Kyle Schmid Says Mark Harmon’s ‘NCIS: Origins’ Return for Crossover ‘Elevates’ the Show
Exclusive
What To Know
- Mark Harmon will reprise his role as Leroy Jethro Gibbs with a special guest appearance in the November 11 NCIS and NCIS: Origins crossover event.
- Kyle Schmid talks about what it means to have him back onscreen.
- The case begins on Origins in the ’90s before it’s re-opened in the present day on the mothership.
The upcoming NCIS and NCIS: Origins crossover brings Mark Harmon back onscreen as Leroy Jethro Gibbs, though his presence remains a constant part of the prequel. He serves as an executive producer and the narrator, with his voiceover bookending episodes.
But in the November 11 event, Harmon will be reprising his role with a special guest appearance in the Origins half of the crossover. It’s on the spinoff that he was last seen onscreen as well. He exited NCIS as a series regular (and remains an executive producer) in Season 19, with his character last seen in Alaska. Then, in Origins‘ series premiere, he appeared onscreen.
“I can’t tell you how much I love Mark. Mark has been doing this for 20 some odd years, and he saw something in our show that he wanted to believe in. And when you want to believe in something, it can be dangerous because you don’t know what it’s going to become. And thank God for [co-showrunners] David [J. North] and Gina [Lucita Monreal],” Kyle Schmid, who stars as Mike Franks on NCIS: Origins, tells TV Insider.
“I’m always going to toot their horn, but thank God for David and Gina because they really did create something that Mark was able to genuinely fall in love with,” he continues. “And so when Mark said he’d come back to do Episode 5, we were all over the moon. His presence does something to the show that just, I think elevates it. And so I’m excited for that.”
The crossover event begins on Origins, with the show swapping time slots for the night. The NIS team, which includes a younger Gibbs (Austin Stowell), investigates the small-town death of a naval officer in the ’90s. Then, in the present-day, on NCIS, the case is re-opened after a prison break.
“Four years ago, Gibbs disappeared to Alaska to live a life of solitude,” said co-showrunners and executive producers David J. North and Gina Lucita Monreal, in a statement when Harmon’s return was announced on October 28. “We know how much fans have missed seeing Mark and have wondered what Gibbs is up to today. Well, on Nov. 11, we’re so excited to announce that Mark Harmon will return as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the Origins hour of the NCIS crossover event. We don’t want to give too much away, but let’s just say Gibbs is no longer alone.”
Said Harmon, “I’m very proud of the storytelling that David and Gina are doing on Origins. They continue to push boundaries and dive deeper into the characters’ backstories. They came to me with an idea for Gibbs that I liked, and it seemed like a good time to check in with him. I hope fans enjoy it.”
What are you hoping to see from Mark Harmon’s onscreen appearance? Let us know in the comments section below.
NCIS & NCIS: Origins Crossover, Tuesday, November 11, 8/7c, CBS
Conversation44 Comments
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D
I love NCIS origins as much as NCIS and I think they are too great shows and I will continue watching. Please don't pay attention to the haters because they don't know what they're talking about
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G
I think he will be with Lala.
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L
I thought that too and immediately got teary eyed! It would be amazing if it is her!
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P
NCIS and Origins are really liked by my family. What we appreciate they do not have vulgar language or explicit scences which are objectionable to children and the adults in my family. We were disappointed by Tony and Zivafor that reason and do not watch that show. Congratulations Mark on quality shows that have given us so many years of good entertainment.
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A
Add Tony and Ziva to the mix
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B
THIS! Would be amazing!
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L
Yes, I 👍
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S
Please, no enough of those two egos
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C
I think Kyle Schmidt’s character, while great acting, is a little over the top mean. The guy has no other attributes and only a one dimensional roll. Open it up a bit, his Franks roll’s overbearing attitude is getting monotonous.
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L
But last night Mike Franks was on point. Fantastic episode. Loved it! On the day that my mother died and I could not be there to day good bye. Like Franks.
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P
I'm enjoying Origins, but I can only watch it as some sort of alternate timeline show--I just don't see any of these characters developing into the older versions of themselves from the original show. And apparently, time at Camp Pendleton operates the same way as it does on tatooine--NCIS only takes place about 10 years after Origins, but all of the characters appear to have aged 25 or 30 years.
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L
NCIS season 1 takes place about 12 years after Origins. Not NCIS as it is now in season 23.
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P
Great point! So true -no way Austin Stowell becomes “Jethro” in +/- 10 years.
Kyle Schmid is the closest to Franks on that show!
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W
NCIS has been on the air for almost 25 years, so current Origins would be about 35 years before current NCIS. If Gibbs was in his late 20s to early 30s in Origins, he'd be in his late 60s or early 70s now. I suppose that's about what Mark Harmon is now🤷🏻♀️. It's about right.
