer is but, again, this is a science fiction universe. With that said, that's one of the most familiar settings in which a character who was around for the Federation's founding would feel most comfortable.

Obviously, there's no official word on whether Scott Bakula is in talks with Paramount to reprise his role, but it wouldn't be surprising. There certainly has been a push for Star Trek content and, apparently, unless your name is Michael Dorn, a project can be greenlit if there's a good idea on the table. There's certainly a section of fans who would want to see Archer return if only to get a more conclusive ending than they originally received.

Catch up on all the Star Trek shows new and old by streaming them on CBS All Access. For more on the franchise, read up on how Star Trek: Picard experienced a recent setback as it gears up for production on Season 2.

Spoilers ahead for the Season 7 premiere of NCIS: New Orleans, called “Something in the Air, Part 1.”

NCIS: New Orleans finally returned to CBS following an extra-long hiatus. The series didn’t waste any time, opening its seventh season with the team working through the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Season 7 premiere also ended on a major cliffhanger that saw two of Dwayne Pride’s agents caught in the middle of an explosion. With that in mind, NCIS: New Orleans star Scott Bakula teased a “pretty hair” situation for the characters moving forward.

During the Season 7 premiere of NCIS: New Orleans, Special Agents Tammy Gregorio and Quentin Carter found themselves on a medical ship in the middle of the sea to investigate a murder. However, things quickly took a more devastating turn after an explosion went off, potentially injuring both agents. Considering that Dwayne would do anything for his team, will he attempt to take a boat out to sea to save them? Here’s what Scott Bakula told TVLine:

Well, I’ll admit that Dwayne foregoing a heroic boat save is a bit disappointing. However, the situation with Gregorio and Carter is a pretty realistic one because the pandemic (and the fear of spreading the virus) did leave a variety of ships stranded at sea for a while. That makes the agents’ explosive situation all the more harrowing because of it.

That said, Scott Bakula revealing that things are about to get pretty bad out there for Gregorio and Carter makes me worried for their health and safety. Here’s hoping that things will turn out okay for them, especially since it’s unlikely that they’ll be getting any outside help anytime soon.

As for NCIS: New Orleans’ handling of the COVID-19 storyline, Scott Bakula believes there was no other way to kick off Season 7 than at the start of the pandemic. He says that it “just felt right” because it means that the series can explore the impact it will have on the characters’ development moving forward. Ignoring the early days of the pandemic, according to Bakula, would have felt disingenuous because the city of New Orleans is itself a character on the show.

NCIS: New Orleans’ “Something in the Air, Part 2” will air on Sunday, November 15 at 9:00 p.m. ET on CBS. For more on what to watch in the coming months, be sure to check out our 2020 fall TV premiere guide, as well as our 2021 winter and spring schedule.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the NCIS: New Orleans episode "Requital." Read at your own risk!

It was a night of vengeance in the NCIS universe, as both the flagship series and NCIS: New Orleans had reckonings of sorts that brought some major changes in each show. While NCIS was pre-occupied with Ziva settling a score she thought was already settled, Dwayne Pride was similarly out for some revenge tied to LaSalle's killer. Scott Bakula's agent got what he wanted, though NCIS: New Orleans fans may be worried about Pride after the winter finale, thanks to that guy in the red suit that he's been dreaming about.

It all started with a big showdown at Eddie Barrett's compound, which eventually resulted in the cult leader fleeing with Dwayne Pride in pursuit. The two finally came face to face again in the woods, with both armed and ready to settle a score. NCIS: New Orleans viewers don't know exactly what happened next, but according to Pride's story, he riddled Barrett with bullets because the cultist went for a gun that was shoved in his waistband. Pride then went M.I.A, leaving his team to relay his shaky version of the story to the FBI.

Pride made a beeline for Christopher LaSalle's grave to tell the beloved character that the man responsible for his death had been brought to lethal justice. Pride re-appeared to the team later that night, though it seemed clear to everyone that all was not well. Later that night, Pride dreamt of the man in the red suit whom he first witnessed in his dreams earlier in Season 6, and the ordeal left him visibly shaken when he woke up.

Back when Pride was first dreaming of the man in the red suit, it was suggested he may be from a memory that the NCIS: New Orleans character had forgotten. Other suggestions have been that he represents Pride's subconscious, or maybe even his guilty conscience? The latter is interesting, as it could mean that Pride's telling of the events with Eddie Barrett did not go down in the way he explained it to the rest of the team.

In short, Dwayne Pride may have murdered Eddie Barrett in cold blood out of pure vengeance. His motivation, of course, was to avenge Christopher LaSalle, and with no other living witness around to see what happened, it probably appeared as if he could get away with it. Be that as it may, the re-emergence of the red suited man in his dreams could mean Pride has some guilt that he murderered Barrett, as opposed to bringing him to justice in the appropriate way.

Hey, it wouldn't be the first time an NCIS agent straight up killed someone and kept it a secret. The question is though, if this is the case and Dwayne really is suffering mentally as a result of his actions, the only way to get himself on the straight and narrow may be to confess. Doing so is sure to have consequences for his career, and possibly legal ramifications? Regardless of how it all shakes out, NCIS: New Orleans really set the stage for a great return in 2020.

