‘NCIS’ season 11 spoilers: Michael Weatherly, Pauley Perrette allude to Cote de Pablo exit
“NCIS” fans suffered what was a pretty dire tragedy earlier this week, as the news broke for the first time that although Cote de Pablo will be back for more of the hit CBS drama, it may only just be an episode’s worth of footage. The show is going to be writing the actress out of the story at her own request, and this move comes after months of questions about contract negotiations. (Back in the spring, executive producer Gary Glasberg was seemingly optimistic that a deal with Cote would get done.)
So how are the actors now reacting to the news? About as positively as you can given the circumstances. One of the real people that many were interested in hearing from about this was Michael Weatherly, given his connection to Cote as his character Tony was long linked as a possible Ziva love interest. In a post on Twitter, here is what he had to say, though it should be noted that he does not mention Cote directly:
“Staying positive on the beach is what it’s all about! Deep breath everyone… Interesting days ahead.”
Meanwhile, Pauley Perrette did something similar on her own account, addressing the issue without really mentioning any names directly:
“Change is always hard There’s no drama and no blame We all love each other SO much. I’ll be hugging her off screen. #NCIS”
Clearly, this is a show that will have some sort of pressure to get it right and move forward from this, given that they gained most of their audience and their following after Cote arrived on the show eight seasons ago; plus, they are the most-watched scripted show on television, and ultimately have many viewers that could either stay or go.
If you want to read more about the news from earlier this week, just be sure to hit up the link here.
Photo: CBS
BJewelled74
July 21, 2013 @ 7:23 am
Excellently put, Raspberry Rumtart! Exactly how I feel.
Alicia
July 16, 2013 @ 2:37 pm
Tejas, I would like to apologize for some of the comments I made to you. In reading them over, I feel that to me they were rude and not handled in the right way. Again I extend my apologies
tejas
July 16, 2013 @ 4:31 pm
Not a problem, Alicia. Obviously we both love the show or we wouldn’t be discussing this. Sometimes emotions run a bit high. It’s to be expected and it’s okay. Thank you, though. I do appreciate it and hope nothing I’ve said has hurt YOUR feelings. People are more important than television shows.
Alicia
July 16, 2013 @ 5:11 pm
My feelings weren’t hurt. I just don’t like being that way with people so I wanted to apologize
Alicia
July 16, 2013 @ 12:05 pm
I just checked twitter, it won’t end.. Comments are really out there. Now I can’t wait until all of this is over. Saying NCIS won’t make it without Cote is a bit much. One person said they looked at a picture of Cote and got pregnant :/
Squib
July 16, 2013 @ 12:59 am
Wow… a “dire tragedy?” Really?
Perhaps a little perspective is in order. A tragedy is an untimely death or a horrifying accident. An actress deciding to leave a ridiculously popular show after having made more money in 9 months of filming than most people will see in their entire lives is NOT a tragedy.
Cote de Pablo is a big girl. She made a decision to leave the show, for whatever reason, and I wish her luck. It’s been an interesting 8 years with her on board. I never liked the Ziva character, not really, and I liked her even less after the end of the Rivkin/Aaliyah/season 6 mess, but she’s finally decided to go, so farewell and it’s onward and upward for the show without the albatross that was Tiva hanging around their neck. Perhaps, we should be looking at this as a great opportunity to inject some new energy back into the show that was seriously foundering over the last season or so, while it caved to the demands of more Tiva “moment” crap on the screen all the time.
It’s “articles” like this that just feed the frenzy that seems to think it’s ok to display disgustingly (and increasingly) unbalanced behavior as a display of their “loyalty” to a FICTIONAL CHARACTER. When you have a small, virulently vocal minority spewing hatred and threats at cast and crew (and their families for #&%^’s sake) you have jumped into the deep end of the crazy pool.
It’s just a tv show. For the cast and crew, it’s a job. Is it an enjoyable show? Yes. But, how about a little reality….
Grow up.
Alicia
July 15, 2013 @ 10:33 pm
Unbelievable. Just because someone comes across a certain way doesn’t make it so. No one knows her but her family and friends and her co-stars. The same unbelievable goes towards those going on a rampage about her leaving
Lizzy90
July 15, 2013 @ 10:13 pm
If you think that CdP leaving NCIS is a tragedy… I’m very happy for you, because it means that you’ve never experienced any real tragedy in your life. Lucky you!
