‘NCIS’ season 11 spoilers: Series boss on Muse Watson’s return, not ‘replacing’ Cote de Pablo
Tomorrow night, “NCIS” welcomes back an old face in Muse Watson’s Mike Franks, but is it going to be a happy hour for the character? Not exactly. Instead, we are going to go back to his past to see just how that impacts the lives of Gibbs and some other characters in the present. He’s not going to live within the imagination like he did in the character’s last appearance on the show, and we will instead learn more about his past.
For some more insight into what helped to put this particular episode (entitled “Anonymous Was a Woman”) together, just take a look at what executive producer Gary Glasberg told Xfinity on the subject:
“That is a good way to describe it. Steve Binder wrote a really fantastic episode that I am really proud of. It is a story from Franks’ past that effects Gibbs. We do some flashbacks, and we look into a world and an issue that is significant, concerning, and emotional. I just finished watching the episode last night and I’m proud of it.”
Glasberg was also of course asked about the question of the day, the month, and really they year when it comes to the show, and that is trying to move on from Cote de Pablo and her role as Ziva. Specifically, he went as far here as to say that he has no interest whatsoever in trying to replace her on the show. Instead, the goal is to more or less present a new energy that can create something else fun without constantly reminding viewers or throwing it in their faces that Ziva is gone:
‘You’re never going to hear me say that because at the end of the day, I’m not looking to replace Ziva. I’m looking to add something new and different to the mix. The Bishop character (a possible successor) will be very different and bring something we haven’t had before.”
Right now, Emily Wickersham is booked for three episodes on the show, but it could expand depending on a number of different factors. For now, she does appear to be the only actor with a significant chance of filling that series regular position that was left open following Cote’s departure.
In case you missed the big news from earlier this weekend, Glasberg himself inked a new deal with CBS TV Studios, which will keep him around the show for a couple of years to go along with the “NCIS: New Orleans” spin-off.
Photo: CBS