Michael Weatherly’ return as Tony DiNozzo in a cameo earlier this year on NCIS was a delightful surprise, but it’s hard to believe it’s been almost 10 years since he last took on the role full-time. For devoted NCIS fans, there’s a treasure trove of 13 seasons featuring Tony’s unforgettable moments, all available for streaming on Paramount+.
One standout episode that fans should not miss is Season 5’s Requiem. Interestingly, former NCIS executive producer Shane Brennan shared that the original promo for Requiem didn’t quite hit the mark, leading the show’s main team to step in and take charge of promoting this pivotal episode.
Brennan discussed this topic during a conversation with Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo, who plays Ziva David, on their podcast Off Duty : An NCIS Rewatch. In this engaging dialogue, he not only delved into the origins of NCIS : Los Angeles but also shared the pivotal NCIS episode that assured him the show would be a success.
Regarding the promotional strategy for Requiem, Brennan began by addressing the reasons behind the lackluster reception of the CBS advertisement.
As per Shane Brennan, “We created that episode. Typically, we would receive the promotional materials for each episode about a week in advance, as they aired at the end of the preceding show. However, we often got them with only 24 hours’ notice, simply being told, ‘Here’s the promo, can you approve it?’ When I saw the promo for that particular episode, it was presented in a sepia tone, framed with intricate lace designs. The tagline read, ‘Someone from Gibbs’ past returns to remind him of the daughter he’s lost,’ accompanied by a haunting violin score. My immediate reaction was disbelief; they completely missed the essence of what we were trying to convey.”
Aired as the seventh episode of NCIS Season 5, Requiem showcased the gripping reunion between Mark Harmon’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Maddie Tyler, the close friend of his deceased daughter. This episode unfolds a tense narrative where Maddie is kidnapped in a scheme to retrieve $4 million in misappropriated Iraqi aid funds.
Yet, it was Tony DiNozzo, portrayed by Michael Weatherly, who truly stole the spotlight.
The episode intriguingly begins near its climax, featuring Tony diving into a bay to rescue Gibbs and Maddie from a sinking vehicle, followed by his heroic efforts to revive them. Unfortunately, instead of highlighting this thrilling moment in the promotional material for Requiem, CBS opted for a more conventional approach, much to the dismay of Shane Brennan.
Shane expressed his disappointment, stating : “I approached Roy Poole, the editor for that episode, and said, ‘Roy, pause everything. We need to create a promo.’ We crafted a promo that featured just the opening sequence and a selected pitch, fading to black before transitioning to another segment without any additional content. At the end, we simply added, ‘Next Tuesday,’ to build anticipation. I sent it back, bracing myself for the backlash. I expected them to be furious, considering they had an entire department dedicated to promo creation. I anticipated a response filled with outrage. Instead, I received a call expressing their regret for missing such a golden opportunity. They admitted, ‘This is the best program we’ve ever produced, even though we haven’t aired it yet.’ The promo turned out to be a captivating glimpse into the opening sequence, revealing much but doing so in a way that would undoubtedly entice viewers to tune in for the episode.”
Although it may seem that revealing Tony’s heroic moment in a promotional clip spoils the episode’s climax, we align with Shane Brennan’s perspective that it was a wise marketing choice. As he pointed out, showcasing a brief scene of Tony in action—shooting at adversaries and diving into the water to rescue Gibbs and Maddie—will undoubtedly pique the curiosity of many viewers eager to understand the full story behind these intense moments.
This isn’t merely a retrospective guess from 2007. According to The Futon Critic, the episode Requiem attracted an impressive 18.15 million viewers. This made it NCIS’ second-largest audience ever and the most-watched episode of that season.
Check out Paramount+ to watch Requiem, whether you’re experiencing it for the first time or considering a rewatch after this article. Mark your calendars for Monday, January 27, when NCIS Season 22 continues on the 2025 TV schedule.
Plus, remember that Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo are set to return in their streaming-exclusive spinoff, NCIS : Tony & Ziva.
Michael Weatherly’ Enigmatic Post Suggests A Significant Reunion For NCIS Fans
Michael Weatherly enjoys keeping his fans on their toes. Earlier this year, he shared nostalgic throwback photos from his time on NCIS, and to everyone’s surprise, he made a special appearance in David McCallum’s tribute episode.
