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Mark Harmon was a very crucial part of NCIS. Being at the very center of the series for nineteen years, fans watched Leroy Jethro Gibbs go through many stages of his life. Although the hole that he left in the series was filled by Gary Cole’s Alden Parker, fans have certainly felt his absence in the series.

Mark Harmon in NCIS | Credit: CBS

However, many would be surprised to know that Harmon almost left the beloved series very early into its run. The reason for the same is also very surprising, with it being the creator of the show was causing problems for the actor.

Mark Harmon and Trouble in NCIS

From 2003 to 2007, Donald P. Bellisario headed the production and creation of NCIS as its showrunner. He and Don McGill helped the series launch hand in hand. However, the latter allegedly ended up leaving the series because of Bellisario.

Could you imagine someone other than Mark Harmon playing Leroy Jethro Gibbs on the NCIS cast?

No, we aren’t talking about the Young Gibbs we have seen in flashbacks and on NCIS: Origins. We are talking about someone else nabbing the role on NCIS before Harmon got it.

Harmon starred as Gibbs on NCIS from 2003 until 2021. He left the show early in Season 19, and Gibbs was retired to Alaska.

Harmon also appears on NCIS: Origins, serving as the narrator and appearing in scenes where Gibbs writes a memorial about his exploits.

Actor Austin Stowell now plays the Young Gibbs on NCIS: Origin, taking the mantle from Sean Harmon, who had played Young Gibbs in NCIS flashbacks.

NCIS fans continue hoping that Gibbs (played by Harmon) will have a reason to resurface on the primary show in the future.

Who else could have played Gibbs on NCIS?

A fun report...

It’s hard to imagine about anyone other than Mark Harmon playing the role of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS, but he almost didn’t play the role!

The 72-year-old actor played the iconic character on the Jag spinoff series for 19 seasons, becoming the second to last original series regular to depart the show.

In a recent feature from The Hollywood Reporter on the long-running and hit CBS drama series, creators Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, as well as several executives revealed that there were other names before Mark‘s who were mentioned for the part.

Find out who will be playing Gibbs in an upcoming NCIS: Origins prequel series!

Head inside to see the 11 major stars who were once considered for the role of Gibbs on NCIS…...

When you purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

NCIS: Origins is a military police procedural crime thriller drama series created by Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North. The CBS series serves as a prequel to the long-running hit series NCIS and it follows the origins of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs as he joins the Nis after his wife and daughter were murdered. NCIS: Origins stars Austin Stowell, Mark Harmon, Kyle Schmid, and Diany Rodriguez. So, if you loved the thrilling drama, complex stories, and compelling characters in NCIS: Origins here are some similar shows you should check out next.

NCIS Credit – CBS

NCIS is a military police procedural action thriller drama series created by Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill. The CBS series follows Naval Criminal Investigative Service Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs as he leads a team of investigators to investigate various criminal...

It’s hard to imagine about anyone other than Mark Harmon playing the role of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS, but he almost didn’t play the role!

The 72-year-old actor played the iconic character on the Jag spinoff series for 19 seasons, becoming the second to last original series regular to depart the show.

In a recent feature from The Hollywood Reporter on the long-running and hit CBS drama series, creators Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, as well as several executives revealed that there were other names before Mark‘s who were mentioned for the part.

Find out who will be playing Gibbs in an upcoming NCIS: Origins prequel series!

Head inside to see the 11 major stars who were once considered for the role of Gibbs on NCIS…...

Two more seasons of NCIShave officially arrived on Netflix. Seasons 16 and 17 are now available in the US as of June 30, where they’ve joined the already-streaming Seasons 12-15.

The military police procedural, which originally debuted in 2003 as a spin-off of Jag, hails from creators Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill. Now more than two decades into its run, the one-hour prime-time series is the third longest-running US scripted drama program behind only Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order. NCIS has 467 episodes (and counting), cementing its place in the upper echelon of US TV dramas after the aforementioned Law & Orders and Gunsmoke — the only programs to have made more episodes.

