Tonight’s NCIS focuses a light on a common problem…misconceptions.
If you will allow me a personal trip down memory lane…
Many years ago, our latest studio wonder-boy, a “Hahhhh-vard man,” as Thurston Howell III would pronounce it, moseyed into the Sound Department, bragging that he “only missed 2” on his ham radio license test.
Mind you, he did this in front of a bunch of guys who designed post-production equipment. Some of it was groundbreaking. As he was greeted by some chortles and a few guffaws, he insisted that this phenomenal feat was only worthy of Harvard MBAs, and pointed to me and said, “I suppose you could do better,” as I giggled.
Not realizing that this “girl in the office” already held a 1st-class FCC license, Mr. Honcho was busy sticking his foot in his mouth while the engineers already were setting up a betting pool.
The Harvard man, making a significantly large salary, pulled out his bankroll and bet against “the girl.” The reason I digress is to illustrate a few points about tonight’s NCIS episode, “Trapped.”
One: Ham radio is fun. And helpful. And not just for the “Poindexters” as Mr. Honcho called them.
Case in point…on tonight’s NCIS, when a petty officer is found murdered on a golf course, McGee (Sean Murray) spends hours on the victim’s ham radio trying to locate a key witness. For those who think that ham radio is a “geeks-only” endeavor, several of my friends were instrumental in helping others after the Northridge earthquake. Sounds pretty heroic to me.
Two: Donating to charity is a good thing. After I aced the test, beating the Harvard man, all proceeds of the pool went to a program for special needs children.
On NCIS tonight, Palmer (Brian Dietzen) asks his co-workers to donate to a charity that builds playgrounds for kids of all abilities, and Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) surprises the team with his generosity.
Note #1: When website instructions explain not to hit the “back” key, believe it.
Note #2: All kids like to have fun. Whether they are a track star or on a walker, kids deserve to have fun.
Three: New NCIS transfer, Special Agent, Jack Sloane (Maria Bello), has a past that is starting to be revealed.
Note #3: Looks can be deceiving. A lot of people are tougher than they look. This applies to Jack Sloane, you, me or the kid with a walker.
The moral of the story: Be kind. Be helpful. Be generous. And never, ever, bet against people just because they don’t look like you.
Guest stars include Rodney To, Eileen Galindo, James Leo Ryan, Ray Stoney, Seth Coltan, Granville Ames, Kaley Ronayne, Mark Berry, Juan Alfonso and S. Zylan Brooks.
“Trapped” was written by Brendan Fehily and directed by Bethany Rooney.
NCIS airs tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS in the U.S. and on Global TV in Canada.
