An NCIS actor explains why popular characters such as Gibbs, DiNozzo, and others are unlikely to return to the show all at once.
An NCIS actor explains why characters like Gibbs, DiNozzo, and others are unlikely to return all at once. NCIS has seen several high-profile exits over the years as one of the longest-running dramas on television, having premiered in September 2003. Even for a procedural with a steady level of turnover and changes, the departures of original cast members like Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) have left an impression on the series, as they were integral parts of what made the CBS show a success.
Brian Dietzen, who plays Jimmy Palmer on NCIS, spoke with TV Insider about which characters he’d like to write for, including Gibbs, DiNozzo, and Abby (Pauley Perrette). Dietzen discusses how NCIS has changed and why the old team is unlikely to reunite all at once in the quote below. The actor discusses how the procedural has undergone “transformation and a familial transformation,” and how all of the returns would make it a different show:
“When you think about it all together, if they all came back at the same time, it’d be a completely different show, right? It isn’t the show we have now. There has been such a team and familial transformation that it would most likely be one of those.”
The NCIS Return Rumors Exposed
Even as NCIS moved on, with veteran actor Gary Cole taking over the role of Alden Parker, the show’s alumni stayed connected to their previous work. Weatherly, who last appeared as DiNozzo in the NCIS season 13 finale in 2016, responded to a Twitter user who expressed their desire to see DiNozzo and Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) reunited in January. Though the actor has not yet reprised his role, it does keep the possibility of DiNozzo returning to the team alive.
The same can be said for Mark Harmon’s performance as Gibbs. Despite leaving the show, he has stated that his character is not “retired.” Executive producer Steven Binder, who has stated that Gibbs will not be gone forever, has bolstered those sentiments.
Unlike in other dramas where characters are given a grand send-off before returning for the series finale, the ongoing nature of NCIS allows familiar faces to appear for a few episodes at a time. Even if nothing has come of it, this has helped to keep the rumor mill going.
The original NCIS is still going strong, despite the cancellation of NCIS: Los Angeles season 15. However, one of its actors makes a strong case for resurrecting the old cast while allowing the newer additions to establish themselves. It can be a difficult balance to strike.
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