There are shows that are ensembles that can go on without their lead star, and then there are shows that can’t. We will find out in a few months if NCIS can survive without its leader Mark Harmon.
That is because the 70-year-old actor unceremoniously left the drama that he called home for 18 years yesterday.
“As an executive producer and dear friend, Mark continues to be an integral part of the fabric of the show. Our north star has always been staying true to our characters, and that truth has always guided the stories we tell and where those characters go,” Steven D. Binder, NCIS Executive Producer/Showrunner, said in a statement. “So regarding the future of Gibbs, as long-time fans of the show may have noticed over the years…never count Leroy Jethro Gibbs out.”
So we might see him again in May for the show’s possible series finale. We shall see. It all depends on how much of a hit it takes in the ratings due to his departure.
Are you going to miss him? And do you think he needed a better send-off? I do, and I don’t watch the procedural.
Mark Harmon is not getting any younger, and you can’t blame him for wanting to spend some time with his wife Pam Dawber instead of filming NCIS. After all, he has been doing the show nonstop since 2003.
Therefore, he signed on to do an 18th season. However, TV Line is reporting that he will only be doing a handful of episodes. When I say handful, a source told them, “It’s going to be in the low single digits.”
His lack of presence on the show is going to be felt big time. So how are they going to handle it? CBS has cast Gary Cole to join the procedural.
I love Cole, two words Office and Space, but this is not the right series for him. Like when Ted Danson and James Van Der Beek joined the CSI franchise. Between his casting and Vanessa Lachey leading NCIS: Hawaii, it is like CBS is ready to move away from NCIS and focus on the FBIs and the new CSI.
CBS is broken, and they are going to try to fix it next season by making a lot of changes to their lineup.
Mondays will start off with The Neighborhood and Bob Hearts Abishola. Then at 9p, they movie NCIS to a new night and time. What? That is a very risky move because it is their #1 rated show, and it might not do well on a new night at a new time.
What could get them to move the show? Or should I say who? Dick Wolf. He has three FBI shows, and they will all air on Tuesday. If CBS was smart, they would have done an all NCIS night. Instead, NCIS and NCIS: Hawaii will air on Monday and NCIS: LA on Sunday.
Wednesday states with Survivor goes to Tough as Nails and ends with the CSI: Vegas. Didn’t Survivor and CSI air on the same night years ago?
Wasn’t that night Thursday? It was and Thursdays this time around include three Chuck Lorre shows. Then at 9p, Rose McIver goes from being a Zombie to being surrounded by Ghosts. The night ends with a lot of Bull. Like it is Bull that show is still on the air. Did CBS not think it through when they put two rumored sex offenders back to back? But that’s what is happening this Fall by scheduling Thomas Middleditch and Michael Weatherly’s shows, one right after the other one.
Anyways, SWAT leads off Fridays, followed by Magnum P.I. and Blue Bloods. Sundays start with The Equalizer and end with NCIS: LA and SEAL Team, which will movie to Paramount+
It has been an interesting few months for the NCIS franchise. First, CBS canceled NCIS: NoLa. Then they were able to convince Mark Harmon to come back to do another season of the mothership.
Today, they announced that NCIS: LA will be back for lucky 13. If that is not enough good news for the fans, then they will be happy to know that they are getting another NCIS. This one will be based in Hawaii.
As we know from Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I., the backdrop is stunning. To me, that is the only reason to watch those shows. Well, back when Five-0 was on the air.
Back to CBS, this means next season they will have three NCISes, Three FBIs, at least two Chuck Lorre comedies, and one CSI. Who says Hollywood can’t come up with original ideas any more?
On March 21st, Pam Dawber and Mark Harmon are going to celebrate their 34th wedding anniversary. Then on April 6th, their marriage will experience another milestone. That is because the actress is going to guest star on her husband’s show NCIS for four episodes. This is the first time they will be working together on the series.
According to Entertainment Weekly, she will play Marcie Warren, “a seasoned investigative journalist who uses her savvy wit and down-to-earth people skills to aid in her tireless pursuit of truth.”
The actress retired from acting when she had their two kids and has only made a few TV appearances since then. Once to work with Robin Williams again on The Crazy Ones, and another time to honor Garry Marshall, who created Mork & Mindy, on The Odd Couple.
