NCIS Producers on Tony Cameo, Why It Wasn't Gibbs for Ducky Tribute

#NCIS Executive Producers Steven D. Binder and David North explain how that Michael Weatherly cameo came about for the Ducky tribute in Season 21 Episode 2, and discuss whether Mark Harmon could return as Gibbs.
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[@brendarobbins1492]

To hear you talk about Dinozzo showing up in the last scene just gave me chills. It was a beautiful moment.

[@thec-house8078]

Dinozzo is a goat , what bull he does damn good job

[@kt9166]

We needed some levity and a surprise at this point in the episode, and Michael was perfect. Especially his Ducky while adjusting the Autopsy Gremlin's bow tie.

[@kimm2265]

I loved seeing him, a nice surprise. I read that he came back for Jimmy. Tony had taken him under his wing when Jimmy was new.

[@KennAKALeo]

If Harmon had come back for this, it would have made the episode about Gibbs. This was an episode about DUCKY. Since we didn't see the funeral, it's easy enough to believe that Gibbs did make the series of flights needed to make it from Whatchamacallit Bay, Alaska to Washington DC, but he didn't have time to swing by the office before the funeral. And the ever-stoic Gibbs wouldn't feel the need to see the office. He'd be content to see his old friends and co-workers at the funeral.

[@cindyblankfield1961]

My thoughts exactly-- thanks for reading my mind!!

[@rayvega3163]

It’s Naktok Bay. But I agree with you entirely.

[@radicalross7700]

The circumstances in which Gibbs left NCIS with the FBI out to get Gibbs would have to be taken into account. The Bureau would be looking for Gibbs to show up for Ducky's funeral. Gibbs wouldn't want to stir up any trouble for his friends and former team and he knows Ducky would understand that. I imagine that if Gibbs did return for Ducky's service, he'd do so surreptitiously.

[@LadyLeomon]

Dude, it was all about DUCKY and how much people loved HIM! Sure Tony was a nice surprise but my focus was on Jimmy, sure Gibbs and Ducky were friendly but I always loved Ducky and Jimmy’s relationship more. The hell are you on about? 😒😒😒

[@KennAKALeo]

@@LadyLeomon I'm saying that IF Harmon had came back, the Gibbs fanbase would have been so focused on him, they'd miss the point of the episode: DUCKY.

[@romachabot2078]

Yes it might have been nice to see Gibbs but as someone said “it would have been more about Gibbs than Ducky and Jimmy”. I loved this episode. 😮

[@itsnotme07]

Great explanation and yeah, DiNozzo was the right move here.

[@Claude_van_Dammage]

Michael /Aka Tony was the right person for this episode . 100%.

[@katespear1233]

It was a really special show. Tony looks great!!

[@lesleyfitzpatrick2305]

It Was Good To See TONY DiNOZO, I Loved MICHAEL WEATHERLY He Hasn't Changed Much.

[@Mrspjb-bw1ks]

I lived him too. He's an amazing actor, so multi layered.

[@kimm2265]

If you watched "Bull", he was a lot heavier and looked older. He look great in his appearance.

[@ZennaD]

He looks his age

[@dianevess8216]

I just knew that the show runners considered all possibilities when having characters return. It would have been a reunion show. Let's face it, we usually don't travel thousands of miles to attend a funeral. I believe it was prudent yet valuable to have Tony return. He honored Ducky and supported Jimmy . The touch of humor Tony brought was needed for this very sad episode.

[@Brett33]

Should have had DiNozzo, Ziva , Gibbs and Abby come back. And saying goodbye to Ducky should have been seen as something special. Before Vance, McGee , or anybody else currently on the show , there was Gibbs, DiNozzo, Abby and Ducky

[@kimm2265]

Abby did send a wreath. It was all black. You have to remember she's in England (her character is).

[@radicalross7700]

​@@kimm2265Not to mention that Pauley Perrette doesn't want to come back to NCIS.

[@jamesschmidlin1127]

Show still needs to reunite Ziva and Tony to live a life settled together doing a different line of work to finish raising their daughter. Then send Gibbs off to retirement with a settled issue with the fbi. Then just move on. They can still make guest appearances to help the team solve cases.

[@dianevess8216]

Did you not hear that it was logistically and financially impossible??

[@kimm2265]

@@dianevess8216 I heard it would have cost them $80 million!

[@robinney3760]

Bring him back full time . I've missed him so much. We need his flare

[@kimm2265]

Not with the way he left. I miss his character. With a no show for Ducky, I don't care if he ever comes back.

[@user-zh9ow3jz1t]

I got tired of the gibbs personna glad he is gone@@kimm2265

[@robinney3760]

To clarify, I was talking about Tony not Gibbs. As I've accepted the fact that Gibbs is not going to come back.

[@Katherinelowery-jp2ld]

I wish he would come back , it isn't the same.

[@robinney3760]

As hard as the lose of Ducky is going to hit Jimmy 😭😭😭 He's really going to need someone to help bring him out of the dark and get him to laugh his ass off. After all the cases are dark enough and he doesn't need it in his own life. Tony and Ziva love Jimmy too and should want to be there for him.

[@jbbevan]

Well...there is also the little fact that Brian Dietzen wrote the episode. I'm sure we all look forward to the reappearance of ANY of the alumni of this Iconic (most over-used adjective in the American/English language right now) series. You are right....Tony was clearly Tony once again.

[@theresaburek1460]

I was shocked when Tony came in. And I was amazed that we weren't seeing Jason Bull. ❤

[@kimmyh.1731]

I miss Bull. That was a great show 😕

[@theresaburek1460]

@@kimmyh.1731 It's on ION on Friday nights starting at 7:00.

[@beatricesingleton6997]

I would like to see all of them who made the show come back because they all worked well together. If they had issues we the fans didn’t know it. And that’s why we loved them so much. So bring as many back as you can. Thank you for hearing me out.

[@elizabethhoran8114]

I was glad to see Tony❤

[@maryhoward2491]

Its such a pity Gibbs wasn't there

[@josefsilvia5360]

Gibbs will come back for something, I'm sure. But Tony was there for Jimmy. And that I thought was the most precious thing.

[@jacquelinetlopez]

I was i tears when I heard ducky passed 😢 it would have been nice to see gibbs my heart broke 😢 it was a sad day.. hope gibbs comes back soon

[@waynerichardaves5375]

Still waiting to see the Ducky tribute episode in Australia, PLEASE when will we see it in Australia

[@AllisonLorenzo-jw2ss]

I honestly would have perferred having tony over having gibbs. First, tony has been away for longer, and hes waayy more charismatic and we all love him❤❤❤

[@donnaklaeysen4199]

It was a great episode. Tony was perfect support for Palmer. As for Gibbs, it would take something 'out of the box' for him to return. I could be mistaken, but isn't there an outstanding arrest warrant for him? Can't remember details but my mind keeps going back to the introduction of Parker.

[@cwolf201]

Hmm. if there was, he'd have been in handcuffs when he was found fishing by mcgee. and joined in fishing by mcgee.

[@frazergreen6786]

Ziva should have been with Tony, could have always said their kid was staying with Dinozzo Sr.

[@leannknisely4891]

Bring back Weatherly!

[@MP-od1zz]

Rumors, he is getting his own spin off with Ziva

[@lynneminiscedonaltypampere8768]

I cried when he entered the room…lol. What a great surprise and great respect to Ducky.

[@VidyaSimran]

Loved seeing Dinozzo. Would love to see him join as Lead of the team, McGee as lead of Cyber division. Ziva as Liason Lead. Abby as Her division head. We need our old team back.

[@annkynaston3605]

Why do people always want to banish McGee to the Cyber Crimes Unit in the basement when he's a perfectly good field agent,is it because they think out of sight,out of mind.

[@annkynaston3605]

Why does everyone insist on dumping McGee in CyberCrimes when he doesn't want to work there,he wants to be a field agent,if Tony wants to come back he can lead another team,the MCRT is fine as it is,the only member of the team I would want Tony to replace is Torres.

[@greytangel754]

what i would have liked is to have the gravesite episode and having Gibbs standing afar from the group like he always was...and then when everyone left there would have been a private moment between Ducky and Gibbs. .and maybe a glance from Tony, Mcgee and Palmer as they glance back one last time and see Gibbs...that would have been an ending for the ages..❤❤❤

[@genevievelumineau]

toutes mes condoléances a duky

[@gayledb62]

I agree with others it was great seeing Tony come back as we were all expecting it to be Gibbs. And in true Gibbs fashion he would have quietly went to funeral with no fuss.

[@BhelliomRahl]

To be honest I would have thought all the old cast would have been willing to comeback for free to honor a great man.

[@batsonelectronics]

since he was married to Ziva ( and had at least a daughter with her ) it would have great if she and the now half gown daughter had also been there. I miss Ziva and Tony, got tired of Gibbs years before he left. Really miss Abby also. It was a perfect cast back then.

