„It’s almost like spoofing it.” NCIS is a parody of CSI? Michael Weatherly knows why the TV series is viewed this way in many countries
Michael Weatherly says that in many countries NCIS is considered to be parodying CSI, and gives reasons for this perception of the TV series featuring him.
NCIS is a procedural crime TV series that has been on CBS for years. Due to some similarities to the even longer-running CSI, it is very often compared to that production. And even treated as its parody, as NCIS star Michael Weatherly pointed out.
The actor noted that NCIS, which came after CSI, was not meant to be a copy or parody of CSI, but rather a TV series that redefines the genre, showing that it can be approached with humor. NCIS uniquely combines humor with the dramatic plots that are at the center of events. Weatherly stated during an interview with The Futon Critic that NCIS is a combination of M*A*S*H and Scooby-Doo.
NCIS is sort of [promoted as] The Unit meets CSI when clearly, to my way of thinking, we’re more like Scooby-Doo meets M*A*S*H. You know, it’s like we have a mystery van and we go around, and if weren’t for those damn teenage kids!
However, the actor pointed out that outside the United States, NCIS is very often treated as a parody of CSI, which he believes is due to different audience sensibilities.
And then Klinger wearing a dress trying to get the Section 8, we’ve got some kookiness. And so it’s always interesting to me because in other countries like on France on M6, the personality of the show is much more at the forefront. So no one even really… people actually think that NCIS is like making fun of CSI. It’s almost like spoofing it. I mean the sensibility is so much different.
Indeed, NCIS showed a very different approach to the genre, proving that it is possible to skillfully blend humor into the genre, which will help give the production its own character, while not losing the dramatic side of the production.