Here, on page nineteen of the first IDW issue of Love and Capes, we get to see an old lady Gibbs-smack Paul LaCroix (Darkblade.). Yep, octegenearians beating up superheroes. Comedy gold!
Gibbs-smack, for those of you not in the know, refers to Mark Harmon's trademark whack-to-the-back-of-the-head move from NCIS. Usually Michael Weatherly's character gets the brunt of them. It's one of the endearing little touches to NCIS.
At since I've brought it up, I find NCIS and Donald Bellasario shows pretty interesting. He's worked on some popular ones Quantum Leap, Magnum PI, JAG, and even on the one-season wonder Tales of the Gold Monkey. I'm pretty sure he worked with Stephen J. Cannell, who's another favorite of mine, and it's interesting how he writes television shows. Most of them start off kind of rocky in the first season. I certainly didn't care for the first season of NCIS, I just watched because Mark Harmon is so likeable and because a friend of mine was watching it, too, but in the second season, things really pulled together. I think he figures out how to write for the actors he's hired after that first season.
He also seems to lose a character in the first season (Kate from NCIS, Harm's first partner on JAG, Dom from NCIS: Los Angeles) as well as introduce a minor character who goes to regular status after the first year (Tim on NCIS, Bud on JAG). And it can't be underestimated how he finds some really good actors to carry a show. Mark Harmon's my favorite, and if I ever grow up and can't be William Shatner, Mark Harmon's a good second. He's good in almost everything. I dug Reasonable Doubts, which I'm pretty sure I was one of the ten people who watched it, and his turn on West Wing as Agent Donovan was just brilliant. His target shooting scene still sticks in my head as both engaging acting and sparkling Aaron Sorkin dialogue. "I can fire a gun without falling down, if that's what you mean." I'd cast him as Jesse Colt in Raider, if that ever became a movie.
But David James Elliot really carried JAG, and I think Chris O'Donnell's built for TV. He's one of that class of actors that I just like everytime he's on screen.
NCIS certainly isn't the greatest show ever, and NCIS: Los Angeles is still in its growing pains season. But they're consistently good and there's a lot to be said about solid bat in your lineup.