My Name Is…
Donald P. Bellisario kept it in the family when it came to the show! The character of Leroy Jethro was named after two of his family members. His brother’s name is Leroy whereas his father’s middle name is Jethro. Boom!
Payback Though
Mark Harmon made it clear that he didn’t want a spectacle to be made on his birthday. In 2005, Lauren Holly ignored this request as she was often the bunt of Harmon’s practical jokes. She teamed up with Michael Weatherly (Tony) to plan a birthday extravaganza. The night before Harmon’s birthday, Holly and Weatherly got to work. Each crew member wore t-shirts saying “It’s Mark Harmon’s Birthday.” They covered Harmon’s trailer with crepe paper, helium balloons, and piñatas, then they added loads of confetti. Every wall, truck, and trailer displayed a picture of Harmon. Now, Holly had to fly back home that night so she didn’t get to see Harmon’s reaction. Producers worried that he might react poorly so they asked Weatherly and he said, “I’m not going to name any names. Lauren Holly.” In actuality, Harmon was touched by the gesture, but he told Lauren with a big cheeky grin, “Payback’s a b**ch.”