Teresa, Caroline, Deb, and Martha have all commented on our critique of last night’s episode of NCIS, “Page Not Found”. It seems everyone agrees that following the departure of Ziva (Cote de Pablo) the episodes have been lacking. Might the reason be the producers were caught by surprise, then rushed to put the square peg Bishop, a hyper-analyst who eats junk food and sits on the floor, into the round hole of an A-type Agent? In the last three weeks, ratings have been down in the seventeen million range, from the once twent-three million viewers. That might be due to spring breaks, or to the New Orleans spin off. Or, perhaps viewers aren’t warming to Bishop. It is interesting to note that in the last three episodes commenters to this blog have liked them. We’ve observed that in all three episodes, Bishop has been mostly a spectator. So now what is to be done with Bishop?
Blessings, Diane and David Munson
I’ve only seen one show with Bishop and was NOT impressed. MY fave was KATE and the way she played off Gibbs and Tony but I became very fond of Ziva as she grew to fit the character spot. . . and we saw a very warm heart under her tough training. . .but. . .I’ve yet to see anyone replace either of those characters in a way to round out the team – it’s lacking in my humble opinion. .
Agreed again. Not to lessen how much I loved all the other characters’ moments (and I did sooo much!) in “Page Not Found”, I can’t downplay that it certainly helped that Bishop’s presence was noticeably lessened. I think you are correct that her character and casting was hastily put together due to CdP’s walking away without extending the show that made her the common courtesy of sufficient notice to allow planning time. The series has a history of creating interesting characters who mix well. Delilah is the perfect recent case in point. And who doesn’t love Dorney? I may not have liked all of the guest stars but I am hard pressed to remember a regularly or occasionally recurring cast member I didn’t like instantaneously. Even though I came to dislike Ziva’s character some years into her run, that doesn’t change the fact I started out liking her. But I just can’t warm up to Bishop. I just don’t find chemistry between her and the other cast members or any endearing or inspiring qualities in her with which to ‘bond’. I watch because there are 7 other wonderful characters I do love but here’s hoping this summer’s hiatus affords TPTB the luxury and opportunity of taking a breath, putting on their creative thinking caps and formulating a cohesive plan with regards to that desk occupant.
I will throw out one more admittedly long shot to the ratings ‘why’ discussion to add to the Bishop effect and the frustratingly numerous breaks, (more than can be explained away by the Olympics) and that would be the effects of programming changes by the USA Network. NCIS really caught on and the viewership and ratings really started climbing when it found life in syndication with marathons and heavy rotation on USA Network. That connection is indisputable. They have now lost that coveted spot on USA who has opted to focus more on NCIS:LA and Modern Family. (Though of late the marathons seem to be making a bit of a comeback – like tonight.) Could it be that USA created an addiction of sorts by supplying a steady, copious diet of NCIS for viewers and that ‘addiction’ is now no longer being fed? I for one found myself often defaulting to a USA driven marathon time and again after going round and round with the remote and finding little other to engage me. That regularity bred an increased level of interest and involvement in the characters. Could being in front of the viewing public less since last fall be impacting the drive by viewers to be engaged, invested and loyal?
NCIS continues to decline each week it just gets worse. It just seems to lack all the way around. Any spark that they generated they have extinguished now that they have axed Delilah. Bishop does not fit. What ever contract disputes the had with Cote they need to swallow their pride correct immediately she must have been the glue that kept things moving in a positive direction.