Every 'JAG,' 'NCIS,' 'Hawaii Five-0,' 'MacGyver,' and 'Magnum' Crossover

Brief Summary:
This article chronicles the many crossovers between JAG, NCIS, and their expanding family of connected CBS shows, including Hawaii Five-0, MacGyver, and Magnum P.I. From backdoor pilots and special cameo appearances to full-fledged crossover events, the guide details how iconic characters and stories have traveled across series throughout the years, making for an interconnected TV universe that fans continue to love.

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1. Beginnings: The Expanding JAG and NCIS Universe

The story of these crossovers begins with JAG, a military/legal drama that would eventually birth one of the most enduring television franchises: NCIS. As the article puts it,

"It's all connected"

which is a phrase borrowed from Marvel TV's Jeph Loeb, but it suits this universe just as well.

NCIS was actually spun off from JAG, and over the years, the connections only grew. One of the latest and most exciting crossovers — at least as of 2025 — is between the original NCIS and its newest spinoff, NCIS: Hawai'i. In special back-to-back episodes, Special Agents Nick Torres and Jessica Knight take a trip to Hawaii, "with a couple other NCIS cast members appearing if not going along for the ride."

Interestingly, even before this official event, NCIS: Hawai'i teased its connections in its debut season, revealing how the legendary Leroy Jethro Gibbs had played a key part in shaping Jane Tennant's career. But this new crossover really cements NCIS: Hawai'i's role in what one could now call the Extended JAG/NCIS Universe—or, jokingly, "JNCISU."

Throughout the years, characters from JAG and NCIS have crossed over into each other's shows — and even into other connected CBS dramas, in what amounts to a very lively television universe.

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2. JAG: Where It All Started

The crossover phenomenon all started when NCIS was introduced through a two-part episode in JAG Season 8. In this "backdoor pilot," Gibbs' team investigated a murder where Commander Harmon "Harm" Rabb Jr. might have been involved. Future NCIS stars like Mark Harmon (Gibbs), Michael Weatherly (Tony), Pauley Perrette (Abby), and David McCallum (Ducky) all made their first appearances as their now-iconic characters.

Over time, familiar faces from JAG — including Harm, Lieutenant Colonel Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie, Lt. Bud Roberts, and Rear Admiral A.J. Chegwidden — would pop up again, guest starring on either NCIS or NCIS: Los Angeles, solidifying the lineage between the shows.

Here's a fun tidbit from the article:

"NBC pretty famously bailed on JAG after one season, at which point CBS 'saved' the military/legal drama and eventually spun it off into a 40-season (and counting?) NCIS franchise."

It's amazing to think that CBS's rescue of JAG would kick off one of TV's biggest franchise success stories!

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3. NCIS: Spreading the Connections

NCIS not only launched from JAG, but also continued to expand the universe through its own spinoffs and character visits. The end of Season 6 introduced NCIS: Los Angeles through another set of backdoor pilot episodes. Later, near the end of Season 11, NCIS would set up NCIS: New Orleans.

Throughout NCIS, familiar JAG characters like Lt. Bud Roberts, Rear Admiral Chegwidden, and Faith Coleman would stop by for guest appearances. The bond between the two series remained strong on-screen for years.

The latest major crossover sees NCIS: Hawai'i Special Agent Jane Tennant join the central team, kicking off an exciting two-parter. These events always serve as great reminders of how intertwined these shows have become.

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4. NCIS: Los Angeles: Crossover Central

NCIS: Los Angeles stands out for its number of crossovers. Early on, beloved NCIS characters like Abby, Tony, and Director Leon Vance visited LA for guest appearances. In its third season, the show had a two-way crossover with Hawaii Five-0, bringing Danny Williams and Chin Ho Kelly into the mix. That same period, Kensi made a solo trip to Hawaii for Five-0's second season.

The crossover fun didn't stop there. In the tenth season, JAG leads David James Elliott (Harm) and Catherine Bell (Mac) reprised their roles for a storyline arc. Rear Admiral Chegwidden also made several appearances, much to fans' delight.

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5. Hawaii Five-0: Gateway to More Crossovers

Hawaii Five-0 didn't just stick to its own universe. Along with its aforementioned crossover with NCIS: Los Angeles, Kensi from LA visited Hawaii in Season 2 to help out Joe White.

Five-0 also teamed up with Magnum P.I. for a full two-way crossover. Plus, it served as a launchpad for further connections: Daniel Dae Kim, Grace Park, and Taylor Wily reprised roles as Chin Ho, Kono, and Kamekona on MacGyver as well.

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6. MacGyver: Welcoming Hawaii Five-0

MacGyver joined the interconnected universe by featuring its own crossover. In Season 1's episode "Flashlight," characters Chin Ho Kelly and Kono Kalakaua, plus Kamekona from Hawaii Five-0, made appearances to help out Mac and his team.

After Five-0 ended, the connection stayed alive when Jorge Garcia showed up on MacGyver as conspiracy theorist Jerry Ortega, reuniting with fellow Lost veteran Henry Ian Cusick.

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7. NCIS: New Orleans: Keeping the Family Connected

NCIS: New Orleans enjoyed a steady stream of NCIS guest appearances throughout its seven seasons. Ducky, former FBI agent Tobias Fornell, CGIS Special Agent Abigail Borin, and SECNAV Sarah Porter all made notable visits. The article even gives a shoutout to Abigail Borin, saying:

"P.S. Bring back Borin, NCIS-verse!"

It's clear she left quite an impression.

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8. Scorpion: A Fun TV Surprise

Even the show Scorpion got in on the crossover game! Early in its run, Linda Hunt (Hetty Lange from NCIS: Los Angeles) showed up to help the Scorpion team prep for going undercover. This was a delightful surprise for fans, linking the tech-genius drama to the ever-growing NCIS family.

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9. Magnum P.I.: Teaming Up with Hawaii Five-0

Magnum P.I. and Hawaii Five-0 joined forces in a high-stakes two-way crossover. When Junior from Five-0 was kidnapped, Magnum and Higgins were asked to help out Tani and Quinn, strengthening the bonds between both Hawaii-based shows.

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10. NCIS: Hawai'i: The New Chapter

The newest NCIS spinoff, NCIS: Hawai'i, has continued the tradition of crossovers with a bang. In a special two-part event that aired on March 28, 2022, Nick Torres is invited by Jane Tennant to Hawaii to track down a key witness from a previous case they worked together.

Part two saw Jessica Knight traveling to Hawaii herself, with appearances from Alden Parker and Kasie as well. This crossover truly cemented NCIS: Hawai'i's position in the wider universe, demonstrating that the legacy of shared stories is alive and well.

The article even encourages fans to watch an interview about the crossover:

"Press play above for our video Q&A with Katrina Law about the crossover."

Finally, for those who want inside info, there's a special invitation:

"Want scoop on any of the above shows? Email InsideLine@tvline.com and your question may be answered via Matt's Inside Line."

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Final Thoughts

From surprise guest stars to thrilling two-part storylines, these crossovers have made the JAG/NCIS/CBS drama universe one of the most tightly-knit on TV. By connecting stories and characters across shows and years, they've created a special kind of TV magic that fans continue to cherish. Whether you've followed them from the start or just discovered the web of connections, it's clear: "It's all connected!" 🌟