You know how much you guys have been hounding me for scoop on the NCIS spin-off ever since I broke the story that there was going to be one? Well, that’s almost as much as I’ve been hounding my moles. And since the start of shooting on the pilot is just around the corner (late February), all of our hounding is finally paying off. Please allow me to introduce the proposed series’ main characters:
• Callen is an average Joe in his 30s… or so he’d have you believe. In reality, he’s a human Transformer who can change personas as easily as you or I change clothes.
• Clara Macy is a tough former MP in her early 40s whose tender side shows in the way she plays mother hen to her colleagues.
• Nate "Doc" Getz, 30, is an operational psychologist who, underneath his razor-sharp wit, is as soft-hearted as they come.
• Kensi Lo is a twentysomething Asian-American whose academic record in forensics and criminology got her recruited young by the Feds.
• Sam Hanna, an African American (or Middle Eastern — depends on the actor) ex-Navy SEAL, is in his 40s and the team’s only married member. So, between that and his stints in Afghanistan and Iraq, you just KNOW he can handle himself in combat.
• Dominic Vaile is a thirtysomething surveillance expert who’s still experiencing separation anxiety in the wake of his exit from the Navy.
So, all you armchair casting directors, who would you put in these roles? I’ll get you started. For Callen — what sounds like the part of a lifetime — I’m feeling the soon-to-be-unemployed Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies). Your turn. Have at it. (Additional reporting by Andy Patrick)
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Lee Pace deserves better. He must be in a show that I would like to watch and honestly a NCIS-spin off doesn’t intrigue me at all.
Alexis Denisof as Dominic Vaile. He’s a graduate of the Joss Whedon school of acting and does nervous energy very well.
Anyone else thinking Gilmore Girl alum Keiko Agena (Lane) for the role of Kensi?
Callen sounds like a great role for Lee Pace, but also great for it would be James Marsters.
Clara Macy – I’d love to see Maria Bello in that!
Nate “Doc” Getz, other than being older than the stated 30, would be a perfect role for Ben Browder
, is an operational psychologist who, underneath his razor-sharp wit, is as soft-hearted as they come.
Kensi Lo – Keiko Agena!!!
Sam Hanna – DB Woodside would be perfect!
Dominic Vaile – Josh Charles (where has he been since Sports Night?)
So does this mean that the “Ducky going to the spin off” idea was kaboshed? They do have their own pathologist after all.
Does anyone really watch NCIS? I know it’s ratings are great but I’ve never met ANYONE who watches this. I talk to a lot of people about TV too. It just seems weird how high it’s ratings are for having such little buzz. I believe CBS needs to work on getting younger viewers rather than spin off’s of shows that already skew too old.
A TRANSFORMER!!!! When did NCIS become a sci-fi show?
This is no spin-off — it’s a bad idea from another universe
To TONY: Obviously NCIS has a lot of viewers since it’s one of the top rated shows week after week.
To DIANE: Excellent idea! Getting Alexis Denisof back on Tv would be worth making an NCIS spin-off.
Hey Tony — I watch NCIS. I have disposable income and am tired of being pushed aside for those “glorious’ younger demographics.
Seems like CBS is doing ok — They have The Mentalist, NCIS and The Big Bang Theory. You go watch your Gossip Girls, Grays Anatomy and all those other shows – I’m quite happy with NCIS.
Tony — You must not know many people over 45 b/c I think that is this show’s target
. That said I am far below that target and find it entertaining. I can’t say I’ve ever watched a first run, but I have caught repeats during the summer and reruns on USA.
Okay so Joss Whedon comes up with Dollhouse and suddenly there are ninety-million other ideas being formed that are similiar and we don’t even know if it will work yet?
Unless Callen is more like Jared from The Pretender?
Sigh.
I’m with you ynot – this sounds nothing like an NCIS spin-off ! Transformer indeed.
I’m think how about Larry Sullivan for either Callen or “Doc”? I know he’s actually already been on NCIS as a surgeon in “High Seas”, but that was way back when we still had Kate. He’s also been on Criminal Minds and something like 18 episodes of CSI. ALSO Mark Pellegrino would make a GREAT “Doc”.
I think Rory Cochrane of ex-CSI: Miami fame would make a great Dominic. Rumor is he has been looking for work….
Esther Chae for the part of Kensi Lo. She’s been on a few Law & Order: CI’s and Die Hard NCISers will notice that she was one in “Light Sleeper” with a sleeper role.
Clara Macy..hmm…Sohia Myles or Shannyn Sossamon who have been out of a job since Moonlight disappeared..or maybe Courtney Ford? She’s a little young..but who cares? She was great on Criminal Minds as Austin, the bartender.
