– Gibbs and Kate ‘almost’ castings
– Addition of Cote de Pablo considered a ‘home run’
– Insights into changes during the show’s casting process
In a recent discussion about the long-running series NCIS, some veterans of the show shared interesting details regarding the casting of key characters, Gibbs and Kate. They revealed that initially, different actors were almost cast in these iconic roles, but the eventual selection turned out to be serendipitous for the series. Furthermore, the addition of Cote de Pablo to the cast was described as a “home run.”
The show’s casting of Mark Harmon as Leroy Jethro Gibbs was no accident, as the show’s veterans revealed that at one point, Don Johnson was considered for the role. Co-executive producer Frank Cardea said: “The network originally wanted Don Johnson, and they went to him on a Friday, and he turned it down on a Saturday, and on Monday, Harmon said yes.” Another actor who was up for the role was Pierce Brosnan, who declined to read for the part. These ‘almost’ castings piqued the interest and curiosity of fans regarding how the show might have been different if other actors had played Gibbs.
Similar to the casting of Gibbs, there were other actors who could have played Officer Caitlin Todd (Kate) before Sasha Alexander was chosen. Pauley Perrette, who later joined the series as Abby Sciuto, actually read for the role but was passed over in favor of Alexander. Executive producer Charles Floyd Johnson shared, “I still remember we were in the casting room, and Sasha walked in, and Mark turned to Gary Glasberg [the late producer] and said, ‘That’s her. That’s Kate.'”
In the process of casting, the addition of Cote de Pablo, who played Ziva David, was a game-changer for the series. Her inclusion in the cast added a unique dimension to the show and was received positively by fans and critics alike. Frank Cardea went on to say, “That was a home run,” indicating the tremendous impact de Pablo’s character had on the overall success of NCIS.
All in all, these revelations from the veterans of NCIS provide interesting insights into the casting process and show how the final selection of the cast significantly impacted the popularity and longevity of the series.