From 2003 NCIS has been running, which means that it has 350 episodes and 15 seasons to date. Not many shows can say the same. Ignoring statistics for a minute, it is the show’s characters, storylines and overall concept that has fans hooked. Sit back and relax, we’re about to drop some behind the scenes facts about the long-running series.
‘JAG’ Inspired ‘NCIS’
You may be aware that NCIS is a spin-off of the legal drama about the U.S. Navy, JAG. But did you know that NCIS and JAG were both created by Donald P. Bellisario? Bellisario also wrote episodes for the hit series Magnum, P.I. starring Tom Selleck so we’re not surprised NCIS is such a hit.
JAG Inspired NCIS
Say My Name
In order to help viewers, the show was originally titled Navy NCIS. However Donald P. Bellisario strongly disagreed with the name and urged CBS to change it. I mean, it is redundant. The show was known by this name for the entire first season. Later, the “Navy” was dropped.
Say My Name
Tension
In 2007, the show creator Donald P. Bellisario retired after bad tension with the NCIS star Mark Harmon. We know it’s wild, but that’s what happened. While he stopped working with the show, he would still serve as its executive producer. Although he did not have any creative or executive involvement with NCIS ever since the altercation.
Tension
Background
Chief Forensic Scientist Abby Sciuto is easily a fan favorite! And Pauley Perrette didn’t struggle to play the part either. See not only is Perrette a talented actress but she also studied sociology, psychology, and criminal science. Perrette explained to FOX411, “I was super into school, and I got my master’s degree in criminal science because I wanted to be a cop before all this happened.”
Background
Connections, Connections
NCIS is home to multiple family connections! First of all, Sean Murray, AKA Special Agent Timothy McGee, is actually the stepson of Donald P. Bellisario. Troian Bellisario, AKA McGee’s sister Sarah, is Bellisario’s biological daughter. Even more family members have appeared as guest-stars on the show. Including, Michael Bellisario, who played a bent lab assistant in Season there. Vivienne Bellisario is Bellisario’s wife and Murray’s mom, and she portrayed a mysterious love interest for Leroy Jethro Gibbs, AKA Mark Harmon, during the first two seasons.
Connections Connections
Bottoms Up
Even if you don’t religiously watch the show, you know one very key fact – Abby is ~addicted~ to caffeine, big time. Throughout all the episodes, she’s always guzzling down her favorite fictional drink, “Caf-Pow”. At first Pauley Perrette had Hawaiian Punch in the drink but once she stopped eating and drinking refined sugar, the drink was switched to unsweetened cranberry juice.
Bottoms Up
NCIS: Most Wanted
Surely you’re familiar with the Most Wanted Wall? Well have you noticed that it changes? Throughout the seasons, the wall displays the bad guys NCIS is after. However it also depicts real life terrorists, such as Osama Bin Laden, whose portrait was later X’ed out with red tape after he was killed.
NCIS Most Wanted
Not So Wanted
On the Most Wanted Wall there is actually a pretty familiar face up there too. That’s the face of Donald P. Bellisario – the producer of the show. Well, we bet you didn’t know that!
Not So Wanted
Close But No Cigar
Originally the brilliant Lauren Holly auditioned out for the role of Caitlin “Kate” Todd, however producers felt that Holly would fit better as the director Jenny Shepard. Fans can agree that the producer were right on the money here.
Close But No Cigar
Reasons, Reasons
Speaking of Kate, Sasha Alexander played the part (brilliantly if we may add) and when [spoiler alert!] she was killed in season two, fans believed that it was the producers who wanted her gone. In actual fact, Alexander asked to leave because she felt the hours they worked were too exhausting.
Reasons Reasons
In The Family
Each time we see a flashback with Gibbs’ character, it is Mark Harmon’s own son in real life who is playing the younger Gibbs! 29 year old Sean Harmon also appeared on American Reunion, Agent Mx-z3Ro, and Takanakuy.
In The Famly
Cue Exit
After 15 years, Abby announced that she is leaving the show. (Cue fan heartbreak in three, two…) In fact, she just filmed her last scene recently. Pauley Perrette’s decision was mutually accepted by everyone in the NCIS family. Including the executives producers George Schenck and Frank Cardea and also CBS and CBS TV Studios, everyone thanked Perrette for her hard work over the last 15 years.
Cue Exit
Bob, The Builder
Whenever Leroy Jethro Gibbs is not on duty, you will scenes of him working on his boat. Always. It’s as known as the sky is blue. However, the tools that Mark Harmon is using while filming are his own? He uses his own personal workshop whenever possible!
Bob The Builder
Nice To Meet You
When Mark Harmon first met David McCallum, AKA Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard, on set, Harmon made sure to call him Illya! What does that mean? Well, McCallum is well known for playing Illya Kuryakin from the series The Man from U.N.C.L.E.. When Harmon called him by his old character’s name, McCallum immediately replied, “Good God, that was 40 years ago!”
Nice To Meet You
Illya Kuryakin, Again
Let’s stick with the last fact for a minute. In one episode Kate (Sasha Alexander) asks Gibbs (Mark Harmon) the following question, “Gibbs? What did Ducky look like when he was younger?” Gibbs instantly replies, “Illya Kuryakin.” Gotta love their humor!
Illya Kuryakin Again
Comfy Clothes
Whenever Leroy Jethro Gibbs is lounging around at home – the clothes that he wears are 100% authentic. But don’t go rolling your eyes just yet. Fans who actually served in the Marine Corps or Naval units send in their clothes for Gibbs to wear. Therefore any time Gibbs is wearing a plain shirt, it’s one a former solider wore. That’s pretty amazing, wouldn’t you say?
Comfy Clothes
Testing, 1, 2
When each act comes to an end, the audience can hear a dramatic noise. Fans will know exactly what we’re referring to. When the noise plays, the scene immediately freezes and is set to black and white. That dramatic noise was actually created by Donald P. Bellisario but not with fancy equipment. Just a simple microphone.
Testing 1 2
Cameos
Two real-life NCIS agents made cameos on the series! Special Agent David Brant appeared in season three’s episode “Frame Up”. While former director Thomas Betro appears in “Identity Crisis” two seasons later. Both agents also used their real names on the show.
Cameos
Making The Cut
One thing is super clear, Mark Harmon was born to play Leroy Jethro Gibbs. However Donald P. Bellisario wasn’t convinved. At the time, Bellisario imagined Gibbs would have a “flinty type with a strong sense of honor and respect for the military.” He didn’t think this sounded like Harmon. His opinion immediately changed when he saw Harmon on The West Wing as Secret Service Agent Simon Donovan. Even the co-executive producer Charles Floyd Johnson said, “We all looked at that work. And everybody said, ‘He’s Gibbs.'”
Making The Cut
Repeat After Me
Before I present this next fact, I’d just like to say…bring back Ziva David! Okay, let’s move on. The Chilean-American actress Cote de Pablo wanted to portray a proper Israeli so she hired a language coach to help out. Pablo said this of the process, “When I learn it, I learn it like a prayer, chanting it for a while. I have a good ear for language and, truthfully, I picked up the language pretty fast.” She certainly had us convinced.
Repeat After Me
Popularity
Reports from 2011 discovered that the character Leroy Jethro Gibbs made Mark Harmon the fourth most popular actor on primetime TV. Nice! Moreover, some other NCIS cast members made the top ten. Including Pauley Perrette (Abby Sciuto), Cote de Pablo (Ziva David), David McCallum (Ducky Mallard), and Michael Weatherly (Anthony DiNozzo).
Popularity
Purpose
In 2003, Pauley Perrette was cast as Abby Sciuto and there is true meaning behind her character. Okay, more about her character’s creation and the purpose behind it. Perrette explained, “Don Bellisario told me that when he created Magnum, P.I. he wanted to introduce a Vietnam vet who defied the negative stereotype. So with Abby, he wanted to take an alternative-style person with tattoos and make her someone who is happy, totally put together and successful. All the script said about her was: black hair, caffeinated and smart…She’s completely unaware that anybody thinks she looks weird. She thinks she looks pretty and never calls herself anything other than happy. And I fight for that.”
Purpose
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!
My Name Is…
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.”
