# NCIS without Tony **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 25, 2016, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-without-tony/766859 "2016-09-25T19:31:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-without-tony/766859/1 "2016-09-25T19:31:26Z")
Is anyone still watching this besides me? I wonder how much longer it can hang on-- this is season 14. Ellie and Tim stood and looked sadly at Tony’s empty desk. Me, too. I remember when there was Kate’s empty desk, and then Ziva’s empty desk. Tim is skinny again. Ducky is really showing his age. Gibbs is dressing extremely well and smiling more… quite disconcerting. Tobias is camped out on Gibbs’s sofa a la Oscar Madison (with the same level of housekeeping skills). Two new agents, a cocky guy and a sassy woman \. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-without-tony/766859/2 "2016-09-25T20:03:24Z")
I quit watching when Ziva left. I just didn’t like the new girl - nothing against the actress, I didn’t like the character. Plus, frankly, the stories no longer held my attentions. I think I’m just over cop shows of any flavor. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-without-tony/766859/3 "2016-09-25T20:05:33Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Is anyone still watching this besides me? > > I wonder how much longer it can hang on-- this is season 14. Ellie and Tim stood and looked sadly at Tony’s empty desk. Me, too. I remember when there was Kate’s empty desk, and then Ziva’s empty desk. > > Tim is skinny again. Ducky is really showing his age. Gibbs is dressing extremely well and smiling more… quite disconcerting. Tobias is camped out on Gibbs’s sofa a la Oscar Madison (with the same level of housekeeping skills). Two new agents, a cocky guy and a sassy woman \. There will be three new agents, it is reported. Not surprisingly, all are gonna be minorities, which NCIS has been lacking. Tim, Ducky, Abby and of course Gibbs are all still great. I still havent really warmed to Ellie, she doesnt seem to have a niche. I do miss Ziva. Her song in the backless dress- wowza! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-without-tony/766859/4 "2016-09-25T20:35:47Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > … > I do miss Ziva. Her song in the backless dress- wowza! I also liked the chemistry, which turned into real affection, between Ziva and Tony. ---
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-without-tony/766859/5 "2016-09-26T00:00:22Z")
Still watching. Possibilities in the new agents…they have personalities and presence. Ellie doesn’t have any. Her blandness would make her a good agent in the real world, since people wouldn’t notice her following them or doing stakeouts, but makes for boring tv. Fez sure grew up into a very attractive man who can pull off badass really well. Yes, sorry to see David McCallum showing his age. He is over 80, after all. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-without-tony/766859/6 "2016-09-26T00:46:27Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I also liked the chemistry, which turned into real affection, between Ziva and Tony. True. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-without-tony/766859/7 "2016-09-26T00:46:53Z")
Like on _MAS_H\*\*\*, personnel come and go, but the show continues. So long as the ratings are high, I suspect it’ll go on until Mark Harmon decides to pack it in. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-without-tony/766859/8 "2016-09-26T03:10:45Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Like on _MAS_H\*\*\*, personnel come and go, but the show continues. So long as the ratings are high, I suspect it’ll go on until Mark Harmon decides to pack it in. I’m three years older than Mark Harmon, so we might very well croak off at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-without-tony/766859/9 "2016-09-26T03:22:25Z")
with Tony gone and Ziva being killed off the show just not the same . I never warmed up to Ellie . I think this will be NCIS last season. I still watching it but not with the same enjoyment and interest. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-without-tony/766859/10 "2016-09-26T04:27:41Z")
Tony was suffering from “Will Riker Syndrome” - he should have had his own team years ago, and him still being there was getting to be a distraction. If a show is good, loss of a supporting character should not doom it. I’m still watching. AND I’m watching Michael Weatherly’s new show immediately after. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-without-tony/766859/11 "2016-09-26T14:48:08Z")
Handy Manny as a tough guy, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-without-tony/766859/12 "2016-09-26T15:06:40Z")
