Entertainment Extra

2 ENTERTAINMENT EXTRA By Kyla Brewer TV Media A ll good things must come to an end, as the saying goes, and crime drama fans are on the verge of losing yet another beloved series. After seven sea- sons in the Big Easy, the cast and crew of a CBS hit are preparing to say goodbye. Scott Bakula ("Quantum Leap") takes his final bow as NCIS Special Agent-in-Charge Dwayne "King" Cassius Pride in the series finale of "NCIS: New Orleans," airing Sunday, May 23, on CBS. Set in a city known for its music and decadence, the show follows Pride and his team as they investigate crimes related to United States Navy and Marine Corps personnel. Unfortunately for fans, the show will wrap for good at the end of this season. In February, Deadline.com reported that the show's current seventh season would be its last and that the series finale would air this May. Though surely disappointed, Bakula handled the news gra- ciously and expressed gratitude for his time on the show. "Sad to end our love affair with this phenomenal city, but so grateful for all the friends we made along the way," Bakula said. "I will miss the music. Big thank you to CBS for seven years." For those not in the know, the show is a spinoff of CBS's ratings juggernaut "NCIS," which is itself a spinoff of the network's once- popular drama "JAG." Bakula has been with "NCIS: New Orleans" since the very begin- ning. In fact, his character was introduced in the 11th season of the original "NCIS" in what they call a "backdoor pilot" (this is when producers use an episode or two of a successful series to familiarize viewers with charac- ters from a potential new series). A two-part episode featuring Pride aired on "NCIS" in the spring of 2014, and "NCIS: New Orleans" premiered later that fall. While "NCIS: New Orleans" may not have reached the same heights as the original or its fel- low spinoff "NCIS: Los Angeles," it has nonetheless attracted a loyal following that will be sad to see it go, something CBS exec- utive Kelly Kahl acknowledged in a recent news release. "From the start, 'NCIS: New Orleans' was able to distinguish itself with its New Orleans authenticity," said Kahl, who later added, "We're pleased to give it a big sendoff and that viewers will have the opportunity to say goodbye to their favorite characters as the final season wraps." Those characters include some of prime time's most well-known stars. Created by the late Gary Glasberg ("Bones"), "NCIS: New Orleans" follows Naval Criminal Investigative Service agents and their colleagues stationed in the Big Easy. Pride, who's also known by his nickname "King," is a New Orleans native and former deputy sheriff who returned to the area to head up the New Orleans office after an illustrious career with the NCIS. He works alongside seasoned Special Agent Hannah Khoury (Necar Zadegan, "24"), whose specialty is international counterintelli- gence. Former FBI agent Tammy Gregorio (Vanessa Ferlito, "CSI: NY") joined Pride's team after investigating the New Orleans NCIS office in Season 3. Special Agent Quentin Carter (Charles Michael Davis, "The Originals") is a former marine who values his independence despite being a part of the team. "NCIS: New Orleans" also stars multiple Emmy nominee C.C.H. Pounder ("The Shield") as medical examiner Dr. Loretta Wade. She assists Pride and the others with forensics and autop- sies. Wade's former assistant, Sebastian Lund (Rob Kerkovich, "Cloverfield," 2008), left the lab to become part of Pride's team as a special agent in Season 3. Talented hacker Patton Plame (Daryl Mitchell, "Galaxy Quest," 1999) also helps the team as the resident investigative computer specialist. Chelsea Field ("Airwolf"), Bakula's real-life wife, rounds out the cast as Pride's current love interest, Rita Devereaux, an attorney who left her successful career with the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., to return to New Orleans. The cast is preparing for the show's swan song, but the show has had a good run over the course of its seven seasons. Season 7's finale marks an impressive milestone as the show's 155th episode, which is no small feat in such a competi- tive industry. Although critics have not taken to the crime drama like the network's other NCIS offerings, it has not gone unnoticed by fans. In 2015, it was nominated for two People's Choice Awards; one for Favorite New TV Drama and the other for Bakula for Favorite Actor in a New TV Series. Still, plagued by a slow and steady decline in ratings, "NCIS: New Orleans" will have to bid farewell to fans this spring. There may be a ray of hope on the horizon, however. YMCA 2 x 2" Pear Tree Gallery 3 x 2" On the Cover Charles Michael Davis and Necar Zadegan as seen in "NCIS: New Orleans" 'NCIS: New Orleans' takes its final bow Chase Center 3 x 2" American Legion Post 60 2 x 3" Thrifty Muffler 2 x 2.5"

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