has argued that a number of former NCIS cast members and characters should make a comeback in order to pay respect to the late David McCallum on screen, but there are also very good reasons why there may not be many people on the RSVP list.
As of February 2024, when the show would be entering its 21st season on CBS, the original cast of NCIS has vanished. This is because, if you get technical (which some do), Sean Murray, who portrays McGee, and Brian Dietzen, who plays Dr. Palmer, were not regular series regulars until Seasons 2 and 10, respectively. (Rocky Carroll joined the cast in Season 6 after making his début in Season 5 as Vance.)
As such, from go, any episode that might aim to give McCallum/Dr. Donald Mallard a proper sendoff will be light on colleagues who actually worked alongside McCallum/Ducky for more than a third of the well-watched series’ run.
That is why, when speculating about any “Ducky tribute” episode (no official plans have been announced, yet), there have been cries of, “Well, Mark Harmon/Gibbs has to be there!”
“Yes! And Michael Weatherly/DiNozzo!”
“Ooh, a perfect time for a #Tiva reunion, if Cote de Pablo comes back…”
“But don’t forget Emily Wickersham! We need closure on Bishop’s exit!”
“Can we also get visits from some ghosts of dead characters, too??”
Yeah, you can see how this can get very out of hand.
The truth is that you can’t just “bring back” Gibbs, regardless of scheduling or availability conflicts. or DiNozzo. or any combination of the preceding. Regardless of how much their attendance could be justified on this particular occasion. Indeed, Gibbs can be brought back, particularly if Mark Harmon is aware of it. However, you will need to allocate some conversational or visual time to persuade the team’s reserved former leader to provide updates.
Ditto Weatherly/Tony and de Pablo/Ziva, who have not shared a scene together in more than a decade (but presumably reunited off-screen after de Pablo’s most recent solo visit). An appearance by Tali’s father or both her parents will consume much storytelling oxygen, since fans of that primetime supercouple will want/need to know how their unconventional family unit is faring.
And what happens if Emily Bishop reappears on NCIS after suddenly calling it quits on everyone, including Nick, her purported boyfriend? Some people will insist that certain ts and i’s be crossed on that front. All of that means that, if you allow for even two of the previously mentioned returns, this Very Special Episode becomes much less about Ducky and David McCallum and much more about questions like, “Sooo, might Tali get a big brother or sister anytime soon?” and “Boss, what kind of fish are you catching in Alaska?”
Are you willing to make that trade-off in exchange for a fun stroll down memory lane?
Or do you see some other option that brings back many of the above but successfully “cheats” us on proper catch-ups?
Me, I could be content with a Case of the Week that thoroughly vexes Dr. Palmer as he mourns a recently passed Dr. Mallard. But it’s flashbacks of wisdom imparted over the years, by Ducky, that helps Jimmy near single-handedly crack the case, ahead of a proper memorial for his mentor.