NCIS Season 23 ended with Nick Torres having an armed standoff with McGee's son Mateo, and a shot ringing out into the night before the credits rolled. Now, as we wait for the show to return on the 2026 TV schedule, Wilmer Valderrama spoke about that jaw-dropping cliffhanger and warned fans they may not like how it shakes out.

Someone was shot, but did Mateo end up shooting Torres, or was it the other way around? Either outcome isn't great, and while Valderrama recently told People he's not 100% sure if plans are finalized for the storyline ahead of the show's new season, he dropped a hint that not everyone will be happy about what's to come:

Valderrama might not have known what he could or couldn't say, but fortunately, showrunner Steven D. Binder already confirmed that "someone was hit" during the exchange, and no one is dead.

Even then, the potential for drama is huge. Either McGee's son was shot by Torres, or he shot Torres. The consequences of either will upend his life, which actor Sean Murray said he'll enjoy playing as an actor. I do wonder if he may see his son put behind bars, or if the department will do McGee a solid and opt not to press charges.

NCIS Season 23 had another big moment when it was revealed that Alden Parker contacted Gibbs to help kill Director Vance's killer. Gary Cole has hinted we may see a darker side of Parker as we head into Season 24, and I can only imagine what that means.

The main takeaway here is that NCIS did not kill off Wilmer Valderrama's Nick Torres, which I think would've been a major bummer for viewers. He's one of the show's major stars, and killing him off before we see his hinted hook-up with Katrina Law's Jessica Knight would be a shame. I mean, maybe Jimmy would prefer that not happen, but who's to say?

NCIS returns this fall to CBS, with NCIS: Origins and LL Cool J's NCIS: New York appearing on the schedule as well. It's going to be an action-packed fall season for fans of crime procedurals, so make sure to get caught up and see how that Season 23 cliffhanger plays out for Torres!

Warning! The following contains spoilers from the NCIS episode "Sons And Daughters." Stream the episode with a Paramount+ subscription and read at your own risk!

NCIS really left fans with a massive cliffhanger, as Nick Torres had a heated standoff with McGee's teenage son in a dark alley. Both men had weapons and, when a gunshot rang out into the night, neither of the characters were visible to viewers. Now, showrunner Steven D. Binder has confirmed two major details about the jaw-dropping moment in the Season 23 finale that I really wanted to know.

It's unknown exactly how Matteo has that gun but, at the very least, TVInsider learned from the showrunner that someone was shot in that NCIS episode. Binder confirmed at least one of the two was hit in the exchange, but cleared the air and confirmed that no one is dead. As for the lack of a causality, the EP explained:

I guess the NCIS writers figured Vance's death was enough, and I'm fine with that. After all, I can't imagine how traumatizing it would be for McGee to find out Torres had to gun down his son, which I fully believe would've happened. I mean, does anyone think Matteo got the drop on one of the team's best agents?

Steven D. Binder also hinted that McGee would obviously feel conflicted over this incident, having to reconcile with his son being involved in some criminal activity. So Matteo is now going from circling a potential internship at the agency to possibly being behind bars when NCIS Season 24 kicks off. Perhaps Parker and crew will find a way to let him off easy, especially since it seems he was acting under orders from elsewhere.

Once again, it seems that some outside force is trying to access the NCIS databases. Fans saw that happen when Sam Hanna last popped by the office, at which point a janitor was blackmailed into getting into the servers. I wonder if something similar explains what's happening with Matteo, and if so, who was watching him in that alley to make sure he got access to the computers?

I'm hopeful the answer will come in Season 24, and maybe we'll get a crossover with NCIS and the new New York-based spinoff? With Diona Reasonover hoping to be involved in the new series and this latest mystery involving computers, I think there's a chance we'll see the two shows cross paths.

NCIS Season 23 is over, but feel free to revisit the season over on Paramount+. Of course, we're expecting the series to return this fall on the 2026 TV schedule, so sit tight while we wait to see how Season 24 kicks off.

As NCIS continues its run on the 2026 TV schedule, one can't help but to have noticed all the breadcrumbs being dropped for a potential new romance on the CBS series. Now, Wilmer Valderrama and Katrina Law are talking about the possibility of Nick and Jessica getting together, and Grey's Anatomy was caught in the crossfire.

Fans have asked for a Knight/Torres romance on NCIS for a while, and after a recent episode featured the duo cuddling in the wilderness to preserve body heat, people want answers. Valderrama discussed the episode, which also featured some romantic tension, with TVLine and gave his thoughts on the writers' motivations behind all of that:

As Valderrama said, it's normal, but it doesn't make the situation any less messy. Nick dated Jessica's sister Robin just one season ago, and having these two link up so soon after could certainly create some awkward family get-togethers.

Let's not forget the work family, either, as Jessica dated NCIS' Jimmy Palmer, who also works with Nick. Jimmy and Jessica broke up in Season 21 on solid terms, and while actor Brian Dietzen talked about the potential return of that storyline with CinemaBlend a while back, Wilmer Valderrama clearly has mixed feelings:

NCIS may not have as much romance (or failed romances) as Grey's Anatomy, but it's not exactly foreign territory for the CBS procedural either. While Tony & Ziva was ultimately canceled after a short run, it was the slew of fans that cheered on that relationship for years that had executives thinking more people would tune in and watch the series with a Paramount+ subscription.

Katrina Law wasn't about to spoil any plotlines, but shared what she could about what could be ahead for Jessica when it comes to Nick Torres. She likes the fact that it seems there are multiple possibilities to how this plays out, and there's a reason why it's written that way:

As someone who values the bromance that Jimmy and Nick have shared over the years on NCIS, I have to think that both characters would feel uncomfortable sneaking around behind Jimmy's back, and a conversation would have to happen to make sure something like this doesn't impact the overall dynamic of the team.

All this to say, Torres and Knight shippers should hold positions for the moment and continue to stay tuned. I'd like to think each moment is building to both characters acknowledging their feelings, and we'll get some sort of resolution eventually.

NCIS airs on CBS on Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. These latest comments from the actors have me curious about how the rest of the season will play out, and if we'll get some meaningful updates on Torres and Knight's relationship before the end of the season.

Warning: SPOILERS for the NCIS episode “S.O.S.” are ahead!

We’re in the final stretch of NCIS Season 23 episodes on the 2026 TV schedule, and man, has this been an eventful season. Carla Marino was killed off early on; the mystery of Lily and what really happened to Parker’s mom was finally solved; Leon Vance was fatally shot in the CBS’s show’s 500th episode; and in the 499th episode, Timothy McGee learned he had a teenage son. We got an update tonight on that last twist, and while that was appreciated, what really caught my attention in “S.O.S.” was a specific scene with Nick Torres and Jessica Knight that’s sure to get a segment of the NCIS fanbase riled up.

McGee Is Trying To Find Ways to Connect With Matteo

Good on NCIS for bringing Mateo Garcia (Patrick Keleher) back up just a month after we first met him rather than wait multiple seasons to acknowledge his existence again. At the beginning “S.O.S.”, McGee informed Knight and Parker that he played in the interagency baseball game between NCIS and the FBI the night before with Torres. McGee was ready to not only play the following week’s game, but also do the “old Moneybag thing” by making a spreadsheet for optimal batting order. As Torres later revealed to Jimmy Palmer, McGee’s suddenly going “full Bull Durham” is because Mateo likes baseball, and McGee is trying to impress him, though it’s not really working.

