There’s a swirl of rumors – some true, some likely mere chatter for now – in the “NCIS” universe.
The first, in the “NCIS: Hawai‘i” brand, is that a crossover plan with the original mothership show, “NCIS,” still is in the works, with an episode to be filmed in Hawaii with two guest stars from the original show, coming here to paradise. For a brief spell, three players were to participate.
Wilbur Valderama, portraying Nick Torres, and Katrina Law, playing Jessie Knight, were the first two named for the crossover to solve crimes with Vanessa Lachey, who is NCIS brand’s lone woman boss, Jane Tennant. The duo’s still awaiting the assignment in Hawaii.
A third actor, Brian Dietzen, who is medical examiner Jimmy Palmer, was later added on a short list of guest actors…but the brakes were put on his guest gig. Could happen later, if the Hawaii show lands an anticipated second-season order as expected, but in the meantime, Dietzen can unpack his bag and wait out the decision.
With little fanfare, CBS announced the formation of “NCIS: Australia,” planned for the 2023 season, likely to be led by the Hawaii showrunners, Christopher Silber and Jan Nash, who came over here from the “NCIS: New Orleans” hierarchy, triggering the latest buzz that Scott Bakula , who played Dwayne Pride in the Big Easy show, might be a logical choice to honcho the show in Sydney, since the N.O. project received an undeserved pink slip.
However, the news about the Down Under spin-off, timetable unknown, fueled more buzz that Cote de Pablo might also come out of the shadows, to reprise agent Ziva David, from the original Mark Harmon production.
Neither the Bakula/Pride nor the de Pablo/David situations have been properly confirmed. Thus, we might as well toss in another viewer-oriented queary: Since Michael Weatherly, who played Tony DiNozzo opposite the David character (they had great chemistry, the best between two investigators in the franchise’s history), now is unemployed and available since his “Bull” series has been canceled, could he be considered for the Aussie team. too? Just thinking. …
Clublicity
Air Supply, featuring Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock, will return to Blue Note Hawaii in a two-night stand and another three-show gig, at 8 p.m. March 8 and 9 and again March 11 to 13. Doors open at 6 p.m. for dinner and beverage service.. Ticket prices vary: for March 8 and 9, $145 premium, $90 for loge seating and bar zone; for March 11 to 13, $165 and $115 for the parallel seating. …
Streetlight Cadence also return to the Blue Note, at 6:30 and 9 p.m. March 20. Doors open a 5 p.m. and at 8:30 p.m. Tickers: $35 premium, $12 loge and bar zones. …
And that’s Show Biz. …