‘NCIS’ season 12 spoilers: On a new love interest for Michael Weatherly’s Tony
We’ve already heard very mixed reactions about the story we are about to write on Twitter already, so we might as well get to it: There may be a new love interest for Tony DiNozzo on “NCIS” at some point during season 12.
This news was first reported by show boss Gary Glasberg to TVLine, who claims that the series is in the “formative stages” of finding someone to plug into Tony’s world. He suggested that this is not going to happen quickly, and it will be handled with the utmost care:
“It’s time for Tony to continue to grow a little bit … He went through a lot last year emotionally and tried to deal with Ziva’s departure as he could. And it’s time [to try something new]. We’ll be mature about it and handle it properly, and Michael’s excited about it.”
This is a hard thing to have a major opinion on in advance. Obviously, there’s that part of you that still wishes for Tony and Ziva to be together, but based on her new miniseries deal, the most that Cote de Pablo could appear in the near future (if she appears at all) would be in a limited capacity.
Also, we haven’t seen how the show will handle it, who this new woman will be, and who will play her. We want to be reasonably open-minded about it, mostly since it’s not entirely fair to sit here and proclaim that it will be awful without knowing a single thing about the story. We do feel for whoever the actress is cast in this role, given that there will be huge expectations and challenges thrust at them from the very beginning.
At the end of the day, this is entertainment and there are always going to be mixed reactions. Some will probably like the story, and some will probably hate it. All we can hope for is that it keeps the show entertaining and gives us something further to discuss here.
For now, be sure to share your initial take on this news in the comments, and head over here to obtain some further TV news and scoop now via our CarterMatt Newsletter.
Photo: CBS
Fan
July 24, 2014 @ 3:32 am
Such a great show and such wonderful characters! It didn’t become the world’s most watched show because the characters are idiots and the writing is poor. It’s entertainment and I’m always entertained when I can see the likes of Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Paule Perrette, Rocky Carrol and the rest of the cast doing their thang. I for one am never disappointed and always look forward to the little easter eggs the writers plant in the show.
Lisa Liscoumb
July 22, 2014 @ 1:44 pm
I can’t wait for the new season. I have two hopes for Tony’s romance:
First that they find someone who will respect, support and care for him while still challenging him – someone like Dana Hutton, the ZNN reporter he fell for who died from ricin poisoning. Someone outside of law enforcement, with a career and interests of her own. Someone age-appropriate – no 20-something teenybopper, please.
Second, I hope they handle the bulk of the romance off-screen, as they have done with Tim and Delilah and Jimmy and Breena’s relationships. Occasional appearances, mentions in episodes, but largely offscreen.
Erin
July 22, 2014 @ 2:49 pm
I just hope that tptb don’t cave to pressures from that very assertive handful of fans whose views we know all too well and who already hate the actress and story of Tony’s upcoming romance. I too hope that they chose a strong professional woman with whom he shares equal admiration. I agree too that the romance should be kept mostly off screen. I’m still hoping that tptb can suck it up and not give Gibbs every single scene that is dangerous, exciting, flattering, or requires brains, skills, or bravery. I really miss Tony being portrayed as a great agent on a regular basis and am tired the writers shoving super GIbbs forward in every scene designed to flatter a character. Enough already. We get it. Is someone going to be fired if Tony is
portrayed as a great agent?
Lisa Liscoumb
July 22, 2014 @ 4:06 pm
That was one of the reasons I enjoyed season 11 so much – Tony was finally back, most of the time, to being competent!Tony. Loved The Admiral’s Daughter, loved the one with his dad and the PI, where he got to be competent but still have fun.
TullaT
July 22, 2014 @ 11:28 pm
The Admiral’s Daughter was one of the only episodes in the entire season where I saw competent Tony back. The rest of the time, he was fretting over old man issues, holding the clicker, and providing comic relief.
Erin
July 23, 2014 @ 3:41 am
I don’t usually, but I agree with you about that Tulla. Tony gets to be competent in 2 out or 24 episodes if we’re lucky – in season 10, he was allowed to be good in one. The bubble bath, casserole, voodoo doll fearing crap Tony was the opposite of clever humor. TPTB seem to lack the talent to take advantage of Michael Weatherly’s natural comedic talent in any way that doesn’t completely diminish and demean the character. I guess it doesn’t matter to tptb though as long as the Gibbs flattery keeps endlessly flowing.
vgerd
July 25, 2014 @ 5:55 pm
Actually, I’m wondering if Harmon becoming a producer for NCIS-NOLA might be a sign that he’s going to start stepping back a bit – when a reporter asked him recently “where do you see yourself in five years,” he indicated he’d rather be working more behind the scenes (i.e., directing/producing). Maybe, just maybe, this will finally be Weatherly’s chance to take the spotlight. Just speculating, but I really wouldn’t be at all surprised if this season was far less Gibbs-centric.
