Michael Weatherly had a fascinating reaction to what Leroy Jethro Gibbs would think aboutTony and ZivainNCIS: Tony & Ziva. The iconicNCISpair will be living in Paris with their daughter Tali and dealing with new threats. The show will be the firstNCISspinoffto focus exclusively on a pairing.
In an interview withScreenRant’s Rachel Foertsch at San Diego Comic-Con,Michael Weatherly shared that he believed Gibbs would have a comical reaction to Tony and Ziva’s new lives. In a very Gibbs fashion, he would likely support their new life in the best way he knows how, while also adding his own Gibbs charm. Read the full conversation below:
Screen Rant: I have a hypothetical question: If Gibbs were to ever show up in Paris, how do you think he would react to everything that Tony and Ziva are up to?
Michael Weatherly: “I think he’d ask Tony, ‘Where’s the basement?’ And I’d say, ‘Oh yeah, we live in an apartment. There’s no basement.’ He’d say, ‘Then how do you build a boat?’ And I’d say, ‘I’m sorry, boss, I’m not building a boat.’ He goes, ‘Nah, I can’t be here.’ And then he’d just leave. What do you think?
…I [also] feel like I’d walk into the living room and he’d be teaching Tali how to do a correct head slap. And I’d be like, ‘No, no, no, no, no! That’s not how we solve problems. Now the culture has shifted. We don’t do corporal punishment in the workplace. Breathe.'”
What Michael Weatherly’s Comments Mean For NCIS: Tony & Ziva
The Duo Is On Good Terms With Gibbs
Mark Harmon’s Gibbswould still get along with Tony and Ziva if Gibbs appeared in theNCIS: Tony & Zivaspinoff. The fact that Weatherly can joke about his character’s relationship with his former mentor and boss is great. It meansthe characters could still act as if no time had passed since their last on-screen meeting.
Weatherly’s comments also mean there is potential for more Gibbs content. Asboth Tony and Ziva were part of Gibbs’ MCRT for years, there is bound to be some sort of reference or call back to their earlier days as a will-they-won’t couple under Gibbs' command. Weatherly’s comical reaction is a good sign for the spinoff’s connection toNCIS.
Our Take On Michael Weatherly’s Comments
Weatherly’s Comments Are A Reminder of NCIS' Older Seasons
Michael Weatherly’s comments are a refreshing reminder of the good old days ofNCISwhen Gibbs, Tony, and Ziva were all significant aspects of the procedural, when they used to work as a team.NCIS: Tony & Zivawill likely be notably different from the flagship. As such, it is still nice to remember how the two shows are connected.
It is also nice to imagine that Tony, Ziva, and Gibbs kept in contact all these years later to the point where Gibbs could potentially appear in the new spinoff and nothing would be unusual about it. The trio have not shared the screen together sinceZiva’sNCISdeparture. However,their characters still share a strong bond.
NCIS: Tony & Zivawill air on Paramount+ this fall.
While Mark Harmon is unlikely to appear inNCIS: Tony & Zivaafter hisNCISdeparture in season 19, the potential is always there. Weatherly’s comments only prove that a Gibbs appearance would work in the spinoff. His imitation of Gibbs was spot on and was a great reminder of the trio’s rapport inNCIS' MCRT.
