Pauley Perrette Admits Filming NCIS Was No Cake Walk (And Shares The Grueling Reason A Big Bang Theory Cameo Didn’t Work Out)

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For 22 seasons, the popular series NCIS has welcomed and bid farewell to numerous actors, with Pauley Perrette being one of the most well-known among them. As a key player during the show’s first 15 seasons, she portrayed forensic specialist Abby Sciuto. Although it’s common knowledge that Perrette departed from NCIS due to reported issues on set with lead actor Mark Harmon, she further discussed her experiences on the show and shared thoughts about not getting a chance to appear on The Big Bang Theory as intended.

What Did Pauley Perrette Say About Working On NCIS?

Pauley Perrette initially starred in the two-part spin-off of JAG that eventually evolved into NCIS. Over time, she gained immense popularity among viewers, making the long-running procedural arguably more successful than its predecessor. However, her success on the show did not come without challenges. For most of her tenure on the series, Perrette had to dedicate a significant amount of effort to it, which impacted other areas of her career as she mentioned to Paul Semel.

There are several factors at play here. In the realm of sitcoms, you typically work four days a week. This involves a few table reads and performing in front of an audience, after which you return home. However, for Mark [Harmon], Michael [Weatherly], Sean [Murray], and Cote [de Pablo (Ziva)], their work schedule is significantly more demanding. They put in twelve hours a day, nine months a year. Their workload is extremely grueling.

Working on a series like NCIS can be demanding, both mentally and physically, as it often involves extended work hours and numerous shooting days. Despite having approximately two months off between seasons, the actress from The Ring admitted that this time is not sufficient for her to take on a “major film” role. Additionally, she regretted not appearing in one of television’s most popular sitcoms.

What Happened With The Star’s Big Bang Theory Cameo?

Over the course of its 12 seasons, The Big Bang Theory had many well-known actors guest star. As Pauley Perrette shared, various factors aligned for her appearance on CBS’ sitcom with a live audience, but in the end, the plan didn’t work out.

As a diehard fan, I’d share this: I’ve been fortunate enough to call Chuck Lorre a friend, and he penned a role for me in The Big Bang Theory. Not only that, but I’ve known Johnny Galecki, the Leonard character, for eons! I was thrilled at the prospect of joining their crew, but unfortunately, our schedules just wouldn’t align.

It’s a pity that the actress didn’t manage to fit in time for The Big Bang Theory, which suggests how occupied she was with NCIS. One can only imagine the other fantastic roles she might have gotten if not for her involvement in the successful crime drama. I’m curious about who she would have portrayed on The Big Bang Theory.

As a devoted movie enthusiast, I find myself reflecting on Pauley Perrette’s decision to leave acting after her sitcom “Broke” was unfortunately canceled in 2020 following just one season. In discussions about her departure, she expressed that while she wasn’t ungrateful for her journey, she’s evolved into a different person now.

Given the demanding nature of the military drama she had been involved with, I can certainly understand why Perrette would yearn for a change, and it’s heartening to see her prioritizing self-care.

In the long run, it’s often true that TV actors might decline additional jobs due to scheduling conflicts or the need for rest when not working. This was the case with Pauley Perrette, and one can only speculate about potential opportunities missed if her schedule had been more flexible. Fortunately, fans can still appreciate Perrette’s outstanding performances from the first 15 seasons of NCIS by subscribing to Paramount+.

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2025-02-07 00:09