Scott Bakula reveals how ‘surprised’ he was learning that NCIS: New Orleans was ending

When CBS announced in February that NCIS: New Orleans was ending after its current seventh season, fans were taken for a loop… but so was star Scott Bakula.

The 66-year-old actor has played NCIS agent Dwayne ‘King’ Pride since the show launched in 2014, a spin-off of the long-running flagship NCIS.

While the show always put up strong ratings, Bakula revealed in an interview with TV Insider he was just as surprised as fans upon learning of the show’s ending. 

Surprised: When CBS announced in February that NCIS: New Orleans was ending after its current seventh season, fans were taken for a loop… but so was star Scott Bakula

Strong ratings: While the show always put up strong ratings, Bakula revealed in an interview with TV Insider he was just as surprised as fans upon learning of the show's ending

Strong ratings: While the show always put up strong ratings, Bakula revealed in an interview with TV Insider he was just as surprised as fans upon learning of the show’s ending

‘This being the last season, going out in the middle of a pandemic, I didn’t think it was going to happen. I’m surprised the show was canceled,’ Bakula said.

The actor also acknowledged the fan base is perhaps even more impressive since, ‘They followed us to several time slots.’

CBS launched the show in 2014 in the Tuesday 9 PM time slot, but it moved up to 10 PM in Season 3 and shifted to Sunday nights at 10 PM in Season 6.

Canceled: 'This being the last season, going out in the middle of a pandemic, I didn¿t think it was going to happen. I¿m surprised the show was canceled,' Bakula said

Canceled: ‘This being the last season, going out in the middle of a pandemic, I didn’t think it was going to happen. I’m surprised the show was canceled,’ Bakula said

Followed: The actor also acknowledged the fan base is perhaps even more impressive since, 'They followed us to several time slots.'

Followed: The actor also acknowledged the fan base is perhaps even more impressive since, ‘They followed us to several time slots.’

The Sunday night switch, which sometimes aired at 9 PM ET, also meant the show was sometimes delayed for live sporting events, but fans still kept showing up.

‘I appreciate they’re sticking to us and sticking by us and that transfers to all around the planet. We’re in 200+ markets all over the world,’ Bakula added.

‘We’ve had a great run. They’ve been very supportive. They seem to have liked the show, they like the stories we told, the characters on the show, and that’s why we do it,’ he continued.

Sunday night switch: The Sunday night switch, which sometimes aired at 9 PM ET, also meant the show was sometimes delayed for live sporting events, but fans still kept showing up

Sunday night switch: The Sunday night switch, which sometimes aired at 9 PM ET, also meant the show was sometimes delayed for live sporting events, but fans still kept showing up

‘We do it because we want people to grow a relationship and attach and invite us into their homes and we don’t take that lightly. I never have,’ he continued.

‘I honor them and we have always had had a great relationship and I look forward to continuing that in the future,’ Bakula added.

The series finale is slated to air on Sunday, May 23 at 10 PM ET, after the first season finale of The Equalizer and the 12th season finale of NCIS: Los Angeles.

Series finale: The series finale is slated to air on Sunday, May 23 at 10 PM ET, after the first season finale of The Equalizer and the 12th season finale of NCIS: Los Angeles

Series finale: The series finale is slated to air on Sunday, May 23 at 10 PM ET, after the first season finale of The Equalizer and the 12th season finale of NCIS: Los Angeles

The finale will feature the wedding between Bakula’s Dwayne Pride and Rita Devereux, played by Bakula’s real-life wife Chelsea Field. 

The finale, entitled Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler (French for “let the good times roll”), is set on the eve of the wedding, as Pride has some last minute work to tie up.

Pride must track down who attacked Connor and Jimmy, before Connor enters the Witness Protection Program, while also navigating Sasha’s ulterior motives with his son. 

Real couple: The finale will feature the wedding between Bakula's Dwayne Pride and Rita Devereux, played by Bakula's real-life wife Chelsea Field

Real couple: The finale will feature the wedding between Bakula’s Dwayne Pride and Rita Devereux, played by Bakula’s real-life wife Chelsea Field

Track down: Pride must track down who attacked Connor and Jimmy, before Connor enters the Witness Protection Program, while also navigating Sasha's ulterior motives with his son

Track down: Pride must track down who attacked Connor and Jimmy, before Connor enters the Witness Protection Program, while also navigating Sasha’s ulterior motives with his son

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk