‘NCIS’ season 13 spoilers: ’24’ alum Sarah Clarke to play Tess Monroe
Today, CBS confirmed that none other than “24” and “Covert Affairs” alumni Sarah Clarke has landed this role, which the producers took their time casting. After all, the recognized her importance in the long game for the series, especially since she’s going to be a part of this universe for some time. You will first see her near the end of this season, and presuming that it all goes according to plan, she could end up becoming a regular starting in the fall.
In a statement, here is what showrunner Gary Glasberg had to say:
“We feel so fortunate to have Sarah Clarke joining us to play Tess … I’ve been a fan of her’s going back to24 and, more recently, Bosch. She’s a gifted actress, a total pro, and we can’t wait to introduce her to our NCIS family and have some fun.”
Clarke is filling an open spot on the cast list given that Michael Weatherly is departing the show at the end of the season, and it is possible that there may also be a new male addition to the cast, as well. This could be interesting, given that it has now been many years since there was a new male energy in the group; before Clarke, the last major addition was Emily Wickersham as Ellie Bishop, and that came in the months that followed Cote de Pablo’s exit.
Before Tess even appears, there are many more stories for the show to get to and address. You can head over here right now to read more of the latest about them. Also, sign up right away to get some other TV news on everything we cover, sent right to you via our official CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: CBS.)
Sandi Brooks
March 24, 2016 @ 4:20 pm
The march to Tony’s exit doesn’t look impressive, see no signs of a story arc, and it looks as though the show will be focusing on shoving their new agents at us rather than rewarding viewers with quality Tony Time, seeing our Hero Tony again before he leaves, or giving us a satisfying last glimpse of our loved and so watched TIVA duo interacting together, with the magic and chemistry only they could bring to the show. EVERY season ender following ToC S6, has been Gibbs, Gibbs, Gibbs. They even forced more GIBBS down our throats in a hard to swallow, out of place line inserted into Ziva’s exit scene with Tony, revealing “Stop This For Him” somehow was about Gibbs, cause, gosh, EVERYTHING now has to be. Betcha if Ziva showed with a Tony Jr, THAT, too would somehow be in honor of the Almighty Gibbs. Used to be so much more ensemble, now, ultimately , everything ends up All Gibbs All the Time. Enough. Let this exit be about Tony and his next stage in life, which I hope is “filling his 2 cups” (Ep Newborn King), getting professional growth plus the family he’s wanted with his soulmate and best friend Ziva,
liz laughlin
March 24, 2016 @ 6:35 pm
Remember, TPTB are getting older. NCIS is Mark Harmon’s greatest success professionally. It is natural for him to want to be in front of the camera as much as possible, when he sees the end of his career off in the distance but approaching.quickly. If I remember correctly he was born in 1951. As actors age, they start to be seen as not leading men but as supporting actors. He has been nominated several times for major awards from the likes of The Screen Actors Guild, the Emmys and the Golden Globes, however, he has never won. Harmon has won some minor awards. The closest he got to success on the big screen was the Presidio with Sean Connery. He knows that he’s heading for his last rodeo. It seems that having the success of being the lead on the most watched television show and making all those millions of dollars should be a big feather in his cap but he may still want an award from his colleagues in the movie and film industry. He has been the bride’s maid several times but never the bride. In the word’s of that great British philosopher, Mick Jagger, “What a drag it is getting old.”
Gary Glasberg started out in the early 1990s writing scripts for children’s shows, such as the Rugrats. They used to list it on his credits but in the last few years, it’s been removed. He has written for some pretty successful tv shows but again, NCIS is his major achievement. Like MH he never won any major awards. In fact, IMDb says he’s won no awards. It is easy to see why these guys want to turn NCIS into something different than what it has been in the past. If doing the same thing (following what Don Bellisario did) doesn’t get them any awards from the critics, then maybe they will hit on something that wins an award. Just my opinion.
