Green Light For NCIS: New Orleans

CBS Green Lights NCIS: New Orleans 2nd Spin-off Show from NCIS

(3rd Spin-off from J.A.G.)

This past March/April (25 March & 1 April, 2014) NCIS had a two part story titled "Crescent City" that acted as a backdoor pilot for the potential NCIS: New Orleans spin-off series. The story was successful and the new series has been given the green light by CBS execs.

As a long time fan of the current NCIS flagship series (NCIS itself is a spinoff from the mother flagship show JAG) and the spin-off series NCIS: LA as well as a fan of a few of the main actors Scott Bakula and CCH Pounder, I am going to embrace this new television series. I was originally against the idea (NCIS: New Orleans? and sort of Quantum NCIS Enterprise), but after seeing the backdoor pilot, which I enjoyed a lot and thought it was one of the better episodes of the season, I changed my mind. I think the actors that were cast has a lot to do with it. This new series will be executive produced by NCIS star Mark Harmon. I believe that is one of the big reasons the series was given the green light. I think they are planning to have a  regular around September season premiere/start.

Regular Main Cast:
Special Agent Dwayne Cassius Pride (Scott Bakula)
Special Agent Meredith 'Merri' Brody (Zoe McLellan)
Jefferson Parish Coroner Doctor Loretta Wade (CCH Pounder)
Special Agent Christopher Lasalle (Lucas Black)
 
Linda (Paige Turco)
Lamar (LaJessie Smith)

Related Links:
'NCIS: New Orleans', 'The Odd Couple', 'Scorpion' Lead CBS Pickups- HitFix
CBS Orders 'NCIS' Spinoff, 'Odd Couple', Four More to Series -Hollywood Reporter
'NCIS: New Orleans' gets series order from CBS - NOLA.Com
CBS Orders 'CSI: Cyber', 'NCIS: New Orleans', 'Odd Couple' 'Stalker', 'Madam Secretary', 'Scorpion' & 'The McCarthys' - TV By The Numbers
CBS adds 'NCIS' and 'CSI' spinoffs, new "Odd Couple"- USA Today
'NCIS: New Orleans' gets green light from CBS-TV - WWL First News

Quantum NCIS Enterprise

OH BOY!

The latest casting news for the potential new spinoff in the NCIS franchise NCIS: New Orleans has been announced. Scott Bakula has been cast as team leader Special Agent Pride. Pride is described as a man who “embodies New Orleans" and is driven by the "need to do what’s right and does it all with warmth, passion, strength and humor." He is also apparently an old associate of Gibbs (Marc Harmon) from the NIS (Naval Investigative Service) days.

Special Agent Pride and his team will debut this spring in a two-part story on the current flagship show NCIS as a backdoor spinoff pilot. NCIS itself is a spinoff from the mother flagship show JAG.

Speaking of JAG Zoe McLellan (P.O. Jennifer Coates) has been cast as Special Agent Brody on Pride's team. Also cast is CCH Pounder (Mrs. Irene Frederic from Warehouse 13) who will play medical examiner Dr. Wade. Another field agent named LaSalle has yet to be cast, or at least the casting has yet to be announced for that character.

I have mentioned in this blog and elsewhere that I really don't think there needs to be three NCIS shows right now. This show, however, seems more interesting and has a bigger named star to anchor the potential series than the previous spinoff attempt (from NCIS: Los Angeles) NCIS: Red. I'm a big NCIS fan and a big fan of Scott Bakula as well as a huge Warehouse 13 fan. Even though I don't agree with the plans for a new series I will end up watching, supporting and probably enjoying NCIS: New Orleans.

Related Links:
'NCIS: New Orleans' casts 'JAG' actress - Entertainment Weekly
'NCIS' scoop: Scott Bakula to star in new spinoff - Entertainment Weekly
'JAG' Alum Set as Female Lead in CBS' 'NCIS' New Orleans Spinoff - The Hollywood Reporter
NCIS: New Orleans? - Kirk's Knook (This blog right here)
Bakula cast in lead role of 'NCIS' New Orleans spinoff - New York Post
Bakula leads cast of 'NCIS' New Orleans episodes - USA Today

NCIS: New Orleans?

I recently saw an article that said CBS had green lighted a new JAG/NCIS spin-off series. This time instead of a roving team that the failed NCIS: Red was, this "series" will be centered around an NCIS team based in New Orleans. That immediately made me think of the Mel Odom "NCIS" book series which is UNRELATED to the shows. The books center around an NCIS team based in North Carolina (at Camp Lejeune) though, so my initial connection was way off. I was South but not the right South. The team in the books is mostly military people (Marines and Ex-Marines) so it is slightly different than a "typical" NCIS team which is usually all civilian or mostly civilian.

NCIS book series by Mel Odom

This new spin-off though is supposed to have it's "backdoor" pilot episode(s) on the Mother well oldest Sister series NCIS and if successful become the latest in the franchise. Filming will be in February with the episodes airing in the spring. I guess they are casting right now or will start soon. (Time to brush up dust off the Theatre Resume). The new series and team will be based in New Orleans that is about all that I know right now. Don't know what type of team. The DC team is mostly a regular response police type team. The LA team is an undercover detective team as was the roving Red team. Don't know what the new New Orleans team will be. The team in the unrelated books was an international response team similar to the DC team but also seemed to have some undercover aspects.

I don't know, I'm a huge NCIS fan, but with the main DC team show, and the Los Angeles show I don't think a third show is really needed. I thought that with the NCIS: Red series. It was a fun idea but I don't think it was the time. Is it time now? I don't know but I still don't really think so. NCIS is still strong as it goes into its 11th season that is one season more than the true Mother of the franchise JAG which went 10 seasons. Plus NCIS: Los Angeles is still going almost as strong with season 5.

Speaking of Mothers and NCIS - The super beautiful Daniela Ruah who plays Kensi Blye on NCIS: LA is expecting her first child, a baby boy, with her fiancé David Paul Olsen. Oh Boy the connection gets a bit creepier. David Olsen is the older brother of Daniela's co-star Eric Christian Olsen who plays Marty Deeks, plus David is the stunt double for lil' bro Eric. No wonder Kensi is a little freaked by Deeks. I didn't know all that connection, so um yeah creepy.

Related links:
NCIS Spinoff Set in New Orleans in the Works at CBS, Mark Harmon to Executive Produce- E Online
NCIS Planning New Orleans-Based Spinoff, Exec-Produced by Mark Harmon- TV Line
'NCIS' looks at potential spinoff set in New Orleans- USA Today
CBS Devloping New Orleans-Set 'NCIS' Spinoff- Variety
CBS Greenlights Backdoor Pilot for 'NCIS' New Orleans Spinoff- The Wrap