NCIS – 18 million viewers, so where’s the love?

Before the inevitable backlash from people whose favorite shows are hurting for respect and viewers, understand that I realize that the love is mostly in the ratings. I bled when The Wire got panned. I’m fully aware of how only now (if even) are people starting to really respect shows like The Office, 30 Rock, and How I Met Your Mother for the great work that they turn out. At the same time, how many articles have we all read about the lack of respect paid to the above mentioned shows? How many awards have these shows been nominated for at the Globes and the Emmys? Except for The Wire. (Damn it, how did they not get showered with gold statues?)

All the while, NCIS just keeps plodding along, racking up viewer wins Tuesday after Tuesday, earning them all of two Emmy noms, one for stunt coordination and the other for a guest spot. And, what’s that? It stars Mark Harmon? Then this can’t be right.

Unfortunately, it is. NCIS is one of the most overlooked shows on television today. A juggernaut that keeps on serving up excellence every week, but one that we take for granted. Now, you could argue that it’s a procedural, nothing special to be said. So why do I keep reading about CSI or CSI: insert random city here? Or The Mentalist? Or Criminal … (that’s right, Criminal Minds is overlooked as well. Come to think of it, so is Cold Case. Something else to write about later!) NCIS offers up a brilliant cast, witty scripts and smart concepts twenty some-odd times per year. I think its time we take a moment to thank the show.

First of all, the idea behind this show is great. In a reality where new secret agencies are popping up left and right, NCIS focuses on the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, a little-known agency that’s been around for over one hundred and twenty-five years. I love the puzzled looks on people’s faces when characters on the show identify themselves; you can just see the team’s annoyance at their obscurity brimming right beneath the surface. In a television era where we see the inner workings of seemingly every type of police, sheriff, state or federal law enforcement agency, its nice to see one dedicated to, as is its motto, “protecting the people, families, and assets of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps worldwide.” Sure, sometimes that means cases fall into their jurisdiction even when they only brush up against naval personnel, but that’s the government for you.

The main team on the show is just the right balance of incredible. Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Harmon) is unparalleled on TV today in his ability to shock and awe. The first time I saw “the look” I wanted to answer his questions; I just didn’t know how. And I love the fierce loyalty he feels towards his fellow agents, both superiors and subordinates. No matter how many times he slaps Tony (Michael Weatherly) on the back of the head, you know he’d go to hell and back for the guy.

And Anthony (Tony) DiNozzo definitely rates a lot of slaps. I think it was a really interesting choice to make him a movie buff. Half the references that come poring out of his mouth are beyond me, particularly regarding the classics, but so often a character in his role is sketched as the dumb jock. Now, I’m not saying movie trivia passes as intellect, but rather that Tony is a very broad and knowledgeable character, no matter how shallow and sleazy he may seem when it comes to women. And that’s very.

Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) does not do a good Hebrew, but beyond that misstep she was the right choice to replace the poorly cast Sasha Alexander (Kate Todd). I still don’t fully understand why the Israeli Mossad would require a full-time liaison (though she doesn’t act in that capacity anymore) to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, but that aside, she’s a perfect addition to the team. Ziva brings an ability that’s lacking in the group; she knows what it means to be an agent of an intelligence organization. Gibbs is a former Marine (Gunny!), Tony was a cop, and McGee (Sean Murray) has a background in computers. Not that they don’t bring a tremendous amount of ability to the job, and (wouldn’t you know it!) the perfect mix to the team, but Ziva is an actual agent. Todd was supposed to be as well; she started out as a Secret Service Agent. But she was laughable at best as an agent, which is apparently what the creators wanted the female character to be. Thank you Ari Haswari.

Timothy McGee has grown beautifully by not growing at all. Sure, from time to time he displays a certain grizzled outlook on things, but at heart he is and always will be a “Probie”. The truth is that I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love the fact that he’s also a published author of fiction, something I think the writers have definitely underutilized. His innate ability with computers, something that isn’t specifically part of his job purview, gives the writers the opportunity to expand McGee’s character from new guy to go-to-guy for both Gibbs and Director Leon Vance (Rocky Carroll) whenever they need something done under the digital table.

McGee’s close friendship with Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette), the forensic analyst, is also something I’ve enjoyed, though I never quite understood the sexual tension between them. And Abby, as annoying as some of her lovable quirks can be, is woven into the fabric of the show so well that she has very direct and personal relationships with every other member of the team. It’s an aspect of the show that’s been done very well, even if they’ve fallen a bit short of bringing the medical examiner, Ducky Mallard (David McCallum) into everyones’ inner-circle. I suppose I can understand that there’s a professional distance between Ducky and some of the younger members of the team (i.e. almost everyone), but the intense relationship that he and Gibbs clearly share is really something to behold. I wish we could see variations of it between Ducky and everyone else.

As far as bosses go, Director Jenny Shepard (Lauren Holly) would have never been my choice, so I’m not really missing her. Vance could be an interesting character, if only we saw more of him. While Jenny seemed way too involved in the minutia of Gibbs et al., Vance spends too much time off-screen. Maybe this new development with his CIA file will bring him more into the mix.

NCIS also maintains a stable crop of recurring characters, most of whom have been crafted quite well. I’m enjoying the additional screen-time that Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen) has started to get after four years; Palmer could end up being a lot of fun.

NCIS is tremendous, one of the finest hours of television on the air today. Why does it get so little attention after Tuesday nights? You got me. I definitely see plenty of intrigue and excitement going on each and every week. CBS is even in the works for a spin-off, which I have to say is just a terrible idea; I know it worked for CSI, but I feel like NCIS‘s success lies more concretely in the team of players who hit the airwaves week after week. It’s not so much formulaic as it is unique to a particular set of circumstances. And those circumstances meld just right as is.

So, I don’t know. I don’t have a plan of action, nor do I have a goal in mind. All I can say is, let’s make sure not to take this hard worker for granted anymore. This is one show I don’t want to only appreciate after its gone.

Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Jan 27, 2009 @ 11:00 EST5EDT