Since this particular episode was shot this month, that makes it easier to remember. One thing I must say about "In the Dark" — and I am sure the rest of the NCIS family would agree — is that we got to work with some tremendously talented guest actors. John Billingsley was a joy to watch and work with; he played the coolest blind man I have ever seen on TV. Another thing that sticks out in my memory, aside from the fact that we all worked with John, was a scene that I had with Michael Weatherly. Every once in a while you get these scenes — these meaty, beefy scenes — that are filled with little moments of truth where you get an inside look at the character's heart. It's a long scene that takes place after Ziva overhears a "personal" conversation Tony is having with his girlfriend, played by the oh-so-cool Scottie Thompson. This season has been weird for Ziva regarding her "feelings" for Tony. I don't even know what she feels exactly, but I know that she's confuse...
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Many people may not know this, but shooting an NCIS episode is a lot of hard work and the schedule is absolutely crazy! But all that said, I have to say it is also one of my favorite things to do. I get to hang out and "play" with my friends, and laugh between takes with some of the funniest and silliest characters I have ever met. We shot the April 17 episode, "Once a Hero," a long time ago, and when I say a long time ago it may very well be two to three months ago. You lose perspective of time when you shoot, and I think all of us in the cast will agree with that statement. It has turned into a joke between us. As far as the episode goes, I don't remember the plot as much as I remember what happened behind the scenes. We shot part of this story in a hotel, somewhere close to the airport. I remember we were all wearing our "nice" secret-agent clothing, which in my case was a black skirt, a jacket, and a pair of heels, and my hair was sleeked back into a very clean ponytail. We were...
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Question: Do you have any news on NCIS? Is Gibbs (Mark Harmon) coming back? He has to.
Answer: Well, look at that — you just answered your own question! Loyalty to a former team member in distress will pry Gibbs out of his self-imposed retirement. In the season-opener, Ziva (Cote de Pablo) is accused of being a spy. Apparently, the evidence is so compelling, even her fellow special agents waffle. The only one who believes her — unconditionally — is Gibbs, who owes his life to her. (You'll recall that Ziva shot and killed her brother only seconds before he was going to off Gibbs.)
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Question: Hi, Matt. Great column. Some great shows have seen the ax lately, but one of my absolute favorite shows (perhaps, at this point, my overall favorite of the season) is one that doesn't come up all that frequently: NCIS — or, as I mockingly referred to it in the first season, "Navy Criminal Investigation Service." What I love about the show is the characters and the great chemistry the cast seems to have, particularly with the addition of Cote de Pablo this season. In a lineup stuffed with all-too-boring procedurals, this is the only one that can make me laugh.
Answer: May I also point you towards Fox's Bones, which will soon be moving away from direct competition with NCIS? What sets both of these shows apart is a strong reliance on character-based humor amid the mysteries. NCIS has exploded in popularity this season, and we have acknowledged that with several features (and more to come) in the magazine itself. And since it doesn't appear that the shocking departure of Sasha
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Question: What do you think of Lauren Holly as the new female lead on NCIS? I don't like her at all. She has no chemistry with Mark Harmon's character and she's not very likable. She's certainly no match for Sasha Alexander's character, Kate.
Answer: If it makes you feel any better, Lauren Holly appears to be only a recurring player this season and, according to insiders, is likely to be seen in only a handful of episodes. Besides, I'm not sure she's meant to be likable. She's more a source of conflict. The actual replacement for the Kate slot is Cote de Pablo as former Mossad agent Ziva. You might not like her by comparison, either, but you'll have to get over Kate not coming back (the actress' choice, plus Kate is really truly dead) ...
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