NCIS bosses, CBS comment on Pauley Perrette’s departure at season’s end

Pauley Perrette’s departure from NCIS at the conclusion of season 15 is one of the big stories breaking today and for good reason. She is not only one of the few remaining original cast members on the show, but she also just so happens to play one of the most recognizable characters in all of TV. You can show her photo to people all over the world and they will know exactly who it is. The love that is out there for Abby is immense among many, and as a result of that it’s not hard to figure that CBS and executive producers George Schenck and Frank Cardea are going to come up with a worthy way to send her off into the sunset.

In a statement responding to Perrette’s own announcement overnight, the two bosses started things off by saying the following:

“We’ve known for some time this would be Pauley’s final season on NCIS and have been working toward a special send-off. From day one, she has brought incredible passion and specificity to the role. Abby is a character that inspires millions of fans around the world, and all of us at NCIS are appreciative of Pauley for portraying her.”

Meanwhile, CBS TV Studios also passed along some comments of their own:

“While it’s never easy saying goodbye to a beloved actress and character, we respect her decision to leave at the end of the season. We are grateful to Pauley for all her contributions to the series and making Abby one of the most unique characters on television.”

When Perrette made her initial statement she confirmed that she made the decision to depart the show last year, and that should give the producers plenty of time in order to figure out what’s next for the show. We here at CarterMatt do think NCIS has a huge challenge here in finding the right way to replace her given that over the past several years they’ve lost already two of their most dynamic characters in Ziva (Cote de Pablo) and Tony (Michael Weatherly). While Cote was not a series regular from the beginning (season 1), these two characters plus Abby were essential for many years in the show becoming the most-watched drama in America and eventually all over the world. There aren’t any indications on the show itself right now that Abby could be leaving, but this is something that the producers may illuminate a little bit more as the remainder of the season progresses.

Are you still surprised about Pauley Perrette’s departure?

Do you think now is the right time for her to depart NCIS, and what do you think CBS will and should do when she is gone? Let us know more in the comments, and be sure to click here if you do want to see a preview for the next new episode.

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