Why Is NCIS So Popular?
I'm talking about CBS hit show, not the Naval Criminal Investigative Service itself. What? It's Friday. I can write about pop culture if I want to. And I have a serious point to make, I promise.
I watch a lot of NCIS. It's syndicated on USA before House re-runs (and I watch a LOT of House). It's easy on the brain. And I'm pretty much in favor of anything that keeps Mark Harmon working. And a lot of Americans watch with me: on a good night, the new episodes can get 19 million viewers.
But while I think NCIS is a pleasant diversion, I don't think it's a particularly good show. And it exemplifies some of the more annoying things about how I think federal employees are depicted on television.
First, it's a procedural based in a law-enforcement agency. Almost all federal employees or federal employee characters on television work for agencies like the FBI, or the Department of Homeland Security, even when they're part of a larger constellation of characters on a show like The Wire. That's not necessarily a bad thing. People like to see cops solve crimes--it's why the Law & Order franchise has such enormous staying power. And it means that the vast majority of federal employees on television look like heroes, the occasional rogue agent aside. But it's an extremely limited view of the wide range of work that federal employees perform. And by focusing on law enforcement, the federal government looks punitive, rather than service-oriented.
And NCIS, like JAG (which it's a spin-off from) is fairly ensconced in the Naval community. The show's characters only interact with civilians who are related or otherwise directly connected to the members of the military who are the victims or criminals in the cases they tackle. It's a hermetic look at the federal world. That's also not to say that the IRS, which touches the life of every adult American, would make a fascinating show (though it's the subject of David Foster Wallace's new novel). USA's In Plain Sight, about U.S. Marshals, does a better job of placing its characters in broader communities, and showing how government can make people's lives better and safer.
But for my money, the best show about federal employees on the air right now is Fox's Bones. Yes, it's a procedural, and it's got an FBI agent. But it's set in a federal scientific lab, among a group of employees with a wide range of skills. Solving murders is what the show focuses on, but it's not the only thing the characters do. They interact with a broad array of members of the public. And the show makes frequent references to coordinating with other agencies. The show isn't a documentary, of course--I don't think a lot of federal labs include vaults set up by serial killers, and David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel, who play the two main characters "deviate from the norm" in terms of physical appearance, as Deschanel's character would say. But despite those necessary elements of fantasy, the show has a feeling of interconnectivity, and shows the characters doing a whole bunch of things other than brandishing guns and kicking in doors. With NCIS as the counter-example, that feels like progress.
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I have previously given some thought to this issue of having other government figures in the media, specifically Acquisition professionals. Here are some of my ideas:
Have you noticed that “acquisition” or “contracting” is not a popular career choice? Don’t you find that disturbing? I certainly feel troubled by this; so I put some thought into answering the question: What will the world look like when acquisition becomes a popular profession?
You know acquisition is a popular profession when, for your birthday, you get two front row tickets to “Government Contracts” the musical.
You will know the acquisition profession is the best of the best when your favorite Sunday night television show is Desperate Change Orders and when Late Night With Regulations.gov gets a night time Emmy nomination.
You will know that contracting is very trendy when the most watched game shows and reality programs are:
Contract or No Contract?
Acquisition Idol
Dancing with the DFARS
Survivor: Risk Management
Who Wants To Be A Contract Specialist?
Law and Order of Precedence
Fear Evaluation Factors
Diagnosis: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
C-SPAN: Special GAO Unit
Unsolved Audit Mysteries
8 Simple Rules for Dating Under 52.207-2 Notice of Streamlined Competition
I hope I made you smile.
Sandy Posted Friday, March 6, 2009 2:23 PM"Lie to Me", starring Tim Roth, is based in Washington, DC and the firm that he owns is some kind of high-end "Beltway Bandit/Consulting Detective" shop. He gets gigs from all types of government offices. In the three episodes I've seen he interacts with the Army, the Secret Service, TSA, Defense Department, Homeland Security, and even Congressional members (I know, it's hard to believe that Congresscritters would _ever_ lie).
Highly recommended.
Sean O Posted Friday, March 6, 2009 2:37 PMNCIC is a great show, and one of the few that my whole family will watch and enjoy together. It has a great cast who interact well with each other, and is funny, exciting, and even poignant, which few shows are today. So what if it's based on only one agency? Virtually every episode features interaction with personnel from other agencies (the FBI, Secret Service, Army CID, DHS, local law enforcement, etc.). The fact that it's about a law enforcement agency is irrelevant, as some of the most popular shows on TV have been about police work, dating back to "Dragnet". As far as focusing on other federal employees, while there have also been a few shows depicting them (e.g., "The West Wing"), I don't think viewers would be interesed in shows about federal employees at "service oriented" jobs, such as Social Security, or the Agriculture Department. No disrespect to them, because they do a fine job, but what they do doesn't necessarily make for good television ratings.
