Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Ratings grow for crime drama - 'NCIS' hangs tough despite 'Idol' chatter.
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| CBS |
| "NCIS" stars Mark Harmon in a crime drama that has continued in second place against what has to be the toughest competitor on TV -- "American Idol." But "NCIS" is gaining ground among viewers, with ratings going up through each of the show's five seasons. CBS has ordered 27 episodes for the sixth season, which starts in September. |
05/19/08 17:00:19
VALENCIA -- "NCIS" is the Rodney Dangerfield of television dramas. It is a show that gets no respect.
Only one Emmy nomination has come its way, and that was for a guest-starring role by Charles Durning. CBS boss Les Moonves lamented there wasn't a show that could compete with the Fox Network's "American Idol." And yet "NCIS" has continued to be a solid second place against the toughest competitor on the air.
The only place where respect appears to be growing is with viewers. The ratings have gotten stronger through each of the show's five seasons. CBS has ordered 27 episodes for the sixth season that starts in September.
"I think we are doing the show better now," says series star Mark Harmon when asked why the ratings have grown. "This show has fought from the beginning for everything it has gained."
Harmon is taking advantage of the warm spring day. The "NCIS" star is seated outside his trailer just a few steps from the stages where the CBS series films. He's reading the script for the next episode.
Filming the series proceeds at a frantic pace because the writers' strike cut the number of days of production. And everyone is pushing to produce the entire season despite the long hiatus. That means the cast and crew have been working on two shows at the same time.
Harmon is not caught up in the turmoil. That's because he's been doing this a long time. Since his professional acting debut in 1975 on shows like "Police Woman" and "Emergency," Harmon has starred in a long list of TV shows and films.
He knew as soon as he read the first "NCIS" script he wanted the role of the gruff, demanding Naval Criminal Investigative Service boss. He leads the team investigating crimes that generally involve members of the Navy or Marines.
"What we all recognized [was] that there were characters in the script we wanted to play. And there was humor," Harmon says. "But as soon as I saw his name was Leroy Jethro Gibbs, I knew this was going to be a great character."
Harmon credits the chemistry among the cast members for making the show strong. He calls the "NCIS" team the most talented ensemble cast he has ever worked with. This is coming from a guy who starred on "St. Elsewhere" with the likes of William Daniels, Howie Mandel and Denzel Washington.
One of his co-stars, David McCallum, also brings a long list of acting credits to the role. Before this series, McCallum was best known for his role of Illya Kuryakin on the series "The Man from U.N.C.L.E."
The first meeting with McCallum was exciting for Harmon because he was a fan of the '60s spy show.
"I told him I can't imagine I am shaking Illya Kuryakin's hand. McCallum says, 'Good God man, that was 41 years ago.' And then he walked away from me," Harmon says with a smile.
Mark Harmon of 'NCIS' isn't complaining
The actor is just glad he has a job to come back to after Season 5 ends Tuesday.
MARK HARMON stars on CBS' "NCIS" -- the two-hour Season 5 finale airs on Tuesday night. He has appeared on "The West Wing," "Chicago Hope," "Moonlighting," "St. Elsewhere" -- and "The Love Boat." He and his spouse, Pam Dawber, have two sons.I'm shocked by the network's order for 27 episodes for next year.
This schedule, we've been working six-day weeks since the Second of March. We've done that before here. This group is somewhat used to it. And in some ways, the crew is able to make up some of that lost revenue from the strike, which is good . . . 260 people on a crew who know now they have a job to come back to in June. So that part's important! When you get right down to it for so many here, this is about a job.
FOR THE RECORD:
"NCIS": The Sunday Conversation interview with Mark Harmon in today's Calendar section says that "NCIS" plans 27 episodes for next season. There will be 26. —
You yourself have had a lot of jobs.
Well, you too probably, huh.
I'm getting there.
That's what actors do. Different jobs, you know. If you're lucky.
So are things running more smoothly there, after what everyone was calling a "showdown" -- very dramatically! -- between you and creator Donald Bellisario?
I never called it that. I think [executive producers] Charles Johnson and Shane Brennan both have done a great job in transition here. Show creators, they move on; they do other things. This show is doing so well, in its fifth year. Better in its fifth than fourth, better fourth than third. This is a big group of very, very talented people who are all doing their job. . . . It's not really important here who's No. 1 on the call sheet. We all do this together. That's the way it works. You couldn't work here if you didn't want to be here. That's held true for everyone. This is a show that'll show actors through the door and has and will again. And the same for crew members. The result is you have a place you like to work.
You sound like you should be running a set yourself.
No, I'm a team guy. I know what being a team guy is, you know.
In 2014 are we going to see you pull a third act -- a Clint Eastwood? When a man's kids go off to school, he thinks about new things.
