Rocky Carroll, NCIS: In Harmon's Crosshairs
Greetings,
Well, I just finished my last day of filming NCIS for '08. There's one more episode (in which Vance will not appear) to be filmed before everyone takes a break for the holidays. I believe that the Vance-centric episode that I mentioned will be filmed mid-January. I'll keep you posted.
Thank you again for all of your kind words about NCIS. I especially want to thank you for your response to this blog. Speaking of your responses ... time to address a few of them.
To Joanne (joni2006): You asked the one question that I can't answer. A lot of people want to know if Vance is a "Good Witch" or a "Bad Witch." You mentioned that the character keeps you guessing. I'm glad to know that. When a show is in its sixth season, it becomes incredibly difficult to stay fresh, interesting and to create episodes that can keep long time viewers engaged. When I watch any TV show and I've figured out what's going to happen in the first seven minutes, I usually change the channel. That being said, there's a fine art to keeping a show interesting without destroying its core. You can't kill off a character every week; there would be no one left by mid season. I think the writers/producers are navigating the creative waters quite well. When I get responses from die hard NCIS fans who say that they are still surprised and engaged by the episodes that have aired this season, I know we are on the right track. Nothing's worse than presenting an episode that the audience has "figured out" before the first commercial break. I assure you, that won't happen with Season 6 of NCIS.
A couple of you (Jonih59, Margy) have asked if notorious prankster Mark Harmon has made me the subject of one his practical jokes. Have I got a story for you....
The final episode of last season ("Judgment Day") was when Harmon decided it was my turn to "Get It." If you remember, in the very last scene of that episode Vance has summoned the entire team (Gibbs, Tony, Ziva, McGee) to his office. Vance is standing behind his desk and informs the team that they are no longer a team, and re-assigns them to different parts of the world. It was the scene that started the stream of "I hate Vance" messages on the NCIS message board (LOL).
So, we shoot the points of view (POVs) of the team first. I'm off-camera, and the camera is only on the faces of the team. We complete their POVs, and now it's time to turn the camera around on yours truly. With the camera pointed at me, you can't see the faces of the team as they are standing at the desk, facing me. The director yells "Action!" I begin to speak. I look in Sean Murray's eyes first. As I begin to tell him that he has been reassigned, he calmly exposes a toothpick that he's been hiding in his mouth. Now, I have to try and keep a straight face while Murray's doing a Vance impersonation during my close up. I made it through without cracking a smile.
I'm thinking that I survived this little joke that they tried to pull on me. So, I then level my gaze at Ziva (Cote De Pablo). No way she can be in on the joke, right? As soon as I begin to speak to her ... yep, out pops a toothpick from the side of her mouth!
Now I'm looking at two members of the team both doing their Vance impersonation while I'm delivering the most important speech of the season! I never cracked a smile. Michael Weatherly had been on the verge of laughter during the entire shot. Do I even need to tell you that he, too, was hiding a toothpick in his mouth, as well??
At this point the cameras are still rolling, the three of them (toothpicks exposed) are each on the verge of laughter, and I still have to somehow get through the scene without losing it. All that's left is to walk around the desk, stand face to face with Mark Harmon and deliver the final line of dialogue of Season 5: "Meet your new team." I'm sure you can guess what happened as I began to speak! Ah yes, the coup de gras. I think it's safe to say that none of you will ever see Leroy Jethro Gibbs with a toothpick tucked in the corner of his mouth, but I have ... up close!
I made it through the scene without losing it, and that's what scares me the most. I have a sinking feeling in my gut that Harmon and his team will strike again. I'll keep you posted.
