LOS ANGELES — Being the only girls in the crime-fighting world of NCIS can be a bit daunting, but series stars Cote de Pablo and Pauley Perrette insist the familial atmosphere of the hit show — now filming its eighth season — keeps them from feeling left out.

In fact, de Pablo insists, the combination is just right. “It’s very rare when you have a top-rated show and an international success like this,” says the actress, who joined the cast in the third season. “If you were to take out any of these characters, you would be messing with the chemistry of the show.”

Playing Ziva, a former Mossad agent, calls for more than a few stunts, and it’s a part of the job that de Pablo relishes.

“Nothing gets me more pumped than a really good fight sequence,” says de Pablo, who comes from a dancing background. “In dance, I always felt like I was never good enough because I couldn’t get my leg high enough or whatever. But in fighting you can be dirtier. It’s what I think most women secretly would love to do.”

There are risks, of course. “At a certain point, you may get hurt,” she says. “And you have to know that going into it. Certainly, I’ve had injuries. The simplest things are the ones that hurt you. I did one fall and my neck was basically shot for about two weeks.”

Perrette’s role as forensic specialist Abby isn’t nearly as physical, but it instead calls for something of a mental workout. “I have probably four hours of studying to do tonight,” she says. “The things that Abby has to say, there’s no way to do that without studying. Because by the time I get to set, I’ve got props and things and microscopes and mass spectrometers and so many things to do that if you’re not really super-prepared, I don’t think there’d be any way you could play Abby. It’s a lot.”

Both actresses have found strong relationships to play off of with their male co-stars, especially with series star Mark Harmon, who plays NCIS supervisor Leroy Gibbs.

“I’ve always, always felt that their relationship was so incredibly paternal” Perrette says of Abby and her boss. “It was because Gibbs lost his daughter, Abby doesn’t have a father, and that right there lays the groundwork for that relationship. She needs his approval in a different way than the others. It’s a really interesting and sweet relationship. And also one that’s a little heartbreaking, if you think about it.”

For de Pablo, the paternal feelings apply as well, especially since she was a later addition to the cast. “I really think that Ziva has found a family in this agency, with these people that she works with,” she says. “I do think that the closest thing she’s got to a real father figure that she’s had in a long time is Gibbs.”

But for as much as Harmon’s character offers fatherly comfort on-screen, by all accounts the show’s lead actor is more like an obnoxious little brother off-screen. Though Harmon has steadfastly denied pulling practical jokes on his co-workers, the stories keep popping up.

“Pranks happen all the time on our show,” de Pablo says. “There was one day when I walked into my trailer and Mark Harmon had found a dead lizard and he put a noose around its neck and he hung it from my lamp. And on the noose there was this note saying, ‘I couldn’t take it anymore.’ You know it was him. Who else would do that? The amount of thought that goes into that prank is only … it’s a Mark Harmon prank.”

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NCIS star Michael Weatherly will pull double duty later this season as he makes his directorial debut.

“I like cameras and I like sets and the surgical nature of make believe that happens — the whole process,” Weatherly tells TVGuide.com. “I love all aspects of production, and I have a great deal of respect for the whole craft. I’m really excited about directing; it’s an extension of my curiosity about film and TV.”

Weatherly expects to go behind the camera for an episode filming in January. He says the crew may also document his directorial experience for a special feature on the forthcoming Season 8 DVD.

Weatherly, who has made known his desire to direct for some time, says his curiosity about filmmaking began when he was a cast member on the ABC soap opera Loving. “I think that was always fascinating to me,” he says. “When I was on the soap opera, I’d sit in the editing booths when they’d tighten up the show to see how they did that and what the technical process was. I probably should’ve started getting into the technical side of it earlier.”

Although a CBS rep confirms that Weatherly will helm an upcoming episode, no other details about the episode were immediately available. But Weatherly — whose character, agent Tony DiNozzo, is known for his trademark sense of humor — promises the episode will stand out.

“I’ve got a lot of ideas about my version of NCIS,” he says. “I can promise that it will be a little bit different. It’s daunting to imagine that I am going to be running around in charge.”

And Weatherly, who likes to cut up as much as his character, says his co-stars are in for a ride. “Everyone is terrified,” he jokes. “Sean Murray [McGee] is probably most terrified because I have got a lot of acting notes for him.”

Weatherly, 42, has starred on the hit CBS procedural for all eight seasons. He signed a multi-year contract extension earlier this year. NCIS airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on CBS.

Are you excited to see Weatherly’s directorial debut?

