Rob Owen, a Trib Total Media TV writer, answers reader questions on TribLive.com every Wednesday in a column that also appears in the Sunday Tribune-Review.
Q: The first thing that appears in the opening credits of “NCIS” is Mark Harmon’s name and likeness. However, he is no longer a cast member of the show. Is there any reason he’s still in the opening credits?
– Jeff, Baldwin
Q: Is Mark Harmon’s role on “NCIS” truly over? Gary Cole, the newcomer, is simply not as good. Why not bring Tony (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva (Cote de Pablo) back?
– Bill, Beaver County
Rob: To begin, Harmon is still an executive producer on “NCIS,” but EPs aren’t usually listed in the credits. The fact that Harmon is mentioned in the credits suggests that the network and showrunners want viewers to remember Gibbs and that he will likely return at some point, which is also hinted at in the only statement CBS issued at the time of Harmon’s departure this fall. Take note of the final sentence in this statement from “NCIS” showrunner Steven D. Binder:
“As an executive producer and dear friend, Mark remains a vital part of the show’s fabric.” Staying true to our characters has always been our north star, and that truth has always guided the stories we tell and where those characters go. So, in terms of Gibbs’ future, as long-time fans of the show may have noticed over the years… never count Leroy Jethro Gibbs out.”
Regarding Bill’s questions, the actor who played Tony, Michael Weatherly, is currently starring in CBS’s “Bull,” and the actress who played Ziva, Cote de Pablo, a 2000 Carnegie Mellon University graduate, may not have been asked or, more likely, simply does not want to return.
Q: I’ve been watching Animal Planet’s “My Cat from Hell” since it first aired years ago. It hasn’t aired since July 2020. I can’t find anything on the Internet about whether or not it was canceled. Can you find out what’s going on?
– Nancy Greensburg
Rob: It appears that the show’s nine lives have come to an end: Animal Planet has no plans to produce additional episodes, but the entire series is available on Discovery+.
Q: I’m a big fan of the new CBS comedy series “Ghosts,” and while I’m already familiar with the Pasadena mansion used in the pilot, I’m curious about the exterior location in Montreal used in later episodes. Do you know if this is a real mansion or just a big facade? I’d like to know where it is, not because I want to go there, but because I’m curious about filming locations in general.
– William via email
Rob: The pilot was shot in Los Angeles, and the Pasadena mansion was used as a backdrop. Following episodes were shot in Montreal, and “Ghosts” now uses a real house in Montebello, Quebec, for exteriors.
Due to a positive c0v1d case on set, “Ghosts” had to halt production on its first-season finale earlier this month. After the holidays, production will resume. The next new episode will premiere on January 6th.
Q: I’ve been a Dish customer for the past 20 years. The loss of AT&T Sportsnet is the final straw. I’m at my wit’s end because I can’t get the Pens. I tried to cancel Dish, but I got a new receiver last year and am locked in for another year. To get out of the contract, I’d have to pay them $220 – a contract that, in my opinion, they violated by dropping AT&T Sportsnet. Obviously, they do not see it that way. Can you recommend someone who can help me get rid of Dish and find a new provider who will restore my Pens and Pirates coverage?
– Rick via email
Rob: As previously stated, Rick’s only option is to pay the termination fee. When subscribers sign a contract, they agree that the cable TV provider has the right to change programming (e.g., drop channels) at any time. That language appears in all cable/satellite contracts. Sometimes a competitor will cover the cost of switching, so talk to DirecTV, Comcast, or Verizon about it.
Q: Where is Jeff, the weekend weather forecaster?
– Pat, Murrysville
Rob: With the addition of Channel 4’s 4 p.m. newscast over the summer, WTAE meteorologist Jeff Verszyla moved to weekdays at 12 and 4 p.m.
Related News – Be sure to get some more news when it comes to NCIS.