Sylvia Wissmann
July 22, 2014 @ 9:03 am
Another joke of Gary Glasberg!
He dumbed down Tony except for “Admiral’s daughter” all of season 11! Tony was a grown up, capable and funny agent until Glasberg made him the butt of jokes! Tony and Ziva were unique also because viewers could see the mature Tony in those special moments with Ziva!
Gibbs never REALLY cared about Tony since Glasberg worships Gibbs and recently Bishop (by the way 16 episodes are enough chances and most viewers still dislike her)!
This Tony romance is just another proof that there is absolutely no “bad blood” between Glasberg and Cote de Pablo and that the showrunner cares about what viewers think! (Do I need a sarcasm sign for this?)
Too bad that viewers are not cartoon characters and know how to use their brain!
Lisa Liscoumb
July 22, 2014 @ 1:39 pm
Tony was more competent last season than he has been in a few years. We saw him contributing mightily to cases, taking on the training of the new probie agent, and generally being the SFA that he should be on Gibbs’ team. Michael Weatherly himself said in an interview that he was happy he was no longer the “idiot child in the corner” for Tim and Ziva, and Sean Murray agreed.
Gisela
July 22, 2014 @ 2:55 pm
You must have watched a different series then! The whole team was dumbed down last season for the worship of Gibbs and this redundant silly Bishop person!
I have been a Michael Weatherly fan for more than 10 years but he was made the probie character in season 11 to make Barbie girl the star of the show!
I don’t mind that Ziva is gone but I want Tony to be acknowledged for doing a great job! And I certainly don’t need a silly soap opera romance created by Mr. incompetent Glasberg who ruined the whole show last season! NCIS was a show about the great work of this agency not about romance and love stories before Glasberg replaced the last real show runner!
And if you continue to quote interviews don’t leave out what you don’t like!
Lisa Liscoumb
July 22, 2014 @ 4:18 pm
I guess we did see different things in last season – although I will concede that when Ellie was first brought on, the focus was more on her and Gibbs. However, once she stopped being the acknowledged expert brought in as a consultant on the guy Gibbs was desperately trying to catch, and became a probie I feel the balance was much better.
But please tell me what did I leave out of the interview I quoted? Here is the entire exchange I mentioned above:
“I think, for a long time, it was you and Ziva against Tony,” Weatherly said.
“You think so?” Murray asked.
“I think that that was true for years,” Weatherly said.
“Yeah, maybe,” Murray granted.
“It was always like Tony was just the idiot child in the corner,” Weatherly went on.
“Actually, yeah,” Murray conceded. “There was a lot of that.”
“I’m glad that’s gone.” Weatherly said with a laugh. “I don’t miss that. And when Sasha was here, we had the double-head slap on you as your anointing at the beginning of Season 2.”
“Right, when I became an agent.”
Is Murray glad that’s over?
Murray laughed sheepishly. “Yeah.”
Please tell me what in that contradicts my comment.
Christopher
July 22, 2014 @ 8:33 am
A new love interest for Tony?
Is one of Gary Glasberg’s untalented lottery win actresses in need of a new job opportunity?
Although it is more than understandable that a great actress like Cote de Pablo doesn’t want to return working for an incompetent boss there is no need to completely ruin what attracted viewers to watch NCIS for 8 years!
Tony doesn’t need a love interest! NCIS has become a cartoon soap opera with dead Navy people!
Go on CBS, let this “great” showrunner ruin what made you the Number 1 network!
JCL
July 22, 2014 @ 12:18 am
I was not a Tiva fan and would normally be thrilled about Tony getting a new love interest – except that I don’t trust Glasberg at all anymore. Since it’s Tony and not the precious Gibbs or the lead female character, the story will probably get less time than even Tim and Delilah did last season, and the girl will end up dead, a spy, or just deciding she’s “too good” for Tony by the end of the season. What makes me the most sad of all is that my favorite NCIS relationship is a non-romantic one – the special bond that used to exist between Gibbs and Tony until Glasberg got his hands on it and seems to have almost completely dismantled it. Now, at best they might have a semi-friendly, amazingly short, and generally 95% work-related conversation about 3 times per season, and the rest of the time act like they barely know each other or occasionally can hardly tolerate being in the same room together. Either Tim or Bishop now take turns being Gibbs’ favorite agent. I almost can’t stand the sight of Glasberg’s lone superhero version of Gibbs anymore, and the one thing that might make me almost like him again would be rebuilding the Gibbs/Tony relationship back to where it was at the time of “Flesh and Blood,” but that seems like the last thing Glasberg has any interest in spending time on.
