The NCIS franchise has become a television sensation, captivating audiences with its thrilling stories and beloved characters. While NCIS may be the flagship show, it actually began as a spin-off series itself. The true original series for the NCIS franchise is JAG, a legal drama that ran for 10 seasons from 1995 to 2007.
JAG follows a group of enlisted lawyers known as JAG (Judge Advocate General) who prosecute and defend cases related to the American military. The series stars David James Elliot as Harmon “Harm” Rabb Jr. and Catherine Bell as Sarah “Mac” MacKenzie, two Navy lawyers facing various challenges and mysteries connected to military criminal cases. Harm and Mac engage in a compelling will-they-won’t-they relationship that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.
Created by Donald P. Bellisario, who has a military background and is also known for Magnum P.I. and Quantum Leap, JAG combines courtroom drama with field military activities, making it a unique and exciting series. The show features high-quality action footage from films like Top Gun and The Hunt for Red October, bridging the gap between the military spectacle of the ’80s and the investigative operations of NCIS.
In 2003, NCIS spun off from JAG with a backdoor pilot during JAG’s eighth season. The two-part special introduced iconic characters like Jethro Gibbs, Anthony DiNozzo, Abby Sciuto, and Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard. The episodes showcased the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) as they investigated the murder of a JAG Navy Lieutenant, with Harm as the prime suspect. The characters of NCIS, with their unique personalities and traits, quickly won over audiences and propelled the show to become one of the longest-running series on CBS.
