‘NCIS’ season 11 spoilers: Michael Weatherly on Tony following Cote de Pablo’s exit
If you are for whatever reason worried about the thought of seeing Tony move on to another woman on “NCIS” season 11 after Ziva’s departure, in particular one that is going to be her spiritual successor in some ways, don’t be: While this new Bishop character debuting later this season may be many things to the team, she is not going to be a love interest for the character.
Why is that? There are a number of reasons, beginning with the simple belief we have that giving Tony a new love interest would cause many “Tiva” fans to angrily boycott CBS for the rest of their lives. Of course, Michael Weatherly is much more diplomatic on the subject, and had the following to say in a chat with Entertainment Weekly about why we are not going to see his characters involved with Ziva in such a way:
“I don’t think there’s any chance of Bishop being involved in that in any way. If anything, she would be deeply, deeply off-limits for him. It won’t even enter his brain — and that’s another thing. I think she’s going to be very attractive, but I just don’t think DiNozzo will see her like that for even a heartbeat. I think there’s a level of maturity for him. He’s averse to anyone who would sit at that desk, I think.“
We’re still not ruling out the possibility of him having another love interest someday, but it could be a while down the road and would also depend on when the show planned to end things. But that is just our belief, and the producers here may have something else planned.
For now, there’s no need to worry about the future of a character that is meant primarily to be entertainment on a prime-time show. Let’s just enjoy the episode Tuesday night for what it will hopefully be: A moving moment between two characters that you have been waiting to get together for almost a full decade.
In case you missed it, click here to catch the latest extended promo for the episode.
Photo: CBS
Nicole
September 29, 2013 @ 5:12 am
I’m looking forward to Tony moving on with his life, hopefully very quickly, after Ziva’s exit. Maybe now Tony can be the real Tony again. I would like him to reclaim his masculinity Ziva stripped him of, his position as Gibbs’ SFA Ziva stole from him and his status as Gibbs’ loyal Saint Bernard Ziva also stole from him. I would also like Tony’s relationships with Gibbs and McGee to be repaired and re-established after being sacrificed at the altar of the almighty Ziver. It seems, the last few years, Gibbs and McGee have had more fondness, respect, trust and loyalty for their Ziver than they have for Tony and I’m hoping Tony gets it all back now that Ziva is FINALLY gone. Even though, I know Ziva isn’t dead I feel like singing that song from the Wizard of Oz, “Wicked Witch is Dead!” Is that wrong? LOL!!
agentscully514
September 29, 2013 @ 1:10 am
wow, the hate pack took over this board.
Hinky Hippo
September 29, 2013 @ 7:57 am
Says the twit who called Mark Harmon a “worthless piece of s***” in a vile, yet typical, hate-filled anti-Harmon scree and then, a couple of days later, after hearing he visited the set on CdP’s last day of filming to watch, gushed about how pretty he was. *rme*
Who’s the hater, Sweetie? Pull up your big girl panties, your hypocricy is flapping in the breeze.
BJG77
September 29, 2013 @ 2:00 pm
And I’m sure you just LOVED when NCIS brought in Wendy, Jeanne & especially EJ. What words did you use to describe them?? And the horrible way Sarah Jane Morris (EJ) was treated on Twitter. The only “hate” on this board, which you like to call it, is to a fictional character.
Baby
September 29, 2013 @ 3:43 pm
Oh, dear *sigh* You should think before posting… I thought your soon-deleted hate-post against MH taught you something *sigh*
We’re not the ones who insulted, bashed and sent CBS tptb, cast, crew and their families (aka REAL PEOPLE) death threats. We dislike a fictional character. BIG DIFFERENCE!
We can’t stand Ziva because, in our opinion, she’s one of the worse example of woman in tv world, but we’ve never wished CdP to miscarry her baby (if she’ll have one) as someone wished MW’s wife (and then deleted the twitt in fear of being sue). UNACCEPTABLE!
People can dislike and even hate a fictional charater. People can even wish it to die. But no one is allowed to wish REAL PEOPLE to die or badly insult them, just because an actress freely decided to leave a tv show.
Liz
September 28, 2013 @ 6:49 pm
I think the show should write to the audience that is loyal to NCIS, not to the pack of whiners who insist that after Episode 2 they will not watch NCIS again until Cote returns (a very long and futile wait, btw). So why worry about them boycotting? They claim they’re leaving. Why worry about them getting their ship? They’re leaving anyway because they just can’t bare to see Tony attached to anyone but Ziva.