Lydia
July 22, 2014 @ 3:09 am
Sadly, I agree with your post JCL. Although we get frequent spoilers about seemingly exciting upcoming things for Tony, they pretty much never amount to much of anything – usually the B or C plot in one episode. Yes – Glasburg seems to have secured his place and coincidentally (or not) his main interest is consistently pushing Gibbs to the front time and time again. Tony seems even less important now than with Shane Brennan, which is just pathetic. Gibbs passes him over as lead agent in his absence, except of course when the majority of the episode’s action will take place abroad. Then McGee or Bishop, who he quite obviously regards as more important, will go along for the ride while Tony holds down the fort by clicking the clicker – as usual. The Tony and Gibbs relationship which used to be so much fun to see is gone. Gibbs either doesn’t acknowledge Tony because Vance, McGee, Bishop, Abby, Ducky, and Palmer are all far more important to him, or he is only acknowledged when Gibbs is advising a clueless Tony. I don’t believe Michael Weatherly has any friends at the top. Unfortunately for tptb who obviously work hard to demean his character, fans still love him. I guess they’re forced to give him his yearly one and done and pay him well, but heaven forbid we should get a truly flattering story about anyone but super Gibbs.
Sandi Brooks
July 21, 2014 @ 9:59 pm
I do not get why the show wants to alienate and antagonize a huge group of NCIS fans who supported the show during 8 years due to love of Tiva. Are the shows writers so unimaginative that they can’t come up with other ways for Tony to step up and shine? Maybe lead a task force- he has been St field agent a long time. I am disgusted that the show has such disdain for what so many watched to see. They don’t have to throw a Tony love interest in our faces and rub salt in the still raw wound. I will never be able to trust a CBS drama series with my heart after this debacle.
Naomi
July 21, 2014 @ 9:51 pm
i can say i truly hate the idea of a new “love” interest for Tony because Ziva is his soulmate & theirs was a really beautiful & complex love story. And by giving Tony a new woman is completely destroying the Tiva built-up we saw for eight years. It’s not at all organic.
Johanna
July 21, 2014 @ 9:27 pm
Well, the SR from “Dr.House” have tried it too…Dr.House/2012= NCIS/2015. IMO
Cheryl Gress
July 21, 2014 @ 9:02 pm
So tired of the soap opera of Gibbs ex wives and we are back to Tony getting another woman. Come on let’s face it ziva was the one and it you look around the net there are many who agree. they should bring her back because my family, friends and I will watch for sure!
Benjamin Friego
July 21, 2014 @ 1:09 pm
Well if they do add another female character I hope they take awhile choosing the right person and make her able to plug into the show as a regular and replace Bishop. I think it’s best to make her as similar to Ziva as possible. Make her a strong mysterious women. I never warmed to Bishop and that should have happened instantly. I did like the Ziva & Tony scenes but I agree it is very unlikely that she will return at all this season seeing as she has the lead in the Mark Burnett and Roma Downey mini-series. What ever those two touch is successful. I do think it’s time for Tony to start getting involved with someone. They are running out of ideas now. I mean another Gibbs wife again? I’m concerned they are going to spend an awful lot of time for Bishop this year to make us like her. It takes airtime from the other characters like Abby who had much more filler time last season. Instead they will give them airtime on NCIS:New Orleans and that means nothing to me.
Pat
July 21, 2014 @ 3:17 pm
I know what you mean. I feel like we are going to get a lot of Gibbs in NOLA since Mark Harmon is one of its creators. I don’t much care about having NOLA shoved down my throat either. I’ll watch it if I feel like it and keep watching if I like it. I don’t want NCIS to turn into a promotional tool for GG and MH’s baby. I thought the two launching episodes were pretty dull. Maybe it was because yet again, Tony got to be essentially irrelevant while others got to go abroad and be featured in the exciting scenes. I fear there will be a lot more of that this season since tptb seem completely comfortable with making sure that Gibbs is pushed forward as the all knowing agent in every story now. I miss the days when Tony could be right and Gibbs played second fiddle but the spotlight seems always on super Gibbs now. While I’m glad that tptb are at least thinking about something to do with Tony, I don’t have high hopes that there will be much thought given to or any follow through on the romance. When the Ziva fans who are going to hate this actress and romance no matter what, will claim that their hatred [s universal and tptb will likely scrap the idea altogether and get back to what they care about the most – more stories for super Gibbs.
BlueBelle
July 21, 2014 @ 8:55 pm
Well, I am sick to death of super Gibbs, and hope to see more STORIES for Tony. not romance, but stories like the Admiral’s Daughter.
