Pam Dawber on Why It’s the Right Time to Join Husband Mark Harmon on ‘NCIS’
Q&A
Finally, the NCIS guest star we’ve been waiting for is here! On April 6, Pam Dawber joins husband Mark Harmon (they married in 1987) for the first of four episodes on the crime procedural. She plays experienced investigative reporter Marcie Warren, who has caught wind of an incident that occurred in the March 16 installment: Director Vance (Rocky Carroll) indefinitely suspended Gibbs, who admitted he didn’t regret beating up a man who was running a dogfighting ring.
“She’s trying to find out more about what really happened here, the story on this guy driven over the edge,” says Dawber, known for her roles in Mork & Mindy and My Sister Sam. The couple have not worked on television together before — they did both work on the 2000 feature film, I’ll Remember April, and a 1990s theater production of the play Love Letters — and Dawber gave TV Insider the scoop on this very special first.
NCIS has been on since 2003. Why did it take so long for you to guest star?
Pam Dawber: I’ve been asked to do NCIS before over the years. It just wasn’t the right character or the right time. With Marcie, it was so funny because when they were casting, Mark goes, “Who you’re really looking for is my wife.” They said, “But she’s always turned us down!” I read the script and I’m going, “Oh no.” My fear rockets flew off.
What made you afraid?
I haven’t acted in so long. It’s also, at my age, do you really want to be on a big screen? I finally thought I’d feel worse if I chickened out.
Bill Inoshita/CBS
Marcie definitely isn’t one to chicken out. She’s so gutsy!
Nobody is getting back to her, so she finds out where Gibbs likes to hang out. She thinks she’s going to be cute and start a conversation [at the diner] and work her magic on him — which doesn’t happen.
How do they get along as the story progresses?
This is the first time a character is not scared of Gibbs. She’s a strong woman. They’re trying to figure each other out, but they’re opposite ends of the spectrum as far as their personalities. He frustrates the hell out of her with his mumbling Gibbs’ one-liners. She’s a chatterbox. There’s a lot of humor — character humor, not joking humor. We play against each other. That comes naturally. It’s fun. We’ve had a blast.
Did you rehearse together at home?
I’d say, “Let’s run lines,” and Mark would be like, “OK, but can we watch this game?” [Laughs] But it was all really effortless. I felt so safe on that set. I know everybody. Rocky Carroll directed, and I love working with directors that have been actors — they really know.
Did you base Marcie on anyone, or do any specific research for the role?
I was thinking of Robin Abcarian at The Los Angeles Times. I started writing to her back when Robin [Williams] passed away. She wrote something about Robin, and I sent her an email, and I occasionally write her when I read something she’s written. One thing she said to me was, “Over many years I’ve grown a thick skin.” I put that in my dialogue.
Bill Inoshita/CBS
Does your story takes some twists?
Marcie pulls Gibbs into something she’s working on. It’s just the two of us in my storyline, I’m not with the rest of the cast.
It sounds like this was so fun for you. Did this make you consider returning to series TV?
No. There’s too much social media negativity. And I have passed the point of wanting to sit the makeup chair at six o’clock in the morning!
NCIS, Tuesdays, 8/7c, CBS
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C
I’ve been waiting for this for years. I’m excited to see them play off each other. They are so private as a couple, which I understand, that this is a great way to see them together and also sounds like a great story line. I also think her comment about the negativity out there is very telling. I think it would be hard for someone who was the darling of the press face today’s social media onslaught of hate. Hope we have years more of Mark Harmon on NCIS (and maybe her character can return)!
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C
Being a Reporter certainly gives the writers a boat load of possibilities, especially if the relationship between them stays professional and not social.
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B
Nice to see a talented Husband and wife working together. Glad they are private about their private lives. It’s nobody’s business but theirs and so happy Hollywood hasn’t destroyed their family.
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G
Fun to see them together on tonight’s show! But have watched NCIS since 2003 and if Gibbs leaves and no more “ Grab your gear” and off they go, won’t watch it anymore!! Didn’t like the two additions tonite, they were annoying!! This is one show that shouldn’t change!! Losing Tony and Zeva was hard enough!! Stay the same or cancel the show!!!
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G
AMEN!!!!!!!
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M
Ah, but they were supposed to be annoying! They were the second string who got a chance to play first line and weren't quite up to it.
Also annoying (and not unexpected) was Gibbs team grousing about having to deal with the reality that while they admitted they screwed up, they still had to accept their punishment.
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O
I hadn't known Pam Dawber was going to be on. She needn't worry about social media. She looks like the same "Mindy" as decades ago, but gently seasoned. Thank heavens neither of this couple seems to be addicted to plastic surgery. I very much enjoyed her acerbic delivery, she was never a cupcake. What a treat for her early viewers. And new ones as well.
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G
It was great to see Pam Dawber again!
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G
Not an NCIS fan, but long time fan of Pam Dawber, both for her talent and her refreshingly forthright comments/interviews over the years. Chuffed to see her back on screen, even if only for 4 episodes, so will be tuning in. She's right too. Who would put themselves through modern social media hell if they didn't have to?!
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M
I thoroughly enjoyed the entire episode, but the parts with just Gibbs & Marcie were delightful. When she commented on the part he was working on I said out loud "You've got him now!" and it turned out I was right. LOL! Gibbs is so used to deflecting people that she not only surprised him, but caught him off guard.
I also think it is an interesting twist for Vance to come to the realization that Gibbs isn't looking to be saved or protected.
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P
Sounds great!
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G
Maybe these are in a dream state, Gibbs might be in a coma following an incident in Afghanistan with Sloane and when he wakes up, he might learn Sloane had died in the incident and he has been in a coma for six months or more? It would allow the writers to make these recent episode just vanish, like the Mirror Universe events of Marvels, DC, and Star Trek, sometimes the mind plays tricks, it would be interesting if these were a dream during a coma and how he's facing his own mortality, it would also revive Emily Fornell or maybe have Gibbs and Fornell retiring to Mexico or Puerto Rico. Gibbs and Fornell living together would certainly be interesting.
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YES!
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