I agree Austin doesn't look like Mark at all. I liked it better when Mark's son played him in the OG NCIS. It would have been better to keep him as young Jethro in the prequel. They at least looked alike. 💙
Kyle Schmid was the vampire in Being Human and I feel in love with him then. I think he's awesome. He does look just like Franks. They did great casting him.
I was also deeply disappointed when they killed off Lala. I really liked her. Obviously they needed something to happen to end that relationship, but did they really need to kill her? They could have kept her alive and brought her back in current time in NCIS. I bet most fans would have liked that.
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F
Um haven't you watched the latest season? Lala is not dead as we were lead to believe in last season's end.
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K
No mention of anyone called lala in any of the Ncis shows
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S
Uh...she's on "Origins?"
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S
I was thinking she meant the "later" NCIS series. There was not a Lala mentioned. Only in the Origins series.
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L
I love both shows been watching ncis sence it came on 20 years ago or more we love all of the people in both stories great work glad to be seeing Gibbs again cant wait for november 11 so eccited my mom will be 91 on that day what a good day
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K
It wouldn't be lala would have to be someone from ncis not his younger self i think it will be Marcie
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G
I agree it will be Marcie
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D
Did you see the later episode of NCIS where Forneil refers to Marcie as Mindy? It was a hoot you know like Mork and Mindy from years ago lol
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L
Love both shows, never missed one episode, can’t wait, congrats to all the people involved, great idea.
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G
I hope LaLa is in Alaska with him for their happily ever after
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W
Didn't lala die in the car accident? We don't have Paramount+ on this TV. We've just moved and are in an Airbnb until we close on our house Dec 3rd.
Know what? Don't tell me.
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V
The new Odd Couple
Each one would be married to the other one's ex wife.
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M
I truly LOVE Mark & anything he does!
I LOVE NCIS & NIS ORIGINS!! Never miss them!! Thanks to Gina & David!! 💙💙💙
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L
I don't like the new NCIS. I miss Gibbs and all the regulars.The new actors, "acting" doesn't feel real. The show feels like a Soap Opera.In my opinion.
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D
Can't wait
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H
I have missed Mark. He made the show! I can’t wait for the story and to see him. I think Origins is doing a great job with bringing the NIS story to life!
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P
I love NCIS origins but I really do miss him being in NCIS as gives I am so excited he is at least going to make an appearance I have watched the show since the beginning and I still watch it repeatedly from the first series all the way through to the current I will continue to do so because it's such a wonderful and great show and he is such an awesome actor in both shows I would just like to see if he could bend a little more time or extra appearances in the NCIS too looking forward to the shows can't wait to see them both
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W
I just love love love NCIS & Origins....love Mark Harmon & his role as Jethro Gibbs....I truly enjoy how Origins introduces the roles that were on NCIS.
Greetings from a Malaysian fan! 😀
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B
Can’t wait I miss Gibbs he reminds me of my dad. Rough but caring But I still love NCIS ORG.
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D
Please don't just go back ...love Harmon yet the show is struck. Too goody two shoes, move forward with better stories again. It's time !!
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Q
Sorry, but, show got MUCH BETTER when Mark left
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T
They really need to make the young "Ducky" a part of the Origins show. The guy who plays Mark Harmon is nothing like him at all. Frank on the show, is great. But the guy playing Gibbs is nothing like Gibbs.
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A
I don't like NCIS origins at all. The actor portraying Gibbs doesn't come close to looking like or acting like Gibbs at all in my opinion.
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G
But you are missing the point entirely. The word is Origins. It is how it all NCIS begins. It is interesting how they show things happening that happened in the original NCIS. How the characters developed. Take Vera. She is on Origins. She was first on NCIS (around season 15 I think) when she had 2 weeks before retiring. She was just in the office until she retired. Ended up on a case out in the field. Broke her leg! But finally retired. Then a recent episode with how Ducky (Dr. Mallard) came to NIS (then NCIS). It shows when he first began talking to "the deceased". It shows how Gibbs got the idea to build boats. Most importantly, it is the same guy who played Ducky in the NCIS flash backs. It was actually a trip to David MacCullum. (Man from Uncle!) I could go on and on and on.
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R
Can't wait
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G
The 3 NCIS shows are getting top heavy with actors. It’s getting harder to remember each characters story.
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Q
I was tired of one liners from Mark. New GUY...FABULOUS.
.SORRY
..BRAIN dead at his real name. Happens at 77.
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P
Mistake. Leave him and his boat pius his bad hair cut back on the original boring show.
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K
Can't stand Harmon. NCIS is so much better without his rude character.
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B
How can you like or dislike someone you have never met. You need to learn not to just believe what the media tells you. If he does a good job with the character then that is all that is needed.
AND he MADE NCIS amazing.
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