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« Ausiello Report
Exclusive: NCIS Boss Exits!
The tense NCIS standoff between Mark Harmon and Don Bellisario that I first told you about two weeks ago has ended as dramatically as it began: Sources confirm that the veteran producer has agreed to step down as showrunner, effective immediately.
I hear he'll likely be replaced by co-executive producer (and longtime Bellisario collaborator) Chas. Floyd Johnson and headwriter Shane Brennan.
As NCIS' creator, Bellisario will still retain his executive producer title (much like AS-P did on Gilmore Girls), but he is no longer in charge of the show. He's not leaving CBS, however. (Lucky them!) He'll develop two new projects as part of his overall deal with the network.
As I reported, insiders say Harmon has been frustrated for some time with the long hours that resulted from Bellisario's "chaotic management style." And in mid-April, things came to a boil.
"Mark's been working every single day, 16 hours a day," the mole told me. "Don tries to micro-manage everything. Script pages get faxed to the set at the last minute, and Mark is tired of dealing with the huge impact that makes on his life."
Shortly after my original story ran, an NCIS insider sent me this cryptic message via e-mail: "The situation over at NCIS? It's much worse than you think."
That much is now obvious.
So, what do you guys think? Did the right man step down? Based on the results of this poll, I'm guessing your answer is, "Hell, yeah!"
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May 5, 2007 2:46 PM
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Ouch. That's gotta hurt.
Btw, have you heard anything about Bryan Singer getting fired/quitting the Football Wive's pilot. I heard the rumor online, but am not sure if it's true.
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May 5, 2007 3:07 PM
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Did DPB showrun Jag at the end or had he turned over those roles to one of the others??? CFJ has been involved in all these projects so I don't see a big difference....
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May 5, 2007 3:13 PM
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wow, i hope the show doesn't change much
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May 5, 2007 3:31 PM
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Wow..... All I can say is, remember Commander-in-Chief?
For you NCIS fans, I hope history doesn't repeat itself.
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May 5, 2007 3:41 PM
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I am delighted by this development. I've always thought that DB has no respect for the fans at all, and it seems like he doesn't have much more for the people he works with or none of this would have happened. Don't get me started on the nepotism.
Now I might just start watching the show again.
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May 5, 2007 3:43 PM
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This is a hard one to judge, because we don't know DB at all, but we "know" Mark Harmon, and all I've ever heard about him is what a nice guy he is (on and off the set).
Bellisario has certainly done some quality TV work, and I want to give him the benefit of the doubt. His contribution to the flavor of NCIS can't be denied, so I will simply abstain from this debate. I'm just glad that the NCIS family will remain intact (and the GOOD news in all this is that the show must be a shoo-in for next season, if they are bothering to make personnel changes this late in the season).
I hope this works out to be the best decision for all concerned (including we, the viewers)! 
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May 5, 2007 3:49 PM
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This has to be better -- for the show, for Harmon and for everyone else who's been forced to work those long hours with last-minute changes. The way it sounded, I can't believe they lasted as long as they did without someone having a nervous breakdown.
Don Bellisario is unquestionably a creative, wonderfully talented individual with fantastic ideas. Maybe his strength does not lie in organization. Now, he is free to go be creative again in a new way. Really, I think this is going to be a win-win situation for both sides.
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May 5, 2007 3:52 PM
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When a showrunner leaves a show everything changes, but with a procedural I think it's much easier process. Maybe DB was a difficult man to work for, but regardless it was a hit show so I don't think he did anything wrong. I think Harmon handled it very well by keeping it all in house. I guess both parties can move on.
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May 5, 2007 8:36 PM
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Has anyone noticed that the only source is an unidentified mole? Personally I believe that if discovered that person should be summarily fired.
CITE YOUR SOURCES!
Also, Mr. Bellisario usually leaves things to Mr. Johnson after a few seasons so it's not surprising that he is doing so again now. Mr. Johnson will take very good care of NCIS or Mr. Bellisario wouldn't leave. AND leave is really too strong a word, I am certain that there will still be "unofficial" discussions.
