The enduring CBS military procedural crime series, “NCIS,” first aired in 2003 as a spinoff of “JAG” and has gained immense popularity, with over 400 episodes and several spinoffs. Despite its success, the show has experienced significant cast changes during its nearly two-decade run.
One particularly notable departure occurred in 2013 when Cote de Pablo left the series. De Pablo portrayed Ziva David, a Mossad agent with a complex relationship with her NCIS partner, Anthony DiNozzo. The audience’s reaction to Ziva’s exit was so intense that fans sent paper clips to CBS in an attempt to reverse the decision. Despite these efforts, de Pablo departed after eight years, expressing dissatisfaction with political factors and the quality of scripts. In a subsequent Q&A, she explained, “I invested eight years in shaping this character and loving her. When I sensed that the character was not receiving the respect she deserved, I made the decision not to continue.”