The Namesake (NCIS)

Last updated

"The Namesake"
NCIS episode
Episode no.Season 10
Episode 5
Directed by Arvin Brown
Written by George Schenck and Frank Cardea
Original air dateOctober 30, 2012 (2012-10-30)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Lost at Sea"		Next →
"Shell Shock (Part I)"
NCIS season 10
List of episodes

"The Namesake" is the fifth episode of the tenth season of the American police procedural drama NCIS , and the 215th episode overall. It originally aired on CBS in the United States on October 30, 2012. The episode is written by George Schenck and Frank Cardea and directed by Arvin Brown, and was seen by 18.83 million viewers. [1] [2]

Contents

Plot

A Navy Petty Officer is fatally shot during a late-night joyride in an expensive Ferrari sports car. The gun used in the murder is traced to a local pawn shop, where Gibbs and Tony are surprised to see a Congressional Medal of Honor on display. The pawnbroker says she bought it from an elderly World War II veteran who needed the money badly, despite the fact that buying or selling a Medal of Honor is illegal. Reading the citation that came with the Medal, Gibbs is shocked to recognize the name: Leroy Jethro Moore, his father's best friend and Gibbs's own namesake. Gibbs reveals that Moore was his boyhood hero, and his actions on Iwo Jima inspired the young Gibbs's own decision to join the Marine Corps.

While the rest of the team is investigating the murder, Gibbs tracks down Moore at a local retirement home. Moore says he is in good health, but needed the money to help fix the electric lift used by the home's more frail residents. Gibbs remembers that Moore left Stillwater after a falling-out between Moore and his father, but Gibbs never knew why. Moore is reluctant to say, but when Gibbs confronts his father, Jackson angrily says that Moore allowed Gibbs's mother to commit suicide by drug overdose in order to end her suffering from terminal cancer, something that Jackson never forgave him for.

Additional investigation reveals that the deceased Petty Officer worked part-time as a valet, and "borrowed" the sports car for a joyride. The team also traces ownership of the gun to a local university student. His true target was the car's actual owner, a billionaire entrepreneur who he believed stole his idea for a filesharing network, and the Petty Officer was killed in a case of mistaken identity. The suspect is quickly apprehended.

Gibbs forces his father and Moore to meet for the first time in years, and convinces them to end their feud, pointing out that all three of them shared common ground in their love for Gibbs's mother. Jackson and Moore finally make amends and renew their friendship. Jackson redeems the Medal from the pawn shop and returns it to Moore, inviting him to move back to Stillwater.

Gibbs installs a vintage Shopsmith Model 10ER combination machine that he purchased from the pawn shop in his basement, and is pleased to see that his father successfully mended a coffee mug of Gibbs's that he smashed earlier in anger at Moore - an apt metaphor for how the two old veterans have mended their friendship.

The episode ends with a dedication to the Montford Point Marines.

Production

Billy Dee Williams guest starred as Gibbs' namesake Leroy Jethro Moore. Billy Dee Williams by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Billy Dee Williams guest starred as Gibbs' namesake Leroy Jethro Moore.

"The Namesake" is written by George Schenck and Frank Cardea and directed by Arvin Brown. Schenck and Cardea wanted the episode to reveal the story behind Gibbs' birthname. To do so, they introduced Gibbs' namesake, the World War II veteran he was named after. "The initial intent of the episode was to explore the origin of Gibbs' given name, Leroy Jethro. It had been established in the "Heartland" episode in Season Six that Gibbs was named after his father's boyhood friend and business partner." [3] The picture of Billy Dee Williams and president Clinton shown in the episode is real, and the producers only needed to "matte the medal around his neck" to use it. [3]

According to Williams, Leroy Jethro Moore could recur on NCIS. "That's the whole idea, that he's recurring character. I think they were happy about the way things turn out, so I would suspect I'd be back on there." [4]

Reception

"The Namesake" was seen by 18.83 million live viewers following its broadcast on October 30, 2012, with a 3.4/9 share among adults aged 18 to 49. [2] A rating point represents one percent of the total number of television sets in American households, and a share means the percentage of television sets in use tuned to the program. In total viewers, "The Namesake" easily won NCIS and CBS the night. The spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles drew second and was seen by 16.28 million viewers. [2] The episode also was the second most watched television program the week it aired. [5] Compared to last week's episode "Lost at Sea", "The Namesake" was up in both viewers and adults 18-49. [6]

