NCIS star Brian Dietzen teases the return of a fan-favorite character in an upcoming episode. The signature CBS franchise has already welcomed back familiar faces in season 22. Some date back to the show’s earlier days, as with Laura San Giacomo as Dr. Grace Confalone and the character’s connection to Gibbs. Viewers have also seen Meredith Eaton reprising the role of Carol Wilson after first being introduced in season 7. It reaffirms the procedural’s history, heading into the already-renewed NCIS season 23.
In an interview with Collider, Dietzen offers a filming update and episode count clarification. The actor, who has played Jimmy Palmer since the beginning, mentions that NCIS season 22 will consist of 20 episodes and adds that they are currently filming the episode 18. When it came to the identity of the returning actor, Dietzen is less forthcoming. He teases, nonetheless, that it will be a “fan-favorite” and indicated the return will happen in episode 18:
“We’re shooting our 18th episode. We have 20 ordered on the season. So this is the pre-pre finale, and it’s great. We got some good stuff going on…I just did a scene with a wonderful guest star who you’re definitely going to recognize, and I can’t talk about yet. But, but, teaser: it’s, it’s one that I think our fans are really going to love…With 22 years of catalog, you go back to a lot of people. But yeah, it’s pretty cool. Definitely a fan-favorite.”
What Dietzen’s Comments Mean For NCIS
The Possibilities Are Wide Open
One of the things that comes along with being one of the defining TV procedurals of the last two decades is that the CBS stalwart has a lot to revisit when it chooses to do so. That’s true both in terms of spinoffs and all the significant characters that have left NCIS. It is unlikely that the return will be on the level of Gibbs, who is currently the focus of NCIS: Origins. It also wouldn’t seem to be Abby Sciuto, considering that Pauley Perrette recently ruled out a return.
But even if the show is unable to deliver on two of the most requested returns, there are still a lot of familiar faces that could make a surprise appearance towards the end of the current season. It could be someone from NCIS: Hawaiʻi, NCIS: Los Angeles or, digging back a little further, NCIS: New Orleans. More will likely be revealed closer to the premiere of episode 18, as NCIS season 22 has had breaks between new episodes recently.
Our Take On NCIS’ Returning Guest
It Adds Intrigue
A big part of the joy in watching a show with a lengthy run is that it can dig into its history when needed for a nice surprise or to fundamentally shake things up. It remains to be seen, of course, which category the latest NCIS return falls into. But it’s something to keep an eye on, as the crime drama closes out another year.