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The police procedural dramaNCIShas helped launch the careers of several actors. But out of the lot, the most famous of them would definitely be actor Michael Weatherly. Though he arrived in New York City with big dreams, he soon realized how tough it was to make it in Hollywood. After doing some minor roles,NCISgave him his big break in the industry as Tony DiNozzo.
Another inclusion of actress Cote de Pablo in the show also turned heads, and she was quickly able to establish her own place inNCIS. However, before she landed the role, an incident with Weatherly during the auditions left her sweating.
Michael Weatherly’s Unscripted Move Could Have Derailed Cote De Pablo’s NCIS Dreams
Auditions in themselves are quite nerve-wracking, but if it’s for one of the most popular shows on television, then things escalate to a whole new level. The same happened when actress Cote de Pablo entered the audition hall ofNCISand was taken aback by the stiff competition. While she had already submitted her audition tapes, she had no idea what the creator ofNCISDonald Bellisario thought about the same.
In the midst of this, she also met another actor who was also gunning for the role of Ziva David. The actor told her that this was her 12th audition, which in turn added more pressure and stress for Pablo. When she got up to read lines withMichael Weatherly, he made things more difficult for her by going off-script. While the actor is famous for doing the same, this caught Pablo completely off-guard.
“I didn’t know my a** from my elbow”: Before NCIS, Michael Weatherly’s ‘Token White Guy’ Performance Even Made Bill Cosby Hate Him
However, she kept her calm and did not let him intimidate her, Pablo added in aninterview:
I dismissed him completely. My primary thought was, ‘Don’t let this guy get physically close to you.’ And, at that moment, everybody in the room started laughing and thought it was the funniest thing in the world because the chemistry between the two characters was perfect.
While she was nervous, according toNCISproducer at the time Charles Floyd Johnson, it was her interactions with Weatherly that got her the part of Ziva David. After the auditions,NCIScreator Bellisario asked Weatherly to drop Pablo home, but she declined to do the same.
However, he added that since the actors would be working together it was better that she got to know him more, adding that she had got the job.
Michael Weatherly Detailed Why NCIS Didn’t Get Cancelled Despite Low Ratings
NCIScould easily be one of the longest running shows in the history of television, having aired its first season all the way back in 2003. While the show is currently renewed for a 22nd season and has a large fan-following, its initial seasons did not receive the same love and attention.
It was after Cote de Pablo joined the show in its third season, after it had already started to gain momentum. In an interview viaMirror, Michael Weatherly who played Tony DiNozzo in the show, added that he felt a strong connection with the show from the start.
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He also added why the show wasn’t cancelled despite low ratings and added:
We were able to keep it afloat a couple of years because we weren’t good enough to get all the attention and we weren’t bad enough to get canceled, always believed in its potential.
Rightly so, apart from the original several spin-offs were also launched that expanded theNCISuniverse. While Weatherly left the show in 2016 after 13 seasons, it has managed to stay steady in its ratings. After this, the actor got on board CBS’sBullin which he played a doctor.
You can watchNCISon Paramount+.
Sakshi Singh
Articles Published :1435
Sakshi Singh has written over 1,300 entertainment articles, mostly about Netflix shows and reality TV. She’s spent the last two years covering everything from surprise engagements to shocking eliminations and previously wrote for Essentially Sports in their Netflix Junkie division. A self-proclaimed reality TV addict, Sakshi has watched all 48 seasons of Survivor and never misses a new dating or competition series. She loves watching how strangers meet, fall in love, team up, or betray each other - it’s the mix of strategy and drama that keeps her hooked. When she’s not glued to a reality show, she’s usually watching a crime thriller or tracking the next big streaming hit.