NCIS: New Orleans Star Says Goodbye After Getting Killed Off In Shocking Twist

NCIS: New Orleans returns to CBS Sunday, February 16. Stick with CinemaBlend for more details on the series in the meantime, and for a look at what's happening with other television shows and movies in 2020 and beyond. Let us know in the comments what you think will happen when the show returns!

"Old school still works in Louisiana."

While fan favorite shows like Almost Human and Community have gotten network axes, your grandfather’s favorite CBS drama, NCIS, is getting a brand new spinoff, as the action will now travel down to party city New Orleans. But it's not all fun and games...well, maybe it is, as the first look trailer above delivers lots of bright lights and bolstered confidence.

In a city of endless music, endless food and endless partying, NCIS: New Orleans is looking to keep most of its focus on investigating military-based criminal cases. (That’s like going to an orgy to see the wall decorations.) Scott Bakula triumphantly returns to TV as trustworthy NOLA native Special Agent Dwayne Pride, who is teamed up with the sometimes easygoing Special Agent Christopher LaSalle (Lucas Black) and the displaced northerner Special Agent Merri Brody (Zoe McLellan). Assisting them will be coroner Dr. Loretta Wade, played by The Shield’s CCH Pounder, who needs a meaty role here to make up for her wishy-washy character on Sons of Anarchy last season.

And don't look now, but that's Mark Harmon's Leroy Gibbs taking a trip down to the Big Easy, presumably for a first episode crossover, letting us know beyond a shadow of a titular doubt that the NCIS universe is one and the same. Gibbs and Pride first got together on NCIS last month for two episodes of the series' 11th season, which in turn led to this offshoot getting the greenlight. After all, everybody loves New Orleans, right? Well, maybe not if you've having to spend all your time there solving disturbing cases, as these guys are doing.

As a South Louisiana native, I can't help but laugh at how extremely corny this trailer is, with its shoehorned references to New Orleans Saints tailgating and use of the phrase, "Laissez les bons temps rouler." Plus, Lucas Black sounds as if he only took the first 15 seconds of a course on southern accents and just filled the rest in with what he remembered from working on the Texas-set Friday Night Lights. But still, it's nearly impossible to knock Bakula's charisma, which will go a long way in making these cases more enjoyable to watch. Especially if all of them involve drunkard strangers unfamiliar with the way things work around here. The way you can point them out is if they're on Bourbon St., which locals tend to avoid like a puke-ridden plague.

You can expect to find the NCIS: New Orleans crew taking down booze-breathed bad guys when the new series follows NCIS on Tuesday nights this Fall. Check out the full CBS 2014-2015 lineup here.

Last week a fantastic image showed up on the internet and no, it had nothing to do with Kim Kardashian's xeroxed behind. At first people weren't sure of the veracity of this epically geek-chic photograph of the Captains Kirk arm wrestling (pictured above) but it was soon confirmed that these two fearless leaders were indeed battling for bicep supremacy, or just to lighten the mood pre-interview for William Shatner's new documentary, The Captains.

The original Kirk has decided to continue his exploration (exploitation) of all things Star Trek, this time by filming a documentary that finds the Shatner interviewing all of the former ST captains (and not just those who commanded the signature Starfleet vessel, The Starship Enterprise). And that's where the arm wresting comes in, as explained in this Shatner interview by Canoe.ca,

Still no mention of who prevailed but I bet Chris Pine let the old man win. Shatner's documentary, aptly titled, The Captains, will air on EPIX HD on July 21, 2011 and here's the first trailer.

I must admit, I'm not the biggest 'Trekkie' but this does look like a pretty entertaining film and Shatner is so charismatic it's hard not to want to watch him.

William Shatner's documentary The Captains premieres on July 21 on EPIX HD as part of their "Shatner Palooza!" programming from July 21-30, 2011. As mentioned he interviews all the the five Star Trek captains including Pine, Kate Mulgrew, Patrick Stewart, Avery Brooks and Scott Bakula.

The 90s were the golden age of TV in my opinion. So I’ve only been alive since the mid-70s, my opinion still matters, right? Think about it – Seinfeld, 3D Rock From the Sun, Friends, The Simpsons, Sliders, and who could forget the best show ever - Quantum Leap.

Seriously, Quantum Leap was my absolute favorite show ever. I loved Dr. Sam Beckett like you wouldn’t believe. His combination of sincerity and his desire to really help the people whose lives he entered was inspiring. And, it didn’t hurt that he was hot. I've been wondering what he's been up to, and I guess now I know!

Scott Bakula is the actor who played Dr. Sam Beckett, and when he got the role as Captain Jonathan Archer on Enterprise, I couldn’t help but tune in. I didn’t think it was the best incarnation of the Star Trek empire, but it wasn’t bad. It was also on at some ungodly hour in the middle of the night on my local Fox affiliate, so I only got a chance to watch if one of my kids woke me up at the right time. (This was before we got a DVR…)

Anyway, the real point of this story is that the wonderful Scott Bakula is going to be starring alongside Ray Romano and Andre Braugher in a new show on TNT. I reported that Ray Romano was getting a new show back in April, but it didn’t have a title at that point.

Well, it does have a title now, and it’s going to be Men of a Certain Age. Hollywood Reporter says, "Age" explores the bonds of male friendship through the eyes of three college buddies (Romano, Braugher, Bakula) who are in their 40s. Bakula's character Terry is a handsome, intelligent but struggling-to-make-it actor.”

You better believe I’ll be watching!