‘It Was Pitched To CBS As Law And Order In The Navy’: NCIS Executive Producer Recalls The Show’s Beginnings And The Steps Taken To Distance It From JAG

by

As a seasoned film enthusiast who has witnessed the evolution of television over the past few decades, I can confidently say that the journey of NCIS is one for the history books. From its humble beginnings as a spinoff of JAG to becoming a standalone powerhouse, NCIS has managed to carve out its own identity in the crowded procedural genre.

Back in 2003, when I was still a college student, I remember watching the backdoor pilot episodes of NCIS on JAG with a sense of intrigue. Little did I know that this spinoff would go on to become one of the longest-running scripted shows in television history.

The key to NCIS’s success lies in its ability to constantly reinvent itself while staying true to its roots. The creators took a bold step by differentiating the show from both JAG and other procedurals, through innovative shooting styles, shorter scripts, and faster-paced dialogue. This fresh approach not only attracted a younger audience but also set NCIS apart in a sea of similar shows.

Mark Horowitz’s anecdotes about Don Bellisario directing the first episode, “Yankee White,” with the cast talking as fast as they could and shooting with three cameras, bring back memories of the excitement that surrounded the show when it was just starting out. It’s fascinating to see how a series can grow from a 10-page backdoor pilot script to a 72-page episode in such a short period of time.

Fast forward to today, and NCIS continues to thrive with its diverse cast, engaging storylines, and loyal fanbase. I eagerly await the return of Season 22 on January 27 and the debut of new spinoffs like NCIS: Origins, NCIS: Sydney, and NCIS: Tony & Ziva in the coming years.

And as a final thought, I can’t help but chuckle at the irony that a show born out of a backdoor pilot has gone on to surpass its parent series in every way imaginable – it’s like the proverbial child who grows up to be taller than their parents!

As NCIS enters its 22nd season on the 2024 TV lineup, boasting a thriving procedural series, it’s simple to overlook that this show once began as a spin-off from another well-known CBS program. Way back in 2003, the legal drama JAG aired episodes titled “Ice Queen” and “Meltdown”, serving as a precursor for NCIS during its eighth season. Fast forward to today, Mark Horowitz, who was an executive producer on NCIS until last year and a co-executive producer on JAG, reflected on the early days of NCIS and the efforts made to distinguish it from the previous JAG series, which included pitching the concept to CBS as “Law & Order in the Navy”.

How NCIS Ended Up Not Just Copying Law & Order

During a chat on their shared podcast, “Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch,” Horowitz reminisced about the history of NCIS (distinct from the prequel series NCIS: Origins) while discussing with Cote de Pablo (Ziva David) and Michael Weatherly (Tony DiNozzo). He shared anecdotes about the behind-the-scenes secrecy surrounding Ziva’s return at the end of Season 16, as well as the origins of the NCIS show itself.

It seems that the initial concept presented to CBS was similar to Law & Order, but instead of focusing on a city police department, it revolved around the U.S. Navy. The show would consist of two main segments: one dealing with naval crimes investigated by NCIS (similar to the cops), and another involving young, dynamic lawyers from JAG who would prosecute the cases in the second half. This structure mirrors the format of Law & Order’s spinoffs, and that’s essentially how the original idea was carried out in those two episodes.

When NCIS first aired, the original Law & Order had already been on for more than a decade, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit was approaching its fifth year, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent was two seasons old. It’s possible that CBS could have made NCIS as a copy of the popular NBC procedural series, but co-creator Don Bellisario didn’t want to follow that path. Horowitz added:

After that, Don [Bellisario]… he had a keen sense about these matters. He deserves all the praise for this. He observed this and likely understood, I believe, the true potential in his cast. He thought, ‘No, no, no, I’m not going to split them up. I want them all. I want these people consistently. I don’t want to alternate.’ And he created an entirely new series. There was a strong focus on ensuring NCIS didn’t resemble JAG, maintaining visual distinctness for the show.

In many cases, lawyers become part of NCIS investigations, and some characters from JAG reappeared in NCIS: Los Angeles. However, the shows in this franchise have thrived by concentrating solely on the agents and those close to them. You can witness this for yourself by streaming any of these series using a Paramount+ subscription.

How NCIS Distanced Itself From JAG

Apart from avoiding resemblance to “Law & Order,” the initial “NCIS” aimed to distinguish itself from the style and ambiance of “JAG.” Mark Horowitz, in his quote, pointed out that this was achieved by employing distinct shooting and editing techniques, along with shorter-than-usual scripts. In simpler terms, he highlighted how the visual approach and script length set “NCIS” apart from its predecessors.

1) The Bourne Identity series debuted, featuring rapid-fire editing reminiscent of music videos for intensity. Meanwhile, Man on Fire and JAG were styled to resemble films from the 1940s, with traditional cinematography, classic compositions, and grand orchestral scores. The aim for NCIS was to stand out, potentially appealing to a younger audience, while offering a distinct look and feel. However, one hurdle was that the script clocked in at an unusually lengthy 72 pages, compared to the typical 10-page shorter scripts.

Later on, Mark Horowitz narrated a tale about Don Bellisario, one of the creators of NCIS alongside Don McGill. He directed the first episode of the show titled “Yankee White”. This very episode was referenced in the 1000th installment of the franchise. At that time, Cote de Pablo wasn’t part of the series, but Michael Weatherly was present with Mark Harmon, Sasha Alexander, Pauley Perrette, and David McCallum. Notably, all except Sasha Alexander had already introduced their NCIS characters in a precursor from JAG. Horowitz clarified this by saying:

In simpler terms, during the production of “Yankee White,” Don often instructed us to perform scenes twice as quickly as our usual pace. He aimed to avoid any unnecessary editing if possible. To achieve this, we spoke rapidly, and three cameras were always rolling simultaneously. Frequently, we didn’t even realize which camera was capturing close-ups, wide shots, or moving in and out – we just had to stay alert at all times. There was no room for pausing until it was time for a close-up shot.

From a dedicated cinephile’s perspective, it’s astonishing to reflect on the transformations that have unfolded since NCIS initially graced our screens. The original principal actors are nowhere to be found, with only Sean Murray’s Timothy McGee and Brian Dietzen’s Jimmy Palmer remaining from the first season. Yet, the bold decision to approach this series anew, rather than following the path of the backdoor pilot, has proven fruitful.

Indeed, the backdoor pilot had a remarkable run spanning ten seasons, a feat few TV shows can boast. However, it’s undeniable that its success was dwarfed by what its successor managed to achieve.

As a dedicated fan of NCIS for over a decade now, I’m beyond excited about the upcoming TV schedule! The return of my favorite show, NCIS, on January 27 is long-awaited, and I can hardly wait to see what new cases Gibbs and his team will be tackling. Plus, it’s great that NCIS: Origins is continuing its debut season on the same night – I’ve been eagerly following the origins of some of my favorite characters, and can’t wait to see more. The premiere of NCIS: Sydney on January 31 promises to be another thrilling addition to the franchise. And let’s not forget about the highly anticipated series, NCIS: Tony & Ziva, which is set to arrive in the 2025 TV schedule – I’ve always shipped those two characters and can’t wait to see what their spin-off has in store for us! These shows are a must-watch for any NCIS fan, and I’m counting down the days until they grace our screens once again.

Read More

2024-12-30 16:08