letterten 2003-04 fall preview

debuts Tuesday, Sep 23, 8:00pm

premise from	A spin-off "JAG," this action drama follows a team of special agents whose mission is to investigate any crime that has a shred of evidence connected to Navy and Marine Corps personnel, regardless of rank or position. [CBS link]
stars	Mark Harmon ("The West Wing," "Chicago Hope," "St. Elsewhere"), Sasha Alexander ("Presidio Med"), David McCallum ("The Man from U.N.C.L.E."), Michael Weatherly ("Dark Angel"), Pauley Perrette
producers	Donald P. Bellisario, Chas. F. Johnson, John Tinker, Mark Horowitz
studio	Belisarius Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television

opinions
	Spun off in a "JAG" two-parter last season, "Navy NCIS" inherits the long-time "JAG" timeslot and focuses on the Criminal Investigations Branch of the Navy. It could be called "CSI: Navy," but Jerry Bruckheimer ("CSI") isn't involved in it.
	The characters for "N.C.I.S." have already been introduced on a two-part episode of "JAG," so viewers pretty much know what to expect. CBS is basically spinning off one show by filtering it through the network's biggest franchise. Expect production values closer to "C.S.I." and lots and lots of forensic science. Mark Harmon is a likeable and authoritative leading man and Michael Weatherly may help attract younger viewers. Clearly this isn't a show that's going to shock its viewers, but it appears to be sturdy.

my thoughts on "Navy NCIS"
	Full season. As close as a sure-hit to anything on anyone's sked. Last year, CBS had the only slam dunk with "CSI: Miami" and it lived up to my prediction.