CdP left the show because (I quote) “I gave NCIS 8 years of my life” and she clearly had enough. I don’t know if she left because she didn’t get a better salary, or because she wants to become a singer or a theatre actress (I hope not), or if she simply wants more time for her private life. I don’t know her reasons and, honestly, I do not care. This is her choice and her so-called fans should respect it.
Cote is not dead. She perferctly fine, alive and happy with her fiance in her villa in Hollywood.
The show will move on and will be perfectly fine just like after we lost SA, a much better actress than CdP whose acting was getting worse season by season.
Two things shocked me the most.
The level of hater and anger this decision has stirred up. I guess Ziva’s fans learnt from her how to behave and treat people. What the other cast members should do? Cry all of their tears and pulling their hair? And why insult and call them name? Because their colleagues voluntarily decided to not resign her contract? This is crazy!
Another thing that shocked me is her fans’ immature reaction. People who can’t sleep and eat. People who don’t smile or laugh anymore. Married women who say that their family’s love is not enough to make them happy again after this ‘tragedy’. Are we kidding?!
I’m sure Cote is really ashamed of having this kind of fans who do not respect their own families, her and her friends/ex-colleagues.
Shanice
July 15, 2013 @ 9:51 pm
There are some of you that I want to click like for but for some reason I can’t…argh . I’m using my cell phone so maybe thats why. Any help is appreciated
Shanice
July 15, 2013 @ 9:23 pm
I see some comments on here that are glad Cote is leaving. This is what I’m talking about, it’s not just the fanatics, it’s both sides if the line. Reacting in such a nasty way against her is no better than those who are OD for her .
tejas
July 15, 2013 @ 10:37 pm
Why is it wrong to be happy to see someone leaving a show when you despise her character and think she’s a terrible actress?
Alicia
July 16, 2013 @ 1:25 am
Nothing at all. I’m not saying it’s wrong , your allowed to feel whatever but the dislike is to the point that everything gets exaggerated and people see only what they want to see or turn it into something it’s not or out of context.
By the way tejas believe or not I’m glad to see your name because I lost track after one of the forums shut down.
tejas
July 16, 2013 @ 1:41 am
I haven’t seen anything exaggerated (or at least too much or too widespread) on the “glad she’s gone” side of things. We are, after all, the ones who like what’s happening. It’s the ones making death threats to actors, producers and their families or the ones who equate her leaving the show with the death of real people. As for my opinions about her on a personal level, I can only go by what I’ve seen and what I’ve read. I spent decades in jobs where being able to read people was required and I honed that skill over time. Coupled with knowledge of how organizations work regardless of industry, what I’ve observed paints a less than favorable picture of her personally and her place with relation to her former coworkers. Could I be wrong? Absolutely. But I don’t think so.
I hate FB so I didn’t follow the forum over. Sometimes I miss it, but not enough to mess with FB any more than I absolutely have to (since my daughter has a FB I only have one to see what she’s up to or to chat with her when she’s away at school).
Alicia
July 16, 2013 @ 5:32 am
Yes me too. I have family that lives far away that I haven’t seen years so they have FB. Getting aggravated with twitter too. The forums need to follow through on the grounds of deleting accounts
Alicia
July 16, 2013 @ 1:50 am
Oops *you’re*
Lizabeth S. Tucker
July 15, 2013 @ 11:50 pm
Am I glad that Ziva is being written out of the show? Most definitely. I was a huge fan when that character first appeared after Kate was killed off. And for a couple of seasons, I really rejoiced in this strong, independent character. But it wasn’t long before the teasing and flirting turned into nastiness and self-entitlement. Again, I’m speaking of the character NOT the actress. I’ve never met CdP, so I have no opinions of her beyond what I’ve read (believing about half) and seen (believing a bit more).
The scripts wrote her character into a corner there was no way out of. Ziva was turned into a violent, out of control, shrill, nasty woman with anger management problems who was unable to imagine that Tony didn’t love her, but still would make personal attacks at him, both verbal and physical. That didn’t help.
