‘NCIS: Hawai’i’ Star Vanessa Lachey “Gutted” By Cancellation: “This Decision Was Bigger Than A TV Show”; Cast & Creators React – Update
UPDATED SUNDAY: NCIS: Hawai’i cast members and co-creators are still digesting the news that the series will not return for a fourth season following its cancellation by CBS Friday afternoon.
Vanessa Lachey made history as the first female lead — who is also a woman of color — in the NCIS franchise as Special Agent in Charge Jane Tennant. She shared her first reaction to news of the cancellation early Saturday morning on Instagram Story.
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“Gutted, confused, blindsided,” “Grateful, confident, beloved fans!”
“Processing this news and still being present with my family,” she wrote. “I love you all! Maholo Nui Loa.”
Lachey went back to her IG stories Sunday, posting a selfie with her young daughter in front of what appears to be an arts & crafts table. Lachey is sporting Mickey ears with glittery letters NCIS glued to them. (You can see the image below.)
“Trying to explain this news to my daughter… and she makes me Mickey ears so I can ‘smile’,” Lachey captioned the photo, adding, “This decision was bigger than a TV show.”
Tori Anderson, who portrayed FBI agent Kate Whistler, posted on X Friday: “Having a really hard time processing this one,” she wrote. “Thank you to our incredible crew who made every single day feel like I was living a dream. I want to say thank you to all the fans. My heart breaks for you as well.”
“This is a huge loss for representation,” Anderson noted of the cancellation, concluding with “Love you all so much.”
Jason Antoon, who played cyber intelligence specialist Ernie, shared his disappointment on Instagram. “This business is brutal and makes no sense. But we had soooo much fun. Love you all and mahalo.”
His sentiment was shared by castmate Noah Mills, who was celebrating his birthday on Friday when NCIS: Hawai’i was canceled. “It was soooo much damn fun while it lasted!,” he wrote on his Instagram stories Saturday morning over a photograph of a Hawaiian sunset.
“I will miss so many and so much about making this show. Incredibly grateful for the memories and to the AMAZING people on the great island of Oahu Hawaii, I cannot thank you enough for allowing us to visit, live, play, work and grow in such a special place,” he added, signing off with his character name, “Boone man out.”
Co-creator/executive producer Christopher Silber recalled the beginnings of NCIS: Hawai’i on X Friday.
“Four years ago, @JanNash100 @mattbosack and I started something very special. We joined with an incredible cast, amazing writers and crew… and gathered in Hawai’i to make a show. But ended up creating an ohana. I’m so grateful to you all.”
Fellow co-creator/executive producer Matt Bosack, who served as showrunner, retweeted Silber’s reaction while also sharing his own thoughts on the cancellation.
“NCIS: Hawaii was a dream. And while it’s ended, I am forever grateful to my partners, @csilb and
@JanNash100, our amazing cast, led by @VanessaLachey, the entire crew, and this wonderful island I call home…,” he wrote. “I’m proud of the stories we were able to tell over these 3 seasons. To tell fun Navy crime mysteries but also dig into ideas about family, life, love, identity… To all the fans, especially those who saw themselves in these characters, mahalo nui loa. A hui hou.”
Cast member Kian Talan, who played Lachey’s son, reposted Deadline’s story on the cancellation on his IG story with a heart emoji.
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