NCIS, Los Angeles.. worth watching

One is often a bit questioning when watching a ‘spin off’.  NCIS has been a very good drama and has gone into its fourteenth season.   Having an NCIS Los Angeles gave me a bit of a pause; I wasn’t sure if it would be worth my time.

I went back to NCIS, the original series to see the two parter which introduced the office and the characters.

The First Billed is G. Callen.   Way down on the billing is LL Cool J.  Yeah, like you I find these silly rapper nicks rather cheapening.  It is not like Smokey Robinson or Stevie Wonder or the one name Cher or Beyonce.  It is the kind of name which disturbs one’s sense of taking the person seriously.

That said, this man, LL Cool J is the reason this show is good.  He is comfortable in front of the camera, he is very much in character, and he is, very much the Star.

The actor who plays G. Callen could be replaced and few would notice.  I have to look up his name; Chris O’Donnell.  That is how easy it is to not notice him.

This is an ensemble cast with it’s required female agent, Kensi, it’s geek, Eric, a psychologist; Nate, and the head, Linda Hunt playing Hetty.

The plots are good, and the interplay between Callen and LL Cool J’s character, Sam Hanna are the tension breakers.

Just as in Hawaii Five O the banter between Steven and Danno cuts the most tense moments, that between Callen and Sam.

As the Show has gone  Eight Seasons and has been renewed for a Ninth it is a good ‘buffer’ while waiting for an episode of a current program to air.   Watching NCIS and NCIS Los Angeles fills the gap when the show you want to watch airs on Monday and the episode won’t be online to Tuesday.