Michael Weatherly has a knack for dropping hints on social media, as evidenced by his recent tweet featuring photos of Cote de Pablo. He went on to reveal their collaboration on the spin-off series, Tony & Ziva, making it clear that he enjoys teasing fans with exciting spoilers.
In an exciting turn of events, Michael Weatherly has taken to X Platform to share two consecutive posts that have ignited speculation about a possible reunion with Mark Harmon.
He first posted a photo of a car featuring the number plate ‘Spy’, accompanied by the intriguing caption “European intrigue.”
Shortly after, he followed up with a GIF showcasing the dynamic duo of Tony DiNozzo and Leroy Jethro Gibbs, further fueling the buzz among fans.
A surprising twist that sparked conversations among fans, Michael Weatherly found himself bombarded with inquiries. “Are you reminiscing, or is there a message you’re hinting at, Michael?” one fan playfully asked.
Another fan added, “I absolutely needed this! I really miss the Gibbs slap! Could this be a sign that Gibbs might make a surprise appearance in the Tony & Ziva show?”
A third individual remarked, “You’re certainly dropping hints today. Spies, Europe, and Gibbs—there’s a connection here. Could the ongoing troubles for Tony, Ziva, and Tali in Europe somehow tie back to Gibbs’s undercover work in Paris?”
Michael Weatherly and his co-star Cote de Pablo have been hard at work filming Tony & Ziva since July, with production now moving to Budapest. At this time, Mark Harmon is not scheduled to appear, but he has made a notable return to the NCIS Universe by signing on as the narrator for the prequel series, NCIS Origins.
Scheduled to debut in 2025, Tony & Ziva will be available on Paramount+, offering fans an exciting lineup of 10 brand-new episodes.
Tony made the difficult decision to leave the NCIS team to focus on raising their daughter. Fast forward several years, and the shocking news of Ziva’s survival emerges. This revelation sets the stage for one last mission with NCIS, culminating in a heartfelt reunion in Paris with Tony and their daughter.
Since that time, as depicted in the new Paramount+ original series, Tony and Ziva have been nurturing their daughter, Tali, side by side.
When Tony’s security firm comes under siege, they find themselves fleeing across Europe, racing to uncover the identity of their pursuers. Along the way, they must navigate the complexities of their relationship, learning to trust one another once more in their quest for an unconventional happily ever after.
Mark Harmon might not appear on the cast list, but it’s confirmed that Julian Ovenden from Downton Abbey and James D’Arcy from Oppenheimer are both on board.
Amita Suman, known for her role in Shadow and Bone, is set to portray Claudette, the chief technical officer at Tony’s private security firm.
Additionally, Lara Rossi, recognized from The Watch, will take on the role of Sophie, a caretaker for Tony and Ziva’s daughter Tali, who brings a wealth of experience from her time in the Special Air Service (SAS).
Michael Weatherly Biography
Who Is Michael Weatherly ?
Michael Weatherly is a multifaceted American talent, celebrated for his work as an actor, producer, director, and musician. He gained widespread recognition for his compelling portrayals, including Logan Cale in the hit series Dark Angel, special agent Anthony DiNozzo in the iconic NCIS, and Dr. Jason Bull in the popular show Bull.
| Michael Weatherly | Biography |
| Date of Birth | 8 July 1968 |
| Age | 56 Years |
| Birthplace | New York, United States |
| Father | Michael Manning Weatherly Senior |
| Mother | Patricia O’Hara |
| Brother | Will Weatherly |
| Nationality | American |
| Religion | Christian |
| Ethnicity | Irish Descent |
| Education | Graduate |
| Schools | Fairfield Country Day School |
| Brooks School, North Andover, Massachusetts | |
| Colleges | Boston University |
| American University | |
| Menlo College | |
| The American University of Paris | |
| Movies/TV Shows | 48 |
| Awards | 2 |
| Net Worth | 45 Million US Dollars |
| Wives | Amelia Heinle (1995-1997) |
| Bojana Jankovic (2009) | |
| Children | August Manning Weatherly |
| Height | 6 Feet 1 inch (1.87 Metres) |
| Weight | 90 Kg (201 Pounds) |