NCIS season 15: Mark Harmon opens up about Pauley Perrette’s departure
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Mark Harmon did share some of his own thoughts around Pauley’s exit — something that is probably very significant to him given that she is one of the few remaining original cast members on the series at this point:
“Oh, we’ll miss her. I’m really aware, and we’re all aware that audiences grow to love characters, and it’s a big deal. And we honor that. Fifteen years is a long time. People do what they do, and they move on and they do other things and that’s part of life.
“It’s given us, as a show, an opportunity to rebirth, to rejuvenate, to try new things, to grow … We adjust.”
There clearly are no plans for NCIS season 15 to be the final year of the show — we do think that the show is likely more than halfway through its run at this point, but there still may be a perception that they’ve got a little bit of life left in the tank. The ratings, (while they may not be what they once were) are still good enough in order for the show to secure another season.
How do we think Abby should be written out?
We would hope that it would be a fitting send-off and a chance to celebrate the character, one where she can go off and live out a happy existence somewhere else. We like to think that this will be more in the vein of Michael Weatherly’s exit and less in the vein of what happened with Cote de Pablo’s exit, which was rather sad given that this character was just sent off into hiding until she (supposedly) died.
Let us know what you want to see from the exit of Perrette later this season in the comments section below!
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Janet Furcello
November 12, 2017 @ 12:41 pm
I have no doubt that the show will give Abby a positive-spinning departure—Similar to MW leaving–she made her decision known to cast and crew long before the first episode of the season aired-and has made it clear she’s staying until the finale.Being right there on the set every episode–working closely with the cast ,writers,directors and producers–who often eat their meals together certainly the subject has to be addressed-even if hypothetically.The current ShowRunners-Frank Cardea and George Schenck,have been a writing team with NCIS since Season 1,so they also have worked with Pauley for 15 years.My hope is that she leaves to work for-or establish her own lab because the purpose is near and dear to her and she feels she can make more direct impact.The best Abby-centric stories have been those reflecting her own passions–advocating for homeless–animals,etc.. (ie “Shooter”)
Sally Ann Price
November 12, 2017 @ 3:47 pm
I understand what you are saying.
anne
November 11, 2017 @ 10:05 pm
whatever u decide to do, bring back tony, ziva and tali
for a grand goodbye! Talk about ratings…!!!!!
Janet Furcello
November 12, 2017 @ 12:51 pm
So that it becomes all about Tony,Ziva and Tali__with the primary focus of Abby pushed aside?No thank you.Besides-Unless Bull airs it’s finale at least a week before NCIS–he would be sabotaging his own show by showing up as Tony–break for commercial–viewer reaction–“Hey stop trying to fool us,we know you’re still DiNozzo,we just saw you” and fuel unfounded rumors that he is leaving Bull to go back to NCIS. The Golfieri Twins,who played Tali in “Family First”are now under contract with NBC’s Superstore”–Not only did Cote make it clear she had turned down a return episode appearance in Season 12 and would not appear in Tony’s departure episode–The viewers would demand a full explanation of how she survived despite being “pronounced dead by Mossad”–and what happened in between–See my first sentence in this reply!
Sally Ann Price
November 12, 2017 @ 3:51 pm
I know what you are saying. It is about Pauley when she leaves. It would be hard to write in the other characters, that used to be on there. Michael can’t comeback anyway because of Bull. I know they never found Ziva’s body, and Tony was going to find out what happen to her, but they did at that time resumed her dead. You never know about writers, they can bring her back, but probably won’t be near.
Sally Ann Price
November 11, 2017 @ 7:25 pm
I think they should have Cote come back for that episode to show that she is still alive. They never found her body. At one time they were thinking about Pauley and Cote working on an episode together.
LaureNcis
November 11, 2017 @ 8:16 pm
Its not about Cote it’s about Pauley. Geese
anne
November 11, 2017 @ 10:06 pm
true, but she loved tony and ziva
Sally Ann Price
November 11, 2017 @ 11:09 pm
I know she did.
Sally Ann Price
November 11, 2017 @ 11:09 pm
I know its about Pauley. I think it should be about her. I was just thinking that maybe since she is leaving, they could bring back some of the original cast.
Loretta Close
November 12, 2017 @ 12:03 am
Cote doesn’t want anything to do with the show. She has made that very clear.
Sally Ann Price
November 12, 2017 @ 12:07 am
Okay! I know she said that over a year ago.