What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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T2 WHATS UP! May 23 - 29, 2021 BY KYLA BREWER TV Media A ll good things must come to an end, as the saying goes, and crime drama fans are on the verge of losing yet another be- loved series. After seven seasons in the Big Easy, the cast and crew of a CBS hit are preparing to say goodbye. Scott Bakula ("Quantum Leap") takes his final bow as NCIS Special Agent-in-Charge Dwayne "King" Cassius Pride in the series finale of "NCIS: New Orleans," airing Sunday, May 23, on CBS. Set in a city known for its music and decadence, the show follows Pride and his team as they investigate crimes relat- ed to United States Navy and Marine Corps personnel. Unfortunately for fans, the show will wrap for good at the end of this season. In February, Deadline.com reported that the show's current seventh season would be its last and that the se- ries finale would air this May. Though surely disappointed, Ba- kula handled the news gracious- ly and expressed gratitude for his time on the show. "Sad to end our love affair with this phenomenal city, but so grateful for all the friends we made along the way," Bakula said. "I will miss the music. Big thank you to CBS for seven years." For those not in the know, the show is a spinoff of CBS's ratings juggernaut "NCIS," which is it- self a spinoff of the network's once-popular drama "JAG." Ba- kula has been with "NCIS: New Orleans" since the very begin- ning. In fact, his character was introduced in the 11th season of the original "NCIS" in what they call a "backdoor pilot" (this is when producers use an episode or two of a successful series to familiarize viewers with charac- ters from a potential new series). A two-part episode featuring Pride aired on "NCIS" in the spring of 2014, and "NCIS: New Orleans" premiered later that fall. While "NCIS: New Orleans" may not have reached the same heights as the original or its fel- low spinoff "NCIS: Los Ange- les," it has nonetheless attracted a loyal following that will be sad to see it go, something CBS ex- ecutive Kelly Kahl acknowl- edged in a recent news release. "From the start, 'NCIS: New Orleans' was able to distinguish itself with its New Orleans au- thenticity," said Kahl, who later added, "We're pleased to give it a big sendoff and that viewers will have the opportunity to say goodbye to their favorite char- acters as the final season wraps." Those characters include some of prime time's most well- known stars. Created by the late Gary Glas- berg ("Bones"), "NCIS: New Or- leans" follows Naval Criminal Investigative Service agents and their colleagues stationed in the Big Easy. Pride, who's also known by his nickname "King," is a New Orleans native and for- mer deputy sheriff who returned to the area to head up the New Orleans office after an illustri- ous career with the NCIS. He works alongside seasoned Spe- cial Agent Hannah Khoury (Ne- car Zadegan, "24"), whose spe- Scott Bakula stars in "NCIS: New Orleans" Swan song continued on page T10 TV FEATURE 5 x 5 Not a subscriber? No problem, subscribe today and receive an iPad with your subscription*. *iPad must be returned within 30 days of termination of account. now available on the digital replica! NEW INTERACTIVE PUZZLE PAGES Get the new puzzle pages on the digital replica, featuring puzzles daily! CROSSWORDS KIDS' GAMES SUDOKU WORD GAMES STRATEGY & MEMORY NUMBERS Call 479-684-5509 or visit nwaonline.com/nwaipad