The long-running CBS procedural NCIS airs its 500th episode on Tuesday at 8 p.m. At a recent celebration for the milestone, TVLine spoke with cast members and showrunner Steven D. Binder about their most memorable episodes to film.
NCIS, now in its 23rd season, marked its upcoming 500th episode with a celebration including a cake cutting. TVLine attended the event and interviewed several current cast members, who reflected on standout episodes from across the series' history, some dating back to season 1. The actors highlighted moments that were emotionally resonant, technically challenging, or personally significant. Sean Murray, who plays Timothy McGee, recalled tough shoots like a 3 a.m. scene at Disney Ranch—also known as Golden Oak Ranch—placing maggots on a body alongside the late David McCallum. He said, 'The ones that are usually the toughest... usually end up being your better ones.' Brian Dietzen, portraying Jimmy Palmer, named season 14's 'Keep Going,' where his character talks a kid off a ledge, and a recent episode honoring David McCallum after his passing. 'That one was really, really powerful for me,' he noted. Rocky Carroll, as Leon Vance, picked his debut in season 5's 'Internal Affairs' and his directorial effort in season 12's 'We Build, We Fight.' He shared a lighthearted anecdote about Mark Harmon teasing him over screenshotting his directing credit. Newer cast like Katrina Law (Jessica Knight) favored the season 21 finale's underwater rescue of Gary Cole in a custom water tank, calling it 'epic.' Wilmer Valderrama (Nick Torres) cited his season 14 debut 'Rogue'—opening with an assassination in Argentina—and season 19's 'Great Wide Open,' Mark Harmon's Gibbs farewell. Diona Reasonover (Kasie Hines) remembered season 17's 'Blarney,' directed by Carroll, shot just before the pandemic. Showrunner Steven D. Binder praised the 'Young Ducky chronicles,' season 11's 'Anonymous Was a Woman' with flashbacks to Mike Franks, and Gibbs' ex-wife episodes like 'Devil's Triangle' featuring Joe Spano and Melinda McGraw.