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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...

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,...

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...

Quick Links'ncis' Has Seen 22 Seasons of Success"Call of Silence" Is a Great 'NCIS' EpisodeWhy "Call of Silence" Is the Best 'NCIS' Episode

On December 16, 2024, NCIS went on hiatus for six weeks following Season 22, Episode 9, "Humbug." The episode concerns the NCIS team investigating a former U.S. Marine's claim that a squad leader neglected his duties, calling to mind the long-running procedural's best hour of television. Almost 20 years to the day, "Humbug" was released after "Call of Silence," arguably the best-acted and the most compassionately moving NCIS episode ever made.

With NCIS Seasons 1-5 and 12-17 recently added to Netflix, fans new and old must see Charles Durning's tour-de-force performance in "Call of Silence," the highest-rated episode of arguably the finest season in show history. Drawing on his real-life experience as a WWII veteran, Durning's unforgettable turn proves that few NCIS episodes marry story and...

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The "NCIS" franchise is amongst the most successful in the history of television. The flagship show is still going today after 22 seasons and is rapidly approaching 500 episodes. Created by Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, it's rivaled only by the monster that is "Law & Order" as far as long-running prime time shows go. More than the show itself, "NCIS" is the gift that keeps on giving as it has spawned several very successful spin-offs, most notably "NCIS: New Orleans." That series, which premiered in 2014, had a stellar run that anyone who creates a show could only dream of. Still, even very good things must come to an end. But why did this beloved show have to end?

"NCIS: New Orleans" ended its seven-season run in May 2021 after CBS decided to cancel the crime drama set in the Big Easy. The...

It’s hard to picture anyone other than Mark Harmon playing the role of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS, but he almost didn’t play 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…...

Launched in 2003, NCIS is one of the few shows that has consistently drawn in crowds from every section of the world, giving birth to five spin-off shows and countless seasons. The CBS procedural series has been forever entrenched in our pop culture dictionary due to its enduring presence in television history.

NCIS [Credit: CBS]

For a show of such magnitude, the awards consideration alone would be too huge a number to think of. However, unfortunately for the series and its producers, NCIS has never been lucky enough to snag a Primetime Emmy – the greatest of all award recognitions in the realm of television entertainment.

The enduring legacy and popularity of NCIS A still from NCIS Season 3 [Credit: CBS]

In the years since its launch, the CBS procedural series NCIS has achieved an impossible feat by establishing a steady television presence that has endured among shifting demographics and changing times. Throughout the past 22 years, the...

NCIS has aired its last episode of the year, “Humbug,” and, of course, viewers have loads of questions but we'll have to wait for answers when the show returns. Created by Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, the police procedural was renewed for a twenty-second season on April 9, 2024, which premiered on October 14, 2024. The season is currently in its ninth episode, which aired yesterday, December 16, and will resume on Monday, January 27, 2025, over a month away.

Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers from NCIS season 22, episode 6, "Knight and Day."

NCIS season 22 has a new villain for the characters to contend with, and she has an intriguing connection to one of them. The CBS military police procedural TV series, created by Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, follows a team of special agents associated with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service in Washington, D.C., and chronicles the various cases and challenges they face. Over the years, the cast of NCIS has changed dramatically, which is understandable given its 22-season run, and one new face was added to the roster in 2024.

New episodes of NCIS season 22 air on Mondays at 9 pm Et on CBS. The fall finale (episode 9) will drop on December 16, 2024, and the show is scheduled to return with season 22, episode 10 on January 27, 2025.

The cast of NCIS season 22 includes Sean Murray as Timothy McGee, Wilmer Valderrama as Nick Torres,...

Mark Harmon was a very crucial part of NCIS. Being at the very center of the series for nineteen years, fans watched Leroy Jethro Gibbs go through many stages of his life. Although the hole that he left in the series was filled by Gary Cole’s Alden Parker, fans have certainly felt his absence in the series.

Mark Harmon in NCIS | Credit: CBS

However, many would be surprised to know that Harmon almost left the beloved series very early into its run. The reason for the same is also very surprising, with it being the creator of the show was causing problems for the actor.

Mark Harmon and Trouble in NCIS

From 2003 to 2007, Donald P. Bellisario headed the production and creation of NCIS as its showrunner. He and Don McGill helped the series launch hand in hand. However, the latter allegedly ended up leaving the series because of Bellisario.