Well, I can’t bare to see Tony attached to Ziva in any way, and I’m only tolerating the upcoming episode because after that I won’t have to see the show trying to promote a non-relationship that essentially has at its core a man who is supposed to be in love with a woman who abused him physically and abuses him verbally and emotionally on most days of the week. A loving relationship should be built on respect, kindness, patience, etc. (all traits that Tony exhibited toward Ziva but that Ziva never exhibited toward him – whether it was a weakness in her character or the inability of the actress to convey it). Never saw anything of Corinthians 13 in this so-called great love, at least on Ziva’s part.
I’m glad to be done with the Tiva. And I will dance for joy at the end of Episode 2 when it is finally over!!
annsan
September 28, 2013 @ 6:14 pm
My favorite scene of this young season is going to be the one where Tony finally breaks free of the dead weight that is ziva.
As one who is NOT a fan of main character romances on this show, I’m looking forward to hearing about the developing (off screen with occasional glimpses on screen) relationship between McGee and Delilah (without jealous Abby) and to hearing that Tony has found a woman who likes and respects him for who and what he is and stands for (unlike ziva).
In regards to the mere idiocy that CBS would worry about a boycott by the tiva fans, that’s probably the best laugh I’ve had all day. This is a group of fans who, as a whole, can’t even agree amongst themselves as to what they think tiva on screen should be. Their temper tantrums since Cote quit have been nothing short of embarassing to the fanbase.
Cathy
September 28, 2013 @ 6:06 pm
I agree with all of you who are happy Tony will no longer be relegated to every scene, some of them totally forced and out of left field to appease the Tivanistas, with Ziva. We can now enjoy him interacting more with McGee, Gibbs (hopefully like they used to be before Ziva came into play and basically took over the role of SIC) and reintroduce Tony to his other co-workers Ducky, Jimmy (who he supposedly became good friends with during Gibbs’ leave yet we hardly ever see any sign of that) and especially Abby. Give us back those scenes of the two of them in the lab playing around – as in ‘Heartbreak.’ I have hung on to watching NCIS for 5 seasons now, in hopes to see any of this, especially the father/son, best friend whatever relationship between Gibbs and Tony. Their relationship was the thing that got me totally hooked on NCIS and I have been really missing their closeness and their talks. Really sad. Me, and other people like myself, have shown that we will hang in despite disappointment, seems a lot of the Tivanistas and Ziva acolytes are not the same way. So quit pandering to them CBS and Glasberg and give us (the majority of the fans) back the NCIS we love with ALL the relationships.
Katy
September 28, 2013 @ 5:40 pm
I was so happy to hear that Cote was leaving, it means the end to the worst character on television. So glad to hear that Tony won’t be tied to that witch any more. Wouldn’t mind an off screen romance for Tony, but with a mature woman that respects him and loves him for who he is, not some psycho like z, who only cared about herself and couldn’t love anyone else if she tried.
Hinky Hippo
September 28, 2013 @ 3:59 pm
I’m looking forward to getting past all of this useless melodrama and on to the rest of the season. Plenty of us have not wanted Tony shackled to Ziva at all – we happen to LIKE his character and wouldn’t wish her version of “love” on him ever. Apparently, she speaks “the language of love” about as well as she uses English idioms or accepts responsibility (which is never). Abuse isn’t entertainment.
I would love to see Tony find true love, like the love he shared with Jeanne. He deserves a strong woman who loves the man underneath the goofy mask, and not a weak harpy who selfishly demands he conform to her expectations. Perhaps one of those librarians and veterinarians he keeps mentioning?
Just, please, let any of them find love elsewhere and have lives again. Subtext is fun, canon romances within the main ensemble disrupting the narrative and pigeonholing characters is not.
I’m so glad Bishop will not even ping on his radar. That makes a lot of sense. He is not the caricature some fans make him out to be. I’m really looking forward to meeting the newest member of the team and getting to know her on her own merits!
Hopefully, Tim and Delilah turn out to be something special as well – preferably mainly behind the scenes ala the Palmers – and Abby’s jealousy kick will be toned way the heck down if not totally eliminated.
The tivanistas can take their ball and go home, for all I care. It’s pandering to this lunatic fringe which contributed so much in derailing so much that we loved about NCIS, destroyed the Ziva character for a great many of us who wanted to like her, and damaged so many others in the first place. They’re already being arrogant bullies while CBS throws them a bone, so I guess nothing will change how offensive they can be when they choose – how would we know they escalated after everything which has happened over the past two and a half months (and much, much longer)??? I guess some people just have to be nasty and noticed. CBS and NCIS might as well do what they want with THEIR show and nevermind the entitled idiots and their pathetic threats. The rest of us have stuck it out through thick and thin and intend to stay (even if some of us skip 11.02 like we skipped the ridiculous, Zivacentric mess that was the finale arc of S10)
#zivagone!!! #AndNowBackToClassicNCIS!
