CBS has doubled down on its Monday night lineup, ordering full-season pickups for Poppa’s House and NCIS: Origins. The freshman comedy Poppa’s House, starring Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr., and the drama NCIS: Origins, a prequel to CBS’s iconic NCIS, will both expand from 13 to 18 episodes. Both shows have found solid footing on CBS’s Monday schedule alongside The Neighborhood and NCIS, building on a strong start to the season.
In Poppa’s House, Wayans Sr. plays “Poppa,” a talk radio host and happily divorced father who is grappling with shifts at work, including a new female co-host, while still navigating family dynamics at home. Wayans Jr. portrays his ambitious but dream-driven adult son. The series, which also stars Essence Atkins and Tetona Jackson, airs Mondays from 8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT. The show is executive produced by Dean Lorey, Wayans Sr., and Wayans Jr.
“Poppa’s House excels with the dynamic father-son chemistry between Damon and Damon Jr., drawing from family-inspired stories that bring the comedy to life,” said CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach. She added, “NCIS: Origins has added a new dimension to the NCIS franchise with its unique ’90s setting and origin story of Leroy Jethro Gibbs, bringing distinct characters and crime-solving to the screen.” The series, which both air on CBS and stream on Paramount+, have demonstrated strong appeal with multi-platform audiences.
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Premiering on October 14, NCIS: Origins has pulled in 9 million viewers across linear and streaming platforms, according to VideoAmp and internal CBS data, while Poppa’s House, which debuted the following week, has attracted 6.41 million cross-platform viewers. CBS also reported that Poppa’s House saw a 137% increase in viewership compared to Bob Hearts Abishola in the same time slot last season.
NCIS: Origins follows the early days of a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs, played by Austin Stowell, in 1991 as he begins his career as a special agent at the NCIS Camp Pendleton office. Mark Harmon, who portrayed Gibbs in the flagship series, narrates the spinoff, while other cast members include Kyle Schmid, Mariel Molino, Tyla Abercrumbie, Diany Rodriguez, and Caleb Foote. NCIS: Origins airs Mondays from 10-11 PM ET/PT, with David J. North, Gina Lucita Monreal, Mark Harmon, and Sean Harmon serving as executive producers.
This expansion follows CBS’s recent full-season order of Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, a prequel set in the Big Bang Theory universe, and an early Season 2 renewal for Matlock, led by Kathy Bates.