NCIS' Parent Series Lands New Streaming Home With All Episodes
In an exciting development for television enthusiasts, the entirety of the acclaimed legal drama series JAG will be available for streaming. The series served as the precursor to the immensely popular NCIS franchise.
Starting Monday, July 1, ahead of Independence Day, Prime subscribers can enjoy all ten seasons of the show. TV Line reports that Amazon has licensed the rights to every episode of JAG, whereas Paramount+ previously only had select episodes. With all 227 episodes soon available for streaming, fans can revisit the origins of the NCIS universe.
Mark Harmon NCIS
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JAG, created by Donald P. Bellisario, premiered on NBC in September 1995 before finding its long-term home on CBS from January 1997 to April 2005. The series has 227 episodes and has been broadcast in numerous countries worldwide. JAG follows the lives of lawyers in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, who investigate and litigate military cases. The show explored themes of military justice, international law, and personal relationships within the context of the armed forces.
David James Elliott starred as Navy Captain Harmon Rabb Jr., and Catherine Bell joined in Season 2 as Lieutenant Colonel Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie. The show's cast also included notable stars like Tracey Needham, Patrick Labyorteaux, John M. Jackson, Scott Lawrence, and Zoe McLellan. Frequent guest stars included Terry O’Quinn, Andrea Parker, and Steven Culp.
Jane Tennant (actor Vanessa Lachey) in an NCIS vest in front of NCIS: Hawai'i logo
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JAG's Role In Launching The NCIS Franchise
Olivia Swann as Michelle Mackey and Todd Lasance as Jim 'JD' Dempsey with guns drawn in NCIS: SYDNEY episode
This move to make JAG available in its entirety comes as the show has been somewhat overlooked despite its critical role in launching the NCIS franchise. It served as the foundation for the NCIS franchise, introducing the main characters and premise of the show through a two-part backdoor pilot episode within the JAG series. This pilot episode established the core concept of NCIS as a military procedural drama focused on a team of investigators solving crimes related to the Navy and Marine Corps.
Many characters and storylines from JAG have been referenced or revisited in NCIS, such as Harmon Rabb Jr., Bud Roberts, and Thomas Morrow further solidifying the connection between the two shows and demonstrating the importance of JAG to the overall development and success of the NCIS franchise. NCIS, which premiered in 2003, remains one of the most-watched shows on television. Its 21st season was the second highest-rated TV project last year, only behind Justin Hartley's Tracker.
NCIS has spawned several successful spin-offs, including NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Hawaiʻi, NCIS: Sydney, and the upcoming NCIS: Origins. With the announcement of NCIS season 22, there is speculation about the possible reintegration of JAG characters into the current NCIS storyline, especially given the show's newfound accessibility on Prime Video.
The release of JAG on Prime is a significant step for fans of the legal drama and the broader NCIS universe, offering a chance to explore the roots of the beloved franchise.
Source: TV Line
JAG TV Series Poster