Some old fan favorites may return in light of the monumental NCIS season 20, but the plan is especially bad for DiNozzo and Gibbs.
NCIS season 20 could bring back several, if not many, former cast members, but Tony DiNozzo and Leroy Gibbs’ return would be a waste of time. CBS’ longest-running police procedural is commemorating its two-decade anniversary this year. This officially places it as one of the longest-running scripted American primetime television series, trailing only NBC’s Law & Order: SVU and Law & Order: Special V1ctims Unit. In honor of this, some of the show’s former cast members are expected to appear in a special reunion.
NCIS has had its fair share of actor departures over the course of its run. It has lost several original characters over the last decade. Michael Weatherly’s departure from NCIS in season 13 was arguably one of the most significant, as was Mark Harmon’s departure from the show in season 19. Given these factors, DiNozzo and Gibbs’ potential return is one of the most anticipated comebacks on the show’s history. While their cameos are still possible, a recent update on how CBS plans to handle returning characters is underwhelming.
Season 20 of NCIS requires a Gibbs and DiNozzo reunion.
NCIS season 20 is currently nearing the end of its run. It has already released 15 episodes, with the finale rumored to be in May. The 450th episode of the police procedural, “Unusual Suspects,” was just released and featured no returning characters. Despite this, long-time NCIS cast member Brian Dietzen provides an update on returning characters, stating that while Gibbs, DiNozzo, and others may appear in season 20, CBS may not bring them all back at the same time. While this makes sense given the number of characters who can return to the show, it would be a disservice to Gibbs and DiNozzo in particular.
Seeing Gibbs and DiNozzo, regardless of the circumstances, will be a special treat for NCIS fans. That being said, it defies logic for CBS to pass up the opportunity to stage a long-awaited reunion. Despite leaving NCIS in season 19, Harmon hasn’t shared the screen with Weatherly in nearly a decade. While the show has always been an ensemble, the pair’s mentor/mentee dynamic was its most appealing, especially in its first ten years. It’d be interesting to see how their relationship has changed since they stopped working together.
Why Did Mark Harmon and Michael Weatherly Leave NCIS?
Despite his departure from NCIS in season 19, Harmon remains an executive producer on the show. Weatherly, on the other hand, is not a character in the series. Despite this, both actors expressed a desire to return to the police procedural. Harmon intended to leave the show in season 18, but decided on a limited appearance the following year to allow CBS to give his character a proper send-off. Meanwhile, Weatherly’s decision to leave NCIS was based on landing a lead role in the hit legal drama Bull, which aired for six seasons and ended in 2022.
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