The entertainment community and internet are abuzz with the shocking news!! Cote de Pablo, who plays Ziva on NCIS, is NOT renewing her contract. She’ll only appear on Season Eleven’s premiere show. We wonder what the future holds for her. One might look to one of the other long lived series, the Seinfeld show, for a peak into her future. Jason Alexander and others from that cast hoped to branch out into their own fame, but did they? Some viewers did not approve of de Pablo’s character taking the place of Kate, so they won’t miss Ziva, while others will miss her greatly. Who will the show bring on as the new lead female. We vote for Diane Neal, the Coast Guard investigator. Abigail Borin is well suited to play opposite Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Most viewers have enjoyed her appearances. She can carry it off right away. What do you think? We’d love your reactions. Any other nominees? Check back on our blog, as we will share more news about the remaining actors/characters soon.
Honestly, I’m finding it hysterical that anyone thinks this is ‘shocking’ news. The handwriting for her leaving has been on the wall in her interviews this past season as well as in the lack of urgent worry about her contract negotiations since the show announced MH signing & S11.
Regarding a replacement, I really hope they don’t go there. There isn’t a need to have a 4th team member much less a ‘girl’. Abby Borin is great as a guest star – maybe add an extra ep for her a season & bring Fornell in more.
BTW – many fans who don’t like ziva hate her on her own merit. At this stage it has nothing to do with her replacing Kate & everything to do with her being a truly awful character in her own right.
If you follow twitter in any way, shape or form, you should check out what’s being tweeted to the cast. The tiva/ziva fans & the abuse they are heaping on them both to their own twitters & privately is astonishingly awful & a true embarrassment to the NCIS fanbase.
No Ziva??? The show won’t be the same without her but I’m guessing she was “banking” on that and they management didn’t “buy.” Sasha Alexander — Where is she after leaving the show? I thought the show couldn’t recover from that; instead they excelled. But I don’t think I’ve seen Sasha Alexander anywhere. Well, maybe if we look at the positive side of things, Tony will finally grow up.
Sasha is Maura Isles on Rissoli and Isles on TNT. The character is a medical examiner.
This is the place to come for answers. Thanks MaryAnn and everyone else who expressed their opinions.
In our house we have joked that it seems those who leave NCIS play medical examiners. The actress who played Jenny Shepherd is playing one on the new show Motive.
Right. Now she gets all the good lines like “I’ll know more when I get him back to autopsy.
Tony will never grow up. Cote did well. Diane Neal would be a great replacement “on loan” from the Coast Guard. The military services to that all the time – joint exercises. She fits perfectly with Mark Harmon. Keep it professional!
Sasha Alexander plays Maura Isles in Rizzoli and Isles. Thought Sasha left to start a family.
I personally will miss Ziva because she appears to have it all when it comes to team play. The plus is that she also can handle Tony without kid gloves! They do make the show very interesting with their side interaction. Neal is a good opposite for Harmon’s Gibbs, but she doesn’t project femininity with toughness like de Pablo does.
Neal can be very soft and vunerable. She actually is a good enough actor to play a variety of emotions – comedic, sexy, lost … beside strong and smart. Let’s try her and challenge the writers to get some character variety into the show. Then Tony could have moments of maturity. Would be progress and fun to watch.
I liked Neal a lot. Wouldn’t it be a step “down” for Borin to be on someone else’s team, though. As for Ziva — I always thought Cote would be a perfect Bond girl.
Yes i enjoyed Diane Neal but on Gibbs team, shes to much like Gibbs, poor Tony. I would love love to see Nikki Jardeen. Shes funny and a good agent if shes avaiable. or just the three man team , it worked in the past if they need a waman then just bring an experienced agent when needed. I really see no need fir a fourth. The core four have such good cemistry that has been lost for sometime
Diane Neal is a sleeper! Really funny/witty. Would be a kick to see her in a longer-term situation where her humor could come out and surprise everyone. Would make her more “human”.
I was surprised at the announcement as I had thought I had heard earlier that she was coming back. I’m very curious to see how they wrap up her storyline and who will “replace” her. I don’t really have any guesses as to who it might be.
I like Diane Neal but having been a leader I could see them elevating her above Tony. Am hoping the demise of the Ziva dynamic encourages the writers to bring back competent Tony they’ve lessened over the years, presumably in an effort to highlight Ziva. Hoping for the comeback of an ensemble focus.
There are a couple characters I hope they do NOT bring back. I loved Ziva’s cliche’ goofs – like the YOU GET MY SHEEP (GOAT) and I will miss those.
I liked the more secondary TYPE characters like Kate and Ziva – the Coast Guard gal and the Army or Marine gal (can’t remember her name) – too strong – made Gibbs’ character seem less MAIN and more SECONDARY – I want them to keep Gibbs IN CONTROL.
I LOVED Kate – LIKED Ziva – esp as she wanted to assimilate. Gonna miss her and the way she played off Tony.
When I saw this on the news I held my breath until they told who was going off – whew – don’t want to mess with those other team members – except for Vance – never cared for his character much.
Thanks for keeping us informed.
I respectfully disagree that Ziva will not be missed. My husband & I really enjoyed her character. I do agree, though, that the writers need to have Tony grow up. After ten years, he wouldn’t be making the same childish analogies & comparisons. McGee was allowed to grow & become more confident in his abilities, so let’s show Tony as growing past feeling the need to be the class clown.
I will miss Ziva. Yes, Tony needs to grow up some but, not totally. Borin would butt heads with Gibbs. She’s too much like him. They need a new female that would be an equal but still work with the group. I’d still like to see Borin in an episode or two but not on a regular basis. Tim could be utilized more.
Welcome Connie to the group of NCIS fans. Interesting email name. One wonders? Much discussion about Borin/Neal and her strength of character. Would she conflict with Gibb’s or would she make him stronger? It will be interesting to see who will be the new female star. Some claim one is not needed.
I like Diane Neal the actress but since she played someone equal to Gibbs I don’t see that working for the long haul. I don’t like Dornigan or EJ as options either. I think the Gary Glasberg can find a good replacement with someone we do not know or never have seen. A good backstory that brings in the fan base and it will be all good. My question is whether more defections are on the way in 2 years? I could see Michael Weatherly jumping ship or Sean Murray moving on. That could spell the end at that point. Let’s enjoy it while it lasts and know that the writers will come up with interesting scenarios and with a new character it could breathe some new life in the series.
Jeff. Thanks for speaking up and sharing in the discussion. We are all looking forward with great expectation, to see what the producer and writers are going to do. Based on their past successes, we think the odds are great that we’ll all be pleased. Stay tuned.