BJG77
September 28, 2013 @ 3:17 pm
I was so happy to hear that the Ziva character was leaving the show. Tiva was a forced ship on many, many viewers. And I’m also happy to hear that Tony will not be “shipped” with Bishop – ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!! Let’s bring the Navy back into NCIS and leave the ships for Castle & Bones. Gary Glasberg stated that Michael Weatherly will now have a say in how Tony is written – what a relief – because I’m sure that he was tired of only being the “T” in Tiva. And with that I’m sure that we won’t get mopey, heartbroken Tony during S11. I’m also hoping that the team forgets about Ziva as quickly as they forgot about Kate & Jenny.
And really, CBS is worried about the Tiva/Ziva fans. The show averages 18 million viewers – tell me how many millions only watch the show for Tiva/Ziva???
#NCIS #ANewBeginningS11.03.
Joni
September 28, 2013 @ 3:06 pm
Ziva being out of Tony’s life might just be the best thing that’s ever happened to him. No more being belittled on a daily basis; questioning his manhood, questioning what a successful woman could see in him. No more risk of being physically assaulted if he crosses her.
Tony deserves a happy life with someone who respects him.
I don’t know why folks were at all worried about Bishop being next on his list since she’s going to be almost young enough to be his daughter and while once upon a time Tony seemed to date younger women, *none* were that much younger.
I wish Cote the very best of luck in her life and career but I’m excited for Season 11 and to see where the show takes our remaining characters going forward.
I’m also quite looking forward to meeting Emily Wickersham’s Bishop in November to see how she fits in with our NCIS family.
Tory
September 28, 2013 @ 2:56 pm
Part of life is that sometimes even the best relationship just doesn’t work out. Why must Tony be forever tied to Ziva? What about her? Is she allowed to go on to another relationship?
In the real world both of them would be sad, but love needs to be tended and if the other isn’t around then the heart opens up to new opportunities. Why must either one face years of loneliness? Only selfish fans would say that Tony or Ziva couldn’t love again.
Erin
September 28, 2013 @ 2:29 pm
I just hope that the writers don’t continue to hogtie Tony’s character to an absent Ziva. Tony’s character has been defined by the constant Ziva melodramas for far too long. I would love to see Tony happy in a mostly off screen romance with a woman who actually behaves as if she loves him.
Baby
September 28, 2013 @ 2:16 pm
I can’t wait to see Tony coming back from Israel without Ziva. It’ll be one of the best moment of NCIS entire history.
I’m so happy to hear that there won’t be another ‘tiva’. I hope tptb learned the lesson to not let a small part of the fandom tell them what to write. NCIS is a drama show NOT a soap-opera!
I’d like to see Tony in love, really in love (like when he was in love with Jeanne) with a real woman who loves and respects him, but out of NCIS HQ. There’s an entire world of real women (not mean witches) ready for one of the most smart, caring, hot, charming and sweetest man in the world! Go Tony and find your Ms Right!
Now we just need to get ready for the most OOC and comical episode ever (PP&F) *sigh* Then we’ll take a shower (as Ziva did every time she talked to Tony) and we, the show, the cast and the crew will be finally free from Ziva (CdP) and her fake dramas.
Tintigorri
September 28, 2013 @ 1:47 pm
I’m just glad that after next week there will be no Ziva. Maybe I’ll break out a bottle of Champers to celebrate.
I quite agree about Tony not having another love interest if it’s another character like Ziva; however, if it were somebody outside the team, why not? Same goes for all the other characters.
agentscully514
September 28, 2013 @ 2:02 am
I could never accept any other love interest for him.
katy
September 28, 2013 @ 5:41 pm
sad for you.
Mary
September 28, 2013 @ 5:54 pm
PPF will show a love that has never existed except in tiva fans’ eyes. So why prevent Tony from being finally loved, respected, happy and in love with a real woman who cares about him?
annsan
September 28, 2013 @ 6:17 pm
a love interest that physically abuses and condescendingly insults her partner at every possibility…..that’s truly scary.
Ziva never LOVED TONY. but then again this is one ship that’s primary concern has always been ziva and who cares about the other 1/2.
Tory
September 29, 2013 @ 1:06 am
What about Ziva. Will u get mad if she finds someone else to love?
Hinky Hippo
September 29, 2013 @ 8:56 am
Do you regularly insist the people you care about stay with their abusers or do you just really hate Tony?