JAG

JAG is an American legal drama series with a strong military focus, created by Donald P. Bellisario and produced by Belisarius Productions alongside Paramount Network Television. The show’s first season was also co-produced with NBC Productions.

Initially envisioned as a blend of Top Gun and A Few Good Men, JAG’s pilot episode premiered on NBC on September 23, 1995. However, the series was canceled on May 22, 1996, after ranking 79th in viewership, leaving one episode unaired. CBS, a competing network, picked up the show as a midseason replacement, starting on January 3, 1997. This decision turned out to be beneficial, as JAG’s ratings improved over several seasons, leading to nine more seasons on air. The show also led to the creation of the successful series NCIS, which itself gave rise to NCIS: Los Angeles.

In total, JAG produced 227 episodes across 10 seasons and, by its fifth season, was broadcast in over 100 countries worldwide. Its popularity was such that it entered syndication in early 1999 and continues to be regularly rerun.