If you’re looking to take a deeper dive into NCIS, here’s everything you need to know about the series — including details on the latest seasons dropping on Netflix.

NCIS, an...

There’s a reason why Tom Selleck refers to the original Magnum, P.I. television series as just “Magnum” — and it has nothing to do with it being simple shorthand.

Selleck’s 352-page memoir, You Never Know, was released earlier this month (days after the 36th anniversary of Magnum, P.I.’s series finale), and when rummaging for something to read outdoors on a lazy Memorial Day Weekend afternoon, I remembered that I had been floated an advanced copy. Before I knew it, I had plowed through the entire back half of the book, which covers the shooting of the Magnum pilot,...

It’s hard to think about anyone other than Mark Harmon playing the role of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS.

The 72-year-old actor played the iconic character on the Jag spinoff series for 19 seasons, becoming the second to last original series regular to depart the show.

In a recent feature from The Hollywood Reporter on the long-running and hit CBS drama series, creators Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, as well as several executives revealed that there were other names before Mark‘s who were mentioned for the part.

Find out who will be playing Gibbs in an upcoming NCIS: Origins prequel series!

Head inside to see the 11 major stars who were once considered for the role of Gibbs on NCIS…...

It doesn’t take a team of federal agents to figure out that if you picked up this magazine, you’re probably one of the 300 million people from around the world who watched some version of NCIS last year. That’s just a smidge under the entire population of the United States. The massive fandom around the military procedural, which reigns as the most watched drama on broadcast TV, began in 2003 with a spectacular series premiere from cocreators Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill. The episode, inspired by the 1997 movie Air Force One, introduced what would become the show’s signature recipe of action, emotion, and a dash of humor when agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard (David McCallum) investigate a mysterious death aboard the presidential plane. We fell in love with Gibbs’ gruffness and Ducky’s intellect. We were intrigued by the twisty case...

It’s hard to think about anyone other than Mark Harmon playing the role of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS.

The 72-year-old actor played the iconic character on the Jag spinoff series for 19 seasons, becoming the second to last original series regular to depart the show.

In a recent feature from The Hollywood Reporter on the long-running and hit CBS drama series, creators Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, as well as several executives revealed that there were other names before Mark‘s who were mentioned for the part.

Find out who will be playing Gibbs in an upcoming NCIS: Origins prequel series!

Head inside to see the 11 major stars who were once considered for the role of Gibbs on NCIS…...

It’s hard to think about anyone other than Mark Harmon playing the role of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS.

The 72-year-old actor played the iconic character on the Jag spinoff series for 19 seasons, becoming the second to last original series regular to depart the show.

In a recent feature from The Hollywood Reporter on the long-running and hit CBS drama series, creators Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, as well as several executives revealed that there were other names before Mark‘s who were mentioned for the part.

Did you see that Mark is working on a young Gibbs prequel series?!

Head inside to see the 11 major stars who were once considered for the role of Gibbs on NCIS…...

It’s hard to think about anyone other than Mark Harmon playing the role of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS.

The 72-year-old actor played the iconic character on the Jag spinoff series for 19 seasons, becoming the second to last original series regular to depart the show.

In a recent feature from The Hollywood Reporter on the long-running and hit CBS drama series, creators Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, as well as several executives revealed that there were other names before Mark‘s who were mentioned for the part.

Did you see that Mark is working on a young Gibbs prequel series?!

Head inside to see the 11 major stars who were once considered for the role of Gibbs on NCIS…...

It’s hard to think about anyone other than Mark Harmon playing the role of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS.

The 72-year-old actor played the iconic character on the Jag spinoff series for 19 seasons, becoming the second to last original series regular to depart the show.

In a recent feature from The Hollywood Reporter on the long-running and hit CBS drama series, creators Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, as well as several executives revealed that there were other names before Mark‘s who were mentioned for the part.

Head inside to see the 11 major stars who were once considered for the role of Gibbs on NCIS…...

It’s hard to think about anyone other than Mark Harmon playing the role of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS.

The 72-year-old actor played the iconic character on the Jag spinoff series for 19 seasons, becoming the second to last original series regular to depart the show.

In a new feature from The Hollywood Reporter on the long-running and hit CBS drama series, creators Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, as well as several executives revealed that there were other names before Mark‘s who were mentioned for the part.

Head inside to see the 11 major stars who were once considered for the role of Gibbs on NCIS…...

Network: CBS

Episodes: Ongoing (hour)

Seasons: Ongoing

TV show dates: November 14, 2023 -- present

Series status: Has not been cancelled

Performers include: Olivia Swann, Todd Lasance, Sean Sagar, Tuuli Narkle, Mavournee Hazel, and William McInnes.

TV show description:

A military action procedural drama, the NCIS: Sydney TV series was created by Morgan O'Neill. It's the fifth series inspired by the NCIS franchise by Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill.

With rising international tensions in the Indo-Pacific, a brilliant and eclectic team of U.S. NCIS agents and the Australian Federal Police (Afp) are blended into a multinational task force to keep naval crimes in check in the most contested patch of ocean on the planet.

Read More…...

Who knew that a Jag spinoff about investigating naval crimes would become one of the most popular and long-running shows on CBS? NCIS premiered in September 2003 and has been going strong ever since. However, the show has seen some big changes over the years, including several high-profile cast departures, as well as a subtle name change. Early on, NCIS had a slightly different title to avoid confusion with another popular show on the network.

‘NCIS’ was ‘pitched as ‘Law & Order’ in the Navy’ Gary Cole as FBI Special Agent Alden Parker in ‘NCIS’ | CBS via Getty Images

In the early 2000s, CBS decided to create a spinoff to the show, Jag, a legal drama about the navy’s judge advocates. The initial idea was to follow a format similar to NBC’s Law & Order. The first half of each episode would focus on the investigation of a crime. The...

Although NCIS was well-liked from the get-go, not even an elite investigation could have foreseen the show becoming a hit that would span decades and launch a franchise.

It began in spring 2003 as a backdoor pilot for CBS’ sturdy military-law procedural Jag. Co-created by Jag mastermind Donald P. Bellisario (Magnum, P.I., Quantum Leap) and Don McGill (Numbers, CSI), NCIS follows special agents from D.C.’s Naval Criminal Investigative Service, led by Mark Harmon as Leroy Jethro Gibbs. The show’s initial core cast included Michael Weatherly (Tony Dinozzo), Sasha Alexander (Caitlin Todd), Pauley Perrette (Abby Sciuto) and David McCallum (Ducky Mallard). Twenty years later, the series continues to thrive, as it stands as CBS’ No. 1 broadcast drama for five straight seasons and has launched four spinoffs, with the first international entry, NCIS: Sydney, debuting this fall on the network.

In celebration of the series’ premiere on Sept. 23, 2003, The Hollywood Reporter...

“NCIS: Hawai’i” scored big for CBS on the first Monday of the fall TV season (a feat achieved even with the competition with all of the other networks back with originals and ESPN’s “Monday Night Football.”) The police procedural, which stars Vanessa Lachey, Yasmine Al-Bustami, Jason Antoon, Noah Mills, Alex Tarrant, Tori Anderson and Kian Talan, was the top show of the 10 p.m. primetime slot, attracting 6.33 million viewers and improving on last year’s premiere of “Bull” by over 40% in the same time period.

The Og “NCIS,” created by Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, made a triumphant 19th season return with a premiere that landed the show at the top of primetime at 9 p.m., garnering over 8.15 million viewers and a rating of 0.7 in the key demographic of adults ages 18-49. The military crime drama improved in the time slot by over 91% compared to last year’s...