Special Agent In Charge Leroy Jethro Gibbs was the face of NCIS since its inception in 2003, leading many fans to wonder why actor Mark Harmon left NCIS in season 19. While Harmon continued to serve as an Executive Producer despite Gibbs' absence from the show, his character remained out of the picture. NCIS is CBS' longest-running scripted primetime series, following the lives and adventures of the federal special agents responsible for investigating felony military crimes, preventing terrorism, and protecting secrets for the Navy and Marine Corps.

Created by Don McGill and prolific creator-producer Donald P. Bellisario, NCIS has featured many significant cast departures over its storied history, including original characters like Tony, Abbey, Kate, and even Kate's replacement of Ziva. However, no exit was as impactful as Harmon's. CBS is no stranger to replacing leading faces on their series, and NCIS somehow survived without Agent Gibbs, with Gary Cole stepping into...

Warning! Spoilers ahead for NCIS season 22, episode 4.

After 22 seasons, NCIS writes out its final original cast members by introducing their replacement. Being on the air for more than two decades and still bringing in impressive ratings is no easy feat, hence why the success of Don Belissario and Don McGill's procedural continues to thrive. On the heels of debuting Leroy Jethro Gibbs' Major Case Response Team in Jag, the Navy Yard-based squad was soon awarded their own show, with the pilot, "Yankee White." This laid the foundation for NCIS, establishing the brand of justice and commitment to service that the team is known for.

Over the years, NCIS has lost so many characters. However, much like other long-running shows on network TV, it has found a way to move forward by bringing in new faces to fill the void left by their predecessors. The death of Ducky Mallard meant...

Could you imagine someone other than Mark Harmon playing Leroy Jethro Gibbs on the NCIS cast?

No, we aren’t talking about the Young Gibbs we have seen in flashbacks and on NCIS: Origins. We are talking about someone else nabbing the role on NCIS before Harmon got it.

Harmon starred as Gibbs on NCIS from 2003 until 2021. He left the show early in Season 19, and Gibbs was retired to Alaska.

Harmon also appears on NCIS: Origins, serving as the narrator and appearing in scenes where Gibbs writes a memorial about his exploits.

Actor Austin Stowell now plays the Young Gibbs on NCIS: Origin, taking the mantle from Sean Harmon, who had played Young Gibbs in NCIS flashbacks.

NCIS fans continue hoping that Gibbs (played by Harmon) will have a reason to resurface on the primary show in the future.

Who else could have played Gibbs on NCIS?

A fun report...

It’s hard to imagine about anyone other than Mark Harmon playing the role of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS, but he almost didn’t play the role!

The 72-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 you purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

NCIS: Origins is a military police procedural crime thriller drama series created by Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North. The CBS series serves as a prequel to the long-running hit series NCIS and it follows the origins of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs as he joins the Nis after his wife and daughter were murdered. NCIS: Origins stars Austin Stowell, Mark Harmon, Kyle Schmid, and Diany Rodriguez. So, if you loved the thrilling drama, complex stories, and compelling characters in NCIS: Origins here are some similar shows you should check out next.

NCIS Credit – CBS

NCIS is a military police procedural action thriller drama series created by Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill. The CBS series follows Naval Criminal Investigative Service Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs as he leads a team of investigators to investigate various criminal...

When one thinks of iconic police procedurals, the mind is so often drawn to NCIS. Created by Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, the series became an instant hit when it first debuted back in September 2003, although neither of them could've predicted quite how long the series would endure. Now, as 2024 enters its final chapter, NCIS is gearing up to enter its 22nd, with the stakes and excitement higher than ever.

NCIS will return for Season 22 in just a few weeks. The upcoming episodes will likely see a few changes to the team's executive ranks.

Speaking to TV Line, showrunner Steven D. Binder said that NCIS Senior Field Agent Timothy McGee will be "angling for a deputy director position" after successfully stepping in for Director Leon Vance in the last two seasons. "Being the investigative hound that Tim is, he's going to sniff something on the way to this journey. He's going to see that something is not right in the halls of government around him."

Related Former NCIS Star Pauley Perrette Addresses Acting Retirement and Possible Return

Pauley Perrette reflects on her NCIS role and her acting future in a rare interview.

NCIS Season 21 was filled with all the drama fans have come to love from the series. Director Leon Vance (played by Rocky Carroll) was shot while visiting his late wife's grave,...

