Reader Questions, Answered! Scoop on 'NCIS,' 'All American,' 'Hunting Party,' Two Quiet Cancellations and More

For those new to this concept: Matt's Inside Line (...like The Big Tease and Mega Buzz before it) aims to answer burning questions readers have about new, returning or "missing" TV shows. Sometimes I share things I know, other times I tease things I've seen. Oftentimes I'll get you an answer straight from a showrunner or star, and once in a while I'll do some real shoe leather reporting to solve a mystery.

Are there any plans for NCIS to bring back Zane Holtz as Sawyer on a more regular basis? He brings to the team something that has been lacking since Michael Weatherly's DiNozzo left. --Craig
During Season 23 (premiering Tuesday, Oct. 14), Holtz will indeed pop up for a fifth time as Special Agent Dale Sawyer, in what I'm hearing is a very "fun" episode.

Even though Most Wanted has ended, is there still a chance we see Nina Chase pop into 26 Fed at some point this season on FBI? --Megan
"We're hoping to see Nina (played by franchise vet Shantel VanSanten) in a couple different ways" and not strictly as Scola's baby momma/love interest, FBI boss Mike Weiss told me as part of TVLine's upcoming Fall Preview Spectacular. "We also want to see her as the badass fugitive recovery specialist that she is, helping us out a bit here and there over the course of the season." That said, nothing is set in stone, yet; after all, VanSanten "is an in-demand actress," Weiss notes.

Are Deal or No Deal Island and Destination X getting renewed? –Maddy
I just asked around for you and as of today, there is still no renewal news to report on either NBC reality series.

Season 8 of All American is in production and it was revealed that Episode 8x01 is titled "Rewind." Is it safe to assume there'll be a time jump? Will it be a big one? --Riia
Matt's Inside Line can confirm that six months will have passed for the characters when Season 8 arrives at midseason on The CW.

Any DeShawn/Evie scoop for the new season of NCIS: Sydney? --Stephanie
As part of the upcoming Season 3 preview I filed for TVLine, showrunner Morgan O'Neill affirmed that a new character will enter the mix in Season 3 and... shake up things for the chummy colleagues (played by Sean Sagar and the wondrefully named Tuuli Narkle). "Their dynamic is challenged on a number of levels," says the EP.

Why did American Ninja Warrior abandon the 4-stage Mount Midoriyama format for the finals? The racing is exciting and fun, but seems overall anticlimactic (especially when the players run the same course multiple times). Any insight? Thanks! (Glad you’re still running this column!) --Randy
I'm with you, I love me some Mount Midoriyama action. Its absence, I am told, is just a function of the competition series forever changing up the courses/format.

There was talk when The Hunting Party got renewed that Season 2 would be bigger, like 20 to 22 episodes. But with the show now moved to midseason at NBC, is there going to be a reduction in the episode count? --Joan
No one I have reached out to is confirming Season 2's episode count (let alone the "20 to 22" notion), but I am assured it will be "more" than Season 1's 10.

Any scoop on Sheriff Country? --Carlynn
It's a good thing that the spinoff premiere will follow Fire Country – for one time only – on Friday, Oct. 17, at 9/8c, given that one of its characters refers to a big ol' Fire Country spoiler.

Will the new FOX ONE streaming service, previously announced to have Fox favourites next-day, also at some point include shows from the past, including popular ones like The Cleaning Lady or Bones? Or even short-lived ones like The Cool Kids? --Shirley
I am hearing that while FOX One content offerings will absolutely evolve over time, at present the focus is on delivering current Fox content to subscribers. 

Will Ioan Gruffudd be returning to Elsbeth? --Barbara
Though Gruffudd has yet to be booked for an encore, I do know that when Season 3 opens, Elsbeth will be just getting back from visiting him in Scotland...

Do you know if Wicked City (Season 4) and Conspirators (Season 2) will be coming back for new seasons on ALLBLK? --Darquez
I hate to be the bearer of (doubly) sad news, but I can confirm that neither Wicked City nor Conspirators will be returning with new episodes.

Not sure if you're able to answer this, but I am curious to know if Countdown has been submitted for California Tax Credit like Ballard was? --Aidan
I delivered your Q to Countdown creator/showrunner Derek Haas, who confirmed, "Yes, we got [the tax credit] for Season 1, which automatically gets us it for Season 2" — if there is one, of course.