Payback Though
Daddy-O
Ralph Waite who portrays Jethro Gibbs’s father, Jackson, is pretty impressive off-screen too. His character Jackson Gibbs is known to have been a World War II fighter pilot for the US Army Air Force. Moreover Mark Harmon’s real life father, Tom Harmon, also was a World War II fighter pilot for the US Army Air Force. Funny how life imitiates art.
Daddy O
Moolah
In the show, we see that Tony DiNozzo’s very wealthy dad cuts him off from his inheritance when he turns 12 years old. While that sounds harsh and normal, in the real world, Michael Weatherly’s actual father also cut him off from his inheritance when he made the choice to become an actor. Whoa.
Moolah
Jellyfish
For a while, there were multiple rumors going around claiming that Mark Harmon was intent on leaving NCIS. Michael Weatherly immediately replied, “He’s the spine of the show. Without him it’s a show about jellyfish. We need our spine.” And we know, Harmon hasn’t gone anywhere!
Jellyfish
Winner, Winner
This fact is actually quite surprising but on the other hand, it also isn’t. NCIS is just one of few (and very few!) spin-offs to have ran longer than the original show. Color us impressed.
Winner Winner
Lover Boy
There is a particular scene where Michael Weatherly’s character says, “I’ve got a better chance of hooking up with Jessica Alba than these guys do of infiltrating SeaLift.” As it turns out, in real life, Michael Weatherly was once genuinely engaged to Jessica Alba! He starred opposite Alba in the movie Dark Angel. Life keeps imitiating art for Weatherly we suppose.
Need To Know
Works Out In The End
Originally Donald P. Bellisario wanted to cast Scott Bakula as Gibbs. That just sounds weird, now doesn’t it? 11 years later, Bakula was indeed cast as Special Agent Dwayne Pride, Gibbs’s former partner, and now stars as the lead of NCIS: New Orleans.
Works Out In The End
Gibbs!
Now, here’s a surprising choice for an actor to play Gibbs…Harrison Ford! At the time, Ford was experiencing a slump and was encouraged to audition for the role of Gibbs. However he decided not to pursue the role. In the first episode of NCIS, Harmon drops Ford’s name and the classic film Air Force One. A subtle nod, perhaps?
Gibbs
Santa Claus
Between seasons three and four, Mark Harmon received a call which informed him that he needed to immediately stop shaving. Why? Well, going forward, his character would need to sport a scruffier look, along with a mustache.
Santa Claus
Every One
David McCallum, AKA Ducky the medical examiner, has appeared in every episode of the series. Wild! That was until season six, episode 23, “Legend Part II”. Even when no murders had taken place, McCallum was on-screen. As a result, Ducky would speak about the psychology of the case, or he would offer his personal advice.
Every One
Friends
Now this would have been an interesting casting role! Turns out that Jennifer Aniston was interested in the role of Kate, I know right?! However the only way she could have played the part is if production waited for her to finish filming the final season of Friends.
Friends
Weight Loss
When season eight aired, Sean Murray (McGee) made the decision to quit drinking and gave up sugar. We applaud his decision, it’s not for many. This explains why fans saw a drastic change in his weight throughout the season.
Weight Loss
No Thanks
Don Johnson, the actor who is well known for his part in Miami Vice, was actually offered the role of Agent Gibbs. Yes, really. But he turned it down. We’d say that worked out in Harmon’s favor obviously.
No Thanks
Hey Dad
Tony, who is played by Michael Weatherly, stars in scenes with his on-screen father, who Robert Wagner portrays. Before Weatherly joined the NCIS team, he played Robert Wagner in the television film The Mystery of Natalie Wood. What a small world!
Hey Dad
Picture Perfect
If you remember the episode “Enemy On The Hill”, then you’ll remember seeing Abby holding a locket. The photo that we see is of her adoptive mother. However, it turns out that the photo is genuine! That’s actually Pauley Perrette’s real mother, Donna Bell.
Picture Perfect
Recycle!
The first few seasons of the opening credits for NCIS show an aircraft carrier flying under the Golden Gate Bridge. This exact scene is a clip from the opening credits of the 1988 movie The Presidio. And yes, that’s the same movie that Mark Harmon starred in!
