Greetings, NCIS fans.
Of the TV show, that is. The real NCIS appears to be inhabited by a bunch of boring, everyday government types. As referred to, say, a recalcitrant boss who mutters about ten words a week, a Hollywood-handsome field agent, an MIT dweeb turned battle-hardened warrior, an ex-Mossad assassin who can kill you sixteen different ways with a paper clip… and a Goth forensics expert with a great pair of thighs.
So we've got that going for us.
Pic: In a valiant effort to atone for the grievous sexism portrayed in last week's NCIS post of a hot, seriously-stacked Director Jenny, the fabled Dr. Mercury dares to break new blogground by being MAN enough to post a picture of a young, bare-chested Mark Harmon. Appreciate it while it lasts, ladies. Events like this aren't called 'firsts' for nothin'.
Below is something I can almost guarantee you've never seen on the Web before.
Or heard, to be precise.
First, a couple of quick clips to get us in the mood for the main attraction. Here's a great scene indicating that neither Jenny or Abby are women to be trifled with:
That's actually kind of an intriguing line (on the writer's part) when Abby says, "You're a really, really good person", because it forces the head nurse to admit to herself that she's not a good person; that the only reason she let Abby in was because she'd just been strong-armed by Jenny. It was a small but quick slap at the bureaucratic mind.
By the way, have you noticed how Probie has slimmed down recently? Here are two quick scenes, one from his first appearance and one from a recent show. Watch how the pudginess in his face disappears:
Kudos to Sean Murray for making the effort. Careful, Probie — another ten pounds and you're going to look gaunt!
Murray also deserves credit for slowly but steadily 'maturing' his onscreen character. I recently watched his first few episodes and, indeed, he was the stereotypical pudgy, pasty-faced computer dweeb. There was even one particularly gory episode where he had thoughts of quitting field work altogether. But after Somalia (the episode in my first NCIS post), things changed. However brief, you can plainly see in the above clip that he's not playing second string to anybody in the field these days.
And now…
(trumpets blare, spotlight hits the center ring)
I promised you something different, and I shall comply. I think you're really going to enjoy this. I've never even heard of anyone doing it on the Web.
Every season, in the DVD sets, there are two or three shows that have a "director's track" alongside the regular audio track. I've given most of the director's tracks a try, and most of them were pretty bad.
Usually because there was a grown-up involved.
Talk about ruining everything. In one case, Pauley Perrette did a show with the producer and it was a total bust. She just couldn't be herself with a grown-up around. Ditto the show Cote de Pablo did with the episode's director. Michael Weatherly did one with — of all people — his mother beside him.
But then there's this episode.
Somehow, some way, someone missed assigning a grown-up to the mix and the results are sheer delight. Our 'cast' is composed of Pauley Perrette, Michael Weatherly and John Kelley, the episode's writer. The kids really let it all hang out.
One word of warning: This is not a happy episode. Something bad happens, just in case you haven't seen it yet. So you might want to watch the real episode first, then the one with the gang.
Presenting 'Twilight':
And with the gang: