The NCIS Ultimate Star Almost Rejected the Role, Here's Why

Summary

• There are just a bunch of really big shows on television.
• NCIS remains one of the most popular TV giants.
• The show's primary star got interested in his role for a peculiar reason.

When you think of TV giants, there are only a few shows that boast that status. NBC's Law & Order, ABC's Grey's Anatomy, and CBS's NCIS will definitely come to mind when you try to come up with some TV titans. Given their decades-long runs, it is no surprise that these shows have the most fascinating histories. In the case of NCIS, however, it's particularly dramatic, as the show could have been very different.

Debuting in 2003, it has been on the air for over twenty years, following a group of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service as they navigate their professional duties and hectic lives. Unfortunately, NCIS didn't return for its twenty-first installment this year due to the strikes, but season 21 has been announced to premiere in the first quarter of 2024. Just like season 20, it won't star Mark Harmon, who portrayed the show's central character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, from the first to the nineteenth episode.

Interestingly, the actor almost turned down the role at one point during the casting process.

It Was All About the Name

According to Harmon, the premise of the future CBS flagship didn't impress him at first, but he changed his mind as soon as he got his hands on the script. Remarkably, it was the character's name that got him hooked. However, problems soon arose that almost led the actor to say goodbye to the show.

'I didn't expect to like the script as much as I did when I first read it. I was reading other things and I was also trying to stay home – young family and I wanted to try and be home more,' Mark Harmon shared in an interview after his departure from the show in 2021. 'I read "Leroy Jethro Gibbs" and thought, "Huh, I like that name." And then for a brief second when I decided that I liked the idea of the project, the name changed.'

Fortunately, Mark Harmon knew exactly what he wanted from NCIS and went for it – the character had to be called his now-iconic name.

'I went, "No, no, it's gotta be Leroy Jethro Gibbs." The creator said, "No, you can't play a guy named Leroy Jethro Gibbs," and I said, "Why not?" And then it went back and I was happy about it,' the actor added.

The rest is history. And we still love Harmon's L.J. Gibbs, even though the character was absent from NCIS last season. Season 21 of the show is scheduled to premiere on February 12.

Source: ET.