The article contains spoilers for NCIS season 24, episode 2, “Clean Slate.”
Tony DiNozzo’s tenure as the new NCIS Director is off to an interesting start.
Season 24 has brought back Michael Weatherly to his role as Tony DiNozzo, including the actor in the opening credits and revealing that DiNozzo is now the new NCIS Director. He takes the role after Leon Vance’s death, but it’s not the most perfect start. He spends most of episode 2, titled “Clean Slate”, seeming nostalgic and unsure of what his new job actually entails.
But late in the episode, in a scene with long-time friend McGee, DiNozzo name-drops past NCIS heads and reveals what will make his stint different. He’s happy to take on the responsibilities of NCIS Director. But to let off some steam, he says he will occasionally dip into the work he did during his 13 seasons on the CBS drama, slipping into the mode of a Special Agent. DiNozzo’s quote to McGee is included below:
Vance boxed, Jenny lit up the town. You know what I like to do? I like to bust bad guys. So I’m gonna do my job as director, and when I need to take a little break, blow off a little steam? I’m gonna go bust some bad guys with you. And it’s not a distraction. It’s the only way I know how to survive this job.
The episode, written by Steven D. Binder & Christopher J. Waild and directed by Marc Roskn, plays on DiNozzo’s history in the long-running franchise. At one point, he’s called a “class clown,” but he still finds himself in a serious position. At first, he introduces himself to the NCIS characters that he’s not as familiar with. He assures them that he doesn’t want to get in their way.
Michael Weatherly as DiNozzo, Diona Reasonover as Kasie, Wilmer Valderrama as Torres on NCIS
It’s still not an easy transition. Franchise veterans like Torres and Knight are not quite sure what to make of him. He’s also not sure about the new faces, making a rare reference to Abby during a drop-in to the lab. But by the end of “Clean Slate,” there seems to be an understanding. He’ll try to live in both worlds.
It’s unclear how long that balance is meant to hold, especially since it’s unknown whether Tony is meant to be back for the long haul or whether Vance’s true successor is waiting in the wings after a relatively brief comeback. That is made more complicated by the cancellation of the Tony and Ziva spinoff on Paramount+ after only one season.
That likely did its best to change DiNozzo’s trajectory. The spinoff seemed built to last, spotlighting the couple as they attempt to reconnect and raise their daughter. Ziva herself is nowhere to be found in season 24, albeit she does name checked frequently in the second episode. That’s because she’s chosen Knight to be the lead in keeping an eye on DiNozzo.
For now, in any case. DiNozzo is sticking around. He’ll even cross over to NCIS: Origins season 3 to meet with Gibbs for an episode slated to airTuesday, October 20 at 10 PM ET. It’ll mark the first time in ten years that Weatherly has shared the screen with Mark Harmon, his former NCIS co-star, which would have seemed unlikely just a few years ago.
It is one of the perks, though, of getting two franchise stalwarts back at the same time.
NCIS season 24 airs Sundays at 8 PM ET on CBS.
Release Date
September 23, 2003
Showrunner
Donald P. Bellisario
Sean Murray
Timothy McGee
Michael Weatherly
Tony DiNozzo