‘NCIS: Sydney’ takes on a fresh case
It’s certainly not uncommon for a successful series to inspire spinoffs, and other countries have gotten in on the act, with one example now helping a U.S. network’s fall lineup.
“Law & Order: UK” and “The Amazing Race: Canada” are among the shows that have taken American concepts and applied them to other regions, and another is adapting a theme that already has been hugely successful internationally. “NCIS” has often been labeled “the most popular show in the world,” based on its performance around the globe, but that hasn’t stopped Australia from coming up with its own version. “NCIS: Sydney” has its CBS premiere Tuesday, Nov. 14, several days after getting its start in its home country.
Though the actors are likely to be as new to most U.S. viewers as the show itself, the premise will be familiar to fans, as another team of Naval Criminal Investigative Service operatives tackles cases involving members of the Navy. Marking the first time the franchise has gone global in such a way, the show may have taken a page from the “NCIS: Hawai’i” playbook by giving the squad a female leader — in this case Michelle Mackey, played by Olivia Swann (“DC’s Legends of Tomorrow”). The ensemble cast also includes Todd Lasance (“The Secrets She Keeps”), Sean Sagar (“Our Girl”), Tuuli Narkle (“Mystery Road: Origin”), Mavournee Hazel (“Neighbours”) and William McInnes (“Blue Heelers”).
Any show that has “NCIS” in its title should get a respectable sampling, given the proven track record of the dramas that have borne it to date. The original series’ next season will be its 21st, and though original star Mark Harmon (“Chicago Hope”) has left it (he remains on as an executive producer), the current cast has kept the ratings strong — at least by today’s measure of the broadcast TV universe. Sean Murray (“Harts of the West”) and Brian Dietzen (“One-Minute Time Machine,” 2014) date back to the start of the show, as did the late David McCallum (“The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”), with Gary Cole (“The Good Fight”) and Katrina Law (“Arrow”) among those who have joined relatively recently.
“NCIS: Los Angeles” was the first spinoff, launching in the fall of 2009 and ending last May. Chris O’Donnell (“Scent of a Woman,” 1992) and LL Cool J (“Deep Blue Sea,” 1999) headed the cast throughout the 14-year run.
“NCIS: Hawai’i” is slated to have a major remnant of the franchise’s Los Angeles series when it returns for its third season, since LL Cool J will continue his role as Sam Hanna on a recurring basis. So, the “NCIS” universe continues, and its expansion to Australia marks a new chapter for it in several ways.