TV Q&A: Will Mark Harmon return to ‘NCIS’ as Gibbs?

Q: Mark Harmon’s name and likeness are the first things that appear in the opening credits of “NCIS.” However, he is no longer on the show. Any idea why he’s still in the opening credits?

— Jeff, Baldwin

Q: Is Mark Harmon really done on “NCIS”? The new guy (Gary Cole) just isn’t as good. Why not bring back Tony (Michael Weatherly) or Ziva (Cote de Pablo)?

— Bill, Beaver County

Rob: To answer Jeff’s question first, Harmon remains an executive producer on “NCIS,” but EPs aren’t usually pictured in the credits. That Harmon is in the credits suggests the network and showrunners want viewers to still think about Gibbs, and that suggests he will likely return at some point, which is also hinted at in the only statement CBS released at the time of Harmon’s departure this fall. Note the final sentence in particular in this statement from “NCIS” showrunner Steven D. Binder: “As an executive producer and dear friend, Mark continues to be an integral part of the fabric of the show. Our north star has always been staying true to our characters, and that truth has always guided the stories we tell and where those characters go. So regarding the future of Gibbs, as longtime fans of the show may have noticed over the years … never count Leroy Jethro Gibbs out.”

As for Bill’s questions: The actor who played Tony, Michael Weatherly, is busy on CBS’s “Bull,” and the actress who played Ziva, 2000 Carnegie Mellon University grad Cote de Pablo, may not have been asked or, more likely, simply may not want to return.

Q: I have been watching “My Cat from Hell” on Animal Planet since it started years ago. It has not been on since July 2020. I cannot find anything on the Internet on whether it has been canceled or not. Can you find out about this?

— Nancy Greensburg

Rob: Looks like the show’s nine lives are up: Animal Planet has no plans to produce additional episodes, but the series can be seen in its entirety on discovery+.

Q: I’m a big fan of the new CBS comedy series “Ghosts” and am already very familiar with the Pasadena mansion used in the pilot, but I’m a bit curious about the exterior location in Montreal used in the later episodes. Do you know if it’s a real mansion or just a large facade? I’d really like to know where it is; not because I want to visit it but generally because of an interest in filming locations.

— William via email

Rob: The pilot shot in Los Angeles and used that Pasadena mansion. Production for subsequent episodes shifted to Montreal and “Ghosts” now uses a real house in Montebello, Quebec, for exteriors.

“Ghosts” had to shut down production on its first-season finale earlier this month due to a positive covid case on set. Production will resume after the holidays. The next new episode will air Jan. 6.

Q: Where is Jeff the weekend weatherman?

— Pat, Murrysville

Rob: WTAE meteorologist Jeff Verszyla moved to weekdays at noon and 4 p.m. with the addition of Channel 4’s 4 p.m. newscast over the summer.

Q: I have been a Dish customer for 20 years. Dropping AT&T Sportsnet is the final straw. I can’t get the Pens and I’m at my wit’s end. I contacted Dish to drop them, but I got a new receiver last year and I’m locked in for another year. I’d have to pay them $220 to get out of the contract — one in my opinion they voided by dropping AT&T Sportsnet. They obviously do not see it that way. Can you point me to someone who can free me from Dish and allow me to find a new provider that gets my Pens and Pirates coverage back?

— Rick via email

Rob: As we noted previously, there’s not much Rick can do other than pay the termination fee. When subscribers sign a contract, it includes language that says the cable TV provider can change programming (e.g. drop channels) at any time. All cable/satellite contracts have that language. Sometimes a rival will cover the cost of switching so maybe bounce that notion off of DirecTV or Comcast or Verizon.