As a long-time admirer and follower of the NCIS franchise, I must say that the journey of Mark Harmon through this iconic series is nothing short of fascinating. From his early days on JAG to the two-part backdoor pilot that kickstarted it all, Harmon has been an integral part of the show’s history.
Mark Harmon will rejoin the NCIS universe in 2024 through the prequel series “NCIS: Origins,” following his departure during Season 19 of the main series. Having been a part of the franchise since its early days, Harmon was present for the two-part backdoor pilot on JAG over two decades ago. As one of the original members of the NCIS family, he’s privy to some behind-the-scenes details about the show’s creation. Recently, Harmon revealed the original idea for the show, which is quite distinct from the police procedural that eventually aired.
Given that NCIS has run for 22 seasons so far and is scheduled to air in 2025, it’s clear that its current approach is successful. The main series predominantly adopts the weekly case format, similar to many other shows. Yet, it occasionally delves into multi-episode story arcs and personal character developments. It’s worth noting that, according to Harmon in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the Navy-based drama was initially intended to have a different format altogether.
Initially, when I became a part of this series, I was assured that it would be grounded in genuine cases. However, it didn’t take long for me to realize that we were slipping into a weekly murder format – a staple of TV productions, indeed.
Many procedural shows often incorporated episodes inspired by true events, with “Law & Order” being renowned for its “ripped from the headlines” cases. It’s possible that “NCIS” has drawn from actual Navy cases as well, but the idea that every episode would be based on real situations is quite astonishing. This change could have significantly altered the format and narrative style from the beginning. The reason producers opted for the traditional murder/case-a-week format remains unclear, but it’s hard to dispute the success it has brought about.
Mark Harmon’s preferred storytelling method didn’t hinder him from staying with the show for 19 years and eventually coming back to the franchise to share more tales. He discovered another means to share authentic stories, providing insights into what the Navy and NCIS truly represent. In 2023, it was revealed that Harmon would publish a book inspired by the long-running series, co-written with former NCIS agent and technical advisor, Leon Carroll, Jr. The book, titled “Ghosts of Honolulu: A Japanese Spy, A Japanese American Spy Hunter, and the Untold Story of Pearl Harbor“, focuses on the early years of the organization, as explained by Harmon himself.
Initially, the inspiration for writing this book stemmed from: If we manage to reveal the authentic history of this agency, that’s intriguing to me, and it becomes even more interesting if Leon Carroll – whom I met 20 years ago as a technical advisor on the show – is on board with this project.
To put it simply, Mark Harmon’s book and TV series offer numerous stories to be shared. Whether future episodes of NCIS will delve into actual cases remains uncertain, but fans can anticipate such occurrences with these books. The most recent one, “Ghosts of Panama”, takes a look at the U.S. invasion of Panama in the late ‘80s and how an investigation into a murder played a significant role in shaping history.
As the new year approaches, the NCIS franchise continues to thrive with Season 22 of the original series and Season 1 of NCIS: Origins set to return. Additionally, Season 2 of Sydney will debut, and subscribers of Paramount+ can look forward to the premiere of the new spinoff, NCIS: Tony & Ziva. Despite its creative beginnings in a different place, as a fan, I am thoroughly enjoying where this expansive IP has grown to today.
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2024-12-23 21:07