Okay, while no one actually thought it would be cancelled, we're still happy to report CBS has renewed its NCIS TV show for a 16th season. In addition, the Tiffany Network has re-signed Mark Harmon, who stars in and executive produces the show. Although the ratings have dropped some in season 15, the "mothership" of Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill's successful franchise sails on -- full steam ahead. As previously reported though, Gibbs and the team will have to sally forth without Abby Sciuto, since star Paula Perrette decided season 15 would be her final installment. A CBS military police procedural, NCIS also stars Mark Harmon, Sean Murray, Emily Wickersham, Wilmer Valderrama, Maria Bello, Brian Dietzen, Duane Henry, Rocky Carroll, and David McCallum. The action series centers on NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Harmon). This skilled investigator and...

The spirit is moving Eric Roberts back to CSI this spring.

Roberts will reprise the role of Brother Daniel Larson in the CBS procedural’s season finale, which is ominously titled “End Game,” TVLine has learned exclusively. This marks Roberts’ third CSI appearance; he previously guest-starred in the Season 13 finale and Season 14 premiere, both in 2013.

“We’re super excited about Eric Roberts returning to CSI to reprise his role as the silk-shirt smooth preacher-pimp, Brother Larson,” executive producer Don McGill tells TVLine. “Eric is always a blast to work with, and it’s always a privilege to be in his...

From True Tori to make-believe crime! On Sunday, reality star and Tori Spelling's husband Dean McDermott will guest star on CSI as a guy who may or may not have killed an entire family. And how's this for moving outside of his comfort zone: McDermott plays a creepy, registered sex offender named Mr. Fogel. "We’re super excited to have Dean on the show," executive producer Don McGill tells People. "He plays a man with a shady past who is guilty of heinous crimes, but is he guilty of murdering an entire family? Only the CSIs can get to the truth.

From True Tori to make-believe crime!

On Sunday, reality star and Tori Spelling's husband Dean McDermott will guest star on CSI as a guy who may or may not have killed an entire family.

And how's this for moving outside of his comfort zone: McDermott plays a creepy, registered sex offender named Mr. Fogel.

"We’re super excited to have Dean on the show," executive producer Don McGill tells People. "He plays a man with a shady past who is guilty of heinous crimes, but is he guilty of murdering an entire family? Only the CSIs can get to the truth.

From True Tori to make-believe crime! On Sunday, reality star and Tori Spelling's husband Dean McDermott will guest star on CSI as a guy who may or may not have killed an entire family. And how's this for moving outside of his comfort zone: McDermott plays a creepy, registered sex offender named Mr. Fogel. "We’re super excited to have Dean on the show," executive producer Don McGill tells People. "He plays a man with a shady past who is guilty of heinous crimes, but is he guilty of murdering an entire family? Only the CSIs can get to the truth.

Recently, CBS delivered the new, official synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "CSI" premiere episode 1 of season 15. The episode is entitled, "The CSI Effect," and it sounds like things will get quite intense and drama-filled as Finlay must stop a new bomb threat that's right in her car, and more! In the new, 1st episode press release: Finlay is going to have to deal with a bomb planted in her car and Russell will get a call from someone claiming to be the gig harbor killer. Press release number 2: Finlay will have to deal with a bomb planted in her car, while Russell receives a call from someone claiming to be the Gig Harbor killer. Mark-Paul Gosselaar guest stars as twins Jared Briscoe and Paul Winthrop, and Mark Valley as Detective Daniel Shaw. Guest stars will feature: Marc Vann (Conrad Ecklie), Mark Valley (Daniel Shaw), Jason Gerhardt (Squad Leader Anthony...

Carol Mendelsohn isn't wasting any time setting things up for her post-”CSI” phase. Mendelsohn, who's exiting as co-showrunner on CBS drama “CSI” after 14 years with the show, is moving on to Sony Pictures Television with an overall deal. Also read: Carol Mendelsohn Steps Down as CSI Co-Showrunner The three-year agreement calls for Mendelsohn to develop projects across network, cable and digital outlets. News of Mendelsohn's departure from “CSI” broke Wednesday. Though she will retain an executive producer title for both “CSI” and its upcoming spinoff, “CSI: Cyber,” co-showrunner Don McGill will assume showrunner duties for “CSI.”...

