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NCIS is now known for its weekly investigations, but that wasn’t what Mark Harmon initially signed up for. When Harmon first joined as Leroy Jethro Gibbs, the original idea was very different. The show was supposed to be based on real-life cases.
However, as he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2024, that idea quickly evolved into the now iconic “murder-a-week” formula. Although that change wasn’t part of the early pitch, Harmon admits it’s what helped NCIS last this long.
The show that wasn’t supposed to chase weekly murders
When NCIS first launched in 2003, it was pitched to Mark Harmon as being much more grounded than the procedural fans eventually became hooked on.
Harmon told The Hollywood Reporter;
“When I first joined the show, part of what they sold me on was that this was all going to be based on real cases...”
It was supposed to lean heavily on authenticity, reflecting the real work of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service rather than creating larger-than-life storylines.
But as Harmon noted,
“Pretty soon, it settles into murder-a-week because that’s television, right?”
The shift wasn’t about abandoning the original emphasis on realism; it was about making the show more engaging for a primetime audience. The team behind the show realized that while real cases can be fascinating, fans of such TV shows often crave action, mystery, and payoffs every week. That’s how the show evolved from its fact-based reality roots into the dynamic, fast-paced drama it is today, without losing its heart or sense of authenticity.
From realism to iconic: How NCIS found its true rhythm
Looking back, Harmon did not seem to be disappointed by how things turned out. He remembered the early grind of production, saying,
“The first day on the show, we worked 22 hours, so that wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.”
The actor shared that those initial seasons were full of changes, tweaks, and uncertainty. He said:
“There were a lot of changes in those first three or four years...people don’t realize that, but this show didn’t jump out.”
Still, the show eventually reached its peak and even surpassed it, becoming one of the most-watched programs on television, crossing the 1,000-episode mark. Harmon believes the format shift, though unexpected, was what kept it alive for over two decades.
Even after leaving the show in 2021, he has stayed deeply involved as executive producer and narrator for NCIS: Origins, a prequel that explores Gibbs’ early days.
As the show and its universe continue through new spin-offs and prequels, Harmon’s reflections remind fans that even the greatest shows sometimes discover their true identity along the way.
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