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The original NCIS show Jag could receive a reboot or revival, according to legacy star David James Elliott. The military legal drama first aired in 1995, and ran for ten years and more than 220 episodes before concluding in 2005 after Jag season 10. The show was hugely influential and spawned the smash-hit spinoff, NCIS.

NCIS has become a pop culture phenomenon since its debut in 2003. In February this year, NCIS season 23 was renewed and is set to debut this fall. NCIS has led to six spinoff shows, including NCIS: Origins. There has been speculation that Jag itself could be subject to a revival, and Elliott has weighed in on this possibility.

Per EW, Elliott discussed the chances of rebooting Jag for a modern audience, pointing out how creator Don Bellisario is still alive, meaning that this could be a viable option. He also stated that he would be interested in appearing in a reboot,...

Two decades ago, Jag ended its ten-season run on CBS, and despite its successful run, it never got the reboot treatment, much to fans’ disappointment. However, the legal drama spawned the long-running series NCIS, which in turn led to spin-offs NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Hawaiʻi, NCIS: Sydney, and NCIS: Origins. Leading the classic show was David James Elliott, who portrayed Harmon Rabb Jr. throughout, and most recently, has fantastic news about a possible Jag reboot, in acknowledgment of the series’ new milestone.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly at Comic-Con on Saturday, July 26, Elliott weighed in on the chances of ever returning to the role of Lt. Harmon Rabb Jr. "I mean, there's always a chance," he said. The Revival star further noted that Donald P. Bellisario, who created Jag, is still alive, so a reboot is certainly possible. "Don Bellisario is still alive. I mean,...

It has been 20 years since Jag ended its 10-season run, but not before it ensured that it would be remembered as the origin of one of the longest-running procedural shows ever – NCIS. Could the granddaddy of the franchise ever come back though? According to its original star, yes it could.

There are very few shows that are currently immune to the idea of a reboot or remake, and while many may not have Jag on their list of likely suspects for the revival treatment, David James Elliott, who played Lt. Harmon Rabb Jr, believes there is “always a chance” of the series coming back, even after two decades and what seems like dozens of NCIS spinoffs.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly at Sdcc while promoting the new supernatural series Revival, Elliott addressed Jag’s return. He said:

“I mean there’s always a chance. Don Bellisario [Jag’s original creator] is still alive. I mean,...

Quantum Leap's fandom has only expanded after NBC aired the 2022 revival, which was canceled after only two seasons. Thankfully, the reboot series is getting a second wind this August on streaming.

Quantum Leap fans can relish the reboot series when it hits Netflix on Aug. 14. The 2022 revival adopted the original's premise, story beats, and characters; Ernie Hudson plays Quantum Leap project head Herbert Williams, also the war veteran Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula) leaped into in the 1990 episode "The Leap Home (Part 2) – Vietnam." Susan Diol also reprises Beth, the wife of Al Calavicci from the original. The reboot stars Raymond Lee as physicist Ben Song, and like Sam, Ben is transported to the past and into the bodies of different people.

Bakula first hinted at the Quantum Leap reboot in September 2021, sparking rumors he would revisit the role. Alluding to conversations he had with series creator Donald P. Bellisario, Bakula...

NCIS is a global TV franchise, but what about the predecessor that made it all possible? Jag, the military legal drama from which NCIS spun off, marked the 20th anniversary of its finale in April and will hit the 30th anniversary of its premiere in September. And star David James Elliott, the actor behind Harmon Rabb, Jr., says a Jag revival might happen yet. “I mean, there’s always a chance,” Elliott told Entertainment Weekly at Comic-Con on Saturday, July 26. “[Creator] Don Bellisario is still alive. I mean, it’s his 90th birthday coming up. Certainly, I think it would be interesting.” That said, Elliott isn’t sure he’d be recruited for a Jag revival. “I would be down for it, but I don’t know if it involves me,” he added. “You know those reboots, they go, ‘Yeah, thank you. We got new guys!’” Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images Jag,...

It’s hard to picture anyone other than Mark Harmon playing Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS, but several other very talent actors were also considered for the role!

The 73-year-old Emmy-nominated actor played the iconic character on the Jag spinoff series for 19 seasons, becoming the second to last original series regular to depart the show.

In a recent feature from The Hollywood Reporter on the long-running and hit CBS drama series, creators Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, as well as several executives revealed that there were other names before Mark‘s who were mentioned for the part.

Find out who will be playing Gibbs in an upcoming NCIS: Origins prequel series!

Head inside to see the 11 major stars who were once considered for the role of Gibbs on NCIS…...

NBC’s time-travel drama Quantum Leap is about to find new life on Netflix. Following its abrupt cancellation after just two seasons and a streaming blackout that left fans in limbo, the 2022 revival of the sci-fi series will soon be available for streaming. The new iteration, a continuation of Donald P. Bellisario’s original 1989 classic, followed Dr. Ben Song, played by Made for Love’s Raymond Lee, a brilliant physicist who revives the Quantum Leap project to unravel the mystery of Sam’s disappearance. While the revival generated excitement among longtime fans and newcomers alike when it premiered on NBC in 2022, it struggled to maintain momentum during its sophomore season.

Season 2 was plagued by multiple time slot changes, resulting in erratic viewership that led to a gradual ratings decline. Despite its fan base, NBC pulled the plug in April 2024. Initially, NBCUniversal floated the idea of relocating the series to Peacock,...

The latest streaming stats are in, and it looks like Paramount+ subscribers are pressing pause on their latest NCIS rewatch. The long-running military police procedural has shockingly dropped out of the No. 2 spot in the streamer's Top 10 TV Shows list for the second time this week.

Per FlixPatrol, NCIS has just dropped to No. 3 on Paramount+'s Top 10 TV Shows list in the United States. The last time this happened was on June 30, when SpongeBob SquarePants briefly overtook the No. 2 spot from NCIS. While not as major of a drop as some might have expected, NCIS doesn't often waver from the No. 2 spot, having consistently held it for a while now, with the same going for SpongeBob at No. 3. However, both shows have lost a spot due to the renewed interest in the Showtime drama series The Chi, which has jumped up a massive five spots to No. 2. All eyes...

It’s hard to picture anyone other than Mark Harmon playing the role of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS, but several other very talented actors almost landed the role!

The 73-year-old actor played the iconic character on the Jag spinoff series for 19 seasons, becoming the second to last original series regular to depart the show.

In a recent feature from The Hollywood Reporter on the long-running and hit CBS drama series, creators Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, as well as several executives revealed that there were other names before Mark‘s who were mentioned for the part.

Find out who will be playing Gibbs in an upcoming NCIS: Origins prequel series!

Head inside to see the 11 major stars who were once considered for the role of Gibbs on NCIS…...

Before NCIS became the procedural powerhouse it is today, the role of Leroy Jethro Gibbs was up for grabs, and boy, was it a star-studded showdown. Imagine walking into an audition room and seeing not one, but two Oscar-winners eyeing the same role. But Mark Harmon didn’t just walk in, he owned it.

While the others had shiny trophies, Harmon brought that quiet intensity and those “don’t mess with me” eyes that’d define Gibbs for nearly two decades. And just like that, Hollywood’s most unexpected casting twist was sealed. Curious who the A-listers he beat were? Let’s find out…

Mark Harmon beat Chris Cooper and Tom Berenger for NCIS role Mark Harmon as Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs in NCIS | Credits: CBS

Before Mark Harmon locked down the role of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS, two Oscar-winning heavyweights almost got the part. Adaptation’s...

Ever since the legacy TV series "Jag" quietly launched the "NCIS" universe, viewers have been graced with more military police procedural action than they could ever have hoped for. "NCIS" premiered in 2003, and after over two decades and numerous spin-offs, the show has successfully wrapped up its season 22. This, of course, begs the question: Will the train keep rolling? Can the audience expect a new season full of the Major Case Response Team's toughest investigations? 

In a nutshell, the answer is yes. A new season of the CBS show will eventually bring us back to the Washington Navy Yard, because "NCIS" season 23 is most definitely coming. As for precisely when this will happen, what story arcs the upcoming season will focus on, and which familiar faces we can expect to return on both sides of the camera ... well, those are the questions that matter. Let's take a while to put...

James McEachin, who wrote and produced songs for Otis Redding before turning to acting to portray cops on his own NBC Mystery Movie series and in 18 of the popular Perry Mason telefilms, has died. He was 94.

McEachin died Jan. 11 and was interred last month at Los Angeles National Cemetery.

The familiar character actor also appeared in four films opposite Clint Eastwood: Coogan’s Bluff (1968), Play Misty for Me (1971) — as the deejay Sweet Al Monte — Every Which Way But Loose (1978) and Sudden Impact (1983).

All in the Family aficionados know him for his turns as the IRS tax examiner who won’t be bribed on the 1972 episode “Archie’s Fraud” and as Solomon Jackson, a Black Jew whom Carroll O’Connor’s character invites into his lodge to check off some diversity boxes, on the 1977 installment “Archie the Liberal.”

A onetime contract player at Universal, McEachin starred as family man Harry Tenafly, a...

Writing a screenplay or creating a television series is hard work. Throughout the process, you encounter one storytelling hurdle after another, and even though you know better, every time you clear that hurdle, you believe you're home free. You're not. And once you finish that first draft, you get to head over the hurdle-laden track that is rewriting.

Sometimes, every single aspect of this process is loaded with challenges. You inexplicably find yourself struggling to find the right character names and place names. Everything right down to coming up with the right title of the show or movie itself is a bear. When this becomes a problem at a studio or network level, you get marketing departments involved, which leads to brainstorming sessions that provide an overabundance of unusable titles.

If German playwright Peter Weiss had his way, the whole world would know his 1963 Brechtian masterpiece as "The Persecution and...

It’s hard to picture anyone other than Mark Harmon playing the role of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS, but several other very talented actors almost landed the role!

The 73-year-old actor played the iconic character on the Jag spinoff series for 19 seasons, becoming the second to last original series regular to depart the show.

In a recent feature from The Hollywood Reporter on the long-running and hit CBS drama series, creators Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, as well as several executives revealed that there were other names before Mark‘s who were mentioned for the part.

Find out who will be playing Gibbs in an upcoming NCIS: Origins prequel series!

Head inside to see the 11 major stars who were once considered for the role of Gibbs on NCIS…...

Things might look chill on-screen, but word is there’s some serious side-eye happening behind the scenes at NCIS. Two of the show’s big names, who act all buddy-buddy for the cameras, are reportedly clashing harder than a season finale plot twist. Ever since the show’s power shift, both have allegedly been gunning for more screen time and top-dog status. Sure, they keep it professional where it counts, but fans are starting to clock the weird vibes.

Is it just smoke, or is there some spicy behind-the-scenes beef cooking? Either way, this alleged feud’s got more drama than a double homicide case.

Is Sean Murray’s NCIS feud with Wilmer Valderrama for real? Sean Murray and Wilmer Valderrama in NCIS | Credits: CBS

There’s been buzz on the NCIS set, rumor has it, Sean Murray and Wilmer Valderrama aren’t exactly the best of friends behind the scenes.

Lauren Holly's "NCIS" character, Jenny Shepard, played a considerable role in the CBS procedural juggernaut from season 3 to season 5. From 2005 to 2007, the erstwhile Naval Criminal Investigative Service director loomed over Leroy Jethro Gibbs' (Mark Harmon) Major Case Response Team during some of its most fascinating and dangerous investigations. It's saying something that her debut episode is the two-part season 3 opener "Kill Ari," which finally ends the team's clash with Rudolf Martin's Ari Haswari, who just might be the most devious antagonist in the show's history.

The role of the NCIS director is extremely important for the series, and Shepard's determination, personal issues, and romantic history with Gibbs make for an extremely memorable boss figure. Unfortunately for fans of her character, Holly ended up leaving the show in a fairly definite fashion in "NCIS" season 5, episode 18 -- titled "Judgment Day (Part I)" -- when the terminally ill Shepard...

Mark Harmon lasted 19 long seasons in NCIS, playing the role of Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs. He was one of the few A-listers that the series tried to bring on the show during its inception. However, Harmon and series creator Don Bellisario formed a rapport during their first meeting. Despite bringing Harmon onto the show, it wasn’t an immediate hit with its ratings.

The series began with ratings that were only enough to keep it running for more seasons. This wasn’t the situation a few years later, when the show began to top the ratings chart. Harmon revealed one thing about these initial few seasons that might actually explain its ratings.

Mark Harmon revealed that NCIS didn’t have a script for the first four years Mark Harmon as Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs in NCIS | Credits: CBS

Mark Harmon revealed that the cast of NCIS weren’t given a script during the initial seasons.

When it comes to NCIS, everyone knows Mark Harmon is the king of the castle, and his paycheck proves it. But when you’re talking about the next richest star on the squad, you might assume it’s one of the show’s other big names, like Pauley Perrette or the late, legendary David McCallum. But actually, it’s not.

Sneaking up the ranks with a seriously stacked resume is none other than Sean Murray. Between hit roles in Hocus Pocus, Jag, and a few crossover episodes, plus a side hustle in soundtracks, Murray has been leveling up his net worth like a pro.

Sean Murray’s massive net worth will shock you!

Sean Murray might be best known as NCIS‘s brainy, buttoned-up agent Timothy McGee, but this star’s career and bank account go way beyond solving cybercrimes on primetime TV.

Sean Murray in NCIS | Credits: CBS

With...

NCIS is one of the most iconic shows of all time. Despite having released twenty-two seasons, the series is still going strong. While willing actors and engaging stories are partly to credit for its lengthy run, the biggest reason why the show has been able to still air is because of its loyal fanbase. Sticking by it since 2003, their commitment and love for it help in it releasing more seasons every year.

However, it has become a persistent pattern where fan-favorite characters eventually leave the series. This has become so common that none of the original cast members are left. The perfect example of the same has to be The Fast & the Furious: Tokyo Drift star and special agent Christopher Lasalle actor, Lucas Black.

The cast of NCIS | Credit: CBS

It would seem that his reason for leaving the series showcases a bigger pattern that even made Mark Harmon almost walk out.

NCIS has introduced several memorable characters throughout its long run, including Lauren Holly’s Jenny Shepard, who joined the crime drama in Season 3. One of the standout elements of her time on the show was her complex and emotionally charged relationship with Mark Harmon’s Special Agent Gibbs.

However, Jenny Shepard’s story came to a tragic yet poignant conclusion in Season 5. Behind the scenes, it was the result of Lauren Holly beginning to lose interest in both the show and her character, leading to her eventual departure.

Lauren Holly and Muse Watson in NCIS | Credit: CBS How NCIS gave Lauren Holly’s Jenny Shepard a legendary farewell

Lauren Holly became a fan favorite as soon as she joined NCIS as Jenny Shepard in Season 3. Her departure from the show marked the end of an era for fans who had grown attached to her character.

Shepard became more than just a high-ranking official,...

One of the more striking characters to emerge from the expansive "NCIS" universe was Abby (Pauley Perrette), the quirky Goth forensics expert. Unlike the stern military types that surrounded her, Abby was a free spirit, smiling and offering a fresh social perspective to her older colleagues. Abby appeared on the first 15 seasons of "NCIS" (it's currently on its 22nd), ultimately leaving her job -- and the show -- after a traumatic incident. 

Abby was sometimes a high-strung character, expressing a great deal of stress when one of her NCIS colleagues was injured. In the episode "One Step Forward", an MI6 agent named Reeves (Duane Henry) was killed trying to protect Abby from an assassin. Abby tracked down the assassin and fooled him into a confession using a ploy involving a coffee cup full of poison. She did manage to get a confession, and the assassin was apprehended, but Reeves' death...

The long-running drama NCIS is set to continue its impressive journey, recently being renewed for its 23rd season. Over the years, many who helped shape the show have moved on, including co-creator and former showrunner Donald Bellisario.

Bellisario led the series for four seasons before departing in 2007, with numerous reports suggesting that his exit stemmed from an alleged feud with the show’s lead, Mark Harmon. Looking back, Bellisario later expressed regret over how things unfolded leading up to his departure.

NCIS | Credit: CBS Former NCIS showrunner Donald Bellisario reflected on his exit from the show

Donald Bellisario and Mark Harmon worked closely together on NCIS before Bellisario’s eventual departure after four seasons. The circumstances surrounding his exit have been widely debated.

However, one persistent yet speculative factor has been the alleged feud between the show’s lead and Bellisario. Harmon, who portrayed Special Agent Gibbs, reportedly had issues...

Any NCIS fan can easily attest to the fact that nobody else could have played Leroy Gibbs as brilliantly as actor Mark Harmon. For nearly two decades he was the face of the hit crime procedural drama and became one of the most beloved characters on CBS Network.

But even before he stepped into the shoes of Gibbs, he was already a well-established actor in the industry with several projects to his name. And apart from his NCIS role, there was another show in which his acting chops are equally remarkable.

Mark Harmon in a still from NCIS | Credits: CBS Broadcasting

Long before he got on board NCIS in 2003, he was a part of medical drama Chicago Hope as Dr. Jack McNeil.

Chicago Hope is the hidden gem that every NCIS fan must watch

Apart from being one of the longest-running shows on the CBS Network, NCIS has skyrocketed the careers of several actors.

It was the year 2009 when the world was introduced to the life of forensic detectives in an iconic show called NCIS: Los Angeles. Featuring some iconic stars like Linda Hunt and Daniela Ruah, the show became a fan-favorite.

Much like every other show, NCIS: Los Angeles had its ups and downs. However, the ups and downs of Linda Hunt’s life were quite a bit too much. Thanks to her resistance, the world was able to witness an iconic actor shining in her role.

Linda Hunt in a still from NCIS: Los Angeles | Credits: CBS Studios Linda Hunt was told to quit acting

Portraying the role of Henrietta Lange, the world fell in love with Linda Hunt and how masterful she was as the Operations Manager at NCIS. The character was ferocious in nature and, despite being timid, was an intimidating character.

Hunt found fame for her role in NCIS...

In a world of crime dramas, only a few shows manage to completely hit the mark. And it’s safe to say that NCIS: Origins has been doing that ever since it aired in 2024. Now, after a good number of months, the show has finally revealed a major yet heartbreaking background story about one character.

In the most recent episode of the show, fans got an emotional glimpse into the life of Field Operation Support Officer Mary Jo Hayes.

Tyla Abercrumbie | Credits: @tylaabercrumbie/Instagram

While the character is known for her sharp and commanding presence at Camp Pendleton, under her tough exterior lies a past filled with heartbreak.

NCIS: Origins details the heartbreaking secret behind Mary Jo’s past

NCIS: Origins has become a go-to show for any crime drama fan, with storylines that have kept the audience hooked to their seats. But while the anticipation is running quite high for the show,...

NCIS will always be a perfect show for any crime drama fan. It also has a gripping storyline that perfectly sets the stage for more thrilling moments. Also, the fact that it has been running for more than two decades solidifies its place as one of the most sought-after shows out there. Given this huge duration, several changes took place within the cast of the show.

While some actors joined in later seasons, others left the show midway as well. One such actress was Sasha Alexander, who was introduced in NCIS as Special Agent Caitlin “Kate” Todd in the very first season. She immediately became a fan favorite and had a strong presence in the show as well.

Sasha Alexander in a still from NCIS | Credits: CBS Broadcasting

However, her shocking exit at the end of the show’s second season caught everyone off guard. Let’s look at the...

NCIS without Gibbs? That’s a risky move. But NCIS: Origins knows better than to mess with Mark Harmon’s legacy. The show plays by a strict rule to keep longtime fans happy. As the team behind it knows, NCIS fans don’t take kindly to major shake-ups.

Mark Harmon in NCIS | Credits: CBS

One wrong move and the internet will explode. So, they’re walking a fine line: giving us fresh stories while making sure it still feels like Gibbs’ world.

Keeping Mark Harmon’s legacy intact: NCIS: Origins walks a fine line Mark Harmon in NCIS | Credits: CBS

NCIS: Origins knows better than to mess with NCIS canon (Mark Harmon) – at least, most of the time. The prequel series is walking a fine line between staying true to the original and making necessary tweaks.

One episode revisited a key moment: young Gibbs killing Pedro Hernandez, aligning...

LL Cool J will soon reprise the role of Sam Hanna in “NCIS.”

The rapper debuted the role in 2009, when “NCIS” was on its sixth season, before the launch of “NCIS: Los Angeles” later that year. “Los Angeles” was the franchise’s first spinoff, and LL Cool J starred in all 14 seasons before the series concluded in 2023. He made another appearance on the flagship series in the months leading up to the “Los Angeles” series finale, and appeared in “NCIS: Hawai’i” in both 2023 and 2024.

The news was announced in a joint Instagram post between LL Cool J and the official “NCIS” account. “Back on set, baby! NCIS. Let’s get it,” he says in the video. He will appear in one episode set to air on April 21.

Sam is an honorably discharged ex-Navy Seal who works as a senior chief special warfare operator, and the husband of Michelle Hanna (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor...

One NCIS star racked up so many episodes, and got so good at forensic science, that creator Donald Bellisario nearly made him the show’s technical adviser. With years of hands-on experience playing an expert, his knowledge became second nature. Bellisario saw the potential, but ultimately, the actor stuck to the script.

A poster from NCIS | Credits: CBS

Still, few TV stars can say they almost went from playing an expert to actually advising the show.

David McCallum mastered forensics so well, NCIS almost made it real David McCallum in NCIS | Credits: CBS

David McCallum didn’t just play Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard; he practically became him. The NCIS legend, who starred in the series from its backdoor Jag pilot in 2003 until his passing in 2023, took method acting to forensic levels.

According to NCIS creator Donald P. Bellisario, McCallum’s deep dive into forensics — attending medical examiner conventions and mastering...

NCIS, co-created by Donald Bellisario and Don McGill, is one of the longest-running programs on television. But its origin goes much beyond its premiere in 2003. Although influenced by crime procedurals like Law & Order and CSI, the CBS thriller is hardly a by-product of those shows. Rather, it is a spin-off of a mid-90s military crime procedural, Jag, created by Donald Bellisario.

NCIS [Credit: CBS]

However, it is not the long history of the show that fascinates modern-day viewers. After circumventing such momentous events as 3 Hollywood strikes (once in 2007-08 and twice in 2023), a pandemic, radical demography shifts, the launch of the streaming era, and the changing of the old guard at CBS studios, NCIS still keeps going strong and churning out profitable episodes with each passing season.

However, all of it was only made possible by the original keepers of the show: Mark Harmon and his castmates.

The actor who was...

Tensions between Mark Harmon and NCIS creator Donald Bellisario were no secret, but one alleged scene took their feud to another level. When Bellisario demanded changes, Harmon reportedly reshot it exactly the same way — then never spoke to him again.

Mark Harmon in NCIS | Credits: CBS

A power move or pure defiance? Either way, it was a turning point in their rocky relationship, leading to Bellisario’s controversial exit. Turns out, the drama behind NCIS was just as intense as the show itself.

Mark Harmon’s silent rebellion: The NCIS scene that ended Don Bellisario’s reign

The tension between Mark Harmon and NCIS creator Don Bellisario was a full-blown standoff. Bellisario claimed it all boiled down to one scene where Harmon’s special agent, Leroy Gibbs was traveling to his hometown to meet his aging father. Bellisario admitted (per LA Times),

I asked Mark to re-shoot a scene. He...

Before NCIS, Mark Harmon was often seen as just a pretty boy, but one standout role proved he had the grit to play Gibbs. His performance exuded quiet strength and control — exactly what the showrunners needed to see. It shattered any doubts and made him the obvious choice for NCIS’s no-nonsense leader.

Mark Harmon on NCIS | Credits: CBS

So, which role changed everything? And how did it convince CBS that Harmon was more than just a charming face?

How Mark Harmon’s West Wing role proved he was more than just a ‘pretty boy’ for NCIS Mark Harmon in The West Wing | Credits: Warner Bros. Television

When NCIS creator Don Bellisario first considered Mark Harmon for the role of Leroy Jethro Gibbs, two words popped into his head — pretty boy. Harmon, the charming heartthrob of St. Elsewhere and Chicago Hope, didn’t exactly scream tough-as-nails federal agent.

But then...

"NCIS" is still trucking along on CBS. By now, though, the naval crimes procedural has been on the air for so long that it's already got its own rewatch podcast. "Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch" is co-hosted by Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo, two of the show's main stars who (along with Mark Harmon and Pauley Perrette) both eventually left after spending several years playing their respective roles.

Unlike most rewatch podcasts, however, "Off Duty" doesn't layer on the excessive nostalgia, which makes sense given the allegedly tough working conditions that several "NCIS" cast members have spoken about. Case in point: there's an episode where the two hosts dig into the apparently exhausting early seasons with former star Sasha Alexander, whose Special Agent Caitlin Todd was killed off after just two seasons of "NCIS."

Alexander was with "NCIS" from the start. She played Agent Todd in the early backdoor...

The popularity surrounding NCIS has made it almost impossible to believe that it is, in fact, the spin-off of a 1990s crime procedural drama. The parent series, titled Jag, premiered in 1995 and ran for 10 seasons before the spin-off took shape with Mark Harmon in the lead.

Mark Harmon as FBI Special Agent Gibbs [Credit: CBS]

However, NCIS had one advantage that Jag lacked at its time of conception – the popularity of the crime procedural genre. With shows like CSI and Law & Order becoming the order of the day in every American household, NCIS took off amid high ratings and never looked back. Now, 22 seasons later, the show is still going strong, with more stories to tell and audiences to entertain.

Jag character gets recast in NCIS for being too soft Robyn Lively as Vivian Blackadder in Jag [Credit: CBS]

Contrary to popular belief, NCIS was not the first series where Mark Harmon...

For years, rumors swirled that Mark Harmon was the reason NCIS creator Donald Bellisario was shown the door. But according to those in the know, Harmon never gave CBS the order to oust him. While tensions between the star and Bellisario were no secret, the decision to part ways wasn’t as cutthroat as many believed.

Mark Harmon in NCIS | Credits: CBS

So, if Harmon didn’t pull the trigger, who did? And what really led to Bellisario’s exit?

Mark Harmon didn’t get Donald Bellisario fired from NCIS Donald Bellisario and Mark Harmon on NCIS | Credits: CBS

Mark Harmon didn’t push NCIS creator Donald Bellisario out of his own show, despite the long-standing rumors. While there was tension, the decision to part ways wasn’t as cutthroat as some think.

The drama started with NCIS‘s grueling production schedule. Per executive producer Charles Floyd Johnson, the cast...

It’s hard to imagine anyone other than Mark Harmon playing the role of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS, but he wasn’t the first choice!

The 73-year-old actor played the iconic character on the Jag spinoff series for 19 seasons, becoming the second to last original series regular to depart the show.

In a recent feature from The Hollywood Reporter on the long-running and hit CBS drama series, creators Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, as well as several executives revealed that there were other names before Mark‘s who were mentioned for the part.

Find out who will be playing Gibbs in an upcoming NCIS: Origins prequel series!

Head inside to see the 11 major stars who were once considered for the role of Gibbs on NCIS…...

When "NCIS" debuted in 2003 (as a spinoff of "Jag"), no one could've predicted it would become one of the most successful franchises on television. Sure, it had a shot at longevity being a law enforcement procedural at a network, CBS, that knew how to develop them (as evidenced from their expanding "CSI" brand). But a series that lasted 23 seasons (and counting) while spawning six spinoffs (to date)? Not even series creators Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill could've seen this coming.

22 years later, the "NCIS" franchise is on the cusp of introducing what might be its most highly anticipated new series thus far. Even if you're only a casual "NCIS" fan, you know all about Senior Field Agent Tony Dinozzo and Special Agent Ziva David. As portrayed by Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo, the "NCIS" duo, called "Tiva" by fans, struck up a flirtatious working relationship which, in classic television will-they-or-won't-they fashion,...

Mark Harmon saw his NCIS exit coming long before fans did. Two years before leaving, he hinted that his time as Gibbs wouldn’t last forever. And when the moment arrived, it felt more like a well-placed clue than a shocking twist. After nearly two decades leading the hit procedural, Harmon had already made peace with the inevitable.

Mark Harmon in NCIS | Credits:: CBS

But was his departure always the plan, or was there more to the story? Turns out, his exit was set in motion long before he ever stepped off-screen.

Mark Harmon saw it coming: His 2019 words foreshadowed his NCIS exit in 2021 Mark Harmon in NCIS | Credits:: CBS

Mark Harmon saw it coming. Even before his departure from NCIS in 2021, the longtime star had hinted at his eventual exit — two years earlier. Back in 2019, Harmon admitted he understood the nature of television (via People):

Nothing goes on forever,...

Trading epic quests for sitcom laughs? That was the dream for one Lord of the Rings star after years of solving crimes with Mark Harmon in NCIS. Tired of the procedural grind, he hoped to ditch the drama, do half-hour comedies, and just watch his kids grow up. But Hollywood had other plans.

Mark Harmon in NCIS | Credit: CBS

Did he escape the long hours and serious roles? Well, let’s just say his story didn’t wrap up as neatly as a sitcom finale.

Sean Astin wanted to ditch crime dramas for comedy after NCIS role with Mark Harmon Sean Astin as Samwise Gamgee in Lord of the Rings | Credits: New Line Cinema

Sean Astin has played everything from beloved sidekicks to tragic heroes, but his next career move? He’s hoping for laughs. The Lord of the Rings and Stranger Things star, who once worked alongside Mark Harmon in NCIS,...

"NCIS" creator Donald P. Bellisario once threatened to cancel the series over a casting decision, proving that he wielded some major influence over the folks at CBS back in the day. However, some rumors out there indicate that Mark Harmon, who played Leroy Jethro Gibbs on the show, had more clout than the acclaimed showrunner -- and he used it to get him fired. In reality, though, the story isn't as simple as that.

According to the scuttlebutt, Harmon and Bellisario's feud stemmed from the Gibbs star being unhappy with the former "NCIS" showrunner over the behind-the-scenes working conditions. The cast and crew had to work long days, and Harmon reportedly felt that there was too much disorganization and chaos on the set. Bellisario parted ways with "NCIS" after four seasons shortly after, leading to the belief that CBS fired him from his own series at the behest of Harmon.

Many actors have walked through the revolving door of the NCIS Major Case Response Team's Navy Yard headquarters. Some of them have been relatively fresh faces, but "NCIS" has also filled many roles with actors who had plenty of pedigree even before they joined the show. Actors like Mark Harmon, David McCallum (Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard), Lauren Holly (Director Jenny Shepard), Gary Cole (Alden Parker), and Wilmer Valderrama (Nick Torres) had all tasted success in previous projects before "NCIS," but even they pale in comparison to one name who was once considered for a big role in the show: Jennifer Aniston.

In a joint oral history interview with The Hollywood Reporter, several makers of the show discussed casting, and they revealed that Aniston's name was once on the table to play the tragic Caitlin Todd, a role that ultimately went to Sasha Alexander. " I think Jennifer Aniston was available at the time,...

Despite the show's massive ensemble cast, the first character that comes to mind from "NCIS" is Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon). The stern former Marine Sniper steers the NCIS Major Case Response Team with a fatherly hand, establishing himself as the show's face and de facto lead during his 19-season tenure with the show. 

However, things almost didn't play out this way. In fact, Harmon was very close to walking away from the show a mere four seasons into its run. According to TV Guide's Michael Ausiello, the reason behind the "NCIS" star's near-exit was the procedural's co-creator and original showrunner, Donald Bellisario. Per Ausiello's anonymous source, Bellisario's tardiness with the show's scripts and tendency to over-involve himself was a source of great frustration to Harmon, prompting the star to consider an exit after season 4:

"Mark's been working every single day, 16 hours a day. Don tries to micro-manage everything.

Every great fictional character has a great name. Duncan Idaho, Atticus Finch, Ebenezer Scrooge, Spike Spiegel; these are all names that immediately sound just too good to be picked at random and too evoking not to belong to a memorable character. These are the kind of names that make anyone go, "Whoever that name belongs to is either a total badass or at the very least a very interesting person."

Such is the case with Leeroy Jethro Gibbs, the main character of the military police procedural "NCIS" that has run on CBS for 22 seasons as of this writing. After starring in an underrated TV movie adaptation of a classic "Twilight Zone" episode, Mark Harmon became a hugely recognizable face on television for nearly two decades as Gibbs, the head of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service that was actually first introduced in an episode of "Jag" before going on to star in "NCIS.

David McCallum’s journey to landing the iconic role of Dr. Ducky Mallard on NCIS is one of those stories that stands out in Hollywood. Unlike many actors who simply follow the traditional audition process, he took a creative approach that not only captured the attention of casting directors but also set him apart from others.

David McCallum in a still from NCIS | Credits: CBS

Let’s take a deeper dive into the behind-the-scenes story of McCallum’s breakthrough and the moment that helped him land his career-defining role as Dr. Ducky Mallard.

How did David McCallum land the iconic role of Dr. Ducky on NCIS?

David McCallum’s audition for the role of Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard on NCIS is one for the history books. The actor, who would go on to become an iconic part of the show’s cast, used an unconventional tactic that ultimately won him the role.

Casting for a television series is considerably different than casting for a film or a stage play in that it's about more than just finding the right ensemble for right now; creators need to consider each actor's capacity for maturing and/or evolving in their role, as well as their ability to work and play well with others. You might be able to get away with casting a bit of a malcontent on a movie (though most directors I've spoken to sternly discourage this line of thinking), but if someone's even just a tad contentious during the casting process, they could make everyone's life miserable over the long haul, and that's just not worth it.

Obviously, creators and casting directors try like hell to get it right the first time through, but compromise is always necessary. Sometimes your first choice suddenly becomes unavailable, sometimes they want too much money and...

David McCallum didn’t just play a legend on NCIS; he lived like one. The late actor, known for his role as Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard, had a work ethic so unshakable it left a lasting mark on his co-stars. His commitment to work pushed others to step up their game.

David McCallum in NCIS | Credits: CBS Studios

One NCIS star, in particular, walked away permanently changed, driven to “do more” after witnessing McCallum’s ironclad approach. Because when Ducky set the bar, everyone else had to reach higher.

David McCallum’s legacy: The work ethic that truly inspired Wilmer Valderrama David McCallum in NCIS | Credits: CBS Studios

David McCallum set the bar high on NCIS, and his ironclad work ethic left a lasting mark, especially on Wilmer Valderrama. The NCIS star reflected on how McCallum’s dedication never wavered, even in his final scenes. Valderrama recalled (via The Wrap...

In hindsight, it's impossible to imagine anyone but Mark Harmon in the role of gruff "NCIS" boss Leroy Jethro Gibbs. It wasn't exactly a career-reigniting role for the actor, who had already built a legacy on shows like "St. Elsewhere" and "Chicago Hope" before joining the CBS military police procedural's inaugural 2003 season. However, it soon became apparent that Gibbs would be his defining role. Harmon embodied the character in a way that made him the unquestionable centerpiece of the ensemble cast throughout his 19 seasons with the show. He left "NCIS" in 2021, but Gibbs perseveres: In 2024, CBS rolled out the prequel show "NCIS: Origins," with Austin Stowell playing young Gibbs while Harmon narrates, "Young Sheldon"-style.

Knowing Harmon's importance to the "NCIS" franchise, it may be surprising to find out that the people behind the show didn't call his agent the second they conceived the character of Gibbs. In 2023, the makers...

Success on television doesn’t come bigger than NCIS. The franchise was conceived by Donald Paul Bellisario, a former sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps who had previously found success with the original Magnum P.I., starring Tom Selleck. Jag was the first show in the franchise, followed by NCIS. Since then, there have been five babies, namely : NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Hawaiʻi, NCIS: Sydney, and NCIS: Origins.

All NCIS shows stick to the same narrative formula. The Major Case Response Team (McRt) of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service of the United States Department of the Navy investigates crimes committed by or linked to members of the United States Navy and Marine Corps (Usmc), and their associated branches of government. Over 1000 episodes are available across all shows, hence fans of military procedurals have no shortage of stories to follow, but fans will also love Basic,...

When "NCIS" premiered on CBS during the fall television season of 2003 (initially as "Navy: NCIS), there was good reason to expect it would be a solid performer for the network. Created by noted TV hitmaker Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, the military procedural entered the marketplace during a moment of extreme war hawkishness in the United States, which was taking out its 9/11 frustrations on Iraq for reasons we now know were extremely dubious. Many viewers were amped up about anything relating to Americans in uniform, and they already loved crime-of-the-week dramas, so surely this would hit one if not both sweet spots.

"NCIS" also had the good fortune to land prime Tuesday night real estate at 8 Pm, where ABC and NBC were struggling to make some direly unfunny sitcoms work (like "8 Simple Rules" and "Whoopi"). The WB had solid niche performer "Gilmore Girls," while Fox would have the...

When Charles Durning appeared on NCIS in 2004, he was neither a stranger to acting nor without knowledge of the military. The WWII veteran was a long-time presence on big and small screens. Durning's role as Corporal Earnie Yost on NCIS stood apart from many of his other roles, however, because it earned him a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.

His appearance on NCIS wasn't Durning's first nomination in the category. He was previously nominated for playing Michael Gavin on Rescue Me and Thomas Finnegan on Homicide: Life on the Streets. Additional praise for Durning came with Oscar nominations for his roles in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982) and To Be or Not to Be (1983).

In the minds of many, Durning will always be remembered for NCIS and the emotional intensity he brought to the role of Yost. Personal and powerful alike, Durning demonstrated...