September 9, 2003

MARK HARMON, SASHA ALEXANDER, MICHAEL WEATHERLY, DAVID MCCALLUM AND PAULEY PERRETTE STAR IN "NAVY NCIS," A NEW DRAMA SERIES ABOUT A TEAM OF SPECIAL AGENTS WHOSE MISSION IS TO INVESTIGATE CRIMES CONNECTED TO THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

New Series From Executive Producer Donald P. Bellisario, Creator of "JAG," Premieres Tuesday, Sept. 23 on the CBS Television Network

Mark Harmon, Sasha Alexander, Michael Weatherly, David McCallum and Pauley Perrette star in NAVY NCIS, a new drama that follows a team of special agents whose job is to investigate any crime that has a shred of evidence connected to Navy and Marine Corps personnel, regardless of rank or position. The series, from Executive Producer Donald P. Bellisario, creator of "JAG," premieres Tuesday, Sept. 23 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Bellisario both directed the episode and wrote the script.

Leading the NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) team which operates outside of the military chain of command is Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon), a highly skilled investigator and interrogator who is smart, tough and willing to bend the rules to get the job done. Working under Gibbs is Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly), a former homicide detective who joined NCIS just a few years ago, but who has instincts that come only from working on the streets. Joining them are Agent Caitlin Todd (Sasha Alexander), a beautiful yet tough former Secret Service agent who's gone head to head with Gibbs in the past, and forensics specialist Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette), a gifted scientist whose dark wit matches her Goth-style hair and clothes. Assisting the team is medical examiner Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard (David McCallum), who knows it all because he's seen it all. From murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines, these special agents travel the globe to investigate all crimes with Navy or Marine Corps ties.

In the premiere episode, Special Agents Gibbs and DiNozzo and NCIS medical examiner Dr. "Ducky" Mallard arrive on Air Force One to investigate what initially appears to be a death by natural causes. But their investigation is hampered by inter-agency squabbles with the FBI and Secret Service, each believing that they should be the primary investigating unit. Gibbs cunningly gets control of the case from the others, but still has to go head-to-head with Secret Service Agent Kate Todd, who insists she remain on the case. As the investigation continues, the sudden death of another Marine officer with the same job as the first victim convinces Gibbs and Todd that they are dealing with a terrorist plot against the President -- and the killer is getting closer.

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On television, Mark Harmon was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for "The West Wing." Prior to that, he earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Special for the movie "Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years," two consecutive Golden Globe nominations for "Reasonable Doubts" and two additional Golden Globe nominations for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Made for TV, one for "After the Promise" and the other for his role as serial killer Ted Bundy in "The Deliberate Stranger." Harmon received two SAG Award nominations for ensemble work for "Chicago Hope." His other television credits include the mini-series "From Earth to the Moon," the CBS mini-series "And Never Let Her Go," the movie "Sweet Bird of Youth," and the series "St. Elsewhere" and "Moonlighting." His feature-film credits include "Comes a Horseman," "Wyatt Earp," "Stealing Home," "The Presidio," "Summer School," "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," "Natural Born Killers" and "The Last Supper." On stage, Harmon has appeared in "Key Exchange," "Wrestlers," "The Wager" and several productions of "Love Letters" with his wife, actress Pam Dawber.

Sasha Alexander's television credits include a starring role in the CBS series "Presidio Med." She has also guest-starred in "Dawson's Creek," "Wasteland," "Friends," "Greg the Bunny," "The Tracey Ullman Show" and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," also on the Network. Alexander's feature-film credits include "All Over the Guy," "Twin Falls, Idaho," "Man on the Moon" and "Lucky 13," for which she also served as producer.

Michael Weatherly is best known for his role as Logan in the series "Dark Angel." He began his television career in "The Cosby Show" and later appeared in the daytime drama "Loving." His other television credits include "Significant Others" and "Jesse." His feature-film credits include "Trigger Happy," "The Last Days of Disco," "The Specials," "Venus and Mars" and "Gun Shy."

Born in Scotland, David McCallum came to America in 1961 to play Judas Iscariot in George Stevens' "The Greatest Story Ever Told." On television, his most enduring role is the Russian agent Illya Kuryakin in "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.," for which he received two Emmy nominations. His other television credits include "The Education of Max Bickford," on the Network, "The Outer Limits," "VR5," "Motherlove," "Law and Order," "Sex and the City," "The Invisible Man," "Kidnapped," "Colditz" and "Sapphire and Steel." His feature-film credits include "The Great Escape," "A Night to Remember," "Billy Budd," "Freud," "Hear My Song," "Hell Drivers," "Mosquito Squadron," "Shattered Image" and "Cherry." In the theater, McCallum recently appeared in productions both on Broadway and Off Broadway, including "Amadeus," "Julius Caesar," "Communicating Doors" and "Comedians." His British theater credits include "The Lion in Winter" and "The Hunting of the Snark." McCallum has also recorded 30 books on tape and currently is the voice of the National Geographic series "Taboo."

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Pauley Perrette's television credits include "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," on the Network, "Murder One," "The Drew Carey Show," "Jesse," "Time of Your Life," "Philly," "Special Unit 2," "Haunted" and "24." Her feature film credits include "The Price of Kissing," "Almost Famous," "Hungry Hearts," "The Ring" and "Ash Tuesday."

NAVY NCIS is produced by Belisarius Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television. Donald P. Bellisario is the executive producer; Chas. F. Johnson, John Tinker and Mark Horowitz are co-executive producers.

NCIS Special
Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs Mark Harmon NCIS Special Agent
Caitlin Todd Sasha Alexander
NCIS Special Agent
Anthony DiNozzo Michael Weatherly Dr. Donald

  "Ducky" Mallard       David McCallum
Abby Sciuto     Pauley Perrette
Director Tom Morrow     Alan Dale

Secret Service
Agent William Baer Gerry Becker

Sr. FBI Agent T.C. Fornell      Joe Spano
Coroner Elmo Poke       Gary Grubbs

George W. Bush Steve Bridges
Chief Steward Richard Anthony Crenna
Naval Commander

Ray Trapp Gerald Downey
Navy Captain Burger Michael Adler
Security Guard "Dennis" Michael Maize
Gerald Jackson Pancho Demmings
FBI Agent Gerald McCullouch
FBI Director Gregory Itzin
Secret Service Director Lawrence Pressman Marine Major Kerry Dane Northcutt
Marine Major
Carl Pritchard Dwayne Macopsen Agent Bowman Jeremy Overstreet
Leonard Rish Robert Bagnell
Detective Andy Kochofis Asante Jones

RATING: To Be Announced

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Press Contacts: Diane Ekeblad 323/575-2029 diane.ekeblad@tvc.cbs.com

Phoebe Glassner 212/975-3148 pglassner@cbs.com