Homeland is adding a Smashing new cast member.

Raza Jaffrey — who played Karen’s boyfriend Dev on the NBC musical drama — will heavily recur on Season 4 of the Showtime series, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Related | Homeland Adds Life of Pi Star

The actor will play Aasar Khan, a decorated lieutenant-colonel in the Pakistan intelligence service who butts heads with Carrie.

Additionally, Michael O’Keefe (King & Maxwell) will recur as deputy station chief John Redmond, who serves as No. 2 to Corey Stoll’s character.

Ready for more of today’s newsy nuggets? Well…

* USA Network has picked up the comedy...

The “CSI” crew is losing a long-standing member. Series co-showrunner Carol Mendelsohn, who was with the show from its beginnings 14 years ago, is stepping down as day-to-day co-showrunner, leaving Don McGill as the program's sole showrunner. Also read: CBS Orders ‘CSI: Cyber’ to Series McGill has served as co-showrunner since 2010. Mendelsohn will remain as an executive producer on “CSI” and the upcoming “CSI: Cyber.” Also read: ‘CSI’ Crew Member Sued Over Pornographic Pictures, Homophobic Slurs on Set Mendelsohn characterized her “CSI” stint as “a long and amazing journey” in a statement. “It's been a long and amazing journey and I...

After 14 years with CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Carol Mendelsohn is exiting the procedural. Mendelsohn, who has been with the series from the start, is stepping down as co-showrunner, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. The veteran producer is also not renewing her overall deal with the show's studio and her longtime home, CBS Television Studios, where she has been based since 2001. Co-showrunner Don McGill, who has worked in that capacity alongside Mendelsohn since 2010, will take over the position full time starting with CSI's upcoming 15th season. Photos: Broadcast TV's New 2014-15 Shows "It's been

read more...

Another original "CSI" cast member is saying goodbye when Paul Guilfoyle is written out of the long-running CBS crime drama at the end of Season 14, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Guilfoyle has played Las Vegas police captain Jim Brass since the "CSI" pilot episode in 2000. He is one of only two cast members to be a series regular in every season, along with George Eads -- though, like Eads, there are episodes here and there in which they do not physically appear.

"CSI" executive producers Carol Mendelsohn and Don McGill say in a statement, "Paul made Capt. Brass a standout character. He is not just an original cast member, he is an original. In a show about forensics, fans always looked forward to the handcuffs coming out, and Capt. Brass putting his spin on the crime of the week, just as Paul Guilfoyle put his indelible stamp on the character and the show.

CSI will lose one of its original stars, Paul Guilfoyle, by the end of the current season, EW has confirmed. The actor, who has played Captain Jim Brass since the CBS show debuted in 2000, is only one of two original stars left on the show; George Eads, who plays Nick Stokes, will be the lone remaining original actor when season 15 kicks off in the fall.

“Paul made Capt. Brass a standout character,” CSI exec producers Carol Mendelsohn and Don McGill said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, which broke the news. “He is not just an original cast member,...

It's the end of a regime. Paul Guilfoyle is set to exit CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation at the end of the current season, E! News has confirmed. Guilfoyle, who plays Captain Jim Brass, has been with the series since it first premiered in 2000 and was one of the last remaining original cast members, alongside George Eads. First reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Guilfoyle's final appearance will be in the Season 14 finale, airing on May 7. "Paul made Capt. Brass a standout character," the show's executive producers Carol Mendelsohn and Don McGill said in a statement to THR. "He is not just an original cast member, he is an original. In a show about forensics, fans always...