Recycle
Sista Sista
Two of Donald P. Bellisario’s children have made appearances on NCIS. Troian Bellisario would play McGee’s sister while Michael Bellisario played the part of Chip Sterling.
Sista Sista
Love Story
Donald P. Bellisario opened up about his plans for the Tony-Kate relationship. Before Sasha Alexander made the decision to leave the show, Bellisario hd planned for season three to build up their steamy love relationship. On one hand, we’re glad that never happened because Tony and Ziva, duh.
Love Story
Beethoven
Fans finally get to learn what Abby’s middle name is! And it seemed like blind luck. In any case, her character’s full name is “Abigail Beethoven Sciuto.” Where the Beethoven came from is beyond us!
Beethoven
Vroom Vroom
Remember the NCIS: Chained episode back in 2004? When Gibbs is constantly being bombarded with phone calls from people inquiring about a Volkswagen Bug that is for sale? That was a hilarious scene! Anyways, Gibbs eventually gets frustrated and says, “Do I look like someone who would drive a Bug?!” Well, actually when Harmon starred in the 1986 flick In The Deliberate Stranger, he played serial killer Ted Bundy…who, uhh, drove a VW Bug. Guess that answers that question!
Vroom Vroom
Location, Location
The NCIS Headquarters that are shown are from the Washington, DC Navy Yard. However if we’re basing it on the real world, you have to remember that the Headquarters were actually moved in 2011 to a new facility at the Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, VA. It’s the little things that matter, folks!
Location, Location
Real As Can Be
In season five, when Ziva is on the phone searching for Devon, you need to look closely at the background. Why? The buliding that shows through the window is the actual NCIS building in real life.
Real As Can Be
Lies!
Multiple news organizations speculated why Pauley Perrette chose to leave NCIS. Many have reported that it is all because she wants to focus on cosmetics. Naturally, Perrette was outraged at the 100% false allegations. She took to Twitter and said, “THE LIES! EVERYONE asking me about this (FAKE) skin care line? I DON’T HAVE A SKIN CARE LINE! I think Facebook Yahoo MSN and all sites making money off fake ads should be liable for posting false ads.”
Lies!
Two to Tango
Out of the the entire NCIS franchise, Pauley Perrette and Michael Weatherly are the only original members to have appeared in all of the franchise series. This includes JAG, NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, and NCIS: New Orleans.
Two To Tango
Pretty Woman
We’ve got an interesting truth bomb about NCIS: New Orleans! Scott Bakula who we already mentioned plays the lead almost didn’t get the part. Even though the show creator originally wanted him. As luck would have it, the Pretty Woman star Richard Gere was really interested in the part! However, producers didn’t feel he was the right fit. We agree.
Pretty Woman
Show Me Your Badge
Throughout the show, you see that are two types of NCIS special agents: full time agents who don a gold badge or part time agents who don a silver badge. Although, I think we can recognize who’s who!
Show Me Your Badge
Crafty
We’ve already mentioned that Mark Harmon uses his own tools while on set. However did you know that his trailer, a 1972 Airstream, is one he restored with his very own hands! That’s one way to unwind after a long day.
Crafty
‘Nam
Seeing as how Mark Harmon was born in 1951, that would make him old enough to have done a tour in the Vietnam War. Gibbs, however, is known to have served in the Gulf War, making him far too young to be a Vietnam vet. Meaning that Harmon portrays a younger character!
‘Nam
Farting Hippo
We can thank Pauley Perrette for this hilarious fact. During the ‘tour of Abby’s lab’ scene which is available as an extra on the seasons eight DVD, there is a ridiculous scene with Bert “the Farting Hippo.” Apparently, Bert was locked up when shooting finished because the extras and production interns wouldn’t stop trying to steal him!
Farting Hippo
Changes!
The pilot for NCIS aired as a two-part episode of JAG back in 2003. From there, two huge changes took place. Including a gimmick where Ducky actually talks to corpses, but from the point of view of the corpse. Yeah, that would have been weird. Lastly the role of Viv Blackadder, played by Robyn Lively, was replaced by Sasha Alexander’s character.
Changes
Donald Duck
Jut how did “Ducky” get his name? David McCallum plays Donald Mallard, but you knew that already. However, did you know that Mallard is actually a breed of duck? See, it all makes sense now. It’s as simple as that.
