Fans of the long-running procedural NCIS will soon be reunited with their favorite special agents in the upcoming spinoff, NCIS: Tony and Ziva. Michael Weatherly’s Tony DiNozzo, who recently made a surprise return in the Ducky tribute episode, will be back in full force. According to Weatherly, Tom Selleck’s Magnum P.I. played a significant role in creating Tony, and that influence will be evident in the new series.
While rewatching an episode of NCIS with Cote de Pablo for their podcast, Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch, the two discussed a scene where Tony geeks out over finding an authentic Magnum P.I. Hawaiian shirt. Weatherly explained just how important Magnum is to Tony:
“Well, his enthusiasm for pop culture, particularly shows produced by Donald P. Bellisario in the ’80s, is significant. The Magnum P.I. aspect of DiNozzo is crucial because Magnum is like an overgrown kid with all these enthusiasms. He wears his Hawaiian shirt, gets excited about the Ferrari, and lives on a Robin Masters estate in Hawaii with his buddies. He’s almost like a teenager in a sense.”
Both NCIS and the original Magnum P.I. were created by Donald Bellisario, leading to frequent mentions of the show and other Bellisario projects on NCIS. Weatherly pointed out more similarities between the two characters: “Magnum has a very young energy but also deals with PTSD as a Vietnam War veteran. He’s lost people close to him, and he’s struggling. DiNozzo, having lost his mother and with an absent father, found a sense of safety in characters like Magnum.”
Entertainment often serves as a form of escape, and Tony’s pop culture references are a beloved part of his character. Weatherly added, “When you see DiNozzo make these references, it’s not silly to him. It’s an emotional part of his childhood that made him feel safe. He knows the details because they’re meaningful to him.”
When NCIS: Tony and Ziva premieres on Paramount+, expect the pop culture references to continue, likely with many international nods as the trio travels across Europe. The possibilities for storylines and references are endless.
It would be fun to see another Magnum P.I. reference in Tony and Ziva, considering how much the series and Thomas Magnum mean to Tony. Fans will have to tune in to see what happens.
While a premiere date has yet to be announced, now is a great time to binge-watch the original Magnum to understand Tony’s inspiration. Although it’s not streaming anywhere, the show can be purchased on Apple TV, Google Play, and Prime Video.
