On ‘NCIS,’ an ender veiled in mystery

By Jae-Ha Kim
Media Life Magazine
May 16, 2006

It looks like the “NCIS” producers are ready to get rid of another character on tonight’s season finale. Last year, a sniper picked off Agent Caitlin Todd (Sasha Alexander). Promos for tonight’s episode promise that another series regular will be leaving the show.

Not that that’s a bad thing. Ratings have been consistently strong since Caitlin’s death. The show got a lot of publicity and ratings climbed during summer reruns.         While ABC, UPN and NBC have unsuccessfully pitted their own offerings against Fox’s “American Idol,” with show after show cycling through the timeslot, the CBS drama has fared well against the singing contest. It pulls in an average 3.1 adults 18-49 rating, making it No. 2 in its time slot behind “Idol.”

Characters who could leave the show tonight include Tony (Michael Weatherly) and Abby (Pauley Perrette). We assume CBS would never be stupid enough to kill off series star Mark Harmon, who plays hard-nosed Leroy Gibbs, who is already suffering memory loss after a recent explosion.

“NCIS” series creator Don Bellisario is playing coy about the season finale, which airs at 8 tonight. “I’m not saying I am going to kill someone off,” he tells TV Guide. “I’m saying someone is leaving.”

Just remember, leaving is the operative word.