Donald Duck
The Sprint
Currently NCIS ranks as the “second longest running scripted, non-animated U.S.” prime-time series that is ~still~ on air. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is number one. In fact, SVU has been running since 1999 and doesn’t look like it’ll be slowing down any time soon.
The Sprint
I Recall
When Caitlin Todd was poised to leave the show as per the wishes of Sasha Alexander, not everyone knew on set knew. In fact, Michael Weatherly said that he had no idea until February 2005. Actually it only became clear that Caitlin would be assassinated once he “saw the special-effects guy attaching a blood pack to [Sasha’s] hair.”
I Recall
Uproar
Immediately after the death of Caitlin, fans immediately “flooded Internet message boards with angry postings directed at Bellisario.” Shortly after Bellisario announced Alexander’s replacement would be coming soon and that the character would be “a new female lead character […], quite different from the conservative Agent Todd. A ‘European or Australian girl who is very comfortable with her femininity and sexuality'”. Ergo, Ziva David, everyone.
Uproar
That’s High Praise
Bellisario spoke fondly over Tony’s character development throughout the seasons, “I can’t say enough about Michael Weatherly…He started out on NCIS [playing] a character who was just very unlikable to some women because he was just such a chauvinist, and he has gradually over the [seasons] changed. Taken his character and softened it.” Fans couldn’t agree more!
That’s High Praise
Like At First Sight
Let’s talk about Tony and Don Bellisario for a minute longer. Michael Weatherly got the part when what was supposed to be a short dinner transformed into three hours! The casting director called up Bellisario and said he should meet Weatherly. However Bellisario already had dinner plans with his family and couldn’t do. But that didn’t stop Weatherly from calling him, charming and showing up to the family dinner. Bellisario admitted later, “I liked him from the first moment I met him.”
Like At First Sight
Moving On
Mark Harmon recently spoke about Pauley Perrette leaving the show. “Oh, we’ll miss her. I’m really aware, and we’re all aware that audiences grow to love characters, and it’s a big deal. And we honor that,” Mark Harmon said to ET. “Fifteen years is a long time. People do what they do, and they move on, and they do other things, and that’s part of life.”
Movig On
Roll the Credits
Let’s talk about the opening credits once more. In season seven, we saw that was the first season to not to have a brand new set of opening credits. Although the show was entering its most successful season yet.
Roll The Credits
Director’s Chair
Michael Weatherly sat in the director’s chair twice during his NCIS days. He directed the 2011 episode “One Last Score” and the 2013 episode titled “Seek”.
Directors Chair
Saying Goodbye
Speaking of Michael Weatherly, he revealed why he chose to leave NCIS. Apparently, it was due to Cote de Pablo leaving and he wanted to branch out professionally. “Their great dynamic, the badinage and sparring and flirting between [Tony and de Pablo’s Ziva] and how they would swing from siblings to near lovers and back to buddies, that was gone, and then I got to the point where I felt I’d stayed at the party for too long. I would look around the room and other people were really in sync and having fun. The show was a huge success, but I just suddenly realized that I probably had other things that I should be doing. And then the wanderlust set in. I directed a documentary. I have a production company. And I wanted to spend time with my family.”
Saying Goodbye
Attack.
MTAC, or Multiple Threat Assessment Center. Before this, the center was known as the Antiterrorist Alert Center (ATAC), however back in 2002 that changed in response to its new role after suffering two terror attacks. This does include the bombing of USS Cole in Yemen and the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Attack.
A Fan
Michael Weatherly is a huge fan of Airwolf and Magnum, P.I., both shows were indeed created by Donald P. Bellisario. This was part of the reason he was eager to work on NCIS.
A Fan
The Reason
Pauley Perrette revealed via her Twitter account that she left NCIS after “multiple physical assaults.” She wrote, “Maybe I’m wrong for not ‘spilling the beans.’ Telling the story, THE TRUTH. I feel I have to protect my crew, jobs and so many people. But at what cost? I don’t know.” She continued to say, “There is a ‘machine’ keeping me silent, and feeding FALSE stories. A very rich, very powerful publicity ‘machine’. No morals, no obligation to truth, and I’m just left here, reading the lies, trying to protect my crew. Trying to remain calm. He did it.”