Plus any show with David McCallum in it is worth watching, in my opinion!
ICE Posted Friday, March 6, 2009 4:42 PMWhile I agree with you regarding the way federal employees are represented on television, let's be honest. Considering how most of our jobs really work, would you WANT to watch a series? Yes, I'd like to see positively represented IRS employees on television, but considering the changes in the service during the last four to five years, I don't think that would be a good idea if it was accurately shown.
That might be a better idea for a reality series. Look how oil workers, fishermen, loggers, etc. have been positively portrayed, with the good and the bad shown.
Maybe Sandy has a good idea or two.
Lizabeth S. Tucker Posted Friday, March 6, 2009 6:35 PMAlthough I don't agree with you about NCIS, I do agree with you on Bones!
NCIS AND Bones happen to be 2 of my all-time favorite shows, that I watch religiously, I might add.
Christina Posted Saturday, March 7, 2009 1:24 PMIt's the cast in "NCIS" that makes the show so popular. And I agree with ICE's comment: Any show with David McCallum is worth watching!
Libby Posted Saturday, March 7, 2009 4:32 PMI love NCIS, it's one of the rare few series I watch on television. I can appreciate the writer having their own preferences for programs they like best, but I have to disagree with her take on NCIS. I love the characters, and their interaction with each other. They are a family of sorts. Each episode is entertaining, I've never felt bored, not once. On the subject of representing a federal agency, it's refreshing to me that NCIS represents such agents and officials as real life types, down to earth, and they earn our respect and admiration. To me, they are examples of real life heroes, average human beings who are brave, and highly ethical, who rise above and beyond and do what is right. I thank and am grateful for series creator Donald Bellisario for one more example of his commitment to excellent crafting of stories and characters.
I actually didn't start watching the series until it was into it's 3rd season, though my daughter, who'd started watching it from the first episode kept after me to give it a chance. I avoided it because I didn't care for the CSI and other similar programs. When I did finally check it out, I was hooked within the first 20 minutes and haven't missed an episode since.
Mary Posted Sunday, March 8, 2009 5:10 PMPersonally the show "OFFICE" and the new one "Parks and Recreation" do a much better job of showing what really happens in the Fed Gov't
dan ketter Posted Monday, March 9, 2009 11:44 AMWhen I started my Federal carreer 32 years ago, I was a "Contact Rep" on the toll free phones at IRS. We answered each call, "Taxpayer Service, Ms/Mr Employee. How may I help you?"
I always thought it was the pefect setting for a sitcom. There would be vignets about interpersonal interactions in the office, of course, but some of those priceless, unintentionally funny calls from the public would also be a factor. The name of my sitcom? Easy: "Taxpayer Circus".
Retirement in sight Posted Tuesday, March 10, 2009 10:49 AMEntertaining show if you suspend all realism or accuracy.
Jeremy Posted Sunday, March 22, 2009 12:51 AMNCIS is the best show ever. Agent Dinnozoe is hillarious, so is Abby, Ziva, Ducky, and McGee. The character that Sasha Alexander plays is real funny, hot, and annoying at times
bob Posted Thursday, April 9, 2009 12:40 AMHow about Dog the Bounty Hunter meets the GAO? GAO: The Fraud, Waste and Abuse Hunters!
Steve Posted Friday, May 8, 2009 12:18 PMThe real NCIS is a govt agency that covers only cases involveing the Navy and Marine Corps so the tv NCIS has to follow that rule. Some times they border on the edge and that is when the other agencies become involved. And with Gibbs in the lead, that happens a lot. It is still the best show on tv. At least it is the only one of the crime shows that I still watch every week.
bjh Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 4:00 PMAlthough I have missed a lot of this season so have to wait for the DVD to become unconfused as to what is happening.
I'm getting tired of it. It was not a great season. And I'm also getting tired of Gibbs clashing with every director who wasn't a white male.
Rosie Posted Friday, July 10, 2009 6:43 PMNCIS rocks!!!!!!!!!
Sarah Kanizay Posted Monday, August 24, 2009 12:56 AM