Later on, Kasie Hines made McGee realize that there are other ways to bond with Mateo that he enjoys more than baseball. So at the end of “S.O.S.”, McGee called his son and asked him if he wanted to him in checking out his old laser tag spot on the weekend. I’m glad he’s putting in the effort with Mateo, so fingers crossed that some games of laser tag will help strengthen their relationship. Hopefully we’ll also see Mateo again before NCIS Season 23 concludes, and if that’s not in the cards, there’s always sometime in Season 24.

Torres And Knight Got Pretty Cozy With Each Other

For months now, NCIS fans (myself included) have discussed whether or not Nick Torres and Jessica Knight could become romantically involved. As of the airing of “Her,” where Torres reunited with and said goodbye once again to Eleanor Bishop, Wilmer Valderrama said that his and Katrina Law’s characters getting together would be “too complicated.” Fair enough, but when the show has them cuddling, well that’s just a big ol’ tease indicating it’s still a possibility.

During the events of “S.O.S.”, which can be streamed with a Paramount+ subscription, Torres and Knight traveled to the Appalachians to search for clues tied to this week’s case. They ended up finding a body, but then started getting shot at and had to find cover in a nearby cave. Because Knight twisted her ankle in the process and they had no idea where the shooter was located, the two had no choice but to stay the night in that cave. Well, the Northeastern United States can be pretty chilly at night this time of year, so Torres and Knight had no choice but to cuddle next to each other under the blanket from Knight’s survival kit to keep warm. Oh, and Knight won rock-paper-scissors to be the big spoon.

When Torres and Knight eventually made it back to civilization and the case wrapped up, they weren’t keen on telling McGee and Parker about how literally close with each other they got, instead just saying they kept warm by continuously moving. I don’t think that this cuddle sesh is meant to be a sincere indicator that romance is on the horizon for those two, but I absolutely believe the NCIS writers knew what they were doing with this. They just want to get the Torres/Knight shippers talking, don’t they?

But hey, if NCIS wants to throw us a curveball and actually have Nick Torres and Jessica Knight become something more than just close friends, I welcome seeing how that would be executed. We’re in the final stretch of NCIS Season 23 episodes airing Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET, but there’s always Season 24 in the fall to embark down this narrative path if the writers so choose.

While some may still know Wilmer Valderrama best for playing Fez for the entirety of That ‘70s Show (plus a few episodes of the short-lived follow-up That ‘90s Show), at this point he’s been playing Special Agent Nick Torres on NCIS for a lot longer. He joined the series in Season 14, i.e. 10 years ago, to occupy the spot once filled Michael Weatherly’s Tony DiNozzo. But as it turns out, Valderrama could have joined this procedural franchise years earlier, as he was up for a key role in NCIS: Los Angeles.

The actor discussed this near-entry point while visiting Partners & Probies to speak with his NCIS co-stars Brian Dietzen and Diona Reasonover, who respectively Jimmy Palmer and Kasie Hines. While discussing his NCIS origins (not to be confused with the prequel NCIS: Origins), Valderrama shared these details about how the Los Angeles spinoff came into his orbit:

Brian Dietzen then clarified that Wilmer Valderrama was referring to the role of Marty Deeks, who Eric Christian Olsen was ultimately cast to play. Valderrama’s timeline is a little off then, as Olsen first recurred as Deeks in two NCIS: Los Angeles Season 1 episodes in April 2010, and then was promoted to series regular in Season 2. Valderrama first appeared as Nick Torres in the NCIS Season 14 premiere, which aired in September 2016.

That aside, it is fascinating to think about a version of NCIS: Los Angeles where Wilmer Valderrama played Marty Deeks for 13 years instead. So what stopped him from taking the role? Valderrama continued:

I think most NCIS: Los Angeles fans would probably agree that this all worked out for the best. Eric Christian Olsen’s portrayal of Marty Deeks was one of the best aspects of the spinoff, particularly as viewers watched him and Daniela Ruah’s Kensi Blye go from bickering partners to a married couple with an adopted child. As for Wilmer Valderrama, him agreeing to star in NCIS was certainly “fresh and new” both for his career and the show itself. Joining the popular procedural helped people who were only familiar with his comedic work view him in a different light, and Nick Torres entrance marked a new era for the show following Michael Weatherly’s exit.

Continue following along with Nick Torres’ exploits on NCIS Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. Season 23 is in its final stretch of episodes, and Season 24 will premier sometime in the fall. If you’d like to revisit NCIS: Los Angeles, it can be streamed with a Paramount+ subscription alongside all the franchise’s other shows.

NCIS may be 23 seasons in, but the show is still as intense as ever. The long-running procedural, which is coming up on 500 episodes, has been bringing the tension and action amid its current season, which is airing as part of the 2026 TV schedule, and it seems there's still much to look forward to. NCIS has nine episodes left in Season 23, and recent comments from Wilmer Valderrama have me seriously worried about what's to come.

Unsurprisingly, shows that have run as long as NCIS experience changes every once in a while to keep things fresh, and that’s one of the great elements of this particular procedural. The producers still manage to keep viewers on the edge of their seats even after two decades, and that was most recently the case with Bishop's surprising return. Unfortunately, it seems like something bad could be coming to NCIS in the near future, as Valderrama teased to TVLine that there are “major shakeups” coming, but there's one specific sentiment he shared that's truly ominous:

That “moment of no return” comment definitely has me feeling uneasy. Over the years, there have been several instances throughout NCIS’ run where a character or two will make a decision that permanently changes the course of their professional or personal life. At the beginning of this season, Parker nearly had a moment of no return when he was trying to get revenge for his father’s murder. However, it sounds like whatever happens in these remaining episodes will be even bigger and will really set up Season 24:

It's hard to say exactly what kind of shake-ups Valderrama is alluding to. They could have to do with personal dynamics within the team, as Torres and Knight have been getting closer. Or perhaps it’s a shake-up within the Naval team from a professional standpoint.

Also, it's been a while since NCIS lost or added a cast member and, each year, fans worry about who might depart the show next and how. There have been a few fake-outs over the years, in which fans thought someone would leave but then they ended up returning. However, maybe a permanent departure is on the horizon.

That being said, Valderrama seems to be pretty excited about the direction NCIS is going in. It can only be assumed that since the series was only just renewed for Season 24 in January, that he or anyone else on the cast doesn’t know what exactly will happen beyond Season 23. Still, with the way these final episodes are setting up Season 24, it sounds like it will be both exciting and nerve-wracking, depending on which way it goes:

The fact that it seems like fans might be happy about where the show is going is a bit of a relief, but I am still nervous about the potential changes. Shake-ups aren't necessarily bad, of course but, now, I’m just gonna keep thinking about them until they happen. On that note, new episodes of NCIS air on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS, streaming the next day with a Paramount+ subscription.

Warning: SPOILERS for the NCIS episode “Her” are ahead!

After making a surprise cameo at the end of “Heaven and Nature,” Emily Wickersham made her full return to NCIS last night on the 2026 TV schedule. Ellie Bishop resurfaced in “Her” to seek help from her former teammates, and by the end of the episode, she and Wilmer Valderrama’s Nick Torres said goodbye on much better terms with each other compared to when she left in the Season 18 finale. So then where does this leave Torres and Katrina Law’s Jessica Knight? After all, there’s been quite a bit of talk during NCIS Season 23 about if something could brew romantically between them.