BlueBelle
July 21, 2014 @ 8:54 pm
She is filming a miniseries, it should not take longer than a month or two. That’s not an impediment to her doing guest spots on NCIS in s12.
Lee
July 21, 2014 @ 9:22 pm
But her not wanting to be on NCIS anymore is.
Sandi Brooks
July 21, 2014 @ 10:01 pm
She is open to appearances, just not the weekly grind. And any love interest (uggg!) would be guest shots as well.
Casey
July 21, 2014 @ 9:00 am
Hasn’t anyone notice that Glasberg looks like across from Tommy Pickles and Phil and Lillian on Rugrats.
My personal opinion about Cote leaving NCIS is I bet Micheal’s wife is very happy. I know I would be if I was his wife. But I’m a very jealous b@#ch. I loved the chemistry between those two actors/character.
AuthorSue
July 21, 2014 @ 2:39 am
The entire season line up sounds wonderful and exciting to me. Go for it. Also, I heard somewhere that NCIS Red is going to have some more episodes. I really hope so. I loved the ones I saw. I’m psyched about this season, and I can’t wait to see Tony’s new love…and NOLA. You guys are doing a fantastic job, and we love you for it.
Dido Twite
July 21, 2014 @ 8:48 pm
NCIS Red was nixed and will never be picked up.
vgerd
July 25, 2014 @ 6:01 pm
As a series, no. But the writers could bring the Red team back for a story arc or two. It’s not like they killed them off or anything. The concept is still kind of interesting if they need a mobile team for something.
Bellz Webster
July 20, 2014 @ 11:35 am
This isn’t going to improve matters. Those who don’t accept Bishop won’t accept this new lady in Tony’s life either. No one will ever be good enough.
Pat
July 20, 2014 @ 3:39 pm
No matter who they cast or how good the story might be, there are certain tiva/Ziva fans who already hate the new love interest and the idea that Tony not remain on the show as a tribute to Ziva and not much more. I really hope that GG and company have the courage to allow Tony to become involved in a mutually gratifying and clever romantic relationship. I for one was completely tired of all the Ziva drama and the use of Tony to accessorize her latest tragedies. Now if they can just take the spotlight off of Gibbs for a second or two and really let Tony have some significance, maybe the show can get back some of its moxie. It seems like the current writers have been under some kind of directive to make sure Tony is mostly lame and inferior to all other characters. What a waste. To me, MW is the most fun actor to watch get something challenging to do. It’s high time to push him to the front for a big story. He hasn’t had one since season 4. It’s been the Gibbs and Ziva show for far too long and the quality has suffered for it.
BlueBelle
July 21, 2014 @ 8:56 pm
The only way tony will have real significance is to get his own team. As long as he is Gibbs’ subordinate, he will always get shoved into the background. He only gets any chance to shine when he gest away from Gibbs. And I don’t expect it to stop being the Gibbs show, at all. It’s just the Gibbs and Bishop show now.
Pat
July 21, 2014 @ 10:32 pm
But in the early seasons of NCIS when Don Bellasario was show runner, Tony was shown as a very strong, nearly equal to Gibbs, and even better than Gibbs at a few things. But IMO Don Bellasario was the only show runner who cared for Tony. It became quite obvious once he was gone the priority to portray Tony as a great agent was canned so that Gibbs and later Ziva would outshine and out smart him in every situation. Boring and predictable. They’re still using the same formula with Gibbs. I really miss Tony being a significant character and have to hope to get my reasonably good agent Tony fix when he gets his one or one and dones a year. Every episode seems to be devoted to showing us more and more examples of how amazing super Gibbs is. It’s sooooo predictable.
Christopher
July 22, 2014 @ 8:45 am
Bellisario knew what he was doing, unfortunately Glasberg doesn’t have a clue!
TullaT
July 22, 2014 @ 1:35 pm
well that’s just it. Glasberg only cares about Gibbs, never cared about Tony. I expect Season 12 to be no different.
Erin
July 22, 2014 @ 5:56 pm
Sadly, I think you’re right. I’m so tired of all the action going to super Gibbs followed by overly contrived moments where we see various characters reacting to the awesomeness. This is the same thing that drove me crazy about the writing of super ZIva. It’s so corny and cheesy. I don’t think G. Glasburg and co care that not every fan watches for Gibbs. I get the feeling that every single character but Tony is allowed to be written sympathetically. He has to remain slightly ridiculous and always needing correction by absolutely everyone else. They seem to be pushing McGee and Bishop as Gibbs preferred partners, while receding Tony further to the background. For some reason Tony has not been allowed to get much flattering writing for many years now.
Bellz Webster
July 29, 2014 @ 6:36 am
If Tony gets his own team he would have to leave NCIS. There is only room for 1 team there. He was offered Rota by Jenny Sheppard but he declined.