Add to that the focus that CBS put on the TIVA relationship and you had a disaster that was waiting to happen. But all of that was workable. You either kept watching (love or hate her) or you quit the series.
And then the announcement of her decision to leave came. The reaction of a small but strange group of fans who equated this action to the end of the world blew up all over the internet. If you are so invested in a series that something like this throws you into a deep depression, you have other issues that you really should look into. Still acceptable. Strange, but acceptable.
But when you go onto social media and attack anyone and everyone involved with the show or even distantly related to the people involved in the show, you have crossed a line. Crossed? You jumped headfirst into crazyland. And, something many of them don’t seem to understand is that these threats are criminal in nature. That means more than just having your Twitter account closed. It can mean arrests for making terrorist threats. It can mean arrests for stalking and harrassment.
This situation isn’t helped by the blogs and articles by those who observe and report on the entertainment business. So don’t be so surprised that some of us are trying to explain WHY this isn’t a tragedy and WHY we are trying to explain some facts of life to those who don’t seem to get it.
tejas
July 16, 2013 @ 12:26 am
It is still mind boggling that there are people who equate hating a character and wanting that character killed off (leaving the actor/actress free to seek other employment) with hating a real person and wanting to kill them. I’m completely unimpressed with de Pablo. But she will go on and do whatever she does, I just don’t want to have to watch her do it because I don’t think she’s very good at her chosen profession. Ziva (fictional character with no reality beyond storytelling) needs to die as the only rational end to her story – it’s the most fitting way to pay for her various crimes. At least Tony wouldn’t have to worry about her shoving another loaded gun in his chest and wanting to kill him.
Alicia
July 16, 2013 @ 1:44 am
If she needs to die then so does Gibbs. He let Mike Franks shoot an unarmed man even though he had plenty of time to stop it. Gibbs always, always gets away with stuff. But I have grown quite weary with that scenario
tejas
July 16, 2013 @ 1:52 am
No, the crimes she’s guilty of were in no way justice (tv or otherwise). Betraying her team, betraying her country, etc. There’s a reason why “when Ziva lies, people die” is a common saying. She didn’t follow orders and Kate died. She didn’t tell what she knew and Rivkin and Jackie both died. She may be just as guilty of her father’s death, but I don’t recall at the moment – I’ve only seen that one once. She lied to Gibbs about why she was at NCIS – her entire relationship with everyone was built on that lie – and her motivation for shooting Ari (she *VOLUNTEERED* to shoot him but dithered and so didn’t bother until after he murdered Kate). She has no loyalty to anyone but herself, which she shows frequently. Storytelling justice requires her death.
Alicia
July 16, 2013 @ 5:27 am
A crime by any other name is a crime. And that Ari , Kate Ziva storyline was whacked. At first Eli wasn’t Ari’s father and he had no siblings. The continuity sucked and then they revamped it again …Regardless the things Gibbs did in the name of his justice. Mike Franks has gotten away with a lot. I think I’m trying to agree with you on one of your points but it’s 1:30 in the morning and I’m cleaning and have lost my thought; any who…yeah…sorry I’m so lost where I was going with this.
tejas
July 16, 2013 @ 6:46 am
No, crimes are not all created equal and fictional crimes less so. In fiction, what Gibbs did is good storytelling. Nothing of Ziva’s has been.
Alicia
July 16, 2013 @ 10:03 am
You didn’t like Shabbat Shalom at all or Shiva?
tejas
July 16, 2013 @ 3:39 pm
Not enough to want to rewatch. Though I couldn’t help but laugh at all the scenery chewing de Pablo was doing over Eli’s death. Her acting sank to new lows with that.
Alicia
July 16, 2013 @ 10:44 am
You mean the whole time you have watched the series, there’s not one storyline with Ziva you liked(her leaving doesn’t count ) or one redeeming quality( her dying doesn’t count)?
tejas
July 16, 2013 @ 3:43 pm
I kept hoping they’d show some redeeming qualities, but they had already started twisting the character before they got to them. The only episode she ever had that was at all worth watching was Dead Man Walking. I’ve come to dislike her so much I can’t even watch that one any more. de Pablo’s acting has also gotten so bad it’s painful to see. She was much better when she first started.
