There has been a whirlwind of changes and baby news for NCIS: LOS ANGELES over the summer.
Showrunner Shane Brennan is transitioning to develop new projects for CBS while maintaining his role as Executive Producer. R. Scott Gemmill, Executive Producer/Writer, is taking over Brennan’s showrunner duties and bringing years of his experience with NCIS: LOS ANGELES, as well as ER, JAG and THE UNIT.
Kensi Blye portrayer, Daniela Ruah and husband, David Olsen, welcomed a baby girl, Sierra Esther Ruah Olsen, on September 4.
The cast and crew used inventive techniques to shoot around her burgeoning baby bump while shooting over the summer. The actress currently is on maternity leave, but has confirmed that despite the pregnancy, Kensi will not be absent from the scene.
Not to be outdone by his real-life sister-in-law, Eric Christian Olsen (Deeks) and wife, actress Sarah Wright, had a 10-pound-12-oz baby girl, Esmé Olivia, on August 9. (Ruah is married to Olsen’s brother, Eric’s stunt double on the show.)
On screen, Kensi and Deeks reportedly will get engaged this season, and there is a rumor that a character may be killed off or leave the team sometime this year.
Season 9 has an explosive beginning tonight with a 2-hour event at a special time after 60 MINUTES in most timezones, around 8:30pm, depending upon how football earlier in the day affects the start time. (Be sure to set your DVR for overrun if you are not on the West Coast.)
Part one of tonight’s event, “High-Value Target,” sets up the arrival of Under Secretary of Defense Corbin Duggan (guest star Jackson Hurst) who is sent in by Washington to take the lead because Hetty (Linda Hunt) and Granger (Miguel Ferrer) have been unsuccessful in finding the mole in the NCIS: LOS ANGELES organization.
Whether Duggan can be trusted or has a part in the rumored demise/injury/departure of a team member remains to be seen. Both Hetty and Granger have been reported as possibly facing uncertain futures, but whether that simply is a threat to their current positions or something more life-threatening is not yet know.
The team spreads out in its pursuit of evidence, and some of that evidence leads to Syria, where one team member is severely injured when the mission goes off course.
Part two of tonight’s Season 8 premiere event concludes with “Belly of the Beast,” where Callen (Chris O’Donnell) and Sam (LL Cool J) must formulate new plans on the fly.
NCIS: LOS ANGELES also stars Barrett Foa as Tech Operator Eric Beale and Renée Felice Smith as Intelligence Analyst Nell Jones.
Guest starring tonight are Alexander Wraith, Cherami Leigh, Harry Katzman, Bryce McBratnie, AJ Meijer, Lisa Maley, Ben Cain, Nadia Sloane and Sammy Sheik. “High Value Target” was directed by Tawnia McKiernan and “Belly of the Beast” was directed by Terrence O’Hara. Both episodes were written by Gemmill.
NCIS: LOS ANGELES airs tonight after 60 MINUTES in the East, at approximately 8:30 pm contingent upon football overtime, and at 8:00 pm on the West Coast on CBS in the U.S. and Global TV in Canada.
Episode 8.01
Episode 8.02