Jennifer Esposito and Willmer Valderrama could be just the right fit. I have considered this show to be a guilty pleasure since Season 1. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-without-tony/766859/13 "2016-09-26T15:59:33Z")
I’ll watch until the first time Wilmer closes an interview/interrogation with, “I said ‘Good day.’” (Just kidding, that would be superb.) ---
**Author:** ![Karen\_Lingel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karen_lingel/32/18649_2.png) [@Karen\_Lingel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_Lingel)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-without-tony/766859/14 "2016-09-26T18:05:11Z")
I watched “Tony”'s new show, Bull, which is irredeemably awful. I predict it only lasts 6 episodes and Tony will be back on NCIS next season, if not sooner. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-without-tony/766859/15 "2016-09-26T19:31:54Z")
> [@Karen\_Lingel](#): > > I watched “Tony”'s new show, Bull, which is irredeemably awful. I predict it only lasts 6 episodes and Tony will be back on NCIS next season, if not sooner. It\* was \*awful. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-without-tony/766859/16 "2016-09-26T20:00:12Z")
> [@Karen\_Lingel](#): > > I watched “Tony”'s new show, Bull, which is irredeemably awful. I predict it only lasts 6 episodes and Tony will be back on NCIS next season, if not sooner. > [@DrDeth](#): > > It\* was \*awful. ☹ Damn. I hate to hear that. What was great about NCIS was the ensemble interaction and history. I don’t think any of them could support a show on his/her own. ---
**Author:** ![Reluctant\_A](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@Reluctant\_A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reluctant_A)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-without-tony/766859/17 "2016-09-26T20:22:48Z")
> [@Karen\_Lingel](#): > > I watched “Tony”'s new show, Bull, which is irredeemably awful. I predict it only lasts 6 episodes and Tony will be back on NCIS next season, if not sooner. I actually feel like Michael Weatherly returning to _NCIS_ might be the one thing that could finally get me to stop watching. That ship has sailed, IMO. And, like @ **Tim R. Mortiss** suggested, the character has suffered from Will Riker Syndrome forever. There was no good reason for him to continue to be Gibbs’ second for thirteen years. If _NCIS_ was going to bring back a re-tread, I’d like to see them go totally off-book and bring back Tamara Taylor. I mean, _Bones_ is ending after this season, anyway, and Cassie Yates, IIRC, might be the only female NCIS agent ever to leave the show alive. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-without-tony/766859/18 "2016-09-26T20:35:08Z")
> [@Reluctant\_A](#): > > I actually feel like Michael Weatherly returning to _NCIS_ might be the one thing that could finally get me to stop watching. That ship has sailed, IMO. And, like @ **Tim R. Mortiss** suggested, the character has suffered from Will Riker Syndrome forever. There was no good reason for him to continue to be Gibbs’ second for thirteen years. > > If _NCIS_ was going to bring back a re-tread, I’d like to see them go totally off-book and bring back Tamara Taylor. I mean, _Bones_ is ending after this season, anyway, and Cassie Yates, IIRC, might be the only female NCIS agent ever to leave the show alive. Will she be wearing that floor-length, red dress again? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-without-tony/766859/19 "2016-09-26T21:01:30Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Damn. I hate to hear that. What was great about NCIS was the ensemble interaction and history. I don’t think any of them could support a show on his/her own. _Maybe_ Gibbs. I think he had a solo epi. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-without-tony/766859/20 "2016-09-26T21:15:14Z")
> [@Karen\_Lingel](#): > > I watched “Tony”'s new show, Bull, which is irredeemably awful. I predict it only lasts 6 episodes and Tony will be/ back on NCIS next season, if not sooner. I hope not. I don’t feel strongly about Bull, which I haven’t watched yet.(My work schedule does not encourage watching of live TV). But much as I mostly enjoyed Tony, I hope his actor finds something else to focus his talents on. I’m reserving judgement on the new characters. This episode seemed more about their backgrounds and just bringing the audience up to speed than the plot. My favorite bit was Bud Roberts (gone frighteningly grey), though I wish they’d have dropped just a bit of info on the old favorites from JAG. I have to admit, I’d forgotten that Fornell had been shot-- too long since I thought about NCIS. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-without-tony/766859.md?page=2)