As a die-hard fan of NCIS, I’ve witnessed the rise and fall (and rise again) of many characters throughout its impressive 22-season run. One such character who left an indelible mark on me is Mike Franks, played by the brilliant Muse Watson. His mentor-mentee dynamic with Leroy Jethro Gibbs was a highlight of the series, and his untimely demise in Season 8 still sends shivers down my spine.
In its 22nd season on the 2024 TV schedule, NCIS has been a long-running series with many of its significant characters, both main and recurring, no longer appearing. One such character is Muse Watson, who portrayed Mike Franks, Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ mentor. Watson appeared in 20 episodes from the third to the fifteenth seasons on CBS. However, his later appearances were as a ghostly Franks, as his character was killed off near the end of Season 8. The writer who ended Franks’ life, Jesse Stern, commented that he was instructed to write the character out just before he himself departed from NCIS.
Jesse Stern spent seven years working on NCIS from 2004 to 2011. During this period, he penned 33 episodes and climbed the ranks to various producer roles. Recently, he discussed his tenure on the show in the podcast Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch, hosted by Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo, who portray Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David in the NCIS universe. When Weatherly mentioned Stern’s tendency to write off significant characters from NCIS, particularly Mike Franks’ death scene, Stern acknowledged it.
Man, that was one of those unexpected twists! Gary Glasberg, may he rest in peace, gave me quite a task – we were planning to take out Mike Franks. But here’s the thing, Franks hadn’t appeared in an episode that season. I remember thinking, “Are you serious? We’re bringing him back just to kill him off?” I thought everyone would see it coming and it wouldn’t be right. So I tried to convince him otherwise, but he was firm – Mike Franks was going down. I figured if we were going to do it, I might as well make it a fitting farewell. A surprise ending, one that no one expects, and an opportunity for the actor to return in future stories. That was my final script. I decided to write it as a swan song – unexpected, unpredictable, and with the hope of a comeback.
More NCIS Coverage
The NCIS executive producer discusses the clandestine methods they employed when reintroducing Cote de Pablo, stating that it was reminiscent of Fight Club’s confidentiality guidelines.
NCIS Co-Executive Producer Admits the Episode that Sparked Excitement Among Fans, but Also Convinced Him that the CBS Series Would Maintain a ‘Secure’ Course.
In the thrilling world of gaming, I found myself immersed in an epic storyline similar to the one unfolding in NCIS Season 8. After making a surprise appearance in the season premiere, tied to his role in the Season 7 finale, the legendary figure Mike Franks reappeared in the penultimate episode, “Swan Song”. On a rain-soaked night, outside of Gibbs’ house, I spotted an ominous figure – none other than recurring nemesis Jonas Cobb, aka the Port-to-Port Killer. I made a move to apprehend him, but in a heart-wrenching twist, I was fatally stabbed. In the Season 8 finale (where Stern bid his final goodbyes), I received a full military funeral, and it was also revealed that I had been battling cancer, explaining why Gibbs was building me a coffin.
At first, Jesse Stern resisted the idea of Mike Franks’ demise when Gary Glasberg ordered it, but eventually, he found a way to make the most out of the scenario, resulting in what I consider to be one of the finest death scenes on NCIS. Fortunately, this wasn’t the last we saw of Muse Watson on the show. Gibbs would occasionally encounter his deceased friend as a spirit. Watson’s final portrayal of Franks was in the Season 15 episode “Voices”.
Despite the fact that Michael Franks’ tenure on NCIS ended in the past, a younger character bearing his name is now portrayed by Kyle Schmid on NCIS: Origins. This series airs every Monday at 10 pm ET on CBS, following new episodes of NCIS. You can stream both shows, along with the entire NCIS franchise, using your Paramount+ subscription.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-12-08 18:07