Bellz Webster
July 29, 2014 @ 6:35 am
Tony has plenty of episodes about him. The 4 ep arc with the fires was partly about him and how he saved that kid from burning to death. Season 11 brought him into a much more mature person and he is more than capable as an agent now he lost the Ziva baggage. I did like Ziva but she always seemed to over take all the cast in episode numbers.
Dido Twite
July 21, 2014 @ 8:48 pm
That’s true. No one ever will be good enoguh. I have no problem saying that.
Christopher
July 22, 2014 @ 8:44 am
Bishop is a joke and Emily Wickersham is a probie actress who might play a part in a teenage show!
She desperately tries but to no avail!
Every female actress on all CBS crime shows have been better than Wickersham so far!
Cote de Pablo is a great actress but I won’t have a problem if she doesn’t want to come back to NCIS because there are so many talented actresses out there but I have a problem with cheap actresses and it can’t get any cheaper than Wickersham!
Gabi
July 20, 2014 @ 11:17 am
I have never seen a TV series show such disdain for their viewers. They teased viewers with Tiva for eight years to keep us watching and then they give us no payoff. Instead the last image we got of Ziva is one of her crying alone in a tarmac in Israel. There is no closure for her and I wish they would give her a good ending instead of leaving her in the middle of a mental breakdown aone in Israel for years. People get attached to characters and to think that we would be happy with such an ending for a beloved character and would just move on shows Glasberg and Harmon have no understanding of what viewers want.
Glasberg cannot write anything good either and I no longer have to give him the benefit of the doubt because after writing so many bad storylines he will once again write a bad romance with an awful character.
Dido Twite
July 21, 2014 @ 8:51 pm
I fully agree with this. They strung viewers along for 8 years, only to destroy what they created.
Pat
July 21, 2014 @ 9:17 pm
CdP unexpectedly quit. What could they do? Hold her at gunpoint until she signed?
Naomi
July 21, 2014 @ 10:04 pm
ignoring the fact that you’re completely wrong in saying she quit unexpectedly, cote WAS there to finish off ziva’s storyline. for a lot of fans of the show, it wasn’t so much about the fact that she left but HOW her exit was handled. 1) it made no sense for ziva to be broken about ari & her past since we’ve already seen her go through that 2) it was pathetic that the man who put his life on the life for her numerous times left her in the middle of a meltdown – complete slap in the face for all Tiva fans 3) they were supposedly her family but there is yet to be contact made with Ziva. not from tony or abby or gibbs…
for the past year they handled her departure with complete & utmost disrespect towards the character & the actress.
Pat
July 21, 2014 @ 10:28 pm
I guess they could have killed her.
Naomi
July 21, 2014 @ 10:35 pm
yes they could have. they’re screwed now anyways with ratings falling w/ every ep in S11. if they killed off ziva at least they wouldn’t be worried about continuing to dig their own grave in S12.
TullaT
July 22, 2014 @ 1:36 pm
They may as well have, the way they destroyed the character.
Sylvia Wissmann
July 22, 2014 @ 9:08 am
Not getting tired of this? She left AFTER MONTHS of negotiating and if that is unexpectedly … What did the showrunner do during the negotiation period, bite his nails?
Lee
July 22, 2014 @ 12:13 pm
Do you even understand the concept of negotiation?
Negotiation is a give and take, with each side making concessions until middle ground, acceptable to both sides, is reached.
You don’t spend 6 months negotiating if one side wants a 1 year contract and the other side is only offering 2 years – or if both sides are as far apart on salary as you and your friends claim.
If both sides are that far apart you cease negotiations at a VERY early stage. So yes, someone leaving after that length of negotiations is unexpected.
As for what the showrunner was doing during the negotiations; he was doing his job, planning the new season and overseeing the writing of the scripts and everything else he does – none of which includes involvement in negotiations with individual cast members.
de Pablo said that leaving “wasn’t planned”, that implies she surprised even herself with her decision to leave, but even so it was her decision to make. The only reason you can’t believe that it could possibly have been her decision is because that means that it is actually de Pablo herself who has spoiled your fantasy soap opera. But why shouldn’t she? She is entitled to get on with her life and owes nothing to you and me.
Have you never in your life come back after a holiday and wished you could change your life? – well it looks very much as if that is what de Pablo did, and more power to her for having the courage to take that leap in the dark.
Sylvia Wissmann
July 22, 2014 @ 1:45 pm
The showrunner would have done his job if he had a plan B but he didn’t! If you feel it is your job to defend a showrunner who was not smart enough to prepare himself in case an actor without a contract actually leaves go ahead!
