NCIS: Los Angeles creator discusses new show

SFUniverse writer Cynthia Boris was present for a recent Q&A with NCIS: Los Angeles creator Shane Brennan and has shared her notes from the panel – details about the new NCIS spinoff coming to CBS this fall.

NCIS: Los Angeles, starring Chris O’Donnell as special agent “G” Callen and LL COOL J as special agent Sam Hanna, is a drama about the world of undercover surveillance at the Office of Special Projects (OSP), a division of NCIS that is charged with apprehending dangerous and elusive criminals that pose a threat to the nation’s security.

Callen is a chameleon who transforms himself into whomever he needs to be to infiltrate the criminal underworld. Sam is a former U.S. Navy SEAL who has seen action in both Afghanistant and Iraq and is a surveillance expert. Both special agents report to special agent Lara Macy (Louise Lombard), the OSP team leader. Assisting the team is special agent Kensi Lo (Daniella Ruah), the daughter of a slain Marine who lives for the adrenalin rush from undercover worl; and Operational psychologist Nate Getz (Peter Cambor), who profiles the target and monitors the agents’ state of mind before, during and after missions.

During the panel, Brennan explained how the spinoff would be different from the original NCIS.

"Those people who watch and love the show are going to get a different kind of NCIS but still get what they expect. We are blocking them together on Tuesdays — 8 p.m. for the original and 9 p.m. for the new show,” Brennan said. “I think that audience will just have great moment at the end of the original episode where they get to see what’s happening on this other side with this new team. Because its set in Los Angeles it has a different dynamic.

“Obviously Callen (O’Donnell) and Sam (LL Cool J) have this buddy relationship and they are surrounded by this ensemble of characters who support everything they do. Different but its familiar,” Brennan continued. “The fans who look very closely at it will see we pay homage to NCIS all the way through. I think the fans are going to love that."

So, what does the creator think of working with LL COOL J?

“He’s having a ball. He’s a fabulous guy to work with – just a delight, he really is,” Brennan said.

But the show concept came from Callen’s character.

"The concept of the show was one character and grew out of Callen. Chris knew he was Callen,” Brennan said. "Chris is fabulous. Callen is the heart of the show. He has a very troubled past. At age 5 he was pushed into foster homes, dozens and dozens. Every family he went to he had to fit in. That’s why he’s adept at changing for each new character he has to become.

“Callen doesn’t have a family. He’s worked for the FBI, CIA and DEA but he has finally found a home in NCIS,” Brennan continued.

Sam Hanna’s character is a little older, wiser and more experienced in the world, Brennan said.

”(Sam) sees that (Callen) is a troubled guy. He basically watches his back, emotionally as well. There’s a wonderful relationship that develops between these two characters, very quickly in fact. There is a lot of respect on both sides and a lot of fun in the relationship. At the core you have a guy with a troubled past who is trying to come to terms with who he is and there is an arc for Callen that spans the entire series,” Brennan said.

 NCIS: Los Angeles also won’t show autopsies that the original show does, with other subtle differences.

"We don’t have autopsies – we are staying away from autopsies – that’s NCIS. We didn’t want people to say we took the same show and moved it to LA. That was never the intention. It’s a different show, the same agency but a different bunch of people. The audience is going to love these people,” Brennan said. "The show is still fundamentally about the Marine Corp, Navy, the Defense Department – so a lot of crimes these guys investigate – that is always the doorway to which they have to walk. It’s about making it a little different from the original show but similar enough for the audience to actually understand and enjoy it. If you watch NCIS, you don’t have to watch NCIS: Los Angeles. If you watch NCIS: Los Angeles, you don’t have to watch NCIS. But if you watch both, that’s two hours and you are getting two wonderful shows. Together, it’s an experience."

One of the unique aspects of the show will be the crossover potential.

"It’s a rare opportunity when you are doing a television show opportunity to cross over one of our characters and do it in a very legitimate way and that’s the director of NCIS,” Brennan explained. “Because it’s a federal agency he covers the whole country and he can move back and forth between Washington. We will be seeing him in both shows. “

And that’s not the only crossover potential for the show.

"That’s the wonderful thing about this. Some of the characters are already set up and there’s no reason to limit them just to Washington because it’s the same agency and they have the same contacts. So you will see those characters popping up. Anyone watching the show will get little jewels in the show that they can reference – they will be rewarded with some of the history of NCIS,” Brennan said.

-five percent of what will be shown on the show is “real” high-tech technology, Brennan said.

"I think it gives us a fascinating insight into how law enforcement goes about their business. It’s kinda scary and kinda fun and opens up great story opportunities,” Brennan said.

Filming in Los Angeles also will be different.

"We will film in some of the fabulous areas as well as the seed areas. It opens up great opportunities to tell stories about Los Angeles,” Brennan said.

NCIS: Los Angeles will make its debut on Tuesday, Sept. 22 on CBS.