Carla Day from TV Fanatic gave the episode 4.0 (out of 5) and stated that "The course of the NCIS investigation seemed off to me. As soon as NCIS found out that Colin Boxer took the car for a joy ride, I assumed that he was killed by mistake. Maybe I've just watched too many procedural shows, but a fancy car like that draws attention." [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leroy Jethro Gibbs</span> Fictional character in the television series NCIS

Leroy Jethro Gibbs is a fictional character and the original protagonist of the CBS TV series NCIS, portrayed by Mark Harmon. He is a former U.S. Marine Corps Scout Sniper turned special agent who commands a team for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Gibbs is the most accomplished marksman on the team and the most skilled at handling violent standoffs; he depends on his other agents heavily for technical forensics and background checks. He is patient but firm with his team and has little patience for bureaucracy; he commands most other main characters—including his current staff Timothy McGee, Nick Torres and, briefly, Jessica Knight and previous staff Caitlin Todd, Anthony DiNozzo, Ziva David, Alexandra Quinn, Clayton Reeves, Ellie Bishop and Jacqueline Sloane.

"Requiem" is the seventh episode in the fifth season, and the 101st overall episode, of the American crime drama television series NCIS. It first aired on CBS in the United States on November 6, 2007. The episode was written by Shane Brennan and directed by Tony Wharmby.

<i>NCIS</i> season 4 Season of television series

The fourth season of the police procedural drama NCIS was originally broadcast between September 19, 2006, and May 22, 2007. Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs left NCIS at the end of season three after a terrorist attack had been successful because his superiors did not heed his warnings in time. The team is now led by Anthony DiNozzo for a short time until Gibbs' eventual return. New characters introduced in this season are Michelle Lee, who was briefly on DiNozzo's team and was transferred to the legal department upon Gibbs' return, and Gibbs' former boss and mentor Mike Franks, both as recurring characters. Also, albeit later in the season, Army CID Lieutenant Colonel Hollis Mann is introduced as another love interest for Gibbs.

<i>NCIS</i> season 7 Season of television series

The seventh season of the police procedural drama NCIS premiered on September 22, 2009 with NCIS: Los Angeles Season 1 premiering afterwards. At the end of season six, Ziva had left the NCIS team in Israel, returning to work as a Mossad officer. In the closing seconds of that season, Ziva was shown to have been captured and tortured for information about NCIS.

"Baltimore" is the 22nd episode in the eighth season, and the 184th overall episode, of the American crime drama television series NCIS. It first aired on CBS in the United States on May 3, 2011. The episode is written by Steven Binder and directed by Terrence O'Hara, and was seen by 17.87 million viewers.

"Need to Know" is the 17th episode of the ninth season of the American police procedural drama NCIS, and the 203rd episode overall. It originally aired on CBS in the United States on February 28, 2012. The episode is written by George Schenck & Frank Cardea and directed by Michelle MacLaren, and was seen by 18.20 million viewers.

"Enemy on the Hill" is the fourth episode in the ninth season of the police procedural drama, NCIS, and the 190th episode overall. It originally aired on CBS in the United States on October 11, 2011. The episode is written by George Schenck and Frank Cardea, directed by Dennis Smith and registered 18.98 million viewers following airing.

"Till Death Do Us Part" is the 24th and final episode of the ninth season of the American police procedural drama NCIS, and the 210th episode overall. It originally aired on CBS in the United States on May 15, 2012. The episode is written by Gary Glasberg and directed by Tony Wharmby, and was seen by 19.05 million viewers.

"Playing with Fire" is the 22nd episode of the ninth season of the American police procedural drama NCIS, and the 208th episode overall. It aired on CBS in the United States on May 1, 2012. The episode was written by George Schenck and Frank Cardea and directed by Dennis Smith, and was seen by 17.58 million viewers.

"Devil's Triangle" is the ninth episode of the tenth season of the American police procedural drama NCIS, and the 219th episode overall. It originally aired on CBS in the United States on December 11, 2012. The episode is written by Steven D. Binder and directed by Arvin Brown, and was seen by 17.65 million viewers.

"You Better Watch Out" is the tenth episode of the tenth season of the American police procedural drama NCIS, and the 220th episode overall. It originally aired on CBS in the United States on December 18, 2012. The episode is written by George Schenck and Frank Cardea and directed by Tony Wharmby, and was seen by 19.59 million viewers.

"Prime Suspect" is the 17th episode of the tenth season of the American police procedural drama NCIS, and the 227th episode overall. It originally aired on CBS in the United States on March 5, 2013. The episode is written by George Schenck and Frank Cardea and directed by James Whitmore, Jr., and was seen by 20.81 million viewers.

<i>NCIS</i> season 11 Season of television series

The eleventh season of the police procedural drama NCIS premiered on September 24, 2013, in the same time slot as the previous seasons, Tuesdays at 8 pm. Special Agent Ziva David, departs during the season with her final appearance being in "Past, Present and Future". The episode "Crescent City ", which aired on March 25, 2014, serves as the first of a two-part backdoor pilot of a second spin off from NCIS called NCIS: New Orleans based in New Orleans.

"Revenge" is the 22nd episode of the tenth season of the American police procedural drama NCIS and the 232nd episode overall. It originally aired on CBS in the United States on April 30, 2013. The episode is written by George Schenck and Frank Cardea and directed by James Whitmore, Jr., and was seen by 18.29 million viewers.

"Under the Radar" is the third episode of the eleventh season of the American police procedural drama NCIS, and the 237th episode overall. It originally aired on CBS in the United States on October 8, 2013. The episode is written by George Schenck and Frank Cardea and directed by Dennis Smith, and was seen by 18.33 million viewers.

"Once a Crook" is the fifth episode of the eleventh season of the American police procedural drama NCIS, and the 239th episode overall. It originally aired on CBS in the United States on October 22, 2013. The episode is written by Christopher Silber and directed by Arvin Brown, and was seen by 18.99 million viewers.

"Better Angels" is the seventh episode of the eleventh season of the American police procedural drama NCIS, and the 241st episode overall. It originally aired on CBS in the United States on November 5, 2013. The episode is written by Gina Monreal and directed by Tony Wharmby, and was seen by 19.18 million viewers.

"Alibi" is the eighth episode of the eleventh season of the American police procedural drama NCIS, and the 242nd episode overall. It originally aired on CBS in the United States on November 12, 2013. The episode is written by George Schenck and Frank Cardea and directed by Holly Dale, and was seen by 19.37 million viewers.

<i>NCIS</i> season 15 Season of television series

The fifteenth season of the American police procedural drama NCIS premiered on September 26, 2017, in the same time slot as in the previous seasons, Tuesdays at 8 PM. The season premiere was watched by 17.42 million viewers, picking up two months after Gibbs and McGee were last seen fighting a group of rebels in Paraguay and focused on the aftermath of those events. The season concluded on May 22, 2018 and contained 24 episodes.

"Ice Queen" and "Meltdown" is the two-part backdoor pilot for the American crime drama NCIS. The episodes aired as the twentieth and twenty-first episodes of the eighth season of the American legal drama JAG. Both episodes were written by Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill. "Ice Queen" was directed by Bellisario and aired on CBS on April 22, 2003. "Meltdown" was directed by Scott Brazil and aired on April 29, 2003.

References

  1. ↑ "(#1005) "The Namesake"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 Bibel, Sara (October 31, 2012). "Tuesday Final Ratings: 'Dancing With the Stars' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 2, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  3. 1 2 Cardea, Frank, George Schenck (October 30, 2012). "INSIDER'S BLOG: "NAMESAKE"". CBS. Retrieved November 1, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ↑ O'Hare, Kate (October 30, 2012). "'NCIS' Billy Dee Williams: 'Mark Harmon has a beautiful spirit'". Zap2It. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  5. ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (November 6, 2012). "TV Ratings Broadcast Top 25: Sunday Night Football Again Tops Week 6 Viewing Among Adults 18-49 and is Number 1 With Total Viewers". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
  6. ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (October 24, 2012). "Tuesday Final Ratings: 'The Voice', 'NCIS:LA', 'DWTS' & 'Vegas' Adjusted Up, 'Go On' 'Happy Endings', 'X Factor' & 'The New Normal' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 27, 2012. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  7. ↑ Marsi, Steve (October 30, 2012). "NCIS Review: Medal of Honor and a Ferrari". TV Fanatic. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.