On the set of ‘NCIS’
![Cote de Pablo (Ziva), left, Pauley Perrette (Abby), Sean Murray (Timothy) and Michael Weatherly (DiNozzo) take a break after filming a recent scene on "NCIS" at the CBS series' sound stages at Valencia.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/461a755/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x391+0+0/resize/586x391!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F44%2Fe4%2Fd27a7d374ff4f37592054a70a3dc%2Fla-et-ncis01-krkz1inc.jpg)
Cote de Pablo (Ziva), left, Pauley Perrette (Abby), Sean Murray (Timothy) and Michael Weatherly (DiNozzo) take a break after filming a recent scene on “NCIS” at the CBS series’ sound stages at Valencia. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
!['NCIS'](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6125fbe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x391+0+0/resize/586x391!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F19%2F2f%2Fecdb35a9da734f6da93b388e749f%2Fla-et-ncis02-krkz20nc.jpg)
Robi Boscarino sits at the desk of his favorite “NCIS” character played by Michael Weatherly, left, as his mother Kim and sister Kerry Boscarino-Hunter look on. Boscarino’s visit to the set was made possible by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
!['NCIS'](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/663167e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x398+0+0/resize/586x398!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Faa%2Fa1%2F4d747290618d807513a81ed761f5%2Fla-et-ncis03-krkz3snc.jpg)
Pauley Perrette (Abby), left, and Cote de Pablo (Ziva) discuss a scene with director Tom Wright. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
!['NCIS'](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/52c92c8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x391+0+0/resize/586x391!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F94%2F28%2F261562b8f3d47058c081c59ef737%2Fla-et-ncis04-krixshnc.jpg)
Michael Weatherly helps Cote De Pablo to her feet after filming a scene at the CBS series’ sound stages in Valencia. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
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!['NCIS'](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fd019ec/2147483647/strip/true/crop/298x425+0+0/resize/298x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F32%2Fed%2Fb403398c9b93c544daa17e2fdd72%2Fla-et-ncis05-krixs0nc.jpg)
Pauley Perrette plays forensics queen Abby Sciuto on “NCIS.” (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
!['NCIS'](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1a9dc13/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x391+0+0/resize/586x391!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F28%2F5f%2Faf2d978557889600e405cf410b7c%2Fla-et-ncis06-krixosnc.jpg)
“There’s a real ‘80s and even ‘70s throwback feeling. You get a kind of ‘Barney Miller’ feel with it. It’s not quite so grim and static and monotone and dour as a lot of crime shows,” says Michael Weatherly, right, shown with costars Cote de Pablo, left, Pauley Perrette and Sean Murray. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
!['NCIS'](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8c35d80/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x391+0+0/resize/586x391!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F30%2Fd5%2F63b2fab663152e7c649dd8534410%2Fla-et-ncis07-krixoync.jpg)
Michael Weatherly has a penchant for ad-libbing during filming. Of the show’s robust viewership, he quips: “There are psychics all over town going, ‘Didn’t see that coming! Hard to call.’” (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)