Wilmer Valderrama addressed where things stand between the two characters following Ellie Bishop’s pop-in while chatting with TVLine alongside Emily Wickersham. Unfortunately for those of you who’ve been shipping Torres and Knight, the actor doesn’t see anything happening between them, saying:

Ever since Torres and Knight got fake-married in the episode “For Better or Worse,” there’s been chatter among fans about whether they might become a couple. Last October, Wilmer Valderrama said things between Torres and Knight were “a little complicated” and “a little messy,” but he didn’t rule out a possible romance. Now, however, he believes it wouldn’t work out between the two of them, and if the writers did decide to go down that creative path, it would of course be a major shakeup on NCIS. Valderrama continued:

In other words, don’t expect Nick Torres and Jessica Knight to lock lips sometime during the rest of NCIS Season 23. They’re still excellent partners and remain platonically close, but evidently there’s nothing that’s going to push them into a more romantic place together. It’s also worth remembering that at the end of the episode “Stolen Moments,” Jimmy Palmer stopped himself from having a private conversation with Knight when he saw her and Torres getting into an elevator together. However, when I asked Brian Dietzen if that meant Jimmy legitimately thinks something is brewing between Torres and Knight, he told me that’s for “the eye of the beholder.”

If there’s any hope for you Torres/Knight shippers out there, it’s that NCIS has been renewed for Season 24, so there’s a chance that the writers could give this potential romance a shot. For now though, there are still plenty of Season 23 episodes to get through Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. That includes the momentous 500th episode, which will air on March 24.

Warning: SPOILERS for the NCIS episode “Heaven and Nature” are ahead!

The majority of the NCIS Season 23 midseason finale focused on finally revealing what happened to Alden Parker’s mother. However, “Heaven and Nature” ended on an unrelated, but arguably more shocking note. Four years after exiting the popular CBS series, Emily Wickersham returned as Ellie Bishop, watching the funeral for Parker’s mother from afar right as Jessica Knight learned that Bishop was the target for her first NCIS Elite mission.

NCIS Season 23 will resume airing on the 2026 TV schedule in a few months. In the meantime, showrunner Steven D. Binder has shared some information about what we can expect from Bishop later in the season, including how this will affect her almost-love interest, Wilmer Valderrama’s Nick Torres.

What’s Next For Bishop On NCIS

When we last saw Ellie Bishop in the NCIS Season 18 finale, she’d quit the law enforcement agency and torched her reputation in order to go on an undercover information put together by her handler that required her to be a “disgraced NCIS agent.” While speaking with TVLine, Steven D. Binder had this to say about the mission that’s entangles Bishop with Knight:

Needless to say Binder didn’t elaborate on what Ellie Bishop has done wrong, but fans will learn about her motive. However, if you were hoping that Bishop’s return would kick off the next long-running NCIS storyline, pump the brakes. It turns out this particular plot will wrap up pretty quickly, with the showrunner saying:

Steven D. Binder then clarified that Emily Wickersham could still return to NCIS following the conclusion of this story, calling Bishop “a way more interesting character now, because of the wear and tear on the psyche.” So at least fans can take comfort knowing she’ll make it out of this mess alive. This reminds me of when Cote de Pablo made her own surprise return as Ziva David in the NCIS Season 16 finale, then came back for a few Season 17 episodes.

How Bishop’s Return Will Affect Torres

As ndicated earlier, Ellie Bishop and Nick Torres had a ‘will they, won’t they’ thing going during their five seasons together, which culminated in them kissing before Bishop left. So on the subject of how Torres might react to learning that she’s resurfaced, Steven D. Binder said this:

That might fly if Bishop and Torres had maintained a primarily professional relationship. But even though things never really progressed romantically between them, this is NCIS we’re talking about. The leading characters, past and present, are like a family, which in turn means they often don’t follow orders if it gets in the way of helping each other. Binder continued:

As such, Steven D. Binder also revealed that “circumstances will dictate” that Jessica Knight eventually loop Torres in on what’s happening with Bishop despite Vance having told her to keep that to herself, as “chooses team loyalty over her oath, over her duty.” Now I wonder how this shakeup will affect the possibility of Torres and Knight ending up together, which was seemingly teased in “Stolen Moments.” NCIS Season 23 will get back going on Tuesday, February 24, but it’s unclear if that’s when we’ll see Ellie Bishop again or if that will happen later.

Warning: SPOILERS for the NCIS episode “Stolen Moments” are ahead!

This year’s penultimate NCIS episode just finished airing on the 2025 TV schedule. It saw Brian Dietzen’s Jimmy Palmer testing out an AI program called the Data Assisted Workflow Navigator (D.A.W.N.) on Director Vance’s orders. It was a fascinating exploration about the pros and cons of incorporating AI into the law enforcement agency’s work, and also helped Jimmy understand some things about himself, including entertaining getting back together with Jessica Knight. However, the end of “Stolen Moments” gave some ammunition for NCIS fans who want a Knight/Nick Torres romance, and Dietzen gave CinemaBlend his take on if that will actually happen.

While Jimmy was getting ready in the final moments of “Stolen Moments” to talk with Knight, he stopped himself upon seeing Torres briefly place his hand on her back before they went into the elevator together. Much like his opinion about D.A.W.N. being used in NCIS, Jimmy took this as a sign that the timing wasn’t right for him to speak with Knight about resuming their romantic relationship. However, I was also curious about whether Jimmy legitimately thinks at that moment that something is brewing between Knight and Torres, and here’s what Dietzen, who co-wrote this episode with Jesse Stern, told me when I asked him about it:

Jimmy Palmer and Jessica Knight started dating at the end of NCIS Season 19, and they were together until the Season 21 finale, when Knight agreed to move to California to become the new REACT instructor. Although Knight rejoined the Washington D.C. team at the start of Season 22, she and Jimmy agreed a few episodes later that while they still loved each other, they wanted different things out of life, so resuming their relationship wouldn’t work. Jimmy indirectly acknowledged that to Nick Torres in “Stolen Moments” with his observation that the timing hadn’t been right.

Now, like Brian Dietzen said, whether or not Knight and Torres will progress past platonic partners and friends is still up in the air, although it’s something I wondered about after watching “The Sound and the Fury” in October. However that turns out, Dietzen went on to tell me how Jimmy came out of “Stolen Moments” personally improved because he realized he wants more out of his life:

Alas, it’ll be a while until we see NCIS Season 23 follow up on this aspect of Jimmy Palmer’s life. Next week’s midseason finale will finally reveal the truth being Alden Parker’s mom’s death after that dark twist with her death certificate was revealed. The show will then go on break for a few months because of the Olympics, and even then, we may have to wait more weeks to see if this Knight/Torres romance actually happens or if Jimmy decides to have that conversation with Knight about picking up where they left off.

For now, just remember to tune into “Heaven and Nature” next Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. After that, you can use this break to revisit older NCIS episodes with your Paramount+ subscription until the show returns on February 24.

23 seasons in, NCIS is still going strong during the 2025 TV schedule, and, come 2026, the series will be crossing its 500^th episode. It’s hard to believe the procedural is nearing such a major milestone, and Sean Murray even told CinemaBlend why he thinks the show is still so popular, noting that they’re always telling new stories and really pushing the limit. Now, the 500^th installment is being celebrated by the creative team, and I love the video Wilmer Valderrama shared from the celebration that was held.

While the series won’t be airing its 500^th episode until early next year, the cast and crew recently celebrated the big milestone, presumably once filming wrapped on the episode. Valderrama, who has portrayed Special Agent Nick Torres since Season 14, took to Instagram to share a video from the party. And, via his caption, the actor told his followers that he and his colleagues are grateful to them:

Along with the sweet caption, Valderrama also got in on a TikTok trend where people look back at a specific time in their life and say how important it was that their younger self did something that they ended up doing. With Valderrama having almost 10 seasons under his belt, it’s hard to imagine NCIS without him, and he's definitely become an important part of the show's legacy.

Not only is it fun seeing what happens at these celebratory parties, but I just love how these NCIS milestone cakes also include the characters. I honestly wonder if those figures edible as well and, if they are, do the actors eat their characters, or would that be too weird? Regardless, 500 episodes is a big feat, and I’m just getting emotional thinking about how far NCIS has come since 2003.