Sam Hanna: Anthony Azizi, Ammar Daraiseh, Keith Burke…I could keep listing, but I won’t bore you.
I watch NCIS with my Mother and she is 54 and I am 26, so I do not think that NCIS is skewed to the old because it is a good show that anybody of any age could watch. Although, I am not sure about the spin-off
I just wanted to point out that by Transformer I think they mean someone who is good with disguises, not the crazy robots from the future…
Also, Keiko Agena would be a great addition to any show.
Ha! Anything that keeps Lee Pace on our TV makes me happy.
We need to keep our boys employed!!
The Callen character sounds like Tony to me…30 something, and you have to admit Tony is awesome at transforming himself into who/what-ever he needs to be…playboy, criminal, etc.
Kensi Lo sounds like an Asian Abby…but I <3 Keiko Agena, so she'll work for me.
AND I would love to have Alexis Desinof back, but I don't really see him at Dominic. Maybe as Nate though, that could work. Or maybe Johnny Lee Miller as Nate?
Trying to think of my favorite African-American actors who aren't already on some of our shows anyway (i.e. Shemar Moore, Taye Diggs, Omar Eppes, etc). Is Don Cheedle still in his 40s?
Maria Bello might work for Clara…or OHHHHH ALLISON JANNEY!!!!
And OO Jason Behr or Oded Fehr (teehee, no rhyme intended) for Dominic.
yes, it does sound like once again joss has inspired. but i LOVE ncis too, and a cross over sounds yummy.
I’m curious how CBS envisions this spin off being different enough from the original NCIS while still retaining the qualities that separate it from CSI, Criminal Minds, Without a Trace, etc.
Also, have they said anywhere that it will definitely be another NCIS unit and not a completely different agency altogether. After all, there have been some real stretches in the storyline to involve a military angle that might allow the NCIS team to investigate. It’s hard to imagine two shows trying to do this.
I’m not sure if he’ll be suitable for an NCIS spin-off, but I would really love to see Jason Wiles on TV again (Bosco from Third Watch), maybe as the “Doc” character.
And I’m definitely behind whoever suggesterd Alexis Denisof and Keiko Agena.
Callen would be best played by Nathan Fillion from FireFly, he is fun to watch and he would fit this role perfectly.
Clara Macy = Jill Hennessy, she can be tough when needed to be and tender, plus I miss seeing her on TV
Nate “Doc” Getz, hmm what about Steve Valentine I always liked him as Nigel in Crossing Jordan and I’ve always thought he has a psychological side to him..
Kensi Lo could be played by Kelly Hu. I just saw her play on SVU and I have always like her. I think she would fit perfectly in this role..
• Sam Hanna could be played by Goran Visnjic or Mekhi Phifer, both are great actors and would fit this role.
Dominic Vaile could be played by Josh Duhamel …I liked him in Vegas and I think he would add just the right character needed here
I do think it’s a good idea for them to look for relatively unknown actors for most of the roles (as they appear to have done with the original cast). No offense to the fans out there, but I think Private Practice shows how a dream team of actors can go bad pretty quick.
I think they should bring back some of the characters from jag since that’s where NCIS came from( not like they did with “chip” Abby’s assistant that went psycho).
I’m 42 and I love NCIS. I’m also divorced, no kids and make over 100,000K a year. I think that any advertiser would want to get my disposable income.
For Nate “Doc” Getz I suggest Chris Leavins. Best known on Canadian television for his role on “Traders” (a role pretty similar to the one mentioned for Doc), Slings and Arrows and other shows. Currently best known for his internet vodcast ‘Cute with Chris’. Watch that and then tell me he doesn’t have ‘razor-sharp wit’
Joe Flanigan would do very well for Dominic Vaile.
Forgot to add… Lee Pace is about to be unemployed. A great actor like that shouldn’t be out of work… he’d be great as Callen.
Ugh, no more spin-offs of these already awful CBS dramas with their bad writing and even worse acting. And of them all, NCIS really does seem to be the worse offender.
I mean worst.
Gotta say the thought of this spin-off has me very nervous. The last show I loved that did it (SG1) was cancelled a few years later and it’s spin-off has now gone the same way.
Really, really love NCIS as it is now and hope any spin-off it produces doesn’t damange it in any way, shape or form.
I love the idea of Alexis Denisof as Dominic Vaile. What about Gina Torres as Clara Macy? Or, I kinda like this, Michael Vartan as Callen. He’s obviously got the acting chops for the role due to his amazing work on Alias. I like Lee Pace as an option for the Doc.