After an impressive 19 seasons, NCIS‘s leading man – Mark Harmon –retired from the character of beloved Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
In the wake of the extended, drama-filled final arc for the character, devoted viewers were left fans missing their leading man.
However, CBS has already assured viewers that Harmon may make a return…
Season 20 of NCIS recently aired on CBS on September 19 with over 5.8 million viewers tuning in. So far, it does not seem as though Harmon will return in season 20.
CBS President Kelly Kahl has still assured fans that the actor may return, telling TV Line:
“Everyone is aware that the door is open if he ever wants to pop in for an episode or multiple episodes.”
Fans wonder when this return could possibly occur. Too soon after Harmon’s initial departure would cheapen all of the emotional appeals of his exit from the show.
Mark Harmon left NCIS after an astounding 423 episodes earlier this year. His last episode aired back in mid-October, with fans left devastated following Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ exit from the show.
The actor is still currently credited as an executive producer for the show with no other mention of him in the season 20 credits.
However, the show is not far off from an incredible 500 episodes, and some fans wonder if that upcoming opportunity might just be the milestone show writers need to bring everyone’s favorite nautical investigator back.
NCIS aired for the first time in September of 2003. It took a while for the show to gain recognition, but it was a significant success once it did. NCIS became one of the most-watched shows globally, with millions tuning in each week.
The show has been nominated for three Primetime Emmys and won several other awards throughout its lifetime. Harmon himself was also nominated for several awards for his performances, winning the People’s Choice Award in 2017 for Favorite TV Crime Drama Actor, among others.
Though NCIS turned into one of the most-watched shows on television, Harmon had a hard time comprehending how it was all possible.
“I don’t. You can’t. The international reach is staggering,” he told TV Insider in 2017.
“It’s hard to walk through airports even in the most out-of-the-way places without being surrounded by people who love the show—and that’s nothing to complain about. I’ve done TV shows where I walk through airports apologizing.”
Mark didn’t just become one of the most – if not the most – famous actors on the show, but it turns out he was popular on set, too; several of his colleagues have come out in public to speak highly of him.
In total, Mark has starred in 423 episodes of NCIS. However, the end looks to finally have come. On October 9, he appeared in his last episode as Leroy Jethro Gibbs. In a statement to Deadline, CBS Entertainment President Kelly Kahl confirmed the news.
“Mark’s always been part of the show, Mark’s always going to be part of the show,” he told Deadline. “In terms of his on-air appearances, we’re just going to have to see how it plays out going forward.”
Mark Harmon leaving NCIS came as quite a shock to many viewers. As it turns out, the well-respected actor didn’t want his exit to be a dramatic one.
As a result, it caught fans off guard – there wasn’t any warning that the mid-October episode would be the last farewell for his character. This, apparently, was all part of the plan.
According to an Entertainment Tonight source, Harmon didn’t want his exit from NCIS to be overly hyped or emotional. He requested that the network didn’t advertise it, as he felt it was “crucial — especially with social media — that any hint of a twist be omitted.”
We will forever be grateful for Mark Harmon’s fantastic performance as Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS. And we’ll always hold out hope that he makes another appearance on the show in the future. For now, though, he sure deserves some time off to enjoy his life.
What do you think? Do you want to see Gibbs back on your television?
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