Summary
There is oneNCISguest star who has more appearances in the series than some of its regular characters. The show has been on television for 21 years, with the franchise preparing forNCISseason 22. While the franchise has experimented with many offshoots of the original series, none have the longevity of the flagship. The show’s likability is partly due to its ensemble cast, which keeps it exciting. While the most profound characters are typically series regulars, that isn’t always true withNCIS.
Some supportingNCIScast members have more impact on the series than its regular castmembers. With over21NCISseasonsand counting, it makes sense that the longevity of some characters' presence in the show holds more weight than some shorter-lived cast entanglements. Supporting characters include vital NCIS members, spouses, former colleagues, and mentors. There is one guest star whose appearances amount to more presence in the show than cast members who were a part ofNCISfor multiple seasons, which is quite an impressive feat.
How Long It Would Take To Watch All Of NCIS
With its 21 seasons, NCIS is one of television’s most substantial scripted shows. Watching every episode would be a serious investment of time.
Joe Spano’s Tobias Fornell Appears In 56 Episodes Of NCIS
Joe Spano Has Made Two Seasons-Worth Of NCIS Appearances
Joe Spano has been featured onNCIS56 timesto portray FBI agent Tobias Fornell. Most seasons ofNCISare 24 episodes, which means Joe Spano has a stint onNCISthat amounts to over two seasons worth of appearances in the series. He is the series' most-featured guest star. He appeared in the series as early asNCISseason 1. Joe Spano is the only guest character who has appeared more times than some of the regular cast members. The actor is also known for his performances inAmerican Graffiti,Hill Street Blues, Midnight Caller,andApollo 13.
Joe Spano makes consistent appearances inNCIS,at least two per season from seasons 1 through 19. He even managed one appearance in seasons 20 and 21, despite being shortened. His longevity in the series naturally gives him the same weight as otheroriginalNCIScast membersbecause some of the franchise’s most important characters are those introduced in season 1. It is a quality that, at this point, is impossible to replicate. It’s entirely possible that no guest star onNCISwill ever rival Spano’s contributions, aside from those who became series regulars.
Joe Spano’s NCIS Character, FBI Agent Tobias Fornell, Explained
FBI Agent Tobias Fornell Is Gibbs' Adversary And Friend
Joe Spano’s first NCIS appearance is in season 1, episode 1, “Yankee White.” His character set the course forNCISas much as the regular characters. He portrayed FBI agent Tobias Fornell, who argued with Gibbs aboard Air Force One about who had jurisdiction over the dead body. Gibbs, Tony, and Ducky trick the FBI, taking off and leaving Spano behind. After Gibbs and his team solve the murder and stop an assassination, Spano’s character takes the credit. It set the tone that while NCIS does much of the work, they get no credit.
He’s one of the few characters who takes on enough responsibility to relate to Gibbs fully.
While Fornell is originally posed as Gibbs and NCIS' adversary, it becomes apparent that Tobias and Gibbs are allies. In a world where very few people understand their hardships, Spano’s character is an essentialNCIScast memberbecause he’s one of the few characters who takes on enough responsibility to relate to Gibbs fully. The special agents also share fascinating personal entanglements, such as having an ex-wife in common, which adds to the dynamic of Gibbs and Fornell as adversaries on the surface while being able to relate to one another deep down.
Which NCIS Series Regulars Joe Spano Has Been In More Episodes Than
Tobias Fornell Is In More Episodes Than Jessica Knight And Alden Parker
Fornell’s longevity in the series is evident when he appears in more episodes than some series regulars. He has bested some unremarkable series regulars, such as short-lived characters Clayton Reeves and Alexandra Quinn. However, he has also been featured in more episodes than some of the show’s most foundational characters. For instance, Tobias Fornell appears in more episodes than Katrina Law as Jessica Knight, Gary Cole as Alden Parker, andSasha Alexander as Caitlin Todd.An actor would have to stay onNCISfor more than two seasons to competewith Spano.
Tobias Fornell’s enduring presence inNCISis evident from his appearance in the1000th episode ofNCISin season 21, when the team revisited the inaugural case from “Yankee White.” Fornell showed up at NCIS Headquarters after his garage was bombed in connection with a series of terrorist attacks carried out by someone Fornell was able to help identify. Fornell’s appearance in the 1000th episode signifies his enduring relevance to the franchise. WithoutNCIScharacters like Fornell, regular cast members would have no familiar faces to interact with and make things interesting.
NCIS
Cast
NCIS is a television series that follows a team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Premiering in 2003, the show explores various cases involving Navy and Marine Corps personnel, ranging from murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines.