Glonget
March 25, 2016 @ 11:13 am
I personally really don’t think it’s about the awards, but still an interesting opinion…
sadtonyfan
March 25, 2016 @ 2:16 pm
I too long to see a well thought out arc that is actually about Tony but as previous posters have stated – it’s all about Gibbs now. With the Glasberg/Harmon team clearly in charge of stories there can be no other outcome than another traumas, dramas, and heroism focused squarely on Gibbs for the finale. Tony’s departure I fear will just be the incidental C plot to another big Gibbs A story with an attempt to get viewers excited about the new character as the B plot. Season 13 is the end of NCIS for me. I wish Tony fans could see a hero Tony story played out one last time since we haven’t really had one of those since Truth or Consequences I have little hope that a potential hero moment for Gibbs will be sacrificed for Tony fans though. The show runner’s obvious disdain for DiNozzo and contempt for Weatherly’s fans have been played out on the screen for several seasons now. Harmon and his fans matter, not Weatherly fans. For once I wish the current ptb wouldn’t disappoint.
Sandi Brooks
March 25, 2016 @ 7:04 pm
I agree with all of that. TPTB seem uncaring about anything but Gibbs and milking the cash cow. Continuity, delivering that they sold to the fans that gave them their jobs doesn’t seem to matter. The characters who we loved and tuned in the show far don’t matter. Very sad.
Glonget
March 26, 2016 @ 12:27 pm
I too fear that your ABC story order might be right. If so, I will be disappointed ?
sadtonyfan
March 26, 2016 @ 1:07 pm
Disappointment seems to be par for the course for Weatherly fans these days on NCIS. They haven’t exactly been subtle about their diminishment of his character.
Sandi Brooks
March 25, 2016 @ 1:43 pm
My years of viewership were mostly due to the amazing MW and CdP, the Three Musketeers, their great bullpen dialogue, the now shredded Team as Family myth, and the prior fast paced stories, the witty comedy, the smart cultural references. Not to prop up Mark Harmon legacy. Dont care if this is his first or last rodeo, I detest what he’s done to a formerly great show. He’s destroyed the intensity and fire if two truly great unique characters to move Gibbs even more to the spotlight. Used 5o be so much more ensemble. Notice how there has not been a season finale since Mark wrestled away control that has not been Gibbs centric?
liz laughlin
March 25, 2016 @ 6:29 pm
Sandi, I’m not trying to defend TPTB. I’m trying to understand why they have nearly destroyed my favorite TV show. I haven’t even watched the last three episodes. It is too painful. People do things for a variety of reasons. It now appears that money and fan approval are not enough. If it’s not enough then what do they want? The only thing that I can come up with is that they want to be acknowledged by the critics.
I don’t think that Don Bellisario cared that much about what the critics thought. He wrote what he wanted to write and he did it with a lot of love. He wrote for a wide audience. That tells me that creating a fan base was something that he sought. He wrote for the people not for that little group of elitist critics. I felt bad for him when he got kicked off his own show. NCIS and all his other shows were a labor of love and he was good at what he did. A generation that wasn’t even born when he wrote Magnum or Quantum leap or JAG have discovered the work of Bellisario and they love it. There are still young people who want to see love, bravery, patriotism, teamwork and so much more.
David McCallum said that he couldn’t understand why CdP left NCIS becasue it is such a “gem.” Well now my question is why do TPTB want to destroy NCIS. It WAS such a gem. The only thing that I come up with is it has never achieved critical acclaim and now the clock is ticking.
sadtonyfan
March 25, 2016 @ 8:47 pm
That’s an interesting idea. I have suspected for some time now that part of the reason Harmon’s Gibbs has constant never ending dramas and traumas, is the only character who gets to relate to anyone else in a dramatic and flattering rather than comic and shallow level, is because they really, really want him to be THE noticed player. The show has become an unashamed showcase for Harmon and they don’t seem to know, or maybe care, what to do with the rest of the cast. I am to some degree grateful that Weatherly decided to leave the show. .