After months of negotiations, NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles executive producer/showrunner Shane Brennan has signed a new three-year, low-eight-figure deal with the CBS TV Studios. Additionally, the studio has inked a three-year, seven-figure overall deal with NCIS executive producer Gary Glasberg.

Brennan, who joined NCIS at the beginning of Season 4 in 2006 and was tapped as showrunner the following season, also created the spinoff NCIS:LA and for the past two seasons has been running both series. Under his new deal, he will continue to serve as an executive producer on both shows and will serve as full-time showrunner on NCIS: LA. Glasberg, who joined NCIS in 2009, will take over day-to-day showrunner duties on the mothership series. Brennan’s deal also includes a development component. “Looking forward, I have a lot of stories to tell, but the focus will be on continuing the success of NCIS and NCIS: LA,” Brennan said. The Australian-born writer-producer admitted that returning home, where he has a family, had been on the back of his mind during the renegotiations with CBS Studios but added that “leaving wasn’t a real option.” “I’m very grateful to CBS who took a big risk with me when I took over NCIS, so staying with them was crlearly the best thing to do.”

Under Brennan, NCIS has been on a ratings ascend, cracking the Top 10 in Season 5, Brennan’s first on the show. Last season, NCIS became the most-watched scripted program on television, with an average audience of 18.9 million viewers. It continues to be No. 1 among all scripted shows this season and has actually increased its viewer average to 20 million, breaking series viewership records several times. Additionally, NCIS has been one of the best-performing drama series in off-network syndication, with highly rated reruns on USA, and internationally. Its spinoff NCIS: LA has also performed great. It is the second-most-watched scripted series on TV behind NCIS with an average of 17.2 million viewers. It landed a record off-network syndication deal with USA for $2 million-plus an episode only two months into its freshman series in 2009.

With the two deals, CBS studios has secured the key behind-the scenes component of NCIS, which in February was renewed for next season. At the time, the studio locked in series star Mark Harmon for two more years. Brennan is with Paradigm, Glasberg with CAA.

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AFTER A NAVY SEAL IMPOSTER IS SET ABLAZE, NCIS CONNECTS HIS DEATH TO A STOLEN CANISTER USED TO MAKE DEADLY BOMBS, ON “NCIS: LOS ANGELES” TUESDAY, MAY 10

Claire Forlani Guest Stars as Operations Manager Lauren Hunter

“Imposters” – After a Navy SEAL imposter is set ablaze, NCIS obtains new information regarding the whereabouts of the stolen Brachytherapy canister from a previous case that could be used to make a deadly bomb, on NCIS: LOS ANGELES, Tuesday, May 10 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Claire Forlani guest stars as Operations Manager Lauren Hunter.

Claire Forlani has just been cast in CBS’ NCIS: Los Angeles in a recurring role this season, and the big news is her character description: Forlani plays Lauren Hunter, the NCIS: LA team’s new Operations Manager.

Which raises a crucial question: What does this mean for Hetty?

Hunter is described as attractive, authoritative, cool and calculating: “She rarely lets her guard down, but when she does she reveals a dangerous quality that suggests she is much more than your run-of-the mill operations manager.”

Forlani’s storyline begins on the NCIS: LA episode airing May 10. Sources say the new operations manager and Linda Hunt’s character are very much part of this season’s cliffhanger and that a big question for fans will be whether Hunt will continue on the show — as the operations manager, or doing something else — next season.

Forlani is currently playing Queen Igraine in Starz’ Camelot and had a recurring role for several seasons on CSI: NY. What do you think, should CBS keep Hetty around?

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DEEKS IS SENT DEEP UNDERCOVER TO PROTECT HIS BEST FRIEND AND PRIMARY INFORMANT FROM A GROUP OF ARMS TRAFFICKERS, ON “NCIS: LOS ANGELES” TUESDAY, MAY 3

“Plan B” – Deeks resumes an old alias he is not fond of in order to protect his best friend and chief informant from a criminal group that wants him dead, on NCIS: LOS ANGELES, Tuesday, May 3 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

WHEN A ROCKET ENGINE EXPERT IS KILLED IN A TEST CHAMBER, HETTY SENDS ERIC AND THE TEAM TO ENSURE THAT THE CLASSIFIED TECHNOLOGY REMAINS SECURE, ON “NCIS: LOS ANGELES,” TUESDAY, APRIL 12

“Rocket Man” – After a rocket engine expert is killed, NCIS tech operator Eric Beale goes undercover for the first time to ensure that the classified technology used to build satellites is safe, on NCIS: LOS ANGELES, Tuesday, April 12 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

Tuesday’s NCIS: Los Angeles may prove once and for all just how much agents Kensi Blye and Marty Deeks really care about each other.

When a secure facility housing sensitive materials on a Marine base is compromised, Kensi (Daniela Ruah) must go undercover to get close to Stanley King (guest star Victor Webster), a world-class thief suspected of several high-end heists. Kensi has to gain King’s trust by any means necessary, which isn’t good news for Kensi’s partner Deeks (Eric Christian Olsen).

NCIS: Los Angeles exclusive: Will Victor Webster come between Kensi and Deeks?

“Kensi and [Stanley] definitely get along,” Ruah says with a sly laugh. Now whether that’s for her to get closer or because she thinks he’s cool, the audience will have to figure out. But there’s definitely a little flirtation going on, and I think Deeks gets a little jealous.”

But Ruah also says it’s a safety issue. “This big-time robber seems to eliminate every partner he’s ever worked with, so she’s under some kind of risk,” Ruah says. “Deeks is feeling really protective. It’s not just the fact that they might like each other. It’s also the fact that, above all, they’re also partners and their job revolves around protecting each other. He has my back, I have his and that’s what we do. It’s a great bonding episode for Kensi and Deeks.”

Ruah says the fact that Kensi has allowed Deeks to get as close as he already has is telling. As a teenager, she lost her father. Last season, her former partner Dom (Adam Jamal Craig) was kidnapped and eventually killed, and earlier this year it was revealed that her former fiancé suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and disappeared.

Check out photos of the NCIS: Los Angeles cast

“Kensi has a background of having lost every man in her life. She has this huge fear of losing someone else,” Ruah says. “She has these walls up and I think very slowly she’s letting them go down with Deeks. If something were to happen to him, it would be completely devastating.”

So can those Keeks (or Densi, depending on who you ask) ‘shippers look forward to something more between the characters?

“I think Kensi tries to fight against it as much as possible, but there’s definitely something there that’s going to be developed,” Ruah says. “You want to surprise the people who watch the show. I think we have to be careful with going too far too soon; it doesn’t leave a lot of places to go.”

NCIS: Los Angeles airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on CBS.

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