Considering Mark Harmon’s exit was once thought to be the “death knell” for CBS' long-running IP, the series still seems to be doing relatively well four years later. Additionally, it also still manages to keep fans on the edge of their seats, more recently with the mystery surrounding Parker’s mother. There's no telling what will come of that storyline and what will happen in the 500^th episode. Considering how the Eye Network drops images and synopses, it's likely that more details surrounding that milestone installment will likely be released in the coming weeks. Let's hope it's worth the wait!

Regardless of what happens in the episode, though, NCIS will soon be joining the ranks of shows such as The Simpsons, Law & Order: SVU, Gunsmoke, Family Guy, and Lassie, which have all surpassed 500 episodes. And, if you combine the entire franchise, there are well over a thousand episodes. The NCIS shows collectived celebrated 1,000 episodes in 2024, so now that the Mothership is going to be half of that just by itself is pretty impressive.

New episodes of NCIS air on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS, and fans can also stream the showing using a Paramount+ subscription.

NCIS is prepping for its 23^rd season that will premiere this Tuesday on the 2025 TV schedule, and there's a lot to look forward to. Most notably, the series will be following the aftermath of the murder of Parker’s father in the Season 22 finale, but that’s not the only thing we want to know more about. After Torres and Knight had to pretend to be married for a case, fans have been wondering if the show will ever explore a romantic relationship between the two agents. So, Wilmer Valderrama addressed those who want it to happen.

Ever since Knight and Jimmy broke up, things between them seem to be okay, meaning it could be time for Knight to try something new. Perhaps that something new could be with fellow coworker Torres, even despite him going out with Knight’s sister, Robin. Valderrama told TVLine what to expect with a possible romance, and let's just say, it's complicated:

The fact that Valderrama confirmed that there is definitely something between Knight and Torres really just says it all. But considering Knight was with Jimmy and Torres was with Robin, it might not be so easy to just confront those feelings and act on them. If NCIS is known for one thing, it’s that workplace romances don’t always work and can get pretty messy. But at the very least, it sounds like the series will definitely be exploring it at some point.

Even though Torres and Knight’s relationship may be complicated, Wilmer Valderrama and Katrina Law’s relationship is anything but. In celebration of National Coffee Day, the two shared a funny video that put Valderrama’s hips to work, and it was pretty perfect. Their dynamic is always so fun, and it should be interesting to see if anything more comes from it on-screen, but for now, fans will just have to wait.

Meanwhile, as previously mentioned, NCIS will be following the aftermath of Parker’s dad getting killed, and revenge won’t be the only thing on his mind. Nancy Travis will be coming on as his sister, Harriett, and there is going to be a lot to unpack and a lot that the show will be digging into when it comes to their backstories. There’s no telling what will happen and how far Parker will go to get his revenge, but that’s what makes it exciting.

It won’t be long until fans find out what happens with Parker and even Knight and Torres. Season 23 of NCIS premieres today, Tuesday, at 8 p.m. ET on CBS, and streams the next day with a Paramount+ subscription as part of the network’s new NCIS Tuesday lineup. It’s going to be three hours of action and chaos and maybe romance, but whatever happens, you don’t want to miss it.

The upcoming 23^rd season of NCIS on the 2025 TV schedule will kick off in an emotional way, following the aftermath of the Season 22 finale that saw Parker finding his dad murdered. Between that and the plenty of other dark cases that the team will work on throughout the new season, the cast makes sure to have fun when the cameras aren’t rolling. Stars Katrina Law and Wilmer Valderrama celebrated National Coffee Day in the best way possible, and Valderrama has some moves.

On Monday, Valderrama took to Instagram to share a funny video of himself and his co-star for the holiday. Law was in a food truck and handed him a cup of coffee, telling him, “Don’t forget to shake it.” Valderrama put his hips to good use and was certainly shaking it up, even captioning the video, “Tell me you’re Latino without telling me…”

Valderrama completely locking in and moving his hips so flawlessly is hilarious. With Elvis Crespo’s “Suavemente” in the background for just a few seconds until Valderrama goes back to normal and walks away like nothing happens, it really might just be my favorite video on the Internet right now. I’m dying to know how many takes Law and Valderrama had to do without cracking up, but regardless, I am seriously obsessed.

That being said, Valderrama is probably taking all the coffee he can get, even if he is shaking it a little. He recently welcomed his second child with wife Amanda Pacheco, and plenty of stars gave them a lot of love after announcing the birth. They welcomed their first child in 2021, and now with two kids to handle, Valderrama probably needs as much coffee as possible to stay awake and energized.

If it isn’t obvious in the video, Valderrama and Law are hard at work on Season 23 of NCIS, which premieres on October 14, kicking off the first-ever NCIS Tuesday. On top of the aftermath of Parker’s dad getting killed and exploring more of the Lily mystery, there will be a lot to look forward to, including a crossover with NCIS and NCIS: Origins in November. All that is known about it is that the teams are working on a case that spans decades, but as of now, information on who will be crossing over has not been revealed.

The cast will likely continue dropping more BTS content leading up to the premiere, but it’s just getting me more excited to reunite with the characters very soon. And maybe even do a little hip shaking. Torres may not be shaking his hips as much as Valderrama, but he’s finally returning when NCIS Season 23 premieres on Tuesday, October 14 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS, streaming the next day with a Paramount+ subscription.

Wilmer Valderrama is likely gearing up to jump back into Nick Torres mode for NCIS’ upcoming 23rd season arriving as part of CBS’ Fall TV lineup, but a little something else has come along to adorably take up all of his available attention for the next, oh, 18 years and then some. The actor revealed he and partner Amanda Pacheco welcomed their second child together this month, and tons of other celebs showered the couple with loving comments.

Congratulations To Wilmer Valderrama And Amanda Pacheco

Taking to Instagram to unveil the newest addition to his growing family, Valderrama shared that they now have a baby boy to complement their four-year-old daughter Nakano, whose 2021 birth was also celebrated by the actor's many famous friends. The That ‘70s Show vet waited until more than a week had passed before going public with the news, noting that the kiddo was born on July 11, 2025, and that they gave him the fantabulous name of Wolf Monte Valderrama.

Check out the cutesy-wootsy pictures below.

Gotta love how happy and loving everyone looks while holding this new bundle of joy, especially Nakano, who seems downright peachy about having a li’l brother. One can only hope those positive sibling feelings carry on throughout life. Not that I'm speaking from experience or anything.

NCIS' Adam Rodriguez, AGT's Terry Crews And Many More Share Congratulatory Messages

The celebs came out in full force to heap kind words and thoughts in the direction of Wilmer Valderrama and his no doubt exhausted fiancée. From NCIS co-stars to stars of other past and present CBS projects and beyond. I can't think of many other celebs who would earn kind words from Terminator 2 vet Robert Patrick, Desperate Housewives' Eva Longoria and NSYNC's Lance Bass all at the same time.