Oh, I don't know. You've got to get there first. I have no idea. I will be part of this as long as it's -- I don't have any plans to ride this into the ground, so to speak, into its last breath, so to speak. You're part of this as long as the work is good.
You've been playing cops and soldiers and presidents and womanizing doctors for so long. Don't you ever just want to put on a dress for a part?
I haven't yet! I guess if this was 25 years ago we'd be talking about westerns. It runs in genres. I like the challenge of playing different roles, and I've tried to spread that around some.
Do you have any delicious Angie Dickinson stories from the set of "Police Woman"?
I just remember her being really nice. I just recall her being professional and kind when she had no reason to be -- the first one to come up to you in the makeup trailer and introduce herself. The things she didn't have to do.
From the outside, we hear about TV sets as places of trauma and horror.
Well, it might not be different from where you work! Some I guess are. But others aren't.
Many refer to the curse of being People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive. Well, that was back in 1986. Have you been cursed ever since?
I think it made me laugh more than anything. And maybe in 1986 it had a different touch than what it has now. Now it happens every year. Then it was humorous to me. Still kind of is.
It's pretty weird, right?
Well, it's surprising to me when some people take it a little more seriously than I think they should.
Do you have any tips for people in exhausting crazy work situations?
I think we're all pretty lucky to have a job. I ask a lot of the actors who're coming on as guests -- I ask them how it is out there. A high 90% are saying this is their first job since the strike.
It sounds like tough times for actors.
Look, you've got a job too. There's a lot of people who'd like your job.
Comparing one's life to others is a national pastime.
Yeah. Well, look, this job's no different from yours in so many ways -- you turn on the TV on Tuesday nights and maybe that's a little different. It's a job you try to do well. You try to keep the edge on it. . . . It doesn't make much sense to me that it's busy and we're working hard -- you won't catch me complaining. I spent too many months and years not having a job.
Oh, I hear that.
In this business, like your business, it ebbs and it flows. You'll have it in both directions -- cooler, warmer, all that. I don't get too worked up. The idea is to be around for a while.
You've either got a good meditation practice or years under your belt.
I don't know. It's perspective. I think.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/0-0&fp=4832d54f2c4830e7&ei=OzcySOu9N5TgqgONlLi5DQ&url=http%3A//www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-ca-conversation18-2008may18%2C0%2C4752149.story&cid=0&usg=AFrqEzeFnWrjCUMbWcOHSImdqUxxF7oLqA
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
'NCIS' Star Mark Harmon on the ET Set
"NCIS" star MARK HARMON is on the ET set for a one-on-one chat with JANN CARL.
"NCIS" is wrapping up its fifth season on Tuesday, May 20, and it is the one show that consistently holds its ratings when programmed opposite FOX's powerhouse "American Idol."
http://www.etonline.com/news/2008/05/61600/index.htmlFriday, May 9, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Monday, May 5, 2008
Emmy Watch: Actors pick TV faves
from: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com
Does David Spade watch "Rules of Engagement?" And what two sci-fi juggernauts can't Rainn Wilson do without?
Check out our exclusive interviews with Spade, Wilson and all these buzzworthy Emmy actors -- Mark Harmon, Ted Danson, Bryan Cranston, Neil Patrick Harris and Blair Underwood -- as they reveal which shows keep them glued to their TV's.
Centennial: The Complete Series on DVD
By Roger Yip
FIRST ONLINE May 4, 2008
Universal Home Entertainment will release "Centennial: The Complete Series" on DVD this July 29th. Starring Richard Chamberlain, Robert Conrad, Timothy Dalton, Mark Harmon and many more stars!
This six disc set includes over 20 hours of episodes and a "Memories of Centennial" featurette.
Synopsis:
Journey to the Wild West in the sweeping, sensational epic drama Centennial: The Complete Series! Relive the grand hopes, dreams, loves, and adventures of generations of residents in Centennial, Colorado - from their risky attempts to establish a settlement in 1795 through the politics and power plays of the 20th century. With over 26 TV hours of content on DVD for the first time, this incredible set gives fans the opportunity to own the complete chronicle that showcases one of the finest casts ever assembled, including Richard Chamberlain, Robert Conrad, Timothy Dalton, Mark Harmon, Andy Griffith, Raymond Burr, Dennis Weaver, Lynn Redgrave, Sharon Gless, Stephanie Zimbalist, Sally Kellerman and many more. Based on James Michener´s best-selling novel, this Primetime Emmy Award-nominated saga is a captivating look at the intertwining lives of the brave men and women in a fictional American town that endured the growing pains of a nation on the rise.
Please Note - More details:
Be sure to check out the full details under related releases.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
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