At the risk of sounding like a big grump with no sense of joy, let’s talk about the latest celebrity casting for CBS’s CSI, one of my least favorite crime procedurals of all time. CSI has been all over the place with the guest stars it’s brought on over the years and I think we’ve reached what might be the worst way to take advantage of a guest role: taking a well known celebrity and having he or she play themselves in a shameless cameo. Why do it? Because stars bring viewers and CSI needs its viewers to stay on the air. I think the average viewer has caught on to CSI’s tricks and needs to find ways to bring its audience back.

Season 14 will see Gene Simmons making a cameo, according to THR. “We’re really excited to have Gene Simmons guest-starring on CSI,...

CSI is adding a rocker. Kiss frontman Gene Simmons is heading to CBS' long-running procedural during the 14th season in a cameo, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively. Photos: 2014's New Broadcast and Cable TV Shows “We're really excited to have Gene Simmons guest starring on CSI, playing himself in a rock-and-roll themed murder mystery," said executive producers Don McGill and Carol Mendelsohn in a joint statement to THR. Simmons will appear in the 17th episode tentatively scheduled for March 12. Simmons is repped by CAA. He starred in the A&E reality series Gene Simmons: Family

read more...

On the surface, the Season 14 premiere of CSI may feel a bit familiar.

After all, the show's premiere one year ago found the team searching for a team member's abducted loved one. And while this year, D.B. Russell (Ted Danson) & Co. are trying to find kidnapped team member Morgan (Elisabeth Harnois) and Ellie (Teal Redmann) the daughter of Brass (Paul Guilfoyle), that's pretty much where the similarities end.

Fall Preview: Get scoop on your favorite returning shows

"Things won't turn out quite so rosy this time," executive producer Don McGill tells TVGuide.com. "A person close to the CSI family will die...

Read More >...

With CSI’s epic milestone 300th episode approaching in its 14th season, the long running crime procedural will need plenty of guest stars to make the occasion feel of an appropriate scope. Bethany Joy Lenz, who just came off a recurring arc on Dexter’s final season, will be joining the cast of Episode 300, which is airing Oct. 23, and has been given a role that both sounds completely unassuming and normal, but reeks of something rotting beneath the surface. And because I fancy myself a detective of sorts – and not a very good one, just enthusiastic – I’ll get to the bottom of what her deal is within the next 200 words.

Let’s look at the facts: according to TVLine, Lenz is guest starring as a sexy, seemingly normal-looking mother of two in an episode that is bringing back past faces, like former CSI star Marg Helgenberger, as a cold...

New evidence has come to light regarding CSI‘s upcoming 300th episode, and it points to a guest appearance by Bethany Joy Lenz.

TVLine has learned exclusively that the One Tree Hill alumna has signed on to guest star in the milestone outing as a sexy, seemingly normal-looking mother of two (think soccer mom with an edge).

Related | Fall Preview: TVLine’s Grid Showing What’s On When and Versus What!

Episode 300 — slated to air on Oct. 23 and featuring a return appearance by CSI vet Marg Helgenberger— centers on a cold case that “takes our characters back to the beginning,...

CSI has been around so long that it now has the cumbersome task of doing something in celebration of reaching the milestone of 300 episodes. That’s a heck of a lot. That is easily hundreds of fictional people who have died over the years. But I don’t want to talk about the deceased. My interest lies in the living, specifically with former CSI star Marg Helgenberger, who will be returning to help make this a celebration to remember.

Helgenberger used to portray Catherine Willows until she left CSI partway through Season 12. Now she’s coming back for Season 14 and TVLine confirmed she would still be playing Willows and will have play a sizable role in the latest murder investigation. Executive producer Don McGill expressed his enthusiasm for Helgenberger’s return by saying, “she’s such an important part of the history of CSI.” And history will play a big...

The 300th episode of "CSI" will bring a very familiar face back to the Las Vegas crime lab.