[@paulap4032]

After this, I don't care if Harmon comes back. The fans and David/Ducky deserved better from him. Kudos to Michael for coming back.

[@marys-ks1pu]

I was shocked that Gibbs didn’t make at least a cameo appearance! 😳

[@jerrydelatorre5977]

Relax…. We don’t know why… what if he’s dealing with health issue… so take a pill you two…

[@jennycarmichael520]

He was a producer on the episode! Read the credits!!! And just because Mark Harmon doesnt make an appearance doesn't mean that Leroy Jethro Gibbs didn't attend the funeral, and it goes for Pauly/Abby. Abby sent flowers but probably also went to the funeral

[@chantellegraham8209]

Such a gross and ignorant comment

[@angemaidment5640]

From what was said in the interview, it wasn’t his decision.

[@pennyharris1510]

so sad that Mark Harmon didn’t come but i’m sure if he could have he could have he would. I hope that he will return. I would say though, we shouldn’t be so quick to judge, we never know what it going on with others and we don’t have the right to judge at all.

[@towsonmoma875]

EXCUSES, EXCUSES, EXCUSES, there is NO EXCUSE for his Absence. Plain and Simple!

[@mione134]

I wish they had the 80 million so we could of gotten everyone back.

[@andrewcrich5887]

It would be nice to see Gibbs & Abbey there

[@redtowlie9]

Nobody wants to see Abby after what she did

[@annkynaston3605]

If Abby came back she'd make it all about how Ducky's death affected her,so glad she's suppose to be in England,it gave a good reason for her not to be at the funeral.

[@pamelabarbato1623]

What episode did Tony come back? I never seen it ani love to

[@user-hf5ts9lp5e]

We still haven't seen David "ducky" tribute here in South Australia still waiting

[@anitawhite9694]

I am THRILLED MICHAEL IS COMING BACK! I really liked BULL Thank you Michael, Producers and Dear Ducky 😢

[@marypasco2213]

❤

[@louisprieur8978]

He (Harmon) is still an executive producer on the show, isn't he?? if so, he must have an opinion and a say about all this.... Maybe DiNozzo will be back , but i doubt it, been there , done that, would be great for the show , anyway, just love the show and cast, been a huge fan since episode 1, season 1..

[@thomastynan4446]

Gibbs is the executor of Ducky’s Will. When will that episode air?

[@jacquelinetlopez]

I hope Tony stays but they also need to bring back ziva back to

[@Coffee17990]

I don’t know about anyone else but his Tony’s voice sounded deeper is that because he was trying to be ducky or that’s his actual voice and he put on a higher voice in earlier episodes

[@triciajumonville7741]

Reading some of the comments, sounds like the focus for them wasn't on Ducky (David McCallum), but on the other people THEY wanted to see. Center of the universe syndrome, in other words,

[@kashaforney4093]

I thought Abby would have been a good cameo considering her relationship with Ducky, Vance, Palmer, McGee, and Ms. Hynes

[@hdghostrider1403]

Still would have been nice to have Gibbss there. Long life friends and Gibbs doesn’t show. What the hell Mark? I hope it was the producers of the show and not you personally. The inner reaction between you and Ducky was great acting.the whole cast for that matter. But once the core cast started leaving. I personally watched a few more episodes and then if I would miss it. It was like… I’ll watch the next episode. Next thing I knew. It’s two years later. And it doesn’t even bother me.

[@NancyInman-zu7uv]

Could have had a cameo of Gibbs at Ducky's gravesite.

[@robindennis9881]

Harmon commented in an interview that he wasn't even asked to be in it. Which really sucks

[@randygabbert7831]

I'm sorry, but you needed to do "what ever" it took to get Gibbs back for that episode, it seems unconscionable that Gibbs would miss his dear friends funeral! Despite Gibbs current remote location NCIS has the resources to mind and get in touch with him, so that's not an excuse.

[@MsHellion84]

I am very upset that there was no Gibbs sighting. This was wrong. Could have done without seeing DiNozzo.

[@kevinm4022]

NOT ENOUGH. We are talking about Sir David McCallum. Ducky deserves more. Pomp and Circumstance. That was the least he deserves. Its always about money not about respect

[@carolinewendt5619]

Why was he not there

[@ianraymondback]

In the show gibs would of definitely come back for dukys funeral unfortunately real life isn't always like that

[@michaelheffner7816]

But it could have been written that , Gibbs after having so much death of people closest to him, The loss of Ducky would have been too much, That’s an avenue the writers should have went with. My Opinion!

