‘NCIS’ Gary Cole Talks About Replacing Mark Harmon
When Mark Harmon left NCIS, it seemed to be a role no one could replace. However, the show brought in Gary Cole to be the new team leader and he seemed to slip into the role perfectly. However, Cole said things were not going to be easy for Alden Parker with his new team.
Here is what Cole had to say about replacing Mark Harmon.
Gary Cole On Replacing Mark Harmon On NCIS
Gary Cole was a good choice to replace Mark Harmon on NCIS. While the long-running, popular procedural has seen characters come and go, Mark Harmon’s Jethro Leroy Gibbs seemed irreplaceable. However, the show made good on replacing him when they signed Gary Cole to take on the role of Alden Parker.
Cole said that when he came onto the show, he knew the stakes would be high for the team. He said that Alden wasn’t sure this was where he really wanted to be. Calling his character a “loner,” he said the entire NCIS team is a “stress train.” He knew he had to trust other people and watch his back (via TV Insider).
This finally changed for Laden in the Season 198 episode “All Hands.” This was where he called them his “team” for the first time. “The team had reason to not necessarily have a lot of confidence or trust in him because Gibbs had been there so long that they were used to one thing, and Parker was not that,” Cole said. “In this episode, he’s proving himself to the team.”
How Alden Sees His NCIS Team Now
Gary Cole said that things are changing and Alden is now starting to trust his team and become a good leader. He said that he sees each member in a specific manner and things are going much better now than when Gibbs left.
Cole said Parker looks at McGee as someone he can trust concerning the “big picture.” He said Torres would do anything to help solve a case and do the dirty work. Knight is also someone who will get dirty when needed to solve crimes. With Torres, Parker thinks he is reckless and would rather he wasn’t. He feels there is a way that Torres will go off a cliff if he isn’t careful.
What are your thoughts on Gary Cole’s Alden replacing Gibbs on NCIS? Do you think he is doing a good job in the role? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.