As the highly acclaimed television drama “NCIS” gears up for its 14th season on CBS, it boasts a stellar cast including Mark Harmon, Pauley Perrette, Sean Murray, David McCallum, along with newcomers Wilmer Valderrama, Duane Henry, and Jennifer Esposito. Before the new season unfolds, let’s delve into these 11 fascinating facts about this captivating crime drama:
1. ‘JAG’ Inspiration: “NCIS” is a spin-off of “JAG,” both crafted by Don Bellisario, a former Marine.
2. Original Title: Initially named “NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service” for clarity in the first season.
3. Namesake Gibbs: Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs is named after Bellisario’s father and grandfather.
4. Perrette’s Background: Pauley Perrette, who portrays Abby Sciuto, studied criminal science in real life.
5. Family Ties: Sean Murray (Special Agent Timothy McGee) is Bellisario’s stepson, and Troian Bellisario (Sarah McGee) is his biological daughter.
6. Abby’s Caf-Pow: While Abby’s energy drink doesn’t exist, you can buy a Caf-Pow cup.
7. Most Wanted Wall: The team’s targets are showcased in a changing display of 15 portraits.
8. De Pablo’s Dedication: Cote de Pablo, portraying an Israeli Mossad agent, hired a language coach to speak Hebrew authentically.
9. Lauren Holly’s Audition: Lauren Holly initially auditioned for Kate but was ultimately cast as Director Jenny Shepard.
10. Flashbacks with Harmon’s Son: In Gibbs’ flashbacks as a young man, Mark Harmon’s real-life son, Sean, plays the role.
11. Real-life NCIS: Although set in D.C., “NCIS” is filmed in Santa Clarita, California. The real NCIS headquarters makes an appearance in at least one episode.
One mystery yet to be unveiled is how Gibbs manages to move the boats he builds in his home’s basement.
