I got this email IN ALL CAPS today, so I know HE’S SERIOUS.
LEE I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHO IS WRITING FOR DONALD
BELISARIO.THE REASON BEING I’VE WATCH THE SHOW SINCE IT FIRST CAME OUT AND I DO
NOT LIKE THE SEASON FINALE OF NAVY NCIS THIS WEEK.WHERE CAITLIN GETS
KILLED.THOSE 6 PEOPLE MAKE THAT SHOW.I’VE TALKED TO OTHERS AND THEY AGREED.WE
ALSO AGREED THAT IF SHE IS OFF THE SHOW THEN WE ARE GOING TO TELL OTHERS STOP
WATCHING AND TURN TO A DIFFERENT CHANNEL AND STOP WATCHING ANYTHING HE
PRODUCES.I HOPE YOU CAN FIND OUT.
I’m not sure what he expects me to do… forward to him the names, addresses, and phone numbers of the writing staff so he can make his demands to them? I don’t know anything about the dynamics behind-the-scenes of NCIS, but maybe the actress who played Caitlin wanted to move on to other things or maybe she wasn’t happy on the show or maybe she was a complete lunatic they couldn’t bear to work with another day. I don’t know. Cast changes on a TV show are common (ER, LAW AND ORDER, BOSTON LEGAL, BEWITCHED, M*A*S*H, GUNSMOKE, MONK, LA LAW, ALLY McBEAL, THE SHIELD, HILL STREET BLUES, CHICAGO HOPE, NYPD BLUE, CHEERS, etc.). and a fact of life in this business. Live with it or, as you say, change the channel.
According to a USAToday article (http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2005-05-24-tv-obits_x.htm), “Creator Donald Bellisario says that Alexander asked out of the physically demanding show, that she decided she didn’t want to stay for what will likely be a run of many seasons. “She worked like a trouper to the very end,” says Bellisario, who is casting for a foreign-born female character.”
Alexander’s Kate Todd was my favorite character next to Mark Harmon’s Gibbs. On the bright side, Kate’s personality filled out over two seasons and had no time to get stale.
Not having heard anything in advance, I took just the emotional trip the writers wanted. Well done.
Lee, this is a great chance to throw your enemies under the bus – send their names to this guy and watch them fade into Bolivia.
And sometimes the cast changes make the show better. I like Natalie on MONK better and was always fond of the second sheriff in MURDER, SHE WROTE even though I liked Tom Bosley’s character, too.
DEAR LEE,
I HAVE SOME FANFIC OF NAVY NCIS AND WAS WONDERING IF YOU MIGHT HELP ME FIND A PUBLISHER WILLING TO TAKE A CHANCE ON IT. IT IS MUCH BETTER THAN THAT CRAPPY SEASON FINALE THEY DID WITH THAT ONE CHICK GETTING KILLED. IN MY FANFIC SHE DOES THE KILLING! I THINK EVERYONE WOULD LIKE MY FANFIC VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU,
JOCELYN
I HAVE NEVER WRITTEN IN ALL-CAPS BEFORE BUT THIS POST GAVE ME THE INSPIRATION TO TRY.
I LIKE IT! SUCH POWER! SUCH FORCE! SO MANLY!
I MAY WRITE ALL MY STORIES THIS WAY!
POSTS TOO!
Regards, BILL!
DEAR FAN! SO QUIT YELLING AND CHANGE THE $*&%ING CHANNEL ALREADY!!!
SINCERELY,
MR. OBVIOUS
(Was that BOB & TOM fanfic because I lifted their bit? Or a parody?)
DEAR LEE,
WHY ARE THERE NO CAMBODIAN MIDGETS IN NAVY NCIS???? YOU MUST FIND THIS OUT RIGHT NOW!!!
BeSt RegARdS
#1 FAN
I can see why this fan wrote to you asking who writes NCIS. After all, it’s the kind of deep, dark secret that only a TV insider would know. Well, a TV insider and anyone who watched the first five minutes of the show, where all of their names are displayed in large type.
Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill.
You are using facts and logic again. Please stop.
I too am cheesed off at the surprising news of the death of “Caitlin”. Mainly because we are half a season behind here in the UK, so I get to watch the last ten episodes with death staring me in the face. Thanks a bunch.
However, next season I expect the superb writers of this series to continue their masterclass on character, character, character.
Who does write for NCSI? I’d like to know because I have over 140 pages of stuff I’ve written based on my 20 years experience in the navy from an enlisted mans perspective. There’s some pretty wild stuff and of course some that I can only share with a few. If anyone has points of contacts, please send them to me. Thank you. -ed
She dies?! She’s still going in England at the moment, this happens with all american shows and it’s DAMN anoying to read things in fanfiction befor it hapens in the show here, just because people don’t bother to put a spoiler warning in.
This is like hearing about Sirious in Harry Potter.
…Ow well, she wasn’t my favoret charicter enyway.
We in the Netherlands do not welcome caitlin’s death, nor the sad and dumb games the israeli terrorists Avi and Ari are playing. they both should be shot or quartered. or spend a few weeks in Abu Ghraib.
In stead of writing a credible episode, the writers have made up a totally fictitious and non-operational correct episode, which is a shame compared to 24, which is a little more realistic, and compared to the path to 9/11 in which a better view of present day terrorism is given.
all for entertainment……..
we wish the actress who portrayed Kate so well a lot of success in more serious roles, hopefully in feature film.
for the rest it will stay an entertaining show, with Mark Harmon’s quality acting, as well as that of “Ducky” and the sidekicks Di Nozo and Gothchickbabyface. the other agent is more compareable to the actor who portrays the collegue of Harmon Rabb in JAG, and does not belong to the silly sidekicks, but somewhere in between.
AVP
Feature filmmaker
The Netherlands
i was just wondering how many more seasons you are planning to do? my family and i love the show and the cast. We want it to go on forever!
There was a subliminal message on the episode 4/29/08 depicting American soldiers complaining and acting like arrogant bullies. In truth, our soldiers are dedicated and respectful of the people in Iraq. This particular show seemed to depict our military as indifferent cowboys, uncaring of Iraqi civilians.
I also sense that you are setting the scene for Zeva to be killed and replaced by a black woman who is compassionate to Iraquis, who have suffered at the hands of the brutish US forces. The scene with the sister visiting her brother lying in a hospital having suffered from battle injuries was more subtle propaganda.
So… Is Israel out of favor with your writers? Are you trying to use propaganda through your NCIS program to promote American forces leaving the war in Iraq? It seems to me that you are definitely taking a politically liberal bias, if last night is any indication of future stories.
I have been one of your most loyal viewers. I didn’t like it when Kate Todd was killed. Zeva has been a great character. I hope you are not planning to “off” Zeva. If she goes, I go.
In belgium this show isn’t that popular, probably because of the too obvious (one point of view) propaganda
Check this link (click on name psoted by) and you’ll know who are the (co-)writters.