It’s hard to imagine about anyone other than Mark Harmon playing the role of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS, but he almost didn’t play the role!

The 72-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…...

Filming begins for the NCIS: Tony & Ziva spinoff with new cast additions announced. The plot follows Tony and Ziva on the run in Europe after Tony's security firm is attacked. Isla Gie has been cast to play Tali, the titular duo's young daughter, in the Paramount+ drama alongside other cast members in Budapest.

Filming is underway for NCIS: Tony & Ziva, with the spinoff revealing more of its cast members, and announcing who will play Tali. In the upcoming Paramount+ drama, Tony Dinozzo (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva (Cote de Pablo) are raising their daughter together, but when Tonys security company is attacked, the couple finds themselves on the run in Europe. They try to figure out the culprit, learning to trust each other again in hopes of finally getting their happy ending.

Paramount+ has now unveiled details behind who will be joining lead stars and executive producers Weatherly and de Pablo,...

Mark Harmon's new movie role is a refreshing change from his iconic NCIS character, showcasing his extensive acting abilities. After nearly two decades as Gibbs, Harmon's return to acting in Freaky Friday 2 reminds fans of his versatile career before NCIS. Harmon's upcoming role as Ryan Volvo will help audiences see him beyond Gibbs and highlight his diverse acting range.

Mark Harmon's upcoming movie role is a necessary career step away from NCIS central character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, whom he played for nearly two decades in over 400 episodes. Harmon's lengthy effort stretches back to when he, a few other original NCIS characters, and the concept of the military police procedural were introduced in the legal drama Jag. What started as a two-part backdoor pilot burgeoned into a popular, long-running TV series that's still being made today and inspired the creation of four NCIS spinoff series and an upcoming NCIS prequel series.

While often disregarded, NCIS wasn't an original show but a spinoff of Jag. Jag's version of Gibbs' team had different members compared to the original NCIS cast. Vivian Blackadder and Don Dobbs didn't return in NCIS after being part of Gibbs' McRt in the Jag backdoor pilot. Producers thought that Blackadder was too soft, so she was replaced by Kate Todd. No official reason why Dobbs was not retained.

Leroy Jethro Gibbs' team was different in Jag than when NCIS premiered, but why? One of the most overlooked aspects of the hit CBS crime show is the fact that it was actually a spinoff of Jag. Premiering in 2003, NCIS was created by Don McGill and Donald Bellisario around the time when police procedurals were gaining popularity with shows like CSI and Law & Order. More than two decades later, NCIS remains one of the most popular shows on TV,...

Jag, a classic military legal drama, is set to stream in its entirety on Prime Video starting July 1, 2024. Created by Donald P. Bellisario, Jag was a precursor to NCIS, which has since become the most-watched scripted show on network television. Jag's success paved the way for the NCIS franchise, which has spawned multiple spin-offs and remains popular to this day.

While NCIS has become a popular television franchise all on its own, the series wouldnt exist today without Jag, the classic military legal drama that began in 1995, and spawned NCIS following its eighth season in 2002. While Paramount+ has housed a handful of episodes of Jag for a while now, the series has never been able to stream in its entirety, but that is about to change very soon, as all 10 seasons of Jag are making their way to Prime Video.

As per TV Line, the 227 episodes that comprise JAGs...

NCIS' parent show Jag, created by Donald Bellisario, will be available on Amazon Prime Video starting July 1. Paramount+ has been the streaming home of Jag, but it only has a handful of episodes. The complete Jag series coming to Prime Video can result in a resurgence in popularity.

NCIS' parent show is finally getting all of its episodes available for streaming. More than two decades since it premiered in 2003, the famed police procedural created by Donald Bellisario and Don McGill remains a primetime staple for many. It continues to be among the most-watched shows on TV, with NCIS season 21 becoming the second highest-rated project on TV last year, only bested by Justin Hartley's small-screen comeback, Tracker. Despite its popularity, however, one of the most overlooked aspects of NCIS is the fact that it isn't an original show but a spinoff.

Now, all 227 episodes of NCIS' parent project, Jag, are officially coming to Prime Video,...

Two more seasons of NCIShave officially arrived on Netflix. Seasons 16 and 17 are now available in the US as of June 30, where they’ve joined the already-streaming Seasons 12-15.

The military police procedural, which originally debuted in 2003 as a spin-off of Jag, hails from creators Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill. Now more than two decades into its run, the one-hour prime-time series is the third longest-running US scripted drama program behind only Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order. NCIS has 467 episodes (and counting), cementing its place in the upper echelon of US TV dramas after the aforementioned Law & Orders and Gunsmoke — the only programs to have made more episodes.

If you’re looking to take a deeper dive into NCIS, here’s everything you need to know about the series — including details on the latest seasons dropping on Netflix.

NCIS, an...

NCIS loses its most-watched TV title to Tracker, a new series with outstanding ratings. Despite significant cast changes, NCIS has maintained a strong viewership following for over two decades. Tracker not being an ensemble show makes its win over NCIS more impressive. Luckily, both NCIS and Tracker are already confirmed to return during the 2024-2025 TV season.

For five years, NCIS held an impressive TV record, and the fact that it's broken by a new series makes CBS' latest hit more impressive. Created by Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, NCIS is technically an off-shoot of Jag something that is easily forgotten, considering how long the series has been on the air. Currently the third-longest-running scripted show, only behind NBC's Law & Order and Law & Order: Svu, NCIS has survived all kinds of changes throughout its two-decade stint. What makes this better is that NCIS has also remained at...

NCIS lost its ranking as the top scripted show after 21 seasons, making way for Tracker with 10.8 million viewers. Tracker's success can be attributed to its impressive debut after the Super Bowl and the return of star Justin Hartley. CBS dominated the 2023-2024 TV season with seven shows in the top 10 rankings, including NCIS and Young Sheldon.

For the first time in half a decade, the popular CBS series NCIS has failed to reign atop the television rankings among scripted shows following the conclusion of its 21st season on May 6, 2024. Created by Donald Paul Bellisario and Don McGill, NCIS debuted in 2003 as a spinoff from another popular CBS program, Jag. Since then, the series has gained a loyal following, and developed an identity all its own, resulting in several spinoffs of its own over the years, including NCIS: Los Angeles, New Orleans, and the recently canceled NCIS: Hawai'i.

As per TV Line,...

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, TVLine may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

There’s a reason why Tom Selleck refers to the original Magnum, P.I. television series as just “Magnum” — and it has nothing to do with it being simple shorthand.

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Selleck’s 352-page memoir, You Never Know, was released earlier this month...

There’s a reason why Tom Selleck refers to the original Magnum, P.I. television series as just “Magnum” — and it has nothing to do with it being simple shorthand.

Selleck’s 352-page memoir, You Never Know, was released earlier this month (days after the 36th anniversary of Magnum, P.I.’s series finale), and when rummaging for something to read outdoors on a lazy Memorial Day Weekend afternoon, I remembered that I had been floated an advanced copy. Before I knew it, I had plowed through the entire back half of the book, which covers the shooting of the Magnum pilot,...

NCIS' 1000th episode featured Spence Moore II's debut as Jared Vance. The NCIS producers recast Jared twice, as Khamani Griffin and Akinsola Aribo played Director Vance's son before Moore. Spence Moore II has had success in roles before he starred as Jared in NCIS season 21, episode 7.

The 1000th episode of the NCIS franchise was full of shocks, but one of the hour's most significant storylines revolved around NCIS Director Leon Vance, played by Rocky Carroll, and his son, Jared Vance, who a new actor portrayed. The CBS military police procedural television series, created by Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, has been on the air for almost 21 years, with over 460 episodes and four spin-offs (and two more coming) under its belt. NCIS' success is unmatched, but when any show runs for that long, cast members tend to come and go, and recasts are necessary.

Aside from season 21's regular players,...

Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers from NCIS season 21, episode 7.

Vance's future on NCIS seemed uncertain after being shot, but there's no confirmation of his departure. Rocky Carroll is expected to return for NCIS season 22, as neither he nor CBS indicated an exit. Director Vance's recovery and relationship with his son will likely be explored in future NCIS episodes.

The NCIS franchise's 1000th episode arrived in NCIS season 21, episode 7, and the hour began with a shocking event that has many worried about the status of Leon Vance, played by Rocky Carroll, in the television show. The CBS military police procedural series, created by Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, premiered in September 2003 as a spin-off of Jag and served as the first installment in the NCIS franchise. Following its continued success, CBS ordered numerous NCIS spin-offs — NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Hawai'i, and NCIS: Sydney,...

It’s hard to think about anyone other than Mark Harmon playing the role of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS.

The 72-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…...

It doesn’t take a team of federal agents to figure out that if you picked up this magazine, you’re probably one of the 300 million people from around the world who watched some version of NCIS last year. That’s just a smidge under the entire population of the United States. The massive fandom around the military procedural, which reigns as the most watched drama on broadcast TV, began in 2003 with a spectacular series premiere from cocreators Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill. The episode, inspired by the 1997 movie Air Force One, introduced what would become the show’s signature recipe of action, emotion, and a dash of humor when agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard (David McCallum) investigate a mysterious death aboard the presidential plane. We fell in love with Gibbs’ gruffness and Ducky’s intellect. We were intrigued by the twisty case...

It’s hard to think about anyone other than Mark Harmon playing the role of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS.

The 72-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…...

CBS's long-running series, NCIS, is a military procedural series and the first installment of the now-popular franchise created by Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGIll. The series initially starred Mark Harmon as Naval Criminal Investigative Service Special Agent, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, who leads a unique and tight-knit team of agents through various cases ranging from local homicide to international terrorism. Since originally airing in 2003, the show has become known for its cast of colorful characters and thrilling investigations, making it one of the most-watched television series currently still on air.

It’s hard to think about anyone other than Mark Harmon playing the role of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS.

The 72-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.

Did you see that Mark is working on a young Gibbs prequel series?!

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

It’s hard to think about anyone other than Mark Harmon playing the role of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS.

The 72-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.

Did you see that Mark is working on a young Gibbs prequel series?!

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

It’s hard to think about anyone other than Mark Harmon playing the role of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS.

The 72-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.

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

It’s hard to think about anyone other than Mark Harmon playing the role of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS.

The 72-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 new 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.

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

Network: CBS

Episodes: Ongoing (hour)

Seasons: Ongoing

TV show dates: November 14, 2023 -- present

Series status: Has not been cancelled

Performers include: Olivia Swann, Todd Lasance, Sean Sagar, Tuuli Narkle, Mavournee Hazel, and William McInnes.

TV show description:

A military action procedural drama, the NCIS: Sydney TV series was created by Morgan O'Neill. It's the fifth series inspired by the NCIS franchise by Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill.

With rising international tensions in the Indo-Pacific, a brilliant and eclectic team of U.S. NCIS agents and the Australian Federal Police (Afp) are blended into a multinational task force to keep naval crimes in check in the most contested patch of ocean on the planet.

Read More…...

NCIS was initially created with Harrison Ford in mind to play the role of Gibbs, but the idea didn't go beyond Ford being a placeholder. Mark Harmon was ultimately cast as Gibbs after the show's creators saw his portrayal of a Secret Service agent in The West Wing. It's better that Harrison Ford wasn't cast as Gibbs in NCIS because Harmon's portrayal has become synonymous with the character and he has been able to commit to the role for almost two decades.

NCIS' original plans for Leroy Jethro Gibbs would have significantly changed the beloved police procedural. CBS' longest-running police procedural has just celebrated its 20 years on the air, making it one of the longest-running scripted American primetime television series, only behind NBC's Law & Order: Svu and Law & Order. Debuting in 2003, NCIS was the network's effort to match the growing popularity of crime shows, particularly Dick Wolf...

Although NCIS was well-liked from the get-go, not even an elite investigation could have foreseen the show becoming a hit that would span decades and launch a franchise.

It began in spring 2003 as a backdoor pilot for CBS’ sturdy military-law procedural Jag. Co-created by Jag mastermind Donald P. Bellisario (Magnum, P.I., Quantum Leap) and Don McGill (Numbers, CSI), NCIS follows special agents from D.C.’s Naval Criminal Investigative Service, led by Mark Harmon as Leroy Jethro Gibbs. The show’s initial core cast included Michael Weatherly (Tony Dinozzo), Sasha Alexander (Caitlin Todd), Pauley Perrette (Abby Sciuto) and David McCallum (Ducky Mallard). Twenty years later, the series continues to thrive, as it stands as CBS’ No. 1 broadcast drama for five straight seasons and has launched four spinoffs, with the first international entry, NCIS: Sydney, debuting this fall on the network.

In celebration of the series’ premiere on Sept. 23, 2003, The Hollywood Reporter...

Sixteen years ago, co-creator Donald P. Bellisario left NCIS due to conflicts with the star Mark Harmon. Harmon and Bellisario had a strained relationship, but without them, there would be no NCIS. Harmon is praised as a solid and committed professional who demands everyone to show up ready to go.

Sixteen years after co-creator Donald P. Bellisario left NCIS, the show's co-creators, producers, and director spoke about the conflict that led him to leave the show. Having begun in 2003, NCIS is a police procedural revolving around the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. It was originally a spin-off of Jag before becoming successful enough to secure spin-offs of its own in NCIS: Los Angeles, New Orleans, Hawai'i, and the upcoming Sydney. Harmon starred in the first 19 seasons as agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs.

As the wait for NCIS season 21 continues, several long-time creatives spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about the show's long run.

“NCIS: Hawai’i” scored big for CBS on the first Monday of the fall TV season (a feat achieved even with the competition with all of the other networks back with originals and ESPN’s “Monday Night Football.”) The police procedural, which stars Vanessa Lachey, Yasmine Al-Bustami, Jason Antoon, Noah Mills, Alex Tarrant, Tori Anderson and Kian Talan, was the top show of the 10 p.m. primetime slot, attracting 6.33 million viewers and improving on last year’s premiere of “Bull” by over 40% in the same time period.

The Og “NCIS,” created by Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, made a triumphant 19th season return with a premiere that landed the show at the top of primetime at 9 p.m., garnering over 8.15 million viewers and a rating of 0.7 in the key demographic of adults ages 18-49. The military crime drama improved in the time slot by over 91% compared to last year’s...

Okay, while no one actually thought it would be cancelled, we're still happy to report CBS has renewed its NCIS TV show for a 16th season. In addition, the Tiffany Network has re-signed Mark Harmon, who stars in and executive produces the show. Although the ratings have dropped some in season 15, the "mothership" of Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill's successful franchise sails on -- full steam ahead. As previously reported though, Gibbs and the team will have to sally forth without Abby Sciuto, since star Paula Perrette decided season 15 would be her final installment. A CBS military police procedural, NCIS also stars Mark Harmon, Sean Murray, Emily Wickersham, Wilmer Valderrama, Maria Bello, Brian Dietzen, Duane Henry, Rocky Carroll, and David McCallum. The action series centers on NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Harmon). This skilled investigator and...

The spirit is moving Eric Roberts back to CSI this spring.

Roberts will reprise the role of Brother Daniel Larson in the CBS procedural’s season finale, which is ominously titled “End Game,” TVLine has learned exclusively. This marks Roberts’ third CSI appearance; he previously guest-starred in the Season 13 finale and Season 14 premiere, both in 2013.

“We’re super excited about Eric Roberts returning to CSI to reprise his role as the silk-shirt smooth preacher-pimp, Brother Larson,” executive producer Don McGill tells TVLine. “Eric is always a blast to work with, and it’s always a privilege to be in his...

From True Tori to make-believe crime! On Sunday, reality star and Tori Spelling's husband Dean McDermott will guest star on CSI as a guy who may or may not have killed an entire family. And how's this for moving outside of his comfort zone: McDermott plays a creepy, registered sex offender named Mr. Fogel. "We’re super excited to have Dean on the show," executive producer Don McGill tells People. "He plays a man with a shady past who is guilty of heinous crimes, but is he guilty of murdering an entire family? Only the CSIs can get to the truth.

From True Tori to make-believe crime!

On Sunday, reality star and Tori Spelling's husband Dean McDermott will guest star on CSI as a guy who may or may not have killed an entire family.

And how's this for moving outside of his comfort zone: McDermott plays a creepy, registered sex offender named Mr. Fogel.

"We’re super excited to have Dean on the show," executive producer Don McGill tells People. "He plays a man with a shady past who is guilty of heinous crimes, but is he guilty of murdering an entire family? Only the CSIs can get to the truth.

From True Tori to make-believe crime! On Sunday, reality star and Tori Spelling's husband Dean McDermott will guest star on CSI as a guy who may or may not have killed an entire family. And how's this for moving outside of his comfort zone: McDermott plays a creepy, registered sex offender named Mr. Fogel. "We’re super excited to have Dean on the show," executive producer Don McGill tells People. "He plays a man with a shady past who is guilty of heinous crimes, but is he guilty of murdering an entire family? Only the CSIs can get to the truth.