'NCIS' renewed for next year as Mark Harmon re-ups

[February 02, 2013]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Fans of "NCIS" can breathe easy. Mark Harmon will be sticking around, and his hit CBS drama is returning next season.

The network announced Harmon's one-year contract extension on Friday along with the renewal of a show that just keeps getting bigger.

Now in its 10th season, "NCIS" for the first time ranks as TV's most-watched program, CBS said, outpacing even NBC's "Sunday Night Football." "NCIS" logs an average 21.5 million viewers each week, up 7 percent over last year.

Harmon stars as Special Agent Jethro Gibbs, who heads up a team that investigates crimes involving U.S. Navy and Marine Corps personnel. The cast also includes Michael Weatherly, Pauley Perrette, Rocky Carroll and David McCallum.

"NCIS" premiered in Fall 2003.

[Associated Press]

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