Fans of NCISverse: the wait is over. “NCIS” and its spinoffs have returned to the CBS screen, with back-to-back shows on Tuesday nights. In addition to an all-“NCIS” primetime lineup, the show honors the military community with a new initiative to highlight service members, veterans and Gold Star families.
“NCIS” has announced “Tuesdays of Honor,” a campaign to recognize military members throughout the season. Each week, Wilmer Valderrama — who plays Special Agent Nick Torres on the show and is a USO Global Ambassador in real life — and other cast members will meet military guests to show appreciation for their service and hear their stories. Partnering with TAPS, Team Rubicon, Lovesac and Vizio, the families will also be surprised with comfort-focused home upgrades.
Military legacy
With the show in its 23rd season, the “NCIS” cast and crew are no strangers to the military world, relying on veteran feedback and military consultants to accurately represent and honor the community they portray. Military life is central to the “NCIS” storyline, and everyone on set takes it to heart. For example, the technical director enjoys planning military field trips for the cast, and has taken them to visit aircraft carriers and the NCIS office in San Diego to deepen their understanding of their roles. (For all of the Army people out there: yes, I personally invited them to come to Fort Bragg. Just in case anyone wanted an Army-Navy crossover.)
In addition to consultants and field trips, “NCIS” remains rooted to its military legacy with appreciation events and initiatives like “Tuesdays of Honor.” “NCIS” actor Gary Cole, who plays Special Agent Alden Parker, even shared that CBS Studios recently hosted a special live script read in honor of the Navy’s 250th birthday. The event was exclusive, and the invite-only audience were all military members and their families.
“I can just say personally that one of the great things of being on this show for me is that I had the opportunity to interact with the military in a way I never had before,” said Cole.
“It’s always an honor to, you know, interact with and kind of salute … our service men and women,” he added. “They’re some of the best souls we’ve got in this country, and we’re proud to be …. a show that kind of focuses on that aspect.”
Probie’s life lessons
Sean Murray is a familiar face on the “NCIS” show as Special Agent Tim McGee, the son of a Navy admiral but many may not realize how close the storyline is to real life. Murray is the son of a retired Navy captain, and during his father’s 30 years of service in the Navy, their family lived all over the world, including Australia and Singapore.
“I was a little bit everywhere,” he grinned.
Recalling “the honor and the code and the lessons of the different military services” that he witnessed during childhood, Murray said those experiences now reflect in his acting. He acknowledged the similarities in what he saw growing up and his portrayal of an NCIS agent known for his loyalty and duty.
“I think that all plays into that — there’s a sense of honor, sense of doing something right, and being responsible for things.”
Bridging the military-civilian gap through stories
As a highly popular program that is welcomed in homes all across America, “NCIS” has a distinct ability to show what many military families live daily. When asked what conversations they hope to generate with both the series and “Tuesdays of Honor,” Cole responded that he’d like to “demystify” the military for those who have no connection to the services otherwise. He wants to show that the military community is made up of people who have the same “struggles and obstacles in their lives that everybody else does” but combined with “a great deal of sacrifice and a perspective that a lot of people don’t have … it’s just important storytelling.”
You can catch the entire “NCIS” lineup on Tuesdays, starting with “NCIS” at 8/7c, then “NCIS: Origins,” and concluding with “NCIS: Sydney.”