The Reason
In Conclusion
While we don’t know who “he” is, Pauley Perrette finished the series of tweets off by saying, “I’ve been supporting ant[i]-bullying programs forever. But now I KNOW because it was ME! If it’s school or work, that you’re required to go to? It’s horrifying. I left. Multiple Physical Assaults. I REALLY get it now. Stay safe. Nothing is worth your safety. Tell someone.”
Lockdown
Bad Blood
After Pauley Perrette opened a can of worms, CBS immediately responded to the accusations and said it “took the matter seriously and worked with her [Pauley Perrette] to find a resolution.” Although the actress herself did admit that CBS did everything in their power to help. So at least there is no bad blood between Perrette and CBS. “I want to thank my studio and network CBS,” she tweeted. “They have always been so good to me and always had my back.”
Bad Blood
Truth Comes Out
As it turns out, the “multiple physical assaults” were from Mark Harmon’s dog. However, let’s clear that up. In 2016, a crew member, not Perrette, received 15 stitches after getting bitten by Harmon’s dog. The dog was allowed to return to set and Perrette strongly objected to this. Perrette and Harmon couldn’t find a compromise, so they eventually stopped appearing on-screen together. “She did her scenes on one day and he did his work on other days, and they still produced a great show,” an anonymous source told TheWrap. “It was simply scheduled that they did not work the same days.”
Truth Comes Out
Doggy Tails
Another person who knew Harmon and his dog said, “If he [Mark Harmon] brought the dog to work, he was on a leash or in his trailer. He definitely took steps to make sure that the dog was with him and was not just roaming freely, and then he just stopped bringing him altogether.” Although a source did say that Pauley Perrette chose to leave the show long before the dog bite ever happened.
Doggy Tails
Fav.
Back 2011, according to an online Harris Poll that was conducted, NCIS was actually voted America’s favorite television show. And seeing as how season 16 is coming, we’re not surprised by this!
Fav.
Real Life Experience
It takes one to know one, doesn’t it? That’s especially true for Donald Bellisario who served in the US Marine Crops under the title of Gunnery Sergeant. Everything pertaining to the Marine Corps ethos and its modus operandi comes from actual, real experience.
Real Life Experience
Playing Around
In a scene during one of the episodes, Gibbs is working on a crossword puzzle. He calls on DiNozzo for some help regarding a pop culture question to which he doesn’t know the answer. His question is for an 8-lettered TV drama series, to which Tony answers with “St. Elsewhere”. obviously his answer contained more than 8 letters, but the joke was that it was a show that Mark Harmon played the character of Dr. Bobby Caldwell between 1983 to 1986.
Playing Around
Spending On The Cars
Most people don’t know this one. The Navy Department agents drive Dodge Chargers in a color called “Deep Water Blue”. This unique color is by no means cheap; a lot more than black or white which most federal agencies choose.
Spending On The Cars
Sponsored Content
What’s a TV show without some subliminal advertising? Well, whether it was their intention or not, Dell took it upon themselves to sponsor every single laptop and desktop computer for every season.
Sponsored Content
An Actual Novel
The name of McGee’s novel, “Deep Six”, is actually the real name of a novel which was written by Clive Cussler.
An Actual Novel
Acronyms
For anyone who was a trainee at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, you’d probably better remember this place as “FLET C”. The training center, which is located in Brunswick, Georgia, is the base where NCIS and 82 other federal agencies train their candidates.
Acronyms
Crossover
As there are plenty of crossovers between them, the NCIS series is in fact set in the very same universe that JAG, NCIS: Los Angeles, Hawaii Five-0, NCIS: New Orleans, Scorpion, and Macgyver exist in.
Crossover
I’m On A Boat
All while the show is going on, we see Gibbs using his spare time to build a boat. For those boat fanatics out there, Gibbs is conducting his project with from an Amigo Kit from Glen-L.
Im On A Boat
List ‘Em
NCIS has done pretty well when it comes to the charts in U.S. primetime television. It is the 7th longest running scriptedThe Simpsons, Gunsmoke, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Lassie, and Family Guy.
List Em
Respect
When you take a look at the opening credits, there is actually a quick and short note that tells that the NCIS represents. The wording goes as follows: “The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) is a worldwide federal law enforcement organization whose mission is to protect and serve the Navy and Marine Corps and their families.”
Respect
An Anagram
Did you notice that the name Thom E. Gemcity, used by Timothy McGee for his novel “Deep Six”, is actually an anagram of his own name? Yeah, we didn’t think so.
An Anagram
Watch Your Six
During the show, as in many others, “watch your 6” or “I’ve got your 6”, is a common phrase. The meaning of this “6” is the area directly behind someone. It comes from WWII pilots who would refer to each direction like the hours of a watch. 12 o’clock means straight ahead, for example.
Watch Your Six
Chicago Hope
Before they ever made their way to the set of NCIS, Rocky Carroll (Vance), Lauren Holly (Director Shepard) and Mark Harmon (Gibbs) all acted together on the set of Chicago Hope. Their stint there lasted from 1996 until 2000.
Chicago Hope
Playing With Knives
What does Michael Weatherly and Swiss Army Knives have in common? No, this isn’t a joke. Well, the Michael Weatherly we know is the son of Michael Weatherly Senior who was the chief American importer of the knives. He made millions from this import business.
Playing With Knives
Gibbs The Ad Man
That’s right, you’re looking at a picture of our beloved Gibbs during the 1980’s. He took part in at least 20 commercials for Coors beer. What a throwback!
Gibbs The Ad Man
Bowties
We all know that Ducky is a fan of bowties, but who would have ever thought to keep count as the number he wore during the show. The answer is actually 25, and some of them are actually his from home!
Bowties
Across The Globe
You know your television series has done well when it is translated and dubbed into multiple languages. NCIS has been translated into 60 different languages!
Across The Globe
Worthy Of A Star
Yes, we all know Donald Bellisario is talented, but did you know this former Marine Corps Gunnery Seargent has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame? He was honored with his own star back in 2004.
Worthy Of A Star
Dabbling In Acting
Naturally, Pauley Perrette had no trouble in her role after earning a masters in forensics. However, did you know after she graduated with her masters, she decided to dabble in acting on the side while in New York? That’s how she actually got the part for NCIS.
Dabbling In Acting
Slight Scene Adjustment
Although the show is meant to take place in Washington, DC, they film in Santa Clarita. They also decided to make the Washington Navy Yard seem a lot closer to the famous Washington buildings for visual appeal. Thus, it seems like the office is right in the thick of the city.
Slight Scene Adjustment
More On Leroy
Ever wonder about Leroy Jethro Gibbs? Well, you aren’t alone! Okay so yes, he’s a retired Marine and let’s not forget a sniper with a Grounds Force Unit. As far as personal life goes, he was married not once, not twice, not thrice, but four times. Oh and divorced three times. So fourth time is the charm?
More On Leroy
Going For A Feeling
What’s with all those black and white stills? The clips and stills in black and white are used to create a nostalgic, cinematic feel for NCIS. It sure works!
Going For A Feeling
Of Course
Maybe you recall when Agent DiNozzo went afloat during the start of season six. That ship he’s on…yup, it’s the USS Seahawk. Indeed, it’s the same exact air carrier from the pilot of JAG.
Of Course
Partners
Remember these guest stars? Yes, Jon Huertas and Seamus Dever both appeared in separate episodes of NCIS. Turns out, they play partners for the hit show Castle.
Partners
Pretty Real
During the episode, “Enemy On The Hill,” we see Abby with a locket of her adoptive mom. Who is that woman? It’s actually the actress’s mother, Donna Bell.
Pretty Real
True Hero
On the show, the NCIS director is named Leon Vance. Actually, Leon Vance was a WWII US Army Air Force B-24 Liberator bomber pilot. Vance even got awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism during the Normandy Invasion on June 6 in 1944.
True Hero
The Story
Unfortunately, Lt Colonel Vance got severely wounded during the invasion. Tragically, he recovered but then got killed during the cargo plane crash while being transported to Washington DC to get the Medal from President Roosevelt. In his honor, they named the Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma after him.
The Story