David James Elliott, who’s had a 10-season run on the CBS military drama “JAG,” is leaving the show at the end of the season.
Elliott, whose “JAG” contract is up at the end of the season, has signed a new deal with ABC and sister studio Touchstone TV, the showbiz trade papers report. The one-year agreement calls for the studio and network to either cast him in an existing project or develop a new series for him.
The actor will also receive a co-producer credit on any show in which he stars.
What Elliott’s departure means for the future of “JAG” is unclear. CBS isn’t commenting on the fate of the series, which has been a stalwart on its schedule for nine seasons after moving over from NBC following its first year.
Airing on Friday nights, the show draws a little under 10 million viewers per week, off somewhat from the 10.8 million it averaged in the same time period last season. Some of that decline may be due to the fact that its lead-in, “Joan of Arcadia,” is down about 1.6 million viewers compared to last year. Still, “JAG” leads its time period in total viewers.
As Elliott’s run on “JAG” winds down, the show will introduce a new character, played by Chris Beetem (“As the World Turns”), later this month. Beetem will play a new member of the Judge Advocate General team.
Elliott is the second star of a long-running CBS series to sign with ABC in the past week. On Tuesday, the network announced it had signed a development deal with “Everybody Loves Raymond” star Patricia Heaton.