[@patmccann3122]

I WANTED TO KNOW WHY THAT ABBY GIBBS ZIVA BISHOP AND MCGEE;S WIFE WASN'T THERE

[@triciajumonville7741]

They explained that in the video. Did you not watch it?

[@annkynaston3605]

McGee has two small children, perhaps they couldn't get a sitter and so his wife had to stay home with them.

[@user-ub2lj2nw9c]

Extremely disappointed that Mark Harmon didn't make an appearance on the show. Who ever made this decision shame on you! Not that you care, I'm sure. It was a beautiful tribute and I cried from the beginning to end though.

[@keithsr.]

Gibbs not coming back was disrespectful!

[@davidhoward4715]

You do know that these people are actors, right?

[@MARKLOCKWOOD2012]

i got into the show as i’ve said killing off main characters to Jethro’s dad fending off store robbers you go from one extreme to the other yes bring in new blood but don’t do those skirrrt blow a character up then don’t show the outcome or leave a story line then do this True Ducky died in real life so you gotta do the right thing NCIS style Funeral etc dedicate that episode no i wasn’t aware because i quit watching some time back ruined the story line Usually with hollywood rumors so i didn’t believe. Yes ducky for an episode had a heart attack. But you still take his mannerisms to continue Duckies character playing bits n pieces. Like the lab tech Dr. palmer if i remember right wearing a bow tie or seeing the ghost all do a grieving episode Not just a solemn funeral etc. True cast members say i’m tired of my part but you gotta be NCIS not quit or disappoint fans

[@user-kr4er3fy5n]

Why did Ducky die

[@matthewslonaker5432]

His actor died

[@dianejacobs7579]

Abby, I can’t remember her real name, had said something about Mark Harmon in real life, that he wasn’t very nice and she left because of him. Maybe that’s why he didn’t come back and her also.

[@danieldravot341]

Tony always was a more appealing character than Gibbs . . .

[@mariacarmenbarca7769]

Maior decepção! Mark Harmon não participar do tributo ao David Macalhum!

[@laurie113]

Harmon screwed up again. What an ego. Screw you Mark

[@CJSmallz41]

It would've been nice if Abby could've come back too.

[@kellymarie923]

I stopped watching when gibbs left

[@lindaelick6067]

I tried to continue watching, but I couldn’t. It was to different, it wasn’t NCIS anymore.

[@Gracielas.Villuendas-yw8dw]

No sé entiende un carajo......🙄

[@ML-xh1go]

Stopped watching NCIS after ZEVA, Abby and Tony left and Mark had his facelift he didn’t look the same,all the magic and camaraderie had gone, and now Ducky is no more,

[@keithhogg1963]

Maybe Mark Harmon had health issues. And couldn’t come back to that episode.

[@johnfrank6112]

So much BS from these 2. It should have been Gibbs, Tony, Ziva, and Abby to give Ducky a goodbye.

[@grandmaisback6052]

Harmon aint coming back eveer... his wife had to participate heavily in the last episodes he was in for a reason people... the guy has dementia and she had to be there to steer him in the right direction... gosh it is so obvious...

[@growlusnotneeded3251]

Meaning you wanted a cheap but known previous appeared actor.

[@JuricksEnterprise]

You chose badly! You should have spent the $80 million!!! That's what real fans wanted to see!!!

[@henrypeters5291]

Try spending $80 million of money you don't have.

[@Brett33]

@@henrypeters5291 Shouldn't cost $80 million to have these actors come back to give the fans the story they deserve after support the show for so long.

[@cwolf201]

@3 shouldn't. maybe. but mark harmon was 525,000 per ep by the time he left. and would probably never accept less than that if he comes back. as for the rest still living in world over several seasons. probably varying degrees of over 100k. that's just what articles on the absolute mains cover. but the discussion is about everyone still alive in world being brought back for a pan around view of everyone at the funeral. just my guess.

[@triciajumonville7741]

It sounded like it primarily was not the $80 million but the fact that many of (maybe all?) of the actors already had other obligations. No sense throwing a hissy fit over real life happening.

[@kirby4815162342]

Gibbs should have been there. The argument was that “we don’t just want to bring him back for 2 minutes” but that’s what fans want. It’s right for the fans, it’s right for the character, it was grossly misjudged by whoever made the decision.