At the start of NCIS Season 11, Cote de Pablo departed after eight seasons as a series regular, though she later reprised her role as Ziva David in the Season 16 finale and a few episodes in Season 17. She is currently working on the upcoming spinoff, NCIS: Tony & Ziva. After Ziva’s exit in 2013, Emily Wickersham was cast as Ellie Bishop to fill the vacancy on Mark Harmon’s team, and her audition was anything but ordinary. Not only did Wickersham screen test on two of the main NCIS sets, but Harmon also surprised her with a special gift—a bishop chess piece—to signal she’d landed the role.
During her appearance on Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch, Wickersham reflected on her adjustment to leaving the show. Michael Weatherly, who co-hosts the podcast with de Pablo, shared the story behind her casting. He recalled that Harmon, an executive producer on the show for about five years by then, had control over major creative decisions, including casting. After Wickersham’s screen test in Gibbs’ basement and the squad room, Harmon handed her the bishop chess piece, signaling she was the right fit for the role.
Harmon’s gesture wasn’t just symbolic; it demonstrated his authority behind the scenes and solidified Wickersham’s place on the team. She stayed with NCIS for eight seasons, making her final appearance in the Season 18 finale, “Rule 91,” where Bishop embarked on a CIA undercover mission. This storyline leaves the door open for Wickersham to potentially return in the future, even if just for a guest appearance.
For now, NCIS Season 22 premieres Monday, October 14, at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the Gibbs-focused prequel NCIS: Origins on the 2024 TV schedule. You can stream all previous seasons and other shows in the franchise on Paramount+.
