Guest Starring on NCIS: “S.O.S.”
A few thoughts on working inside a well-oiled machine
I’m guest starring on NCIS this week.
It’s the kind of job where you walk onto set and immediately feel how dialed-in everything is. The machine is running, everyone knows their role, and your job is to step into that world and make your piece of it feel specific and real.
The episode centers on a Navy lieutenant played by Yael Grobglas (Jane the Virgin, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Matlock) who resurfaces after being presumed lost in a plane disappearance, and the team has to piece together what actually happened. I play her field producer, Michael Bell, who’s right there by her side, doting on her recovery but more deeply connected to the situation than it might initially seem.
It’s a classic procedural structure, but what stood out to me was how much room there still was to make things specific and alive inside that framework.
Rocky Carroll directed the episode, and he created a set that felt genuinely creative.
The show runs like a machine, but he still made space for exploration and play, which made a big difference.
I got to work opposite Yael Grobglas, and watching her work up close was a highlight. She brings a ton of presence and gravitas to what she’s doing, and it was an honor to share scenes with her.
Getting to step into a world with legendary actors like Sean Murray and Gary Cole, was an actor’s dream. You can feel how solid the show is because of them and how easily and deftly they command the screen.
The whole cast and crew were incredibly welcoming, which made walking into an established set like that feel easy and collaborative.
It airs this week on CBS and streams on Paramount+. If you catch it, I hope you enjoy it!
You can watch a sneak peek here:
-Curt