Alicia
July 16, 2013 @ 5:08 pm
Dead Man Walking is my favorite ep of all times with Ziva
Alicia
July 16, 2013 @ 1:33 am
What frustrated me was one minuteT & Z would have some really meaningful conversation and the following week it’s as if the conversation never took place >_< . That was annoying to me. I'm always scratching my head when that happens(what the deuce?!)
Marissa
July 16, 2013 @ 3:28 am
Not necessarily. The Anti Ziva and Anti Tiva contingent hasn’t threatened real people’s lives as Gary Glasberg’s has been (someone offered to shoot him in the head just today on twitter if he kills off Ziva), and Mark Harmon’s Michael Weatherly’s, and even more insanely, Michael’s wife and daughter’s life have been threatened by fans upset with Cote’s departure.
Alicia
July 16, 2013 @ 5:37 am
Why would they, it’s what is wanted ;). I like Ziva but I’m not going to be an extremist.
Shanice
July 15, 2013 @ 9:15 pm
I agree with everyone about the fanatics. When the curtain goes down, it’s her and family. Do I want Cote to stay? Yes. However, I wish her much success . In all fairness nastiness is coming from both sides of the coin not just the fanatics. People are making this more than it has to be. It makes me nervous the reactions occurring. Again I’m going to miss her because she’s leaving but I look forward to any of her future endeavors . Her choice, her right
anna
July 15, 2013 @ 7:41 pm
wow…seriously….the ‘dire tragedy’ was to the Glee cast and friends and family of the actor who died.
This is a CHANGE OF EMPLOYMENT…by the actor’s request, none the less.
I’ve been shocked by the level of abuse some fans have been hurling at a variety of people from GG on down to Hailey Murray (of all people) but seeing how some are trying to trump up the reactions even more….
Do all concerned a favor and quit trying to whip this into even more of a frenzy than it is already…between blogs like this and the very fake CDP Official fb page, all that’s being accomplished is destruction.
tejas
July 15, 2013 @ 5:49 pm
No, the “tragedy” was that the character was ever brought on board in the first place and that someone who can’t act her way out of a paper bag was hired for the part. Fans are REJOICING over her quitting. Just wish she hadn’t been such a spoiled brat about it and had let them know she was going before the last minute. It would be great if Ziva is dead in the first scene of the new season and never seen again. de Pablo walked away from more money than most people will ever see. Good riddance.
Alicia
July 15, 2013 @ 10:17 pm
So you were there when all if this went down . Contracts involve negotiating and sometimes it goes on until the midnight hour just like Michael Weatherly and Pauley Perrette did 2 years ago. Oh yeah , sorry I forgot it’s only considered wrong when Cote does it. You’re happy she’s leaving , no problem but her co- workers don’t see her that way and she’s been working with them for 8 years
tejas
July 15, 2013 @ 10:32 pm
You don’t have to watch someone change your tire to know how it works. As for how her coworkers view her, we have no real idea. We’ve seen MW doing whatever he could to avoid her pawing hands in interviews (and to even complain verbally in one). We’ve seen MH trying to lean away from her with a frozen smile while she hangs on him (he calls her “Goat” for heaven’s sake – hardly a nice nickname). We’ve seen PP all but put her hand over CdP’s mouth to keep her from spouting spoilers. What’s been said have been the standard things people always say about their coworkers when talking to customers. It’s always one big happy family, regardless of industry. I worked with people (shared cubes with one) for 20 years that I couldn’t stand, but no one outside the department knew it. Didn’t keep us from being able to work together, either.
As for how long other contracts have taken, she’s the only one who walked out in the 11th hour. I doubt MW or PP would have been so unprofessional.
Lizzy90
July 15, 2013 @ 11:29 pm
When I saw her behavior at the latest CBS Upfronts I was speechless… I really felt sorry for PP, BD, MH (who tried to stop her) and mostly MW *sigh*
And her usual “I’m Latina!” is just stupid and doesn’t justify her behavior.
tejas
July 15, 2013 @ 11:53 pm
Yes. Her behavior is often very unprofessional, to say the least. Most of the Latinas I know are horrified that she would try to use that to excuse the unexcusable.
