'''NCIS''' is a
CBS network show about a team of
special agents from the
Naval Criminal Investigative Service of the
United States Navy and
United States Marine Corps. The concept and characters were initially introduced in a two-part episode of the CBS series ''
JAG'' (episodes
8.20 and
8.21). The show premiered on
September 23,
2003. Its
executive producer is
Donald Bellisario. On
May 16,
2007 CBS renewed the show for a fifth season
[1].
Overview
''NCIS'' follows a team of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service Major Case Response Team (MCRT) special agents, headquartered at the
Washington Navy Yard in
Washington, D.C.
As NCIS is a federal law enforcement agency with jurisdiction on crimes involving persons and property associated with the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps, the team is frequently assigned to high-profile cases such as the death of the
President's nuclear missile aide, a bomb situation on a U.S. Navy warship, the death of a celebrity on a reality show set on a
USMC base, terrorist threats, and kidnappings.
On a number of episodes on NCIS, Mark Harmon's character, Gibbs is seen wearing an old shirt with NIS written on it. This is not a mistake, as Navy veterans will often point out. Prior to it becoming NCIS, it was the Naval Investigative Service (NIS). This also effectively plays into the idea that Harmon/Gibbs has been with NCIS for quite some time longer than the others.
Main Characters
Main articles: Characters of NCIS
| 'Name' | 'Portrayed by' | 'Occupation' | 'Status' |
|---|
| Leroy Jethro Gibbs (2003-) | Mark Harmon | Supervisory Special Agent, NCIS | Regular Cast Member |
| Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard (2003-) | David McCallum | Chief Medical Examiner, NCIS | Regular Cast Member |
| Anthony "Tony" DiNozzo (2003-) | Michael Weatherly | Senior Special Agent, NCIS | Regular Cast Member |
| Abigail "Abby" Sciuto (2003-) | Pauley Perrette | Forensic Specialist, NCIS | Regular Cast Member |
| Caitlin "Kate" Todd (2003-2005) | Sasha Alexander | Special Agent, NCIS | Character Deceased |
| Thomas "Tom" Morrow (2003-2005) | Alan Dale | Director, NCIS | Deputy Director, Homeland Security |
| Tobias C. Fornell (2003-) | Joe Spano | Special Agent, FBI | Recurring Cast Member |
| Gerald Jackson (2003-2005) | Pancho Demmings | Dr. Mallard's Assistant, NCIS | Disability Leave |
| Paula Cassidy (2003-2007) | Jessica Steen | Special Agent, NCIS | Character Deceased |
| Jimmy Palmer (2004-) | Brian Dietzen | Dr. Mallard's Assistant, NCIS | Recurring Cast Member |
| Timothy "Tim" McGee (2004-) | Sean Murray | Junior Special Agent, NCIS | Regular Cast Member |
| Ziva David (2005-) | Cote de Pablo | Mossad Liaison Officer, NCIS | Regular Cast Member |
| Jenny Shepard (2005-) | Lauren Holly | Director, NCIS | Regular Cast Member |
| Cynthia Sumner (2005-) | Stephanie Mello | Jenny Shepard's Assistant | Recurring Cast Member |
| Dr. Jeanne Benoit (2006-) | Scottie Thompson | Doctor, Monroe University | Recurring Cast Member |
| Hollis Mann (2006-) | Susanna Thompson | Lt. Colonel, US Army, CID | Recurring Cast Member |
| Mike Franks (2006-) | Muse Watson | Supervisory Special Agent, NIS | Recurring Cast Member |
| Michelle Lee (2006-) | Liza Lapira | Special Agent, NCIS | Recurring Cast Member |
Note: Mark Harmon's character is usually referred to as Gibbs, but he is called "Jethro" on occasion by Dr. Mallard and Director Shepard.
Naming the show
Prior to the launch of the first season, advertisements on CBS identified the show as "Naval CIS." By the time of the launch of the first episode, ''NCIS'' was airing under the name ''Navy NCIS'', the name it held for the entire first season. Since the "N" in ''NCIS'' stands for "Naval,” the name ''Navy NCIS'' was technically redundant (an example of
RAS syndrome). The decision to use this name was reportedly made by CBS, over the objections of Bellisario, in order to:
★ Attract new viewers (particularly those of ''JAG''), who might not know the ''NCIS'' abbreviation.
★ Disambiguate between NCIS and the similarly-themed and similarly-spelled CBS series '' and its spinoffs. (The original title, for instance, was often misquoted as ''Navy CSI''.”)
After its successful first season, the name of the series was shortened to ''NCIS''.
Episodes
For an overview see
List of ''NCIS'' episodes.
Filming Location
NCIS is set in Washington DC area but is really filmed in Santa Clarita, CA
★ The Sound Stages are in
Santa Clarita, California
★ The Series is shot throughout southern California
U.S. television ratings
Seasonal rankings (based on average total viewers per episode) of ''NCIS'' on
CBS.
''Note: Each U.S. network television season starts in late September and ends in late May, which coincides with the completion of
May sweeps.''
The second season finale, ending with the Agent Todd murder cliffhanger, propelled the series to become one of the most-watched programs throughout the summer of 2005, which then led to a growing audience throughout its third season. The series has been a solid performer in the ratings, especially for the latter half of the television season when it airs opposite
FOX's mega-hit ''
American Idol''.
Changes
It was reported in
May 2007 that ''NCIS'' creator and producer
Donald Bellisario would be stepping down from the show
[3]. Bellisario's duties would likely be taken over by longtime show collaborators, including co-executive producer Charles Floyd Johnson and series writer Shane Brennan.
DVD Releases
Main articles: NCIS DVD releases
The first season DVD release omits the two-part introductory episode that aired as part of the eighth season of ''
JAG''; those episodes may be released when the eighth season of ''JAG'' is eventually released on DVD.
References
1. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117964967.html?categoryid=14&cs=1
2. Hollywood Reporter: 2006-07 primetime wrap
3. 'NCIS' creator is leaving his show via ''Los Angeles Times'' May 8, 2007
4. TVShowsonDVD.com NCIS Season 4 news
External links
★
"NCIS" at
Yahoo! TV
★
Pauley Perrette's behind-the-scenes blog at CBS.com
★
★
Full episodes of NCIS
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