Below are many (but not all) of the responses shared by others in the world of acting:

• Adam Rodriguez (NCIS): 🙌❤️🙌
• Diona Reasonover (NCIS): ❤️
• Ramón Rodríguez (Will Trent): Congratulations brother!!! What a blessing! 🥳🥹🙏🏼
• AJ Buckley (SEAL Team): Yes!
• Daniel Dae Kim (Butterfly): Congrats my friend!!!
• Hassie Harrison (Yellowstone): ❤️❤️❤️❤️
• Terry Crews (America's Got Talent): Congrats to you both!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️
• Carmina Garay (Diary of a Future President): OMG!!! Congratulations!!! He is absolutely beautiful 🥰
• Angela Sarafyan (Superman): Congratulations ❤️
• Robert Patrick (Reacher): 🙌 congratulations!!
• Stephanie Suganami (Opus): congratulations ♡
• Lucy DeVito (Little Demon): Congratulations!!!! So much love!!❤️❤️❤️
• Jamie Camill (Jane the Virgin): So this was the family matter you needed to attend… YEAH BABY! Huge congrats to both! Beautiful baby, will always be filled with love, health and blessings… And uncles that will take good care of him 🥰🥰
• Eva Longoria (Only Murders in the Building): Congratulations!!!!!!
• Harold Perrineau (From): Congrats brother

Strangely enough, perhaps, I didn't see any of Valderrama's That '70s Show castmates chiming in with comments, but that's hardly indicative of anything, as several of them aren't active on social media, and are possibly quicker to reach out via text or phone calls.

In any case, several major names from the musical side of the entertainment industry also chimed in with supportive reactions, as seen below:

• Natalie Imbruglia: Congrats 🩵🩵
• Lance Bass: 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌
• Frankie J: ❤️❤️❤️
• DJ Paul KOM 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
• Gloria Estefan: May he be blessed with a wonderful life in the arms of his beautiful family! Felicitaciones, hermano! ❤️❤️❤️

Beyond all the general good vibes pointed in the actor's direction, I also wanted to share some of the comments specifically championing the couple's choice to name their son Wolf Monte Valderrama, since I fully agree with the notion that it's a badass name. Here are a few of those comments, with the first shared by a Real Housewives of Beverly Hill vet.

• Congrats, great name - Garcelle Beauvais (RHOBH)
• Love his name🥹 Congrats! - @jessi.jackson13
• He is perfect and his NAME 🥹❤️congratulations to you both and Nakano ✨✨✨✨
• That's Special Agent Wolf to you ❤️💙 - @quinn_the_traveler
• Congrats to you both ❤the name too💙 - @charlotte_ellen2015
• Love his name! Congratulations 💙 - @staceylangfordsmith

Will Valderrama's new-daddy exhaustion be on display whenever NCIS returns? Fans will get to see Torres back in action during the 2025 TV schedule when Season 23 premieres on CBS on Tuesday, October 14, at 8:00 p.m., followed by new episodes from the sophomore seasons of NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Sydney. Episodes will be available to stream the next day with a Paramount+ subscription.

NCIS Season 22 is just days from concluding its run on the 2025 TV schedule, and this past Monday’s episode (which you can stream with a Paramount+ subscription) left us with quite the lingering plot thread. After months of Timothy McGee suspecting Deputy Director Gabriel LaRoche to be all kinds of shady, this was finally confirmed in “Irreconcilable Differences,” though Seamus Dever’s character claimed that what he’s been up to has never been about money. As if that wasn’t enough to get ready for, Nick Torres actor Wilmer Valderrama is teasing that there will be a major death in the Season 22 finale. Frankly, now I’m concerned about three specific NCIS characters, and I’ll be really mad if either of them bite the dust.

Valderrama teased the forthcoming death while appearing on CBS Mornings, making it abundantly clear that this will not just be the standard kind of victim that the main cast of characters deals with week after week. As he put it:

Now, before I heard Wilmer Valderrama say this, I just assumed that the big death in the NCIS Season 22 finale, titled “Nexus,” will be Gabriel LaRoche. Regardless of whether or not he’s a true bad guy, I don’t think he’ll stick around for for NCIS Season 23, and it’s also easy enough to envision him sacrificing himself to atone for his illegal activities. But Valderrama said it’s some “close” to the main characters, and LaRoche doesn’t fit that bill. So now, fearing the worst, I’m worried about these three men going into “Nexus.”

Alden Parker

Gary Cole’s Alden Parker took over leading the team early on into NCIS Season 19 after Mark Harmon’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs decided to stay in Alaska. Season 22 has been particularly eventful for Parker, as he’s not only been dealing with the Lily mystery and learning new things about his childhood, he’s also had to contend with Carla Morino, head of the Kansas City mob, coming back into his life. Are we going to see Parker killed off as he finally learns the full Lily story and/or crosses paths with Carla again in the midst of this LaRoche business? I’m not ruling it out.

Leon Vance

Rocky Carroll’s been playing Leon Vance since NCIS Season 5, with the end of that season seeing him become director of the law enforcement agency following Jenny Shepard’s death. At this point, it’s hard to imagine the show without him being around, but even Vance isn’t invincible. As we pull back the curtain on Gabriel LaRoche’s activities, it’s entirely possible that events will unfold that lead to Vance being put in danger once again, and unlike when he was shot in the NCIS franchise’s 1,000th episode, this time he won’t make it out alive.

Tobias Fornell

Ok, I know this seems like a random pull, but hear me out. Joe Spano has been recurring on NCIS since the beginning, having debuted as Tobias Fornell in the very first episode and appearing in every season except for Season 17, and that was only because the COVID-19 pandemic shut down production early. We haven’t seen Fornell in Season 22, but perhaps he’s been saved for a surprise guest appearance in the finale. He would also qualify as someone close to the team, so while the chances of him dying happening are slimmer than with Parker and Vance, it’s not an impossibility.

We’ll find out who’s off to meet their maker when the NCIS Season 22 finale airs Monday at 9 pm ET on CBS. Whatever ends up happening, you can be sure that the aftermath will continue to be explored when NCIS Season 23 airs in the fall.

For eight seasons now, Wilmer Valderrama has starred on NCIS as Special Agent Nick Torres, and he's continuing to do so on the 2025 TV schedule. Between his more than complicated backstory, his rebelliousness and his work-related relationship, Nick has certainly kept fans on the edge of their seats over the years. While he is a mainstay on the long-running procedural, and it would be hard to imagine the show without him, it actually came after he turned down another NCIS show.

Valderrama joined NCIS in 2016, but evidently it was not the first series in the franchise that he came across. The actor spoke at an author event in Ohio to promote his memoir Am American Story: Everybody’s Invited. He got to talking about his time on NCIS and admitted (via CantonRep.com) that he once turned down NCIS: Los Angeles. Although he shared that the spinoff is a “beautiful” show, Valderrama said:

It’s unclear when Valderrama turned down the series and what role it could have been for. NCIS: LA premiered in 2009, so he could have been offered any number of roles, whether a main one or recurring. It is funny knowing that he would end up joining the mothership series and even crossing over to LA in 2023. Still, now I’m curious about just how different both shows would have been had Valderrama not turned down LA. At the very least, NCIS was definitely right for him, and I can’t imagine anyone else portraying Nick.

The former That '70s Show star made a wise decision. Turning down NCIS: LA certainly worked in his favor, even if he didn’t know it at the time. He’s now part of one of the longest-running primetime shows, and as of now, it doesn’t seem like he plans on leaving. NCIS has seen its fair share of main cast members, and anyone can leave at any time, so it’s always unknown when the next one could depart. But for now, fans shouldn’t worry that Nick’s leaving D.C. in the future anytime soon.

Meanwhile, NCIS: LA may be done, but the series still remains very much part of the franchise, and not just because Valderrama nearly joined the show. LL Cool J and Daniela Ruah have both popped up as their respective characters since the series ended, LL on NCIS: Hawai’i and Ruah on the 1,000^th episode of NCIS. LL Cool J is also set to return once again as Sam Hanna in an upcoming episode of NCIS, which will certainly be exciting.

With NCIS confirmed to return for another season, it’s likely fans will continue to see Nick Torres in all his glory. There is always going to be that “What if?” of Valderrama being on NCIS: LA instead, but as fate would have it, he wound up on NCIS instead, and it’s certainly working out.

On the heels of NCIS announcing a delay in production due to the tragic LA wildfires, former spinoff star Eric Christian Olsen shared that he lost his home to them and is staying with family. Following the actor's tragic life update, his post brought in an outpouring of support from Wilmer Valderrama, Mandy Moore, and many others in Hollywood.

As CinemaBlend continues to monitor how the 2025 TV schedule may be impacted by the California wildfires, Olsen's wife and actress, Sarah Wright Olsen, shared the news about their home on Instagram. See her words below, as well as photos of the aftermath following the fire raging through their home:

Like the homes of Denise Crosby and Mandy Moore's family, the Olsens house was taken down by the fires. Just like these folks, many around Los Angeles have no other choice but to make accommodations until they can figure out their next steps and start the healing process from losing places that were important to them. My heart breaks for the children of the Olsens, who took their first steps in the home.

Sarah Wright Olsen's comments were a who's who in Hollywood, as Moore and many other celebrities, both tied to NCIS and other projects, showered them with love and support. This includes Wilmer Valderrama, who knows something about tragic life-changing experiences after a plane accident:

• Love you guys. I’m sorry doesn’t do justice for the grief and pain of a magnitude of this kind of loss… but I’m sorry. Thinking of you and your family. - Mandy Moore
• I’m so sorry 💔 - Ashley Tisdale
• the family who literally housed me…u all are the epitome of love. ❤️ - Caleb Castille
• Oh babe I’m so sorry. I love you so much - Rumer Willis
• ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ - Rose McIver
• Sending you so much love sister - Wilmer Valderrama

Eric Christian Olsen did not share his own post about the tragedy.

The actor has kept busy since the ending of NCIS: Los Angeles and has signed on as an executive producer on the new CBS hit drama Matlock. No doubt he and his family will also be busy as they look for a new home and try to regain all they lost in the fires. In the meantime, they're staying with "Uncle Dave" and "Aunt Dani," and are lucky to have family willing to step up and help when they need it most.

The tragic stories from the California wildfires just keep coming, for example, actress Jennifer Garner recently revealed she lost a friend to them. Authorities are working around the clock to continue to contain the blaze, and some families have been allowed to return to their areas after evacuating. Long-term disaster recovery efforts are underway in areas to help families in need, but there's a lot of work to be done.

CinemaBlend continues offering condolences to all impacted by the L.A. wildfires and hopes everyone can return to some form of normalcy soon. Here's hoping the coming week will bring even more progress to combatting and containing the fires.

Warning: SPOILERS ahead for the fall finale of NCIS, “Humbug.”

Since Wilmer Valderrama joined NCIS as Nick Torres in Season 14, fans have only seen a bit of his love life, most notably his potential romance with Ellie Bishop, who exited in Season 18. He is usually not one to open up about his personal life, but that might all change when the long-running procedural returns in the New Year on the 2025 TV schedule. The agent has a new love interest that fans have apparently seen before, and I have one idea of who it might be.

In the fall finale of NCIS, “Humbug,” Torres kept making up fake Christmas plans to hide the fact that he is actually spending the holiday with a special someone, as shown in the final seconds of the episode when he was texting a mystery recipient. While executive producer Steven D. Binder did not reveal the identity of Torres’ new love, he did tell TV Insider that it’s someone fans have met before:

Obviously, NCIS has introduced many characters throughout its run, but the fact that this character “may or may not be related” is seemingly pointing in just one direction: Jessica’s sister Robin.

Fans met Robin Knight, Jess’ younger sister, in Season 20’s Thanksgiving episode “Turkey Trot” in 2022. Robin hasn’t come back since, but it would be pretty interesting if she were to be dating her sister’s colleague. Robin doesn’t have the best luck with guys, and the show would have to explain just how she and Torres started dating, but it would make things pretty entertaining.

Torres dating Robin would also explain why he was being so secretive about his Christmas plans, initially saying he’d be spending the holiday with McGee or Jimmy, then saying he’d be alone. This would be a good excuse to bring Robin back as well and likely bring some pretty intense conversations between Robin, Jessica, and Torres, and some more complications to the Knight family. At the very least, Torres does seem happy, and even if he is keeping things secret because he’s seeing Jessica’s sister, it’s all the more reason for it to be true.

When NCIS eventually returns, more details should be emerging about Torres’ secret love life and who his mystery girlfriend really is. Whether or not it’s truly Robin should be something to look forward to, even if she does cause some trouble.

Other than Torres’ love life, there will certainly be a lot more to look forward to when NCIS comes back for its midseason premiere on Monday, January 25 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. Those with a Paramount+ subscription can catch up on all the episodes now and make their own theories about who Torres could be seeing.

Warning: SPOILERS for the NCIS episode “Humbug” are ahead!

While there was a time on NCIS when it seemed like Wilmer Valderrama’s Nick Torres and Emily Wickersham’s Ellie Bishop would end up together, that went out the proverbial window once the latter exited in the Season 18 finale. Years later, Torres reentered earlier in Season 22, and it was revealed in the midseason finale (which can now be streamed with a Paramount subscription) that he has a secret girlfriend with whom he was going to celebrate Christmas. So when will we learn her identity, and what kind of trouble could emerge when the other main characters find out about her. That’s what NCIS showrunner Steven D. Binder chatted with CinemaBlend about ahead of “Humbug” airing on the 2024 TV schedule.

In addition to telling us what’s ahead for Deputy Director Gabriel LaRoche following his intrusive return this week, Binder opened up to me about when NCIS will pull the curtain back on this chapter of Torres’ love life. Interestingly enough, this big moment will come at the same time as we learn something new about one of the things Alden Parker is best known for on the CBS series. As Binder explained:

At first glance, the information Steven D. Binder shared with me about Torres’ girlfriend might seem vague, but if someone from the main NCIS lineup is going to have an issue with this mystery woman, then I’m fairly certain that the showrunner is talking about Jessica Knight’s sister, Robin, who’s played by Lilan Bowden and has so far only appeared in the NCIS Season 20 episode “Turkey Trot.” Katrina Law told TVLine that Robin will return in Season 22, and it’s easy to envision Jessica not only being mad about Robin and Torres dating, but also be the last to find out.

I look forward to seeing if my prediction is correct and also hope that whatever issues Jessica has with Torres and Robin being together doesn’t drive a wedge between these coworkers and close friends. It was also interesting to learn that we’ll visit the bakery where Parker’s been getting his amazing pastries. And considering that episode’s title, it seems safe to say that the bakery, or maybe just this woman whom Gary Cole’s character is crushing on, will be involved with the case for that week.

NCIS Season 22 will pick back up on the 2025 TV schedule Monday, January 27 on CBS. NCIS: Origins will also resume that night, and one of the things to look forward to in the prequel’s back half of the season is learning Mike Franks’ origin story.

It’s been over 18 years since That ‘70s Show ended, but it's till one of the most rewatchable series and is easily accessible via streaming. The Fox sitcom produced many eventual stars, like Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Wilmer Valderrama and Topher Grace. In Valderrama’s new memoir, An American Story: Everyone’s Invited, now out, the NCIS actor is now getting real about his own experiences working on the teen comedy. That includes his friendly competition with Kutcher and the secret to filming before a live audience.