Marg Helgenberger, who left the long-running CBS drama a couple years ago, will make a return appearance as Catherine Willows in the milestone episode, which is scheduled to air Oct. 23.

Catherine's will return will be sparked by the reopening of a cold case from 14 years back. A former casino mogul becomes a suspect when someone is killed in his home, with the details similar to a case the team worked back in 2000.

The episode will include, per TVLine, what executive producer Don McGill is calling "faux-backs" -- newly filmed flashback scenes that feature Catherine, Nick (George Eads) and other current cast members who were also around at the show's start.

Helgenberger left "CSI" in January 2012 as Catherine took a job with the FBI. She stars in CBS' midseason series "Intelligence," which is scheduled to premiere in February.

Marg Helgenberger is returning to "CSI," TVLine reports.

Though it's only for the CBS procedural's landmark 300th episode coming up in Season 14 this fall, the former "CSI" former leading lady will surely satiate fans when she reprises her role as Catherine Willows.

Helgenberger, who received both Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for the role, left "CSI" midway through Season 12. "CSI" executive producer Don McGill told TVLine, "We were just really excited to have Marg come back because, obviously, she’s such an important part of the history of 'CSI' ... And she was super excited. It was kismet!”

Helgenberger tweeted excitedly about her return to the "CSI":

At the time of her "CSI" departure in January 2012, the Associated Press asked Helgenberger if she'd return for a special episode or two in the future. "Absolutely," she said. "In fact that was, one of the reasons why it was a little easier...

CSI is getting ready to celebrate a major milestone, with a little help from former leading lady Marg Helgenberger.

TVLine has learned exclusively that the fan fave — who departed the series midway through Season 12 — will reprise her role as Catherine Willows in the CBS procedural’s landmark 300th episode.

Related | Fall Preview: TVLine’s Grid Showing What’s On When and Versus What!

“We were just really excited to have Marg come back because, obviously, she’s such an important part of the history of CSI,” executive producer Don McGill shares. “And she was super excited. It was kismet!”

The milestone hour,...

In the upcoming 14th season of CBS's CSI, romance is in the cards for David Hodges (Wallace Langham), who "will continue his flirtation with beautiful Italian women and explore the possibility of marriage," says executive producer Don McGill.

But first, look for Langham to moonlight on the Lifetime dramedy Drop Dead Diva as an odd auditor named Lester Tuttle, who harbors a secret agenda that may jeopardize the future of Harrison & Parker, the law firm where Jane works. "Wally has a warped sense of humor that lends itself perfectly to this role," says Diva exec producer Josh Berman. Langham will appear in Diva's August 11 summer finale before returning to wrap up his story in the fall.

Read More >...

We’ve got a busy weekend ahead here at EW. Not only is there a lot of good TV but we’re also hosting the CapeTown Film Festival in L.A., so I’ll be there periodically this weekend. If you’re in the L.A. area, stop by and say hello.

Now that I’ve opened myself up to possible stalkers, on to business!

Notice: Spoiler Room will return to it’s regularly scheduled Wednesday timeslot next week. And as usual, send all questions to spoilerroom@ew.com!

‘Arrow’ Boss: Finale Is A ‘Feature Film’

“Like River Song I...

Who on Bones has a bad bug? What truth is Arrow‘s Tommy going to share? What is NCIS agent Ziva’s tie to the new Mossad boss? Will a secret Smash relationship be outed? Read on for answers to those questions plus teases from other shows.

Bones | “The stakes are incredibly high” in this Monday’s episode, Emily Deschanel shared with TVLine this week, when a viral outbreak jolts the Jeffersonian. “One of our own” — Arastoo — “is affected and faces possible death,” the actress previews. “And since Cam, who we are so close to, loves him and is facing losing him,...

How will a reduction in the head count affect the guys of Grey’s Anatomy? How does high drama personally impact Ted Danson’s CSI? Will Broyle join in Fringe‘s future fight? Read on for answers to those questions plus other teases from hot shows.

