NCIS Blog_Steven Binder on 8.22 Baltimore 03/05/11

Baltimore - May 3, 2011 Everything you know about Tony DiNozzo is wrong. Okay, that’s actually not true. But when I sat down to write this episode, that’s the thought that kept going through my head. Fans of the show know Tony as an extremely competent agent. A man with impeccable taste in designer clothing. And a hardcore player with the ladies. But I wondered, was that always the case? As it turns out, it wasn’t. At least not all of it. When we meet young Tony in his Baltimore cop days, he is just as competent. But he’s also happily engaged. His idea of dressing up is jeans and a hoodie. He has faith in romance and partnership. But his faith gets shattered in Baltimore. We know what happens with Tony’s partner. We are given a hint what happens with Tony’s fiancée. The rest falls from there. Playing your own character ten years prior is no easy feat. And I cannot overstate how awesome a job both Mark Harmon and Michael Weatherly did. I’ve made it a point of pride that I’ve never used the word “sublime“ in a sentence before – but I can’t think of a better word to describe Mark’s performance as his younger self. Just a little more playful, a little less brazen, but at the same time 100% Gibbs. Take after take was a joy to watch. Same thing goes for Michael. His enthusiasm was infectious. His contributions in front of the camera are now a matter of record. But he was filled with ideas behind the scenes, helping to shape the creation of Tony Less Ten. And then there was Scott Grimes, who played Tony’s old partner, Danny Price. I’ve been a fan of Scott’s for a while – so I was expecting awesomeness there. But when Michael and Scott got on screen together and turned my script into magic pixie dust, then sprinkled it all over the set, all I kept thinking was…I can’t believe I killed this character! I spent half the shoot thinking, “Okay…maybe Danny has an evil twin; or there’s an accident in a quantum research facility and his alter-ego emerges from The Other Side.” Anything to bring him back. I don’t know if I’m gonna find the answer…but just so you know, I’m still thinking about it. And speaking of answers, how can I forget the director, Terrence O’Hara. The work speaks for itself but the process doesn’t. I’ve worked with Terry on a quite a few episodes and am never disappointed. Except this time. No – just kidding Terry…another fantastic episode. But you know that. I must have told you that ten times a day while we were shooting. But I’m happy to tell you again. As my last episode of the season, a special thanks to our crew. They work so hard and do their job so well, you never know they’ve done it. But without them, there truly is nothing. So great work, guys, and here’s to another great season. And finally, to Gary Glasberg, the Captain of the Ship, the apex of it all. It has been both an honor and a pleasure. Looking forward to next year! Steven D. Binder Co-Executive Producer

Baltimore - May 3, 2011

Everything you know about Tony DiNozzo is wrong.

Okay, that’s actually not true. But when I sat down to write this episode, that’s the thought that kept going through my head. Fans of the show know Tony as an extremely competent agent. A man with impeccable taste in designer clothing. And a hardcore player with the ladies. But I wondered, was that always the case?

As it turns out, it wasn’t. At least not all of it. When we meet young Tony in his Baltimore cop days, he is just as competent. But he’s also happily engaged. His idea of dressing up is jeans and a hoodie. He has faith in romance and partnership. But his faith gets shattered in Baltimore. We know what happens with Tony’s partner. We are given a hint what happens with Tony’s fiancée. The rest falls from there.

Playing your own character ten years prior is no easy feat. And I cannot overstate how awesome a job both Mark Harmon and Michael Weatherly did. I’ve made it a point of pride that I’ve never used the word “sublime“ in a sentence before – but I can’t think of a better word to describe Mark’s performance as his younger self. Just a little more playful, a little less brazen, but at the same time 100% Gibbs. Take after take was a joy to watch.

Same thing goes for Michael. His enthusiasm was infectious. His contributions in front of the camera are now a matter of record. But he was filled with ideas behind the scenes, helping to shape the creation of Tony Less Ten. And then there was Scott Grimes, who played Tony’s old partner, Danny Price. I’ve been a fan of Scott’s for a while – so I was expecting awesomeness there. But when Michael and Scott got on screen together and turned my script into magic pixie dust, then sprinkled it all over the set, all I kept thinking was…I can’t believe I killed this character!

I spent half the shoot thinking, “Okay…maybe Danny has an evil twin; or there’s an accident in a quantum research facility and his alter-ego emerges from The Other Side.” Anything to bring him back. I don’t know if I’m gonna find the answer…but just so you know, I’m still thinking about it.

And speaking of answers, how can I forget the director, Terrence O’Hara. The work speaks for itself but the process doesn’t. I’ve worked with Terry on a quite a few episodes and am never disappointed. Except this time. No – just kidding Terry…another fantastic episode. But you know that. I must have told you that ten times a day while we were shooting. But I’m happy to tell you again.

As my last episode of the season, a special thanks to our crew. They work so hard and do their job so well, you never know they’ve done it. But without them, there truly is nothing. So great work, guys, and here’s to another great season. And finally, to Gary Glasberg, the Captain of the Ship, the apex of it all. It has been both an honor and a pleasure. Looking forward to next year!

Steven D. Binder
Co-Executive Producer

Sorgiña	Latest page update: made by Sorgiña , May 5 2011, 5:35 AM EDT (about this update About This Update Moved from: Michael Weatherly in the News - Sorgiña No content added or deleted. - complete history)
	Keyword tags: None More Info: links to this page

Threads for this page

Post a new thread

There are no threads for this page. Be the first to start a new thread.

JavaScript must be enabled in order for you to contribute to this site.
To start contributing, enable JavaScript by changing your browser options, then try again.

Home