“NCIS” has promoted two long-time producers to co-showrunners, TheWrap has learned.
George Schenck and Frank Cardea, who have been with the show since Season 1, will replace Gary Glasberg, who passed away in September.
Schenck and Cardea have been writing partners since 1977. They have written almost 50 episodes of the CBS series, which is currently in its 14th season.
“The ‘NCIS’ family suffered a tragic loss with the sudden passing of our showrunner, Gary Glasberg,” Schenck and Cardea said in a joint statement. “It’s with heavy hearts that we assume his duties. We are fortunate to be surrounded by an incredibly talented and dedicated cast and crew, which will make the transition that much easier. Thank you to the ‘NCIS’ fans for the outpouring of love we have all received.”
Glasberg joined the show for Season 7 in 2009, and was later upped to executive producer and showrunnner. In 2014, he created “NCIS: New Orleans,” the Scott Bakula-led spinoff of the massively popular procedural.
“Gary was our rock, our cheerleader, our team captain,” said the cast and crew of “NCIS” at the time of Glasberg’s death. “He inspired us with his leadership, his creative instincts and keen insight. ‘NCIS’ will not be the same without him, and each of us will miss his smiling face and unwavering humor, which lifted us every day.”