Grey’s Anatomy | While there has been much talk about how Eric Dane’s imminent departure will affect the women (left) in Mark Sloan’s life – namely, daughter Sofia and baby momma Callie – his absence will trigger a shift among the gents, too. “Owen and Derek definitely start to lean on each other more,...

When CSI signed off last May, Elisabeth Shue’s Finlay found herself literally in the arms of the enemy when a potentially dangerous detective started to get up close and personal with her. So just how will the investigator get out of harm’s way — and save Russell’s (Ted Danson) granddaughter in the process — during the Sept. 26 season premiere (CBS, 10/9c)?

Fall Preview | Exclusive Scoop on New Season of CSI — Plus 46 Other Shows!

“She will launch herself on a dangerous mission and use her smarts and her toughness,” says executive producer Don McGill. “And I can tell you this much: In the premiere,...

Got a scoop request? An anonymous tip you’re dying to share? Just want to say hi? Send any/all of the above to askausiello@tvline.com

Question: How will Meredith deal with Lexie’s death on Grey’s Anatomy? —Bp

Ausiello: She deals with it by throwing herself into her work — and taking a hard line with the fresh crop of interns. “I don’t know if she’s angrier or meaner, but she’s a lot more no-nonsense,” explains exec producer Shonda Rhimes. “She doesn’t have a lot of patience for less than perfect. She’s very good at what she does,...

Got a scoop request? An anonymous tip you’re dying to share? Just want to say hi? Send any/all of the above to askausiello@tvline.com

Question: Okay, after watching that new Castle promo, Sept. 24 can’t come soon enough. Can you tell us anything else about the season premiere? —Cheryl

Ausiello: I’d much rather flash forward to November sweeps and tell you to be on the lookout for a big twist involving the return of .

Question: Will a series regular die on The Walking Dead by the end of first half of Season 3? —Soso

Ausiello: I can...

Exclusive: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation executive producer/co-showrunner Don McGill has signed a new three-year overall deal with the series’ producer CBS TV Studios. Under the new pact, McGill will continue on CSI, which was recently renewed for next season, the show’s 13th. He co-runs the veteran procedural with executive producer and long-time showrunner Carol Mendelsohn. The mothership CSI, which went through major casting changes in the past two seasons with the addition of Ted Danson and Elisabeth Shue as the new leads, has been doing well in the ratings over the past few months, most recently posting a 2.9/8 in 18-49 and 12.1 million viewers last night. McGill has been at CBS and CBS Studios his entire writing career. He started as a writer on Jag before co-creating with Don Bellisario the Jag spinoff NCIS. Before joining CSI, Wme-repped McGill served as executive producer on the studio’s CBS drama Numbers.

Q- You are the current Director of WGA's Showrunner Training Program at Writers Guild of America West. How many applicants did you have for this year?

A- We had over eighty applicants for about twenty five slots. The application process is a two step process. First applicants have to be recommended by current show runners or creative executives. Once they've been recommended, they fill out an application. I review the applications and we end up interviewing about fifty candidates. Out of those fifty candidates we invite approximately twenty five people to participate in the Program. This year's first session was on Saturday, January 14th and it (the program) ran for six consecutive Saturdays.

Q- How long has the Showrunner Training Program been in existence, and can you give the readers a background of its origins?

A- The Showrunner Training Program is the brainchild of writer producer, Jeff Melvoin, who's currently...

Goodbye, Catherine Willows. Hello, Julie Finlay!

With Marg Helgenberger having bid farewell to CSI this week, it won't take too long for the CBS drama to replace this key member of the team: Elisabeth Shue will make her debut as Finlay on the February 15 installment, "Seeing Red."

"Elisabeth's character will share a past, in another crime lab, with [D.B. Russell]," Don McGill, executive producer, said in a statement. "The first time things didn't go so well between the two of them. Maybe the second time's the charm, or not."

Get your first look at Shue in the CSI lab now:...