‘NCIS’: Mark Harmon No Longer in the Opening Credits for Season 20

Meredith Jacobs
6 Comments
Mark Harmon as NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs in NCIS
Cliff Lipson/CBS

Though Mark Harmon’s last on-screen appearance as Leroy Jethro Gibbs came in the fourth episode of NCIS Season 19, he led off the opening credits through the finale. So, of course, one of the questions we had going into Season 20 was simple: Would he continue to do so?

The new season kicked off with the Hawai’i crossover on September 19, and Harmon wasn’t in the opening credits. Instead the credits began with Sean Murray (Timothy McGee), who led into Wilmer Valderrama (Nick Torres), Katrina Law (Jessica Knight), Brian Dietzen (Dr. Jimmy Palmer), Diona Reasonover (Kasie Hines), with David McCallum (Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard), Rocky Carroll (Leon Vance), and Gary Cole (Alden Parker).

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When TV Insider asked executive producer Steven D. Binder at the end of Season 19 if Harmon would remain in the opening credits for the rest of the series, he said, “Those are things that we have not sorted out quite yet, so the answer is we will wait and see. That was a function of the fact that, although the season’s [ended] and Mark will not have appeared in any more episodes, that was not anything that was a decided thing, so he remained in the credits because we didn’t kill him.”

We do have to note that Harmon did lead the regular cast in the press release for the premiere with its logline, as well as guest star information, but isn’t part of the release for Season 20 Episode 2.

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  1. R

    RedCloud

    I was just pleased to see Sean Murray get top billing. My hope all along has been to see McGee grow into the team leader he has so much potential to be, & eventually take over from Parker. So the fact that Gary Cole appears as the final differentiated main credit (a choice spot in its own right), rather than leading the credits, is promising.

    4

  2. O

    OliveSword

    I didn't know why he was in the credits in S19. He wasn't a regular through the whole season, so....

    3 3

  3. L

    Lorr9539

    It was his choice to leave so why would you even keep him in the credits. Countless actors have left shows after playing characters for many years and they are no longer seen in the openings. Why should Mr. Harmon be any different?

    5 8

    1. R

      RedCloud

      Good question. Perhaps in honor of his 14 years as producer/executive producer, too, a position he still holds? Evidence he contributed more to the show than just playing Gibbs?

      6

      1. P

        PurpleLeaf

        I am not down playing his continued contribution to the show or large payday you must be getting for it. He is no longer a cast member and his image should not be shown in the opening credits He is still listed as producer et cetera and that should continue.

        2 1

        1. O

          OrangeTag

          They should have taken it of 2018 there nothing else they can do other than create away where only gibb wife died some one found Kelly she would be 25 years old created that writing do Gibbs not alone that how much I care about this character

          1