Why NCIS & Other Police Shows Rarely Have Fourth of July Episodes

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As a dedicated cinephile, I often find myself longing for TV series like NCIS, Bones, or The Rookie to air special episodes themed around the Fourth of July. However, it seems this holiday is rarely chosen for such celebrations. Instead, we fans are left with no choice but to tune into films that capture the spirit of Independence Day, such as Captain America: The First Avenger, Independence Day, or Hamilton, when we want to honor our nation’s birthday on screen.

There are several factors that might explain why there aren’t many Fourth of July-themed specials on TV, particularly in police procedural series. Contrastingly, these shows often air episodes where the characters celebrate different holidays, such as Christmas. However, it seems unusual that they wouldn’t include an episode centered around Independence Day.

NCIS & Other Prominent Police Procedurals Barely Have July 4th-Themed Episodes

Holidays Like Halloween & Christmas Are More Prominent

It’s quite rare to find special episodes for the Fourth of July compared to those for Christmas, Halloween, or Thanksgiving. Notably, popular police procedural TV shows like NCIS, Chicago PD, Law & Order: SVU, Blue Bloods, The Rookie, Criminal Minds, Bones, etc., don’t feature any episodes that celebrate the summer holiday. The exception is NCIS season 10, episode 9, “Devil’s Trifecta,” but it doesn’t actually take place on Independence Day.

Instead of saying “Devil’s Trifecta” is known for Tobias Fornell’s quip – “By George Washington’s fireworks display, what on earth am I seeing?” Diane Sterling echoed the same humor in season 12. In essence, cop TV series often find humor in referencing Independence Day with a witty line. It’s worth noting that not many shows, in general, focus on celebrating the Fourth of July.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that the second season of “The Pitt” is rumored to unfold during the Fourth of July weekend in 2026. Although it’s not your typical police procedural, it still follows a structured format. If you’re looking forward to celebrating Independence Day with some patriotic episodes of this critically acclaimed HBO Max drama, mark your calendars for next year!

July 4th’s Timing Makes It Difficult To Do Themed Episodes For Network TV Shows

Most Series Are On Hiatus

The main cause for police procedural network shows like NCIS, despite having 22 seasons, not airing special episodes on the Fourth of July is because they usually go on a break during summer.

In regular broadcast TV, series tend to conclude their seasons in the spring (around April or May). After that, they take a break for several months before resuming in the fall (typically September or October).

Typically, holiday specials are broadcast during or around the time of the respective holidays. For instance, Christmas episodes air in December, while Halloween-themed ones premiere in October. If TV shows go on summer hiatus, then it’s unlikely that there would be a dedicated Independence Day episode for series like NCIS (and many others), as they don’t produce new content during those months.

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2025-07-04 18:17