Joe's TV List Chugs the Caf-Pow

#31: NCIS
(CBS, 2003-present)

NCIS (or, as Jenn and I pronounce it, "nickis") is a perfect example of strong cast chemistry lifting a series. But more than that, I've increasingly come to appreciate the high-wire difficulty of what NCIS manages to pull off, tone-wise. Specifically, it's a crime procedural (set loosely in the Navy) with some pretty grim subject matter and hard-hitting emotions. But it's also funny, packed with playful banter and character quirks. I'm frankly awed at how the writers and cast maintain the balance. Lose the nuttiness, and you have CSI. Tilt the balance too far the other way, and ... well, you have Scrubs when you were shooting for ER. Yeah, some of it doesn't work; Ziva's mixups with American idioms always take me out of the moment. But that's hardly a problem when the character is Mossad-trained in the art of kicking bad-guy ass. Mark Harmon's the perfect anchor for all the focused chaos, and Pauley Perrette's Abby, fueled by intellect, caffeine, and salty snacks, is one of the great comic creations in any crime drama. Considering how good this show has become, Sasha Alexander might want to reconsider that bullet in the head.