Alicia
July 16, 2013 @ 1:17 am
This is just as ridiculous as the pro Ziva/Tiva going emo. Nothing Cote does is right and nobody else does anything wrong or annoying.
tejas
July 16, 2013 @ 1:20 am
Never said anything of the kind. This thread is about de Pablo’s behavior and abilities, not the others.
Alicia
July 16, 2013 @ 6:08 am
:O
Marissa
July 16, 2013 @ 3:23 am
Haven’t seen anyone anti Ziva threaten Cote’s life as Gary Glasberg’s,
Mark Harmon’s and Michael Weatherly’s have been in the last week.
Alicia
July 16, 2013 @ 5:10 am
Oh I’m with you there. I read some that scared me but none like anything you guys have mentioned. I stopped reading the main threads on twitter and just DM anyone I want to communicate with.
Alicia
July 16, 2013 @ 12:59 am
Still doesn’t put you on an intimate level. Do or don’t but I find that whether your pro or against people see what they want to see . She has many nick names . They call her Cotes, MW calls her Cote de Promblem, doesn’t mean they don’t like her or have a problem with her. There have been photo shoots when MW has initiated things and she has swatted his hand away. They tease each other . You don’t have to like her ,I have no problem with that. There are times that I think she could tone it down or i think “Cote, you’re talking too much.”However no matter how thin you slice the bread there’s always two sides. Everybody has traits that may be or seem abrasive. Just as you had people you couldn’t stand I’m sure it goes the other way. Just because there are Latinos that don’t like her doesn’t mean they speak for all.
tejas
July 16, 2013 @ 1:01 am
LOL You don’t think “Cote de Problem” indicates that things are not good between them? Wow. LOLOLOL
Alicia
July 16, 2013 @ 5:14 am
It’s called joking. I found it funny so did she. Mark Harmon said on a commentary that Cote and MW are good friends and they like doing those intense scenes.
tejas
July 16, 2013 @ 6:44 am
That’s not a friendly joke. As for MH’s comment – again, that’s party line stuff. Their body language doesn’t bear it out.
Alicia
July 16, 2013 @ 6:57 am
Then I shouldn’t have any friends because we joke like that many times . I know deep down you love Cote and her character Ziva you just don’t want to admit it. I know it’s killing you she’s leaving. I just want you to know I’m here for you…lol
Taz
July 15, 2013 @ 1:37 pm
Gutted to see her move on, but cant wait to see what she does next and who will replace her on the show will be interesting to see someone come in and change the dynamic but cant wait for it, looking forward to the new season. :D
Alicia
July 15, 2013 @ 10:19 pm
I would love to see Diane Neal come aboard as Agent Borin
annsan
July 16, 2013 @ 12:50 am
Borin is fine in her yearly guest appearances…
Would rather see more of Fornell if that’s the route they’re going and keep the team to just Gibbs,Tony and McGee – they’ll be more time then for scenes between everyone
Tessa
July 14, 2013 @ 11:45 pm
The fans make the show and the fans have every right to grieve the loss of a character. Actors can be marvelous but without fans there is no show. Negotiations with CBS fell through so she decided to leave. That, my friend, is a fact. I doubt the NCIS will ever recover.
annsan
July 15, 2013 @ 7:50 pm
Acting like there’s been a death in the immediate family, treating cast, writers and family like trash should never be a part of grieving…yet that is what far too many ‘fans’ have done since this news broke.
NCIS will go one – recover isn’t even a fitting word for this.
The fanbase, however, which has long been fractured thanks to a small group of ‘fans’ of the character of ziva and this faux romance she was a part of, will most likely not recover from the blow dealt it by those ‘fans’ who think the world owes them something due to Cote’s decision. All that has happened here is that the fans of the show will become an embarrassment
Billie
July 14, 2013 @ 11:38 pm
This makes me very sad. She is going to be a hard act to follow!
