Why did 'NCIS' Season 17 Episode 10 not air on CBS this week? Airdate, Ziva spoilers, winter finale updates and more

December 3 should have ideally aired episode 10 of this ongoing season 17 of 'NCIS', titled 'The North Pole'. Instead, CBS aired a rerun of season 16, episode 17.
(Source : IMDb)
(Source : IMDb)

Tuesday nights mean 'NCIS' Season 17 but this week, fans were deprived of the thrill and entertainment of the CBS procedural quite randomly, out of the blue. Now the question is, why? And when is it back?

December 3 should have ideally been the Tuesday to air the 10th episode of this ongoing season 17 of 'NCIS', titled 'The North Pole'. Instead, CBS aired a rerun of one of the episodes from the previous season 16, specifically episode 17, titled 'Silent Service'. The shocking lack of a new episode was confusing, but this is nothing unexpected from the show.

Just weeks ago 'NCIS' took a break within the same season 17, around the time when the NFL matches were airing, and now, as most network shows go on their midseason breaks or winter hiatus, 'NCIS' has decided to take two full weeks off, meaning no new episodes until December 17.

These random breaks within the season are primarily clubbed together in the form of the winter or fall break that runs throughout the festive season as TV rating companies conduct their 'sweep breaks' where they tally TV ratings for each show. But looks like 'NCIS' is sticking to short and sweet breaks in the form of what they are calling a 'Thanksgiving break' to give us just enough time to miss the show, but also gear up for the soon to be arriving midseason finale.

According to the latest updates, the upcoming episode 10, while it will feature the highly anticipated second return of Cote de Pablo's Ziva David this season, it will also be the winter finale for the procedural. The episode, airing two weeks from now, will throw adversity at Ziva as a welcome back of sorts, and while an official synopsis hasn't been revealed yet, cast member Diona Reasonover teased a very dangerous situation that the team will be heading into on the show, in an interview TV Insider.

'NCIS' season 17 returns with its episode 10 'The North Pole' on Tuesday, December 17, at 8 pm, only on CBS.

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