Image Credit: Kevin Parry/WireImage.comVeteran small-screen actor Bob Newhart is coming to TV’s No. 1 program! EW has learned exclusively that Newhart — who last played Morty on ABC’s Desperate Housewives — will guest star in a January episode of CBS’ addictive series NCIS. He’ll play Dr. Walter Magnus, a character who’s described as a “shrewd, eccentric nostalgic” with a whole lot of charm.
Want more? He’s also a former medical examiner who comes out of retirement to relive the magic — but something unexpected happens that catches Ducky (David McCallum) and the others by surprise.
Newhart comes at a particularly good time for NCIS, which at 21.4 million, is TV’s most-watched drama.
So I gather he will be in a Ducky centered episode, not too bad, hopefully more interesting than the last episode featuring Ducky. I love NCIS’s quirky ME but that last episode that was about him was kind of boring.
NCIS is consistently good, and I’m so glad David McCallum has finally found a co-starring role worthy of his talents.
There has to be one scene with Newhart talking to someone on the phone.
Oh
OH!
How wonderful. Newhart is one of my all time favorites. To get to see him and McCallum on screen together…what a delicious treat to anticipate.
Excellent! Once again, NCIS brings us the opportunity to see a veteran actor shine and give all of us a Master Class in acting. I look forward to this episode; Mr. Newhart is a genius and I love him.
Doc Magnus? Is he bringing the Metal Men too?
LOL. Wonder how many of us actually got that reference.
Fantastic! And not just because the writers have apparently remembered that Ducky exists.
It’s nice to see him getting out of that stale Library now and then.
Here, here! Be chased by Excalibur must be getting boring.
Too bad we have to wait ’till January. Love the Newhart!! Can’t wait to see the interaction with Ducky and Abby.
Here’s a thought: let’s focus less on the stunt casting and a bit more of the actual plots. Seriously, the last three seasons have totally sucked when it comes to the actual plots & stories. It’s like they’re hoping people will be too busy focusing on the wildly erratic characterization to notice how fraked up the plots are these days.
I’m happy just to spend an hour with some of my favorite characters. The plots stopped mattering to me some time ago. The only fly in the ointment is when they bring in some predatory female who wants Gibbs. I wouldn’t mind him with a Catherine Hicks type or even a Sherilyn Fenn , but that ice queen attorney or Lauren Holly types are so wrong. As for Newhart, I can’t wait. He is a comedic timing genius and should play off the rest of the ensemble really well.
It’s not just the plots that bother me. It’s the wildly erratic characterizations as well. Hell, I barely recognize the characters anymore.
I thought Diane Neal who played Gibbs’ Coast Guard equivalent was a great character who played well against Gibbs. Id like to see her on the show again, maybe even as a love interest for Gibbs. I didnt much like Lauren Holly or the lady lawyer.
Great news. I loved Mr Newhart’s dramatic role on “ER” a few years ago and can’t wait to see him interact with “Team Gibbs” – especially Ducky – and hopefully Jimmy Palmer.
I wonder if they will ever have Robert Vaughn on the show?
Good question…sure sounds like a good idea.
Ducky/Magnus/Abby – this will be very interesting.
If NCIS had Robert Vaughn on the show, it would be so wicked. I mean Gibbs knows Ilya well.
Thought the epsiode this week was one of the best in about 3 seasons…really enjoyed the plot, the acting and watching the cast with robert wagner was really enjoyable…