'NCIS: New Orleans' CBS Gets The Green Light For Season 2

CBS' NCIS: New Orleans, a spin-off series of the long-running NCIS TV military and police procedural drama, has just been renewed for a second season, along with Scorpion and Madam Secretary. 

In the announcement, CBS Entertainment chairman Nina Tassler said: "These freshman dramas have each made a big impact on key nights of the week. Creatively distinctive, the series are backed by strong showrunners with amazingly talented casts, and have resonated with a big, brad audience." According to the studio, NCIS: New Orleans ranks as the season's No. 1 new series among total viewers with its estimated 18.1 million average viewership.

The NCIS spin-off is focused on the unit's local field office that investigates criminal cases affecting military personnel in New Orleans, the Big Easy, a city known for its music, entertainment and decadence. Leading the team is Scott Bakula's Special Agent Dwayne 'King' Pride, a native of the area who is driven by his need to do what is right. Working with him is Lucas Black's Special Agent Christopher LaSalle, who plays hard but works harder, and Zoe McLelland's Special Agent Meredith 'Merri' Brody, a charismatic and tough interrogator who transferred from the Great Lakes office in search of a fresh start. Supporting them is coroner C.C.H. Pounder's Dr. Loretta Wade, who is as eccentric as she is smart. Rob Kerkovich's Sebastian Lund helps as her tech-savvy lab assistant and forensic scientist.

The announcement of the show's renewal came a day before the season's 12th episode aired. Entitled "The Abyss," the next installment in the series has the Pride's team partnering with the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) to work a double murder case aboard a research boat where a navy admiral's daughter is the prime suspect. Also in that episode, LaSalle tracks down his estranged brother.

Directed by Terence O'Hara from a script by Sam Humphrey, "The Abyss: guest stars Diane Neal as CGIS Agent Abigail Borin, Clayne Crawford as Cade Lambert, Daryl Mitchell as Investigative Computer Specialist Patton Plame, Corbin Bersen as Navy Admiral Adam Huntley, Eddie Matos as Julio, Kerry Cahill as Professor Sandra Jones, Ian Casselberry as Steve Morris, Rocco Brocato as Jeremy, Jason Kirkpatrick as, Detective Tim Simms,Romeo Clarke as Coast Guard Lieutenant Allen Alston, Morganna May as Anna Huntley, and Neal Kodinsky as Clive Roberts.