And as long as an actor or actress hasn’t signed a contract the showrunner always needs to consider the option that this person wants to leave a show!
Besides I think it is funny that you think people don’t understand the concept of negotiation if they don’t agree with your opinion!
And regarding Cote de Pablo’s decision to leave nobody knows what really happened and it’s nice that the people who dislike the Ziva character and TIVA are the loudest to defend her decision!
Lee
July 22, 2014 @ 2:52 pm
It’s not a question of my opinion. You are arguing against yourself, either you understand negotiations and therefore you understand why there was no need for time and money to be wasted on a plan B – or you don’t understand negotiations and think that there was a reason to have a plan B.
I am not the one throwing around slanderous accusations based on my opinion.
Sylvia Wissmann
July 22, 2014 @ 3:26 pm
Money is never wasted for a plan B!
It is common in business and industry especially when people in charge get paid lots of money but I think I am wasting my time answering your post so I wish you a great day! Have fun with your opinion!
TullaT
July 22, 2014 @ 11:31 pm
Nina Tassler said NCIS is a billion dollar franchise. It’s unfathomable that they had no plan b in case the lead actress didn’t sign her contract, and they were WELL aware she had not.
Lorraine64
July 19, 2014 @ 8:55 pm
Whilst I enjoyed the relationship between Tony and Ziva and was sorry to see her go (not that I agree with the means by which the writers wrote her exit or the whole ridiculous no one can mention her name situation) the eternal will they won’t they teasing was spoiling my enjoyment of the show
and I had hoped that perhaps one positive result of Ziva’s departure might have been more competent Tony. However, that was not to be. Other than the excellent “Admiral’s Daughter” which saw a glimpse of the Tony of old, for the majority of season 11 he was an even bigger idiot than ever, highlighted by the absence of the few decent scenes he used to have with Ziva. And the whole men’s group and chops and casserole nonsense had me screaming at the television. What’s Gary Glasberg talking about “Tony tried to deal with Ziva’s departure”. Is that another of those plots that was left to our imagination? Other than the only other reasonably decent episode of the season “Once A Crook” where Tony couldn’t sleep, and a totally out of character mention of joining a men’s support group, I saw no other evidence that Tony was “dealing” with anything. Sorry if I’ve not seen it, or
a character didn’t refer to it, then it didn’t happen. This is television you have to show me!
Going forward I personally think it is time that Tony found a new love interest. Michael Weatherly is too good an actor to have Tony limited to the occasional email from an absent Ziva. A new lady in his life doesn’t have to be his soul mate, and in the unlikely event that Cote de Pablo should return, then the writers can write her into the plot and the new lady out. In my humble opinion they made a big mistake with Bishop. I have nothing against
Emily Wickersham per se, but for me casting someone so much younger, perhaps with the idea that this would attract younger viewers, just unbalanced the show, making her look ridiculously young and the core characters, not to put too fine a point on it, old! The fact that ALL the characters loved her right from the word go didn’t help the audience to
accept her either. Even Gibbs who requires that his team earn his trust thought she was the best thing since sliced bread and trusted her immediately. And when Bishop started telling the team, even Gibbs how to do his job, well that was the last straw. Thankfully the writers seem to have pulled back on her character and have ceased pushing her down our throats, but I imagine for many the damage may have already been done. I therefore pray that Gary Glasberg gives greater consideration to Tony’s new lady and how she is introduced. Perhaps someone who Tony meets across several episodes, someone he initially doesn’t like but in time comes to care about, thus giving the audience time to get to know and hopefully like her too. I would like to see a strong, competent female who
supports a strong competent Tony – someone like Jeanne or Paula Cassidy. Perhaps someone he wouldn’t normally
consider his type, maybe an older woman with children or someone who
holds a more senior role than him. Maybe he gets involved with the new
Sec Nav. That would give rise to some very interesting conversations
with Gibbs. Maybe a nurse or physiotherapist who helps Tony recover from an injury. Or perhaps Tony’s undercover, gets injured and she helps him until the team can piece the evidence together in order to find him. Excitement, whump and romance all rolled into one….all of which have been decidedly lacking of late. The possibilities are endless. If they want to attract younger viewers they’ve got to give them something to get excited about. The series doesn’t need to become a soap, but if you blow up the Navy Yard or have a major car crash, there has to be consequences.
Hurlman commented as to why so many people still watch the show. Must admit I’ve wondered that myself. I suppose I still have hope that maybe the writers can pull off more episodes like “The Admiral’s Daughter” and
“Once A Crook” – coincidentally written or co-written by the same writer –
however, having been disappointed week after week last season, I’m really not sure how much longer even I can sustain that belief, and having discovered that the season 12, Gary Glasberg premier episode features Gibbs and once again McGee, not Tony, going to Russia – my faith is hanging by a thread before season 12 has even started. As I recall this
will be the third time in as many seasons that McGee has gone on a mission with Gibbs. What about Tony? Somewhere along the road did some edict go
out that the great caring relationship between Gibbs and Tony was to be deleted from future episodes and I just missed it?
