‘I’m tired of talking about it’: This NCIS actor reflects on the series’ most emotional episode

The Monte Carlo Television Festival, its blue carpet and its stars from the four corners of the world. For its 63rd edition, organizers highlighted the NCIS franchise, whose parent series recently surpassed 1,000 episodes. In this case, some of the cast went to the beach in Monaco, including Brian Dietzen and Wilmer Valderrama, interpreters for Jimmy Palmer and Nick Torres, respectively.

They returned to our microphones for the events that marked the 21st season of NCIS, starting with an episode dedicated to David McCallum, Duke’s translator. The actor died in September 2023 when Hollywood was shut down due to a strike by actors and screenwriters.

Tribute to an NCIS veteran

In February 2024, the series returned to television after a long hiatus, and the cast was able to pay their last respects to their lost colleague, as Wilmer Valderrama explains:

“We’re talking about a show whose heart is a group that supports each other unconditionally. At the end of the first episode, Parker reminds Torres that we need to be there for each other. And at that moment they heard about Duck’s death. I felt cold talking about it because the situation was special. NCIS is back on television after a months-long hiatus from Hollywood. Everything was emotionally charged. Viewers have responded and week after week we are breaking viewership records.

The second episode of NCIS Season 21 gave all the teams a chance to say goodbye to the medical examiner: “It was bittersweet. But this is my favorite episode because we celebrate who he was. This is a rare occurrence on television. “There aren’t many shows that lose a lead actor along the way and get to say goodbye like that.” Brian Dietzen explains.

The heroes of NCIS are facing other challenges during this 21st season, the last episode of which featured Jessica’s supposed departure. We’ll have to wait for the expected sequel next school year to find out if Palmer will say goodbye to his lover, who has already lost his wife and mentor: “Yes, NCIS is a show that likes to finish off its characters, even when they’re already dead.” His translator also told us slyly.