mark harmon, ncis

SUMMARY

  • NCIS was secretly introduced as a backdoor pilot in JAG, blending legal drama with military crime-solving, creating a future TV powerhouse.
  • JAG, after a rocky start, birthed NCIS from its military universe, leading to a sprawling franchise with multiple spin-offs.
  • NCIS broke away from JAG’s format, adopting a faster, edgier style that led to its own massive success and longevity.

Before NCIS became a massive TV sensation with Mark Harmon at the center, CBS had a sneaky trick up its sleeve. The show was quietly introduced through a backdoor pilot hidden in another long-running hit drama. Fans at the time didn’t realize they were witnessing the birth of what’d become a TV phenomenon. 

 CBS StudiosMark Harmon in NCIS | Credits: CBS Studios

CBS cleverly planted the seeds, blending one iconic universe with another to create something brand new. 

JAG: The iconic legal drama that launched NCIS and revolutionized TV crime series forever

 NBC ProductionA still from JAG | Credits: NBC Production

Long before NCIS became a primetime powerhouse, it was quietly born out of another CBS hit: JAG. 

Originally known as Navy NCIS, the show was born from JAG’s military legal drama universe, which ran from 1995 to 2005. JAG itself survived a rocky start, canceled after just one season by NBC, only to be revived by CBS, where it soared for nine more seasons (via The Things).

JAG’s premise: A mix of courtroom drama and military action. The plot followed Commander Harmon Rabb Jr. and Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie as they tackled Navy and Marine personnel crimes. 

Think Top Gun meets A Few Good Men — with some sizzling chemistry thrown in. But here’s the twist: while JAG was wrapping up, NCIS emerged. The show, starring Mark Harmon as Gibbs, took off, blending crime-solving with military vibes, creating an empire of spin-offs.

Mark HarmonMark Harmon in NCIS | Credit: CBS Studios

In its 19 seasons, NCIS not only cemented its place in TV history but gave birth to NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, and NCIS: Hawai’i. Sadly, NCIS: New Orleans met its end after seven seasons. 

Each episode pulled from real-life events — USS Cole bombing, Cavalese cable car disaster — you name it. Plus, there was CIA intrigue thanks to Clayton Webb, adding some spy-level tension.

It was a courtroom drama with a twist, and it wasn’t just entertaining; it helped birth the NCIS franchise. Talk about a legacy!

How NCIS broke away from JAG’s shadow and carved its own path to success

 CBS StudiosA still from NCIS | Credits: CBS Studios

NCIS wasn’t about to ride JAG’s coattails – it was too busy making its own mark. As Mark Horowitz put it, the show needed a fresh vibe, so it ditched the old-school, classic shots of JAG and went full throttle with fast cuts and that edgy, rock-video style. 

Even the scripts were shorter – punchier, snappier, and designed to keep the audience on their toes. Per Cinemablend, Horowitz explained: 

I can remember Don directing “Yankee White,” and you guys would do a rehearsal and he’d say, ‘Ok, that’s very good. Now do it twice as fast.’ He wanted all the material, he just didn’t want to have to cut anything if he didn’t have to. He would have you guys talk as fast as you possibly could, and we would shoot with three cameras all the time. 

I don’t think you guys half the time even knew, ‘Ok, this is the close up camera and this is shooting wide and this one’s carrying me back and forth.’ You just had to be on all the time. There was no, ‘Well, I’ll wait till I get to my close up to give it.

It was all about getting that energy, and three cameras rolling meant no room for slow-mo. The rest? Well, we all know how that played out – NCIS went on to crush it long after JAG had its run.

Watch JAG and NCIS on Paramount Plus and Apple TV.

Mark Harmon

Written by Heena Singh

Articles Published: 716

Heena Singh is a writer at FandomWire, spent the last two years making waves in entertainment journalism. With a knack for digging up blockbuster celebrity scoops and an uncanny nose for the latest buzz, Heena’s articles bring a fresh and fun perspective to life. When she’s not conquering writing challenges, you’ll find her curled up in bed, peacefully sleeping.