Mark Harmon Reveals the Early NCIS Concept: What Could Have Been?
For fans of NCIS, a popular crime show, it's always fun to hear stories about what happened behind the scenes and how the story changed over time. One of the key figures in NCIS' success is Mark Harmon, who portrayed Leroy Jethro Gibbs from 2003 to 2021. Harmon remains involved with the franchise, even executive producing and narrating the NCIS: Origins prequel. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Harmon recently shared a surprising tidbit about the show's original concept. And now I'm left wondering: What if NCIS had really been based on true stories?
The Original NCIS Premise: A Nod to Real Cases
In a straightforward interview with The Hollywood Reporter in November 2024, Harmon talked about how the show’s idea changed over time. He said:
"When I first joined the show, they sold me on the idea that it would be based on real cases. But soon, it became about solving a murder every week because that's what TV needs, right?"
Harmon's insight offers a fascinating look at how NCIS transformed from something grounded in reality into the fast-paced procedural fans know today. Initially, the idea of working with real cases might have seemed intriguing, but as Harmon points out, the need for regular, gripping content in television quickly led to a shift toward fictionalized storylines.
The Evolution from Real Cases to Fictional Stories
As Harmon explained, NCIS—like many long-running crime shows—needed a format that would keep viewers interested week after week. The switch from real cases to fictional murders gave the writers more freedom to create exciting storylines that kept people watching. This change is typical of many police procedurals, from Chicago P.D. to The Rookie, all of which balance the reality of law enforcement with the need for fun and adventure.
What If NCIS Stuck to Real Cases?
One recent episode of The Rookie, "Mad About Murder," looks at the mix of true crime and entertainment. This is something NCIS could have explored if it had stayed with real cases. The show could have used its platform to talk about the difficulties of making real-life crime stories entertaining, a topic many true crime fans care about.
However, using real cases as the basis for every episode has a significant downside. While it adds authenticity, telling these painful stories week after week can lower the show's entertainment value. Real-life crimes often involve tragic events, and showing them might make the show harder to watch instead of the action-packed adventure that NCIS became.
As one fan commented on Reddit:
"At some point in the later seasons, I noticed that things had become more fantastical. The forensics seem a little flimsier and more like magic, and the series just requires more suspension of disbelief. Oh well."
Fiction and Reality: NCIS's Winning Formula
Even with the change to fictional stories, NCIS has kept fans engaged for over twenty years and is now in its 22nd season. Harmon's thoughts about the need for adventure-packed episodes speaks to what makes NCIS so successful. The agents are always chasing thrilling cases that, while entertaining, often feel a bit unrealistic. This fast-paced style has worked really well.
But how much of the show is actually based on real events? The creators of the show have not fully shared how many episodes are inspired by true stories. However, a 2012 article said that a few episodes were loosely based on real crimes. The show doesn’t give specific details for privacy reasons.
Real-Life Inspirations: The Experts Behind the Scenes
NCIS has several experts who help make the show realistic. Leon Carroll Jr., a former Marine, acts as a technical advisor to make sure the language and procedures are correct. The show also gets help from Public Affairs Officers and Communications Officers, who explain how the show differs from reality.
As MaryAnn Cummings, the Director of Communications, told USO.org:
“It’s entertainment. It’s the Hollywood version.”
Public affairs officer Ed Buice added that while the characters face jurisdictional issues, that doesn’t happen as often in real life. While the fictional NCIS team often investigates murders, the real NCIS deals with various things, including crime prevention, counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and economic crimes.
Would You Watch NCIS if It Were Based on Real Cases?
Thinking about what Mark Harmon said about the early idea for NCIS is interesting. It makes you wonder how the show would have been if it had followed that original plan. The NCIS we know now has a good mix of drama and fun, but it could have been much darker and more serious if it focused on real crimes each week. It's an interesting question to consider, but it would have changed the the show's entire dynamic.
In the end, NCIS’s mix of fictional storytelling, thrilling action, and strong characters turned out to be a successful formula. As Harmon keeps contributing to the franchise through NCIS: Origins, fans can enjoy a look back in time with a good amount of action and fiction.
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