My time is precious and unless I can be convinced early on this season that the series is deserving of an hour of my time every week, I can see myself reverting to my NCIS DVD collection and those talented passionate NCIS fanfic writers who aren’t afraid to think outside the box and never fail to excite and inspire.
PointBlank
July 19, 2014 @ 8:21 pm
Despite the controversies that surround Ziva and Tony I am relieved to see that they are giving something for Tony to do this season, however long this arc lasts. I liked Ziva but I care about Tony as well and can’t see how he’s supposed to remain as memorial to a character and ship that’s not on screen. Tim can be in an offscreen relationship because Delilah will return but we have no idea if Ziva ever will. Let Tony do what adults do. Let him live a little, move forward with his life and find himself. Too many people act as if his only purpose is to be Ziva’s love interest and that is no way to treat a character or the actor who plays him and the rest of the audience who actually cares about this character who has been on this show for a dozen years.
Sandra
July 20, 2014 @ 1:40 am
I would love TOny to have something to do, such as doing his job. His only job in Season 11 was babysitting Bishop.
Erin
July 22, 2014 @ 7:25 pm
Bravo Pointblank!
Hurlman
July 19, 2014 @ 6:57 pm
hahaha …” We want to be reasonably open-minded about it, mostly since it’s not entirely fair to sit here and proclaim that it will be awful without knowing a single thing about the story”…….
One need not know a SINGLE thing about the upcoming story. Gary Glasberg has NEVER been able to write one single female character with any interest, personality or substance – EVER – I give you EJ, Bishop Dr Ryan Wendy – Delilah showed a little promise because the actress could act – so she was shipped away so his Bishop would not look so hellishly BAD. Not that anyone has ever mentioned that about Emily Wickersham before right ? She is a bad actress. Period.
WHY would one think he could magically write a love interest for ANYONE now ?
Tony is the ONLY buzz NCIS has left – answers his dropping pounds and getting in shape for his new ‘love interest’ now doesn’t it ?
Glasberg obviously hated the Ziva character and all of her richness she brought. He gave her a 9 minute goodbye. He ruined Ziva leaving her a crying mess in Israel. I will forever despise him for that and for ruining the show I once loved.
Let Tony find his soul mate – marry and have a whole whack of kids. Or let Tony continue his mirror image of lonely one note unfeeling Gibbs.
I hardly care what ORGANIC movement Glasberg has planned.
Everyone knows Mark Harmon will NEVER allow a TIVA type relationship on his show again – might take the shine away from Gibbs –
Cote WILL NEVER BE BACK. They NEVER mention her name !
I will not be watching NCIS again – so Tony can have a haram for all I care.
NCIS is an old show with old boys running it. It no longer interest me !
I am shocked it interest as many as it does. I will just guess – HABIT ???
Gabi
July 20, 2014 @ 11:27 am
Mark Harmon and Glasberg will make sure Ziva is never mentioned and will continue to ignore fans who got them to the top because they think they are so great that anyone wants to watch whatever they do. Frankly I think Mark Hamon is jealous of all the attention Cote/Ziva/Tiva was getting. More so now that Cote has proven to take all the buzz this week with the announcement of The Dovekeepers and made everyone forget that the show even exists and will just be rehashing all the worse plots of the show’s history.
Lee
July 20, 2014 @ 3:26 pm
Why do you bother with the show any more, de Pablo is gone and you obviously hate Harmon – what is there left for you to enjoy.
Or do you just enjoy spreading hate around the internet?
Tigger gal
July 19, 2014 @ 6:05 pm
I have a feeling this is going to be the last or next to the last season for NCIS.
Sandra
July 19, 2014 @ 5:30 pm
I am not interested in a new love interest for Tony. I don’t care how carefully they do it, I was emotionally invested in his relationship with Ziva for 8 years, and it will be a very long time before I will accept anyone else for him – if ever. Let him be single, or have a long distance relationship with Ziva. McGee can do it, why can’t Tony? I don’t care if Cote de Pablo shows up only once in a while, that’s fine.
Hurlman
July 19, 2014 @ 7:03 pm
Sandra – they had a perfect love story – fleshed out for years – handed to them on a platter – and they dropped it. The chemistry between Michael Weatherly and Cote was amazing. They did nothing with it for far too long and then they lost their lead actress.
It was a total waste and they pulled me in too. Never again.
