Having heard about Michael Weatherly's departure from NCIS left me a little sad. Oh who am I kidding, it left me "gloomy and bitter and blue...!" He's been the driving force behind many an episode and not to take anything away from the rest of the cast, who are all suberb in their respective roles, Tony was the joker, the vulnerable serious guy who was always there through it all and for everyone too. So it falls on me to put two words together or maybe a few more and bid a fond farewell to everyone's "Very Special" Agent Anthony DiNozzo, without whom we'd have had a very dull 13 seasons!
Tony started out as a fresh faced agent and I don't mean that in any nasty way, obviously, but looking back he (Michael) was soo young and that hair too! Which I guess he got cut shorter to go for a more sophisticated mature look. From all the jokes Kate (Sasha Alexander) used to make about him, the womanizing ways and all that. Kind of grated. She wasn't perfect, anyway this isn't about her. He did finally develop a soft spot for her, even naming a goldfish after her. I liked Tony with a cat too in 12.7 The Searchers, the one that ran away. It was very Breakfast At Tiffany's. Speaking of, everyone remarked on his resemblance to Robert Wagner, who played his father, Senior, on the show. I thought he's more closer in looks to George Peppard.
Somehow think that maturity was shown by Tony's lack of film references. There haven't been that many recently, not how they used to come thick and fast in previous years. But that was a highlight and something to look forward too. Guess he had plenty of time on his hands to watch those movies over the years. But I could relate to that, not out of loneliness or anything, but have watched my fair share of films and stuff. I also loved the way he'd always suspect the spouse first, cos that's officially how the job is done and I used to do that too.
Tony even got the offer of his own team in Spain which he turned down and was needed by his colleagues, they were more friends, when Gibbs (Mark Harmon) was in hospital. Showing his leadership skills and no he wasn't trying to be Gibbs' replacement, though he did learn plenty from him. " On your six boss." One of my fave lines, among many!
Jenny: "So you're turning down a promotion because of a moustache?"
Tony: "His memory is still screwed up. He called Ziva Kate yesterday." Always putting others first, he knew the team needed him at this time.
Also got less of the McGee (Sean Murray) 'nicknames' over the seasons too, probably exhausted the possibilities, 'ey, McNerdy. McScout, McRomeo, McProbious.
Three NCIS Directors during his time too, Tom Morrow (Alan Dale) his name was more like Tomorrow, ha! Jenny Shepherd (Lauren Holly) and Vance (Rocky Carroll). Jenny being the one he had the closest ties with in terms of keeping secrets from Gibbs, especially when she sent him undercover as Tony DiNardo to 'seduce' le Frog's daughter, Jeanne (Scottie Thompson) sorry, la grenouille. Leading to many repercussions overtime and tensions. Turned out to be pretty dangerous for Tony and he survived his car being blown up, but more so as he fell in love with Jeanne. That came back to bite. She just wasn't right for him. So it was a shock when Jenny was killed when she was under his and Ziva's (Cote di Pablo) protection in LA.
Michael said in an interview how he recalled Jenny dying and how he was shocked and, "I didn't see that coming at all." To when the same scene was reproduced again in season 12.11 Check and as soon as I saw that diner that's exactly what I blurted out, that it was a "rehash" of the episode when Jenny was killed. It was good to revisit that but in a completely different way. This time the re-staged scene being related to Gibbs. Michael also recalled Mike Franks (Muse Watson) being killed in season 8 by the Port to Port killer and said how, "those were major changes." And in his own way he stated, "and somehow it's [NCIS] so sturdy that it withstands all of these changes." And he was right it did and it will surely survive now with Michael's departure, but he will be sorely missed!!
In her own way, Ziva did help Tony and the rest of the team get over Kate's death. She wasn't a conventional agent, but she wasn't an NCIS agent either, until much later. He also had much to say about her idioms, she should 'assimilate already!' But as we know Tony, or got to know him by now, he would inevitably end up falling for her. Yes inevitable, but we all saw it coming. She surely must've been his true soul mate cos saying goodbye was so painful for both of them. And I'm not saying that just to appease the Tiva shippers (am not one of them.)
Then Tony's bed being too small, always thought that strange but loved his apartment, it was cool! No more scenes in that lift, or coming out of the lift and that bull pen...at least with Tony...oh can't think about all that now!
Some outstanding Tony eps: Bounce, where he helped to prove the man he put away was innocent. Even if it meant having to deal with his mistakes and putting his reputation as an agent on the line. Obsession, was very Laura the 1944 film noir with Gene Tierney and once more Tony let his emotions get in the way. I guess the one that endeared Tony to us all was SWAK in season 2.
Jet Lag on the flight from Paris was memorable too. Well that sounded like a pun there, wasn't meant to be!
There was some controversy when Cote de Pablo announced her decision to leave and Michael's comments in an article which many fans didn't like and resented. Which I won't go into here, of course it was understandable and everyone had an opinion, you can't hold it against remaining cast members for what was entirely her decision to leave. Link below.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/arianelange/wonderfully-weird-michael-weatherly-thinks-his-onscreen-rela#.gwj0zGjQd
Will have to listen to some of his great songs now, like Under the Sun: "...you can't control it no way to hold it, life just keeps going on..last thing I'd do is send a message to you, if I, had the time..." All the time in the world now!!
As Michael tweeted "diNozza is a wonderful, quixotic character and I couldn't have had more fun playing him over the past 13 seasons...I will miss the amazing cast and crew, who are like family to me, and to all the fans all over the world - THANK YOU it's been a fantastic ride!"
Gonna miss you Michael. Thank you for an amazing 13 seasons!
What am I going to do without the Gibbs' slaps?? *sobs uncontrollably*
Quite a few fave fan eps in this NCIS book, I was lucky enough to send Michael a copy, I hope he received it! Aww should've done one just for the best Tony eps!
http://www.amazon.com/My-Ncis-Unofficial-Unauthorized-Guide/dp/1291032177/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1452391899&sr=8-2&keywords=mila+hasan
Was also lucky enough to get an RT from Michael for the following piece I wrote:
http://mila255.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=confessions+of+an+ncis+addict
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