Tintigorri
July 15, 2013 @ 3:59 pm
More like she’s going to be an easy act to follow. Her acting wasn’t much cop these last 2 or 3 seasons, along with her diva attitude in interviews
none
July 14, 2013 @ 5:27 pm
glad to see her go
Lizabeth S. Tucker
July 14, 2013 @ 1:50 pm
There is no tragedy, there is change. Unfortunately a hardcore group of so-called fans have attacked everyone involved with the show over this or even family members who have nothing to do with it. That should be your article. Take a good look at the feeds and see the venom spewing from these people’s tweets and remember that the name “fan” came originally from “fanatic”.
It is beyond disgusting and, in some cases, criminal. So perhaps people like you could stop egging it on with terms like “tragedy”. Tragedy is an actor dying, not deciding to move on to try something new after 8 years on a hit show.
Samantha
July 14, 2013 @ 2:17 pm
It IS a tragedy! No matter if an actors leaves or dies their still no longer on the show! We ARE fans and we can do/say what we want and feel. No people shouldn’t go off on someone for her leaving considering it was her choice and it’s not their fault, but we are still grieving and upset about the loss of her and her character!
jenniecoughlin
July 14, 2013 @ 3:17 pm
You can grieve and be upset about something without posting ugly comments to the other cast, crew and friends. Some fans are crossing that line, and it’s painful to watch. We’re all entitled to our feelings. It’s the actions some people are taking to express those feelings that several fans, myself included, have an issue with.
junebug
July 14, 2013 @ 4:00 pm
An actress deciding to leave a show to pursue other interests is in NO WAY a tragedy! It was her choice, no one forced her to leave. No one else in the cast or crew has said anything derogatory about her! The ONLY people spewing threats & venom are the crazed Ziva/Tiva fans who can’t get a grip on the difference between fantasy & reality. As for being able to do/say what you want, well, that goes both ways. The rest of us have a right to express our opinion as well. Grow up, get a grip, & MOVE ON!!
Alicia
July 15, 2013 @ 10:08 pm
I think using the word crazed is very generous on your part. I am a Cote de Pablo fan and am shocked and appalled by other fans’ reactions
as524
July 15, 2013 @ 7:44 pm
It’s far from a tragedy…Cote’s still ALIVE…you’ll still be able to see her in other roles or whatever she does – if you so choose. you’ll still be able to watch reruns of NCIS with her plus enjoy the new direction the show will be heading in. Acting like the world is coming to an end which far too many are doing is completely out of line, tbh.
flootzavut
July 18, 2013 @ 3:57 pm
“An event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress, such as a serious accident, crime, or natural catastrophe.”
Seriously, if a character I liked leaving a show I liked was the worst thing that had happened to me this year, I’d be a happy bunny. It’s sad, it’s upsetting, some fans will grieve.
It is NOT a tragedy, and it does NOT excuse the behaviour from some factions of the fandom. Calling this a tragedy is an insult to actual tragic things happeni every day.
Tintigorri
July 15, 2013 @ 3:57 pm
Totally agree with you. A tragedy is what happened in Boston, the Zimmerman case, a plane crash, the hunger in the 3rd world.
CdP is an adult who simply decided she wanted to move on and do something different. Get over it people
tejas
July 15, 2013 @ 11:06 pm
Yes, like the person tweeting to MW with the twitter name “Ghost of Olivia W” whose profile says:
Ghost of Olivia W
@ncislover4142
born in IA. left handed. i died on 7/10/13
Sitting on a rainbow
There’s a story for you. Sick. Sick. Sick.
Lizabeth S. Tucker
July 15, 2013 @ 11:53 pm
That is beyond sick. Hope the cops follow up on that one. And people wonder why we call some so-called fans psychotic.
tejas
July 15, 2013 @ 11:55 pm
Bingo. I really do hope the law gets involved, too. I can’t imagine how horrified I would be to see my own daughter portrayed in such a manner.
Alicia
July 16, 2013 @ 5:05 am
If students can get suspended from school and face criminal charges, I don’t see why this should be any different. Aren’t there policies governing those type of things saying accounts can be removed ?
Alicia
July 16, 2013 @ 6:49 am
You have got to be kidding me. Please tell me you’re kidding. U know I’ve read tweets saying the show is going to lose lots of viewers but that’s not happening. As much as I am going to miss her, that is overkill