PascalPenguin
July 20, 2014 @ 3:02 am
well said, both of you…
Lee
July 20, 2014 @ 3:25 pm
There was no chemistry between Tony and Ziva – something that production were well aware of – otherwise there would have been no need to write speeches into the script by random extras telling Tony and Ziva and, more importantly the viewers, that they were “made for each other”. When a relationship like that is actually being successfully portrayed on screen there is no need to tell the viewers that it is there.
Dido Twite
July 21, 2014 @ 8:50 pm
Oh please. Bellisario hired de Pablo on the basis of her chemisty with Weatherly. It’s a well known story.
Pat
July 21, 2014 @ 9:13 pm
I thought that Ziva and Tony did have some fun, lighthearted flirting in the DPB days. It was later when the series became all about the soap operaish tragedies of Mary Ziva Sue, and they began shoe horning in their heavy handed and random “tiva” anvils and third party tiva endorsements that the chemistry disappeared. Also after Ziva attacked Tony and then spent the next 4 seasons insulting, snarking at, and berating him, we were supposed to believe she liked, much less loved him? Maybe if this was a Disney show for adolescents, but no – that’s not how adults who care for someone behave.
vgerd
July 25, 2014 @ 6:10 pm
“Also after Ziva attacked Tony and then spent the next 4 seasons insulting, snarking at, and berating him, we were supposed to believe she liked, much less loved him? Maybe if this was a Disney show for
adolescents, but no – that’s not how adults who care for someone behave.”
This. Absolutely. I could never buy that either one of them could fall so deeply in love with each other after the Rivkin mess. A white hot, hate sex type affair that burns itself out, sure – they had wild chemistry. But the ultimate romantic love? Sorry, no.
Lee
July 21, 2014 @ 9:18 pm
I don’t deny that there was saucy chemistry between Tony & Ziva in de Pablo’s very early seasons, but that does not equal love, and by the time the writers had to start telling the viewers that they were “made for each other” (or do you deny that was ever in the script?) the only chemistry they had was of a couple on the verge of divorce – but without ever having had any affection between them beforehand.
There was buckets of chemistry between Gibbs & DiNozzo, too – perhaps we should have had an epic love story between THEM.
Chemistry does not a love story make.
Pat
July 20, 2014 @ 9:36 pm
Yes – Ziva insulted, berated, assaulted, and dis respected Tony week after week. It was beautiful.
Dido Twite
July 21, 2014 @ 8:49 pm
Kate was meaner to Tony than Ziva ever was.
Erin
July 20, 2014 @ 5:19 pm
And if CdP doesn’t show up at all, is Tony’s character supposed to pine away for ever for a character who told him that she felt like she had to take a shower whenever she talked to him? Tiva fans it seems to me, were really just Ziva fans who needed to have their princess adored by the most handsome man in the room. They seemed to have no regard for Tony whatsoever except for his value in accessorizing their idol. Tony, as created by MW and Don Bellasario was a wonderful, sexy, multi faceted character. Once NCIS turned into ZCIS, he was relegated to team idiot and making Ziva seem more interesting, tragic, and desirable than she could have been without the constant support of a more interesting actor. I really wish they would feature Tony this season but don’t hold much hope since the show seems to have gone from ZCIS to the super Gibbs show.
Dido Twite
July 21, 2014 @ 8:52 pm
She has expressed interiest in coming back for future episodes, such as the series finale. She said it with her own mouth. I loved Tony with Ziva – he became the man he always wanted to be when he joined the Baltimore police. He wanted to be a hero, and he was. As for Tony being an idiot, he has always been the team idiot, and still is. That had nothing to do with Ziva. That’s the writers’ default, always.
Erin
July 22, 2014 @ 12:25 am
I really hope not although I think that in the early days after her resignation she said that the door wasn’t closed because they didn’t kill her off (because tptb apparently felt they had killed too many female characters) after being asked. I’m so done with ZCIS and I would never watch if they brought her back to dominate the show again with her over done dramas.
Felix
July 22, 2014 @ 3:08 pm
So right! Nobody needs a silly romance on NCIS!
My daughter is a TIVA fan and it was nice because it was NOT some useless romance but chemistry between two partners and their private love life was part of viewers imaginations!
I feel for the people who loved TIVA for 8 years but I want NCIS to be an exciting show about the team work and team chemistry with action and without this boring Bishop person!
If Cote de Pablo wants to come back, fine, if not get rid of this blonde annoying character, stop the Gibbs superman show and spare us any soap opera romance!
And it would be great if Glasberg realized that McGee and Tony are the ones neglected for a whole season and viewers would love to see them working together in a professional but funny way!
And if Ziva doesn’t come back find someone like her or Kate but please, please remove Bishop ASAP!