Also, kudos to BOTH Mark and Don for remaining above the fray. Neither has said a single word about this supposed "feud". Mark came aboard on NCIS BECAUSE Mr. Bellisario was heavily involved in his shows.
Michael A, I know you're very young but it's time to grow up and stop writing like a gossip columnist. If you don't want to (or simply can't) then change your name to Mr. National Enquirer.
Mr. Bellisario has had a long and fruitful relationship with CBS and I believe will for some years to come.
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May 5, 2007 10:25 PM
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Wow, I hope this doesn't change the nature of the show.
I guess if I had to find a silver lining it would be that losing Bellisario is better than losing Mark Harmon. NCIS just wouldn't be NCIS without Harmon.
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May 5, 2007 11:18 PM
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Jonih: Clearly you aren't very well versed in what it takes to be a journalist. Michael Ausiello isn't going to be winning any Pulitzer's anytime soon, but in a business like entertainment, without anonymous sources you pretty much have zero sources. It's not that unlike politics.
If you don't trust the anonymous sources, that's fine. It's a very common reaction. But when you are not trusting an anonymous source, you really aren't trusting the reporter. I have no reason not to trust Ausiello, his reporting is not consistently wrong. That's the good thing about journalism though. It polices itself through its readers. If a person is going to willynilly quote anonymous sources that turn out to be consistently wrong, the reporter loses his credibility and no one listens.
It always amazes me how clueless some people are toward the media. They take it for granted. If you were in the same place as Michael, you'd be doing the same thing. Why? Because it's the only way you can do things.
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May 5, 2007 11:55 PM
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I have always felt that DB has a very unique talent for conceiving of and implementing some very good TV show idea's. He falters when the show is on for any length of time. Certainly, A measure of success, but also unwilling to listen to his fan base and his cast and to respect them or his cast. Tom Selleck took over "Magnum" due to the hugh outcry by the fan base, when DB killed him off. DB opted out of "Jag" when the going got rough and problems abounded. His attention turned to NCIS. I do remember reading a statement to the effect that he said, "do whatever you want with the show, but Harm and Mac are not to be together". Result, chaos, the insane dance between H/M continued, the main character not being used a lot due to contract issues and the fans leaving the show in droves. Ratings dropped every week.
It is a sad situation when these things occur and the fans, of course will never know all that is involved.
I think that M. Ausiello does a very good job of reporting. I hope that this show will last for a long time and That Mark Harmon and the rest of the cast will remain with it. I also wish only the best for DB. It may be time for him to rest on his laurels.
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May 6, 2007 7:28 AM
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tazjt wrote:
Wow..... All I can say is, remember Commander-in-Chief?
For you NCIS fans, I hope history doesn't repeat itself.
I think you're comparing apples to oranges in this case. CiC was a brand-new show, still finding it's groove. If memory serves, it did not have -- or barely had -- more than a handful of episodes done before Rod Lurie got replaced by Steven Bochco. Also, I'm thinking that Bochco had little to do with the show before he took over. And another thing, didn't Lurie cut ties with the show -- except for an executive producer credit, which was really a nice parting gift?
NCIS has been around for a bit and had its groove, and its new runner has been with the show for some time. Sure, he could make some massive changes, but I think it's likely that he won't -- at least not quickly.
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May 6, 2007 8:59 AM
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While Ausiello is not exactly the most reliable source to turn to, I have to admit being very relieved that MH is staying on NCIS.
DPB having a chaotic management style is not exactly news to any NCIS of JAG fan ( just remember Sasha A's exit 2 years ago due to like NO family time at all).
Being a genius in creating a TV show does not necc. mean being a genius in the day to day running of it.
I hope we will all be enjoying NCIS for many years to come!
AND: I HATE anonymous sources. How stalinistic is that? QUOTE YOUR SOURCES.
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May 6, 2007 10:05 AM
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