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So just a little news on Upcoming NCIS Episodes. Next week not only is it an old episode, but NCIS isn’t on at 8, it’s regular time. November 30th, at Eight CBS will be airing, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. And following that will be NCIS rearing Episode 7×19 Guilty Pleasure (The death of a Navy officer leads Gibbs and the team into the world of high-priced call girls, relying on D.C. Madam Holly Snow to help them catch a killer)

Then on December 7th, NCIS will once again be old. They will be rearing episode 7×23 Patriot Down (When a colleague’s murder sends shockwaves through the team, Gibbs uncovers a surprising link to the crime )

Then Finally on December 14th, (SPOILER ALERT) NCIS will be back with and all new Episode. The episode will be 8×10 and called False Witness (The NCIS team investigates the disappearance of a Navy petty officer who is the sole witness in an upcoming murder trial) with guest star Annie Wersching (who last role was on 24). This also looks like it’s the last Episode before the new year, but do not quote me on that one.

On December 21st, NCIS is once again back to old Episode. They will be rearing Season Seven’s season finale 7×24 Rule Fifty-One (Gibbs heads to Mexico to face his demons and make a startling decision, on a rebroadcast of the seventh season finale of NCIS)

I have added tonight’s NCIS Screencaps. And I know I can’t wait for next weeks Episode.

Home > NCIS > Screencaptures > Season Eight > > 8×09 Enemies Domestic

David McCallum talks to TV.com about his long-running career and role in NCIS, currently airing on CBS Action.

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If your head is still reeling, and your heart still pounding, from last night’s episode of NCIS, you’re not alone. The first episode in the two-parter exploring the history between NCIS Director Vance (Rocky Carroll) and Mossad Director Eli David (Michael Nouri) was info- and action-packed. Fan favorite writer Jesse Stern has spent all season working on these two hours. Last night, we watched as Eli ventured off Israeli soil for the first time in 12 years to attend, in-person, Vance’s review of international case files with contributions from all living NCIS directors (RIP, Jenny). He wanted to be there to defend himself when the truth was finally revealed about Vance’s first NCIS mission in Amsterdam 20 years ago. Having an emotional reunion with Ziva and luring out the remaining three members of a Palestinian terror network that wants to assassinate him was just a bonus for him. For viewers, however, those scenes of the joint NCIS-Mossad protection detail running through an ambush scenario in the hotel parking garage, Ziva confronting her father about why he wasn’t begging her forgiveness for leaving her for dead in the desert, and the actual ambush itself, were the highlight of the episode. (Watch them below.)

Eli never made it to the hearing, and the episode ended with Gibbs unable to reach Eli and Vance after a blast went off at the safe house they retreated to (RIP, Hadar). NCIS exec producer Shane Brennan promises the Nov. 23 conclusion will not disappoint. “Vance isn’t gonna wake up at the end of next week’s episode and say it was all a dream,” he jokes. “It’s a cleverly-woven piece of fabric. There are no loose threads to pull at the end of this episode.” That means we’ll finally find out what happened in Amsterdam to shape Vance and set him on-course to become the director of NCIS. (The episode has extensive flashbacks to that pivotal time and, through the magic of makeup and computers, actor Rocky Carroll was able to play Vance at age 27. We’ll have exclusive behind-the-scenes shots on Monday with commentary from Carroll and Brennan.) Brennan tells EW that we’ll also resolve another of the series’ great mysteries: “The infamous paper that was shredded — answered next week,” he says, referring back to the season 5 finale when Vance became director. “The famous last scene that shocked the hell out of everyone, when he walked into his office and shredded one sheet of paper, called everyone in, and shuffled them around the world.” The text Eli sent Vance earlier this season, “I found him,” will also be part of the revelation.

Two more teases: There will be at least one more death. (I’m betting on mini-Ziva, especially after we found out that she was sleeping with Malachi. And why wouldn’t she be? He’s smokin’.) And the tension you felt watching last night’s episode as they escorted Eli to and into the hotel is just the starting point. “I think of episodes and stories in moments because people remember the moments,” Brennan says. “They talk about them the next day. They don’t say, ‘Ah, the show was about such and such.’ They say, ‘Ah, there was this great moment.’ If you get five or six moments in an episode, great. In next week’s episode, there are probably a dozen moments that are memorable. The tension is cranked up from the beginning and it doesn’t let you go… And yet, we still manage that wonderful NCIS humor.” (I loved Tony suggesting that the room full of ex-NCIS directors might want to applaud him last night.)

What did you think of part 1? What’s your prediction for how part 2 plays out? The safe house bomb was an inside job? Who else doesn’t want Amsterdam revisited?

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