For over a decade, Michael Weatherly and Mark Harmon played Agent DiNozzo and Agent Gibbs, respectively, in NCIS. Though Weatherly is no longer on the show, his fans will remember the energy and strong character dynamics he brought to the primetime procedural as DiNozzo. The bond he and Gibbs shared — their blossoming mentor-mentee relationship — stands out in the minds of viewers.
DiNozzo was a prankster, and Gibbs frequently had to put him in his place, but trust, respect, and admiration went both ways. And, while Harmon and Weatherly appeared to have chemistry on the show, it wasn’t because they were cut from the same cloth. Michael Weatherly once stated that as soon as he and Harmon were on set together, the polarity between their personalities erupted.
Michael Weatherly discusses Mark Harmon and his first days on ‘NCIS.’
During an interview with The Futon Critic, Michael Weatherly recalled his early days on the set of NCIS, a show he saw as a cross between Scooby-Doo and MAS*H, while everyone else saw as CSI meets The Unit. He went on to say that he brought a lighthearted, humorous attitude to the set, whereas Harmon was a bit more solemn, known for his sobriety and sternness. According to Weatherly:
…as if Mark Harmon and I were on opposing sides of a fence. I was Antarctica, he was the North Pole, and we were just looking down at each other, wondering, “What’s up with your polarity?” What exactly is going on? For me, the water goes down the drain the other way.” And he was perplexed by my presence from the start. When CNN Showbiz Today or one of those things asked what the best part of doing the pilot was when we were doing the upfronts, I told them, “I got a rubber gun and a fake badge.” And Harmon looked at me as if to say, “That’s your CNN answer?” [Laughs.] And I felt like a small child who had consumed far too many bowls of Count Chocula.
The Futon Critic
In short, Michael Weatherly, like his character on NCIS, is a bit of a clown in real life. He may take things seriously, but he is hesitant to show it. To avoid unnecessary tension, Weatherly cracks jokes and keeps the energy in a room lighthearted. As a result, his response to the CNN interviewer’s question above comes as no surprise to anyone who knows the man. Nonetheless, Mark Harmon and Weatherly did not yet know each other — they were not yet friends or colleagues. They were co-stars and acquaintances at this point (with very different styles).
Mark Harmon is a little more serious, a little calmer, and a little more collected; he wouldn’t think of responding to an interview question with such a joke, but he would find the answer that felt most appropriate — most suited to the moment. The two couldn’t be more dissimilar at first, but as time passed, it’s likely that the actors — like their characters — came to see each other more clearly.
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