Is There Really a NCIS Agency?
It’s one of the longest-running shows on television, and for good reason – NCIS has figured out the winning formula. Since 2003, fans have been tuning in to watch the exploits of Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Anthony DiNozzo, Abby Sciuto, and the other characters that make up the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
The show, with its distinctive mix of humor and drama, seems so real that fans often question whether or not it is based on real events. While the events of the show are scripted, there is a very real agency that stands as the inspiration for NCIS.
Why is ‘NCIS’ so popular?
Considered by many to be one of the greatest television shows of all time, and consistently ranked as one of the most popular series in syndication, NCIS has defied many stereotypes and broken new territory for the genre of cop shows. The show involves the investigation of crimes involving the Marine Corps and U.S. Navy, and frequently utilizes real details of police procedure.
The acting, too, stands out in a world of many cheesy television dramas. Mark Harmon, the actor who portrays the lead investigator Gibbs, has earned recognition for his moving portrayal of the complex character. Many fans have grown up with the show, and have been watching consistently since the show’s debut in 2003. NCIS even spawned a two popular spinoff series, NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: New Orleans, the latter which focused on crimes occurring in the Crescent City. Those shows were near-instant hits for the network as well and grew the show’s fanbase to epic proportions.
Is the ‘NCIS’ agency real?
While the title has become synonymous with the iconic TV show, there is, in fact, a real NCIS agency which exists within the Department of the Navy. According to the agency’s website, the department consists of around two-thousand personnel and more than one thousand Special Agents. The agency boasts operations in over forty-one countries and actively works to pioneer information-sharing between other governments organizations and departments.
Interestingly enough, the real NCIS is a civilian agency, with four areas of expertise, including criminal investigations, counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and cyber. It seems that the show NCIS plays it pretty close to real life, at least in terms of the way that the agents go about the process of criminal investigation.
All that being said, the show takes a great deal of dramatic license, especially in terms of character interactions and in the more elaborate nature of some of the investigations. However, fans aren’t tuning in every week to watch a documentary, and the excitement and fast-paced nature of the show is one reason why NCIS has consistently remained one of the most popular series around, year after year.
What’s next for ‘NCIS’?
NCIS is going strong, with the sixteenth season currently in syndication. Although the cast has undergone some significant shake ups over the years, including the recent departures of long-time cast members Pauley Perrette and Duane Henry, viewers have remained loyal to the show. In the years since the premiere in September 2003, NCIS has scored a number of awards and nominations, including several Emmy Awards, People’s Choice Awards, and ALMA Awards.
The ratings and reviews speak for themselves, and it’s unlikely that NCIS is going anywhere for a good long while. The show has become a part of people’s lives and connects them to a world of drama and intrigue that is unlike anything else on the air. The fact that the show is grounded in reality and an agency that is hard at work every day makes it that much more interesting.
