‘NCIS’ served as the launching point for many other shows, but started as a spinoff itself.
The main show of the NCIS franchise, which has more than 20 seasons and numerous international spin-off shows, is network television royalty. Nevertheless, NCIS is a spin-off series in and of itself, even though it launched a number of other shows. When NCIS first began, it was a spin-off of JAG, a well-known courtroom drama from the late 1990s. JAG is the real original series for the NCIS franchise. It was a legal drama that aired for ten seasons from 1995 to 2007. Despite having its premiere on NBC, JAG’s subsequent nine seasons found a home on CBS, where they would go on to enjoy decades of critical and financial success. This new home for the series and all of its spin-offs was established.
What Is ‘JAG’ About?
JAG follows a group of enlisted lawyers who prosecuted and defended cases related to the American military, known as JAG (Judge Advocate General). The series starred David James Elliot as Harmon “Harm” Rabb Jr. and Catherine Bell as Sarah “Mac” MacKenzie, a pair of Navy lawyers facing various challenges and mysteries connected to military criminal cases. Harm was introduced as a Lieutenant in JAG, but was previously a Naval Aviator prior to acquiring night blindness. His most frequent collaborator, Mac, was introduced as a regular character in the second season and came from a troubled background as a youth, but nonetheless successfully rose in rank to become Judge Advocate for the U.S. Marines. The two had one of television’s best will-they-won’t-they relationships that lasted up through the finale of the series.
JAG was described as Top Gun meets A Few Good Men, featuring a combination of courtroom drama and field military activities, which gave the show the incredible variety that kept things engaging from week to week. The series was created by Donald P. Bellisario, who came from a military background and created other notable series such as Magnum P.I. and Quantum Leap. The combination of its clear influences gives JAG a unique and exciting perspective that made for riveting television. Despite first premiering on NBC, the show’s production was always connected to Paramount, which provided it with its secret weapon: access to high-quality action footage from films like Top Gun and The Hunt for Red October.
JAG creates a link between the more investigative operations that fans of NCIS are accustomed to and the classic ’80s military spectacle made popular by Top Gun by using footage from higher-budget films. Apart from drawing visual and action connections between the two eras, the series also delves into the evolving situation of military troops. JAG doesn’t hesitate to tackle misogyny, which was and still is a persistent barrier in the military, even in the first episode. Although the show has its share of mistakes and period-specific moments, its progressive approach helped pave the way for the more gender-neutral spin-off shows that came after.
‘NCIS’ Spun Off From ‘JAG’ in 2003
NCIS had its backdoor pilot in 2003 during a two-part special in episodes “Ice Queen” and “Meltdown” during JAG’s eighth season. These episodes quickly established that NCIS was something special, introducing the world to notable fan favorites such as Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon), Anthony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly), Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette), and Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard (David McCallum). The episodes made sure to illuminate the audience about what NCIS, as an organization, actually is. As members of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the team led by Gibbs investigated the murder of a JAG Navy Lieutenant, with JAG’s Harm looking like the prime suspect.
These episodes gave the NCIS team the full spotlight, following them as the main characters rather than the JAG members audiences spent years bonding with. However, that does not deter them even for a moment, with each character getting moments to demonstrate their personality and memorable traits that helped make NCIS one of the longest-running shows on CBS. Mark Harmon as Gibbs immediately convinced viewers why he’s a leader worth following, with his stoic yet reliable personality that made him easy to look up to. Pauley Perrette as Abby was already endearing, illustrating her unique charm that made her one of the most likable and memorable characters from all JAG-related shows. Needless to say, with its 21st season in the works, NCIS went on to become one of the most successful and beloved television series in the past several decades.
‘JAG’s Harm and Mac Made an Appearance on ‘NCIS: LA’
Harm and Mac appeared as guests in Season 11 of NCIS: Los Angeles, the popular spin-off from JAG, which aired over twenty years after the show’s finale. Answers to one of the most iconic moments of the original series—the confusing finale—were provided to viewers during the reunion on NCIS: LA. By the time JAG finishes, Harm and Mac are at a crossroads in their relationship. They want to be married, but they are presented with prospects for promotion all over the world. The two, surrounded by their closest friends, toss a coin to determine their destination, but they don’t reveal the outcome to the audience.
Without spoiling the series finale to JAG, the reappearance of Harm and Mac in NCIS: LA is a testament to the staying power of Bellisario’s creation, and the continuously innovative decisions that the franchise made. Despite all being connected, JAG and the different NCIS series all feel incredibly distinct from one another, which is perhaps their greatest strength. NCIS: Los Angeles, with its sunny California setting and charming characters, is a vastly different experience from the juxtaposed courtroom and flight deck sequences of JAG. There’s a reason why, even after some of the spin-offs have ended, and the casts have evolved over the years, the NCIS franchise continues to top streaming charts with its newest addition, NCIS: Sydney. The foundation and world-building established by JAG make it the most underrated, yet pivotal, member of the expansive NCIS family.
For avid fans of the NCIS franchise, be sure to watch the show that started it all.