Despite being on the air for more than two decades and becoming one of America’s longest-running television series, NCIS still has many behind-the-scenes secrets that even its most loyal fans may not have heard about. From tense conflicts between the cast, the real reasons some characters abruptly left the show, to surprising facts about the set and production, here are some behind-the-scenes secrets that every NCIS fan should know. Are you ready to find out?
1. Mark Harmon and Pauley Perrette’s Off-Scene Tension
One of the most controversial things behind the scenes of NCIS was the rift between Mark Harmon (Leroy Jethro Gibbs) and Pauley Perrette (Abby Sciuto). For years, the two were mainstays of the series, with a close on-screen relationship. However, around 2016, a serious incident occurred when Harmon’s dog allegedly bit a crew member. After the incident, Perrette felt unsafe and refused to film scenes with Harmon. The two did not appear in many scenes together from that point until Perrette left the series in 2018. Although CBS tried to keep things under wraps, Perrette herself later hinted at “a number of terrible events” that prevented her from returning.
2. Major Character Deaths Are Often Off-Screen
There have been plenty of shocking deaths on NCIS, but most of them were made by behind-the-scenes decisions. Sasha Alexander (as Agent Kate Todd) left the show after just two seasons due to a demanding schedule, which led to her character being shot and killed in the Season 2 finale. Cote de Pablo (as Ziva David) also decided not to continue with the series despite being at its peak, leading to Ziva’s sudden “disappearance” in Season 11. Similarly, Duane Henry (as Clayton Reeves) left NCIS after the death of his character creator, producer Gary Glasberg. With no one to back him up, Henry’s character was killed off in a somewhat hasty and controversial robbery.
3. NCIS was originally called something else and almost failed
The series was introduced as a spin-off of JAG (Judge Advocate General) in 2003, and was originally called “Navy NCIS.” However, the name was criticized as redundant, since the words “Navy” and “NCIS” (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) already had similar meanings. After a first season that did not really break through, CBS changed the name to “NCIS” and continued to develop the series in a more independent direction, emphasizing the criminal and investigative elements instead of military procedures. From there, the series gradually attracted audiences and became a long-running television phenomenon.
4. Many scenes were filmed on small sets but were “transformed” extremely skillfully
In the show, the NCIS headquarters is described as a large and complex office complex, but in reality, most of the scenes took place on a studio set in California. Scenes like Abby’s lab, the interrogation room, and the hospital hallway were all filmed in the same location, with only props and lighting changed. This not only saved money, but also allowed the crew to shoot faster on a tight schedule.
5. The main actors were trained by real former NCIS agents
To bring a sense of authenticity to the action and investigation scenes, the cast – especially those who played crime scene agents like Wilmer Valderrama (Torres), Cote de Pablo (Ziva), or Michael Weatherly (DiNozzo) – were trained by real former NCIS agents and military experts. They learned how to use weapons, move tactically, and even behave in a criminal investigation environment.
6. The role of DiNozzo was expanded due to positive audience response
Initially, Michael Weatherly was only cast as DiNozzo as a supporting character, with a humorous color. However, the positive response from the audience forced the writers to expand his role, turning DiNozzo into one of the main characters of NCIS for more than a decade. The combination of romantic, humorous personality and serious investigative ability helped DiNozzo become one of the most beloved faces.
7. NCIS was underrated when it first debuted
When NCIS first debuted, it was not considered a “potential candidate” for a long-term series. Many critics underestimated the script and worried that the military theme would be picky about viewers. However, thanks to the deep cast of characters and the way the story was built in the direction of “light but emotional crime solving”, NCIS gradually won over the audience – especially middle-aged and older viewers – and rose to the top of the rankings for many years.
