NCIS: 300 Episodes and Counting

What began as a risky JAG spinoff that didn’t want to be confused with CSI has grown into one of TV’s most formidable franchises. CBS’s NCIS—now in its 14th season and closing in on its its 300th episode (airing Tuesday, March 15)—is the most-watched drama on U.S. television, a cable rerun blockbuster and an international hit (airing in 200 markets). To mark the milestone, we talked to stars Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Pauly Perrette, their castmates and executive producers about the show’s unlikely road into TV history.
Also in this issue:

• The X-Files: Exec producer Chris Carter breaks down that cliffhanger finale and talks about what might be next for Mulder and Scully.

• Dowton Abbey: Ahead of the series finale, the stars of the British hit look back at six seasons of upstairs and downstairs drama.

• The Passion: On the scene in New Orleans as Fox preps its next musical, a star-packed take on the greatest story ever told.

• The Americans: Matthew Rhys, Keri Russell and Holly Taylor reveal top-secret intel on FX’s twisty ’80s espionage thriller ahead of Season 4.

• T.R. Knight: The Grey’s Anatomy alum opens up about his dark new role in Hulu’s time-traveling adventure 11.22.63.

• Grimm: In honor of the supernatural series’ 100th episode, star David Giuntoli borrowed our camera for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour.

• Plus: Bates Motel, Nashville, Marvel’s Daredevil, Castle‘s Toks Olagundoye, The Young and the Restless‘ Eric Braeden, March Madness, the season finale of How to Get Away With Murder and more.

The ’80s Issue: The Goldbergs Go Dirty Dancing

Nobody puts The Goldbergs in the corner. The 1980s set ABC sitcom is having the time of its life with this year’s big movie homage, Dirty Dancing. “My whole childhood was filtered through movies,” says series creator Adam F. Goldberg (who has based the show on his own rambunctious family). “That’s how I related to the world. For this episode, I looked to my mom. This was her movie. My memories of Dirty Dancing are me being dragged to it and her watching it over and over.”

Also in this issue, our celebration of all things ’80s:

• Soaps Hunks Everlasting: We gathered six suds stars for a candid conversation about their ’80s stardom and how they’ve managed to survive—and thrive—after all these years: Doug Davidson (The Young and the Restless), Don Diamont (The Bold and the Beautiful), Michael E. Knight (The Young and the Restless), A Martinez (Days of Our Lives), Stephen Nichols (Days of Our Lives) and Kin Shriner (General Hospital).

• John Stamos: The Grandfathered star revisits at the shows that led him to TV stardom, including General Hospital and Full House.

• Fashion Rewind: From Miami Vice to Dynasty, a look back at the iconic looks from the era of excess.

• The Ultimate ’80s TV Quiz: Never mind who shot J.R.—how many people watched the biggest Dallas episode ever?!

• Plus: Fuller House, The Walking Dead, Blindspot, Rosewood, Once Upon a Time and more.

Chicago is on Fire: NBC is Making the Windy City One Hot Property

Überproducer Dick Wolf has ignited a fiery franchise in the Windy City, spawning three intersecting series for NBC. We spent some time on the sets of Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med for a closer look at how these shows intersect to form one sprawling drama. “What Dick is doing is so brilliant,” says Oliver Platt, who plays chief psychiatrist Daniel Charles on Chicago Med. “Shows have been spun off forever, but nobody ever thought to spin shows into one living community. That’s an interesting and challenging experiment for the actors because none of us are working on just a single drama.”

Also in this issue:

• Better Call Saul: Bob Odenkirk previews Season 2 of the Breaking Bad spinoff and talks about conquering drama, comedy and psychology.

• Girls: The minds behind HBO’s millennial comedy talk about branding Brooklyn, eye-opening sex scenes and why they decided to call it quits after one more season.

• 11.22.63: James Franco goes on a harrowing time-traveling odyssey to save JFK in Hulu’s new thriller.

• Plus: New seasons of Vikings and Survivor; The X-Files reboot comes to a close, Lucifer, Shades of Blue, The Magicians and the Academy Awards.

The Walking Dead: On Set for ‘The Biggest Episode We’ve Ever Done’

The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus and Andrew Lincoln grace the cover of this week’s issue of TV Guide Magazine. The AMC zombie blockbuster is about to resume its intense sixth season with “the biggest episode we’ve ever done in terms of the amount that happens,” Lincoln (aka Rick Grimes) told us during our visit to the Georgia set last summer.

Also in this issue:

• How to Get Away With Murder: Our report from the set as the twisty TGIT hit returns.

• Fresh Off the Boat: An exclusive look at the sitcom’s upcoming Chinese New Year episode.

• Vinyl: Bobby Canavale previews his gritty new 1970s drama (from Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger) set in the world of sex and drugs and rock ’n’ roll.

• The People v. O.J. Simpson: Cuba Gooding Jr. opens up about his career and taking on “the hardest role I’ve ever had, psychologically,” in the dramatic retelling of a case that riveted the nation.

• Madoff: Richard Dreyfuss becomes the felonious financier in a bold new miniseries.

• Plus: Super Bowl 50, a Community reunion on Dr. Ken, Sleepy Hollow, Scorpion, Scandal, The Flash, General Hospital, The Good Wife’s Jeffrey Dean Morgan and more.