‘NCIS’ season 11 Series boss on decisions for Cote de Pablo’s final two episodes

Thanks to what we are about to share, we probably know everything about Cote de Pablo’s exit from “NCIS” after 11 seasons that we are probably going to know. While you can make whatever assumptions that you want about money, schedules, or the like, you have not heard either from the actress or the studio behind the show … and we doubt you ever will.

What we do have for you now is a little bit more in the way of insight concerning how everything came to pass. Executive producer Gary Glasberg shared a few more behind-the-scenes tidbits to TVLine, including that Ziva was originally not going to be off the grid really at all in the original version of the first two episodes prior to her deciding to leaving the show, and that there was another kiss between her and Tony that was left on the cutting room floor.

As for the controversial move to not actually have Cote appear in more than just the second episode, Glasberg claims that the reason behind this was something a little bit different than something that was just done creatively:

“I understand that reaction to the first [Season 11] episode [when it comes to her not showing up right away], but that was stuff that literally had to be written at a time when there were still issues being figured out. Devices and decisions like having them Instant Messaging each other were put together because I had to.”

As for not having her around until the final thirty or more minutes of the second episode that marked her goodbye, that was something a little more deliberate:

“We just wanted the story to build and ramp properly. We wanted to feel Tony’s search appropriately, and the only way you feel that is, for a little while, to have him looking for her. To not have him connect with her just yet. The only way we can do that is to have her not be present, and then have her appear when we least expect it.”

In conclusion, Glasberg reiterates that Ziva is not dead, and as long as this remains the case, there is a chance that she could return to the show. We just imagine that if it happens, it would probably not be again this season. If you give this time, it may be then that you start to see things turn around a little bit.

Want to read more reaction on life without Cote on the show? Then just click here, where you can see a little of what Michael Weatherly had to say about her exit.

Photo: CBS