Wilmer Valderrama and Ashton Kutcher played friends Fez and Michael Kelso, respectively, but they had a somewhat different relationship off-screen. While the two were buddies, they were also sort of like brothers in that they tried to one-up each other. Via Us Weekly, Valderrama wrote in his memoir that the two of them would come to set “extremely prepared” and would end up challenging one another while filming:

Oh, to be in the audience of a That ‘70s Show taping. I can only imagine how fun it must've been to watch the actors mix it up during and between takes. Considering Fez and Kelso were arguably two of the funniest characters on the series, it’s not so surprising that the actors who played them were basically having a “laugh-off.” I just hope they were able to get takes done with no problem and didn’t raise any eyebrows from producers, but that doesn’t seem likely.

Wilmer Valderrama shared that he and his co-stars gave themselves the nickname of the “two-takers." That term alone sums up the pair's approach to filming in front of a live audience, and it sounds like a smart approach:

The thought of filming in front of an audience week after week is daunting, so I can appreciate anyone who does it. The approach that the two '70s co-stars stars took to their work seems like a solid way to both ease tension and get the work done effectively. Kudos to them for figuring out a smart way to not only have fun with each but to entertain audiences as well.

Many now dub That ‘70s Show a series that went on too long, especially given that Topher Grace and Ashton Kutcher exited as main cast members before the final season. Still, there are plenty of reasons why the show still holds a special place in fans' hearts. Among those factors is the charisma of the cast, and I love hearing more about their work together. Wilmer Valderrama and Ashton Kutcher seem to have been able to bring out the best in each other. And this recent BTS tidbit is just another reason why I appreciate the performances of these "two-takers."

Wilmer Valderrama has many more stories to be told about his time on That ‘70s Show (which is one of the best sitcoms of all time), his childhood, the rest of his career and more in his new memoir, so be sure to pick up An American Story: Everyone’s Invited now. Anyone with a Peacock subscription can also stream all eight seasons of That ‘70s Show now.

Wilmer Valderrama's time playing Fez on That ‘70s Show was monumental, meaningful and, of course, funny. However, during his run on one of the best sitcoms of all time, the Miami native almost died in a terrifying plane incident. Now, Valderrama is opening up about that experience, his need to reset after it, and how Johnny Depp helped get him through it with some great acting advice.

Actor, producer, and Global USO Ambassador Wilmer Valderrama is telling his life story in his new book, An American Story: Everyone’s Invited. In it, he delves deep into growing up in Venezuela and how he used his calling as an actor to help his struggling family. He also shared his frightening experience of surviving a plane incident during the early days of That ‘70s Show and how Johnny Depp’s great advice helped him reset his career.

Wilmer Valderrama’s Near-Death Plane Crash Experience

In a passage from Wilmer Valderrama’s new book, which was posted by US Weekly, he detailed the story of almost dying in a plane incident with Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Colin Hanks and others. The group was on a “small chartered plane” that was flying back to Hollywood from New Orleans after the Super Bowl, and Valderrama wrote that there was nothing “smooth” about it:

The captain on the plane said the result of an oxygen valve “stuck closed” caused carbon monoxide to fill the interior of the charter plane. Wilmer Valderrama and Ashton Kutcher shared one mask, and they gave Danny Masterson an extra mask as he told them he was losing feeling in his arm.

Fortunately, the plane landed safely after an emergency landing in El Paso. While waiting for his next flight, the NCIS actor gave his mother a heartwarming phone call to tell her, “I love you.”

Johnny Depp’s Sage Advice for Wilmer Valderrama To ‘Bet On Yourself’

Following this scary accident and wrapping That '70s Show in 2006, Wilmer Valderrama took an acting hiatus. While using that time to travel and think deeply about his future, Valderrama returned to acting but was very choosy with his roles.

After the unfortunate plane incident, an agent set up a meeting between the television actor and Johnny Depp while he was filming his Pirates of the Caribbean movie Dead Man’s Chest. This exchange proved to be motivational for Valderrama as the Sweeney Todd actor offered him valuable advice during his career reset to “focus on one character at a time” and “bet on yourself:”

Wilmer Valderrama sure had great success outside of That ‘70s Show.

He did animation work voicing Manny in the Disney Junior series Handy Manny, Prince Phillipe Charming in the animated film Charming, and Agustín Madrigal in Disney’s Encanto. He’s also been in live-action feature films like Larry Crowne and The Adderall Diaries.

Most prominently, Valderrama took over for Michael Weatherly on NCIS in Season 14. He has been a series regular for the past seven seasons, and he'll be back soon as the show's 22nd season is set to air this fall.

It’s a huge relief that Wilmer Valderrama lived to tell the tale of that horrific plane accident that almost took the lives of him and his friends. It's also nice to hear that he had support from people like Johnny Depp, who gave him advice on how to manage his life going forward. Clearly, all these experiences have added up to create quite the life and career for the successful actor.

You can see Valderrama return in his starring role on CBS’s NCIS when it premieres on the 2024 TV schedule on October 14th. Also, to learn more about his life and career, make sure to read his new book An American Story: Everyone’s Invited, which is available on Amazon.

We’re coming up on the fall portion of the 2024 TV schedule, which means that broadcast networks will start airing new shows and new seasons of established shows starting around mid-September. In NCIS Season 22’s case, fans can look forward to both it and the Leroy Jethro Gibbs-focused prequel NCIS: Origins both arriving in October. However, for main cast members Wilmer Valderrama and Sean Murray, they’re fully into NCIS mode, and they celebrated the show’s forthcoming return on social media after returning to set.

Valderrama and Murray, who respectively play Nick Torres and Timothy McGee, took some time out of filming the latest season of NCIS to pose with their badges for all on Instagram to see. Check it out!

Wilmer Valderrama’s post follows two weeks after he shared on the same social media platform that NCIS Season 22 had officially begun filming. Just like in Season 21, these two will be back on screen alongside Gary Cole’s Alden Parker, Katrina Law’s Jessica Knight, Brian Dietzen’s Jimmy Palmer, Diana Reasonover’s Katie Hines and Rocky Carroll’s Leon Vance. It remains to be seen how many episodes will comprise Season 22, although it definitely won’t be just 10 episodes like with Season 21, which only happened because last year’s WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes delayed production.

In any case, NCIS fans can take comfort knowing that the cast and crew are hard at work on Season 22 while they wait to start seeing the final results of that work in two months time. Sean Murray is, of course, the longest-serving NCIS cast member of the current lineup, as McGee was introduced in Season 1’s seventh episode as a recurring character, and then upgraded to the main cast in Season 2. With Season 22, Murray is set to surpass the late David McCallum for most appearances in the procedural franchise. Valderrama’s Nick Torres came aboard as a series regular in Season 14.

The elephant in the room that NCIS Season 22 will need to explore right off the bat is the status of Jessica Knight. In the Season 21 finale, she accepted Director Vance’s offer to become the new REACT instructor at Camp Pendleton, but as already mentioned, Katrina Law will still in Season 22’s main cast. So now we have to wait and see what circumstances lead to her re-joining the team, or if the show will somehow find a way to keep her looped in while she’s working this new job. Wilmer Valderrama also teased that there will be “some tragedy” in Season 22 and that Nick Torres might be “ready for love” this season.

NCIS Season 22 and the first season of NCIS: Origins premiere Monday, October 14. Use your Paramount+ subscription to stream all of the franchise’s shows.

In addition to the Leroy Jethro Gibbs-centric prequel NCIS: Origins and the Paramount+-exclusive spinoff NCIS: Tony and Ziva on the way, the procedural franchise’s flagship show is still going strong, with Season 22 set for an October premiere on the 2024 TV schedule. So far there aren’t that many details about what to expect in the next batch of episodes. That said, Wilmer Valerrama’s tease for what’s coming in NCIS Season 22 has me concerned for Nick Torres and the other main characters.

While speaking with People about his new lifestyle apparel brand E.P.U., Valderrama, who’s been playing Torres since NCIS Season 14 premiered in 2016, mentioned that he feels “indebted” to the fans, so he wants to give them the “turmoil” they’ve gotten used to seeing over the 21 years the show’s been on the air. Here’s how he teased Season 22:

Going off that vague statement, while it doesn’t sound like we have to worry about anyone in the main cast meeting their demise, that doesn’t mean they won’t suffer loss this season. Maybe that comes in the form of someone close to them dying, or maybe their personal lives will be negatively impacted during the course on investigating a case. Either way, NCIS fans would be wise to start worrying about these characters’ well being — I know I am. Wilmer Valderrama also said this:

The That ‘70s Show alum added that the “fire” he speaks of doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with tragedy. Instead, the actor cagily mentioned that “there will be perhaps some new flames” and that “perhaps Torres might be ready for love this season, though Valderrama wouldn’t confirm or deny if his character will actually get romantically involved with someone. Fans will remember that Torres previously had a ‘will they, won’t they’ thing going with Emily Wickersham’s Ellie Bishop. However, a full-blown relationship never ended up blooming between the two, as Bishop resigned from NCIS to go on a CIA undercover mission in the Season 18 finale.

In addition to Wilmer Valderrama’s cryptic comments, another mystery that awaits in NCIS Season 22 is where things stand with Katrina Law’s Jessica Knight. In the Season 21 finale, Knight agreed to become Camp Pendleton’s new REACT instructor. Co-showrunner Steve D. Binder has been cagey about whether this means Knight won’t appear on the show anymore, though one would imagine that if Law wasn’t sticking around as a series regular, that would have already been announced. So then the question becomes how will Knight continue to be involved in NCIS’ events.

Those questions and plenty of others will start to be answered when NCIS Season 22 premieres on Monday, October 14. You can pass the time until then by streaming the previous 21 seasons, as well as all the NCIS spinoffs, with a Paramount+ subscription.

Wilmer Valderrama has truly become a mainstay of primetime TV dramas through his work on NCIS. Since 2016, the fan-favorite actor has played the role of Nick Torres, who’s become an integral part of the lead team of special agents on the show. It’s honestly hard to imagine the series being without Nick at this point, though it’s possible that there may come a time when he’s written out for one reason or another. Interestingly enough, Valderrama has thought about how he’d want Torres to exit the long-running series. You may not believe it, but his plan would channel “Denzel Washington in Training Day.” 

For anyone who needs context on Antoine Fuqua’s Oscar-winning 2001 film, it sees Denzel Washington play the role of crooked cop Alonzo Harris. The story sees Harris navigate several crime-ridden neighborhoods in California alongside younger, by-the-book officer Jake Hoyt, who’s played by Ethan Hawke. Harris implements wild methods while showing Jake around and, in time, it’s discovered that the seasoned narcotics officer is wanted by the Russian mafia. At the very end of the film, Alonzo attempts to leave the state, but he’s confronted and gunned down by mafia associates before he can do so. 

It goes without saying that it’s a truly violent moment and a tough way for a character to go out. However, Wilmer Valderrama tells TV Insider that if Nick Torres has to go, his death should play out in a similar way. This may sound tragic on the surface, but Valderrama’s description of his proposed idea does sound somewhat poetic:

The actor’s NCIS co-star, Brien Dietzen (who plays Jimmy Palmer), also joked that “white doves” be added to that big moment. However, the That ‘70s Show alum opined that the idea would be “too Nicolas Cage.” (I suppose he has a point there.) Regardless, I’m not sure how CBS would feel about writing out Torres in such a way. Still, having the character go out while protecting his loved ones would make for a fitting end for the former undercover agent. 

What I also appreciate is that the actor is such a big fan of Training Day (which has BTS details fans should know about). It’s an excellent crime thriller, and Antonie Fuqua makes great use of Denzel Washington’s talents. The director has discussed the film in the years since its release, discussing the moment he believed he’d caught lightning in a bottle with Washington. And, unsurprisingly, Fuqua has also discussed filming the iconic “King Kong” scene. The lead actor’s performance is impeccable, and it’s totally understandable just why he was awarded Best Actor at the Oscars for his performance. Ironically, the movie also spawned a TV show of the same name, which was cancelled by CBS after one season.

As for Nick Torres, I don’t expect him to meet a fate similar to Alonzo Harris’ in the near future. NCIS is still going strong and is set to return for Season 22 this fall amid the 2024 TV schedule. Wilmer Valderrama is set to return and, given how much of a staple his character is, I can’t see him being written out anytime soon – unless the actor himself requests to leave the show. One can only speculate as to whether the Eye Network would actually want Torres to die in such a way but, if he did go out like Denzel Washington’s character, it would be a memorable moment in TV history. 

Those eagerly waiting for new episodes of NCIS can check out Torres and the gang by streaming past episodes using a Paramount+ subscription. Do yourself a favor and also check out Training Day, which is available to rent or buy on multiple digital platforms. 

The worlds of NCIS and Yellowstone couldn’t be more disparate on the surface, with special-agent government ops standing far apart from cowboy life in Montana. And yet those worlds managed to collide in part during the ninth episode of the CBS drama’s 21st season, with Wilmer Valderrama and Katrina Law’s Torres and Knight taking a Texas-set mission with scenes that wouldn’t have looked entirely out of place in Taylor Sheridan’s ranch-filled TV universe. Now that Valderrama confirmed the Yellowstone homage was intentional, an official crossover kinda needs to happen, yeah?

Though “Prime Cut” didn’t actually take place on the 6666 ranch that Sheridan now owns (and is meant to be the titular setting for one of several upcoming Yellowstone shows), the change in setting for the agents can be attributed to a fan of the Paramount Network western behind the scenes at NCIS. Speaking with TV Insider, Valderrama was asked if he picked up on the installment’s Yellowstone vibes, and had quite the interesting response:

The actor is of course referring to the fact that Paramount is the parent company of both hit series’ networks, which means creative decisions like this are all in good-natured synergy, especially since the cable drama made its broadcast debut on CBS during the 2023 strikes. So nobody would need to bend over backwards while breaking the bank (and other B-fronted words) to have the outer edges of the Dutton family saga brush up against an overarching case that only NCIS’ most elite agents can handle.

I don’t necessarily foresee that happening, but Wilmer Valderrama implies at this point in the drama’s dominant run, the Big Sky’s the limit. He continued:

If NCIS suddenly started populating episodes with characters familiar from Yellowstone, I get that fans would start to question things. But here’s the trick: set it up by bringing Josh Lucas’ John Dutton into the mix on NCIS: Origins, which has been making headlines recently with Gibbs’ dad and more being cast alongside other viewer-familiar characters. If the show can set up a relationship between the Duttons and Gibbs all those years ago, then it would be perfectly logical for Kayce to one day show up knocking on Parker’s office door. Okay maybe not perfectly logical…

Yellowstone’s final Season 5 episodes are set to air in November, with filming taking place across the spring and summer, possibly with Kevin Costner’s involvement. But before that happens, NCIS will continue Season 21, with episodes airing Monday nights on CBS at 9:00 p.m. ET., and streaming the next day with a Paramount+ subscription.

Warning: SPOILERS for the NCIS episode “Left Unsaid” are ahead!

Weeks after week on NCIS, we see Wilmer Valderrama’s Nick Torres and Gary Cole’s Alden Parker solves crimes together. And, as it usually the case on procedural shows like this, these two and the rest of their teammates are closer to one another than your average coworkers. However, fresh off tonight’s episode of NCIS Season 21, titled “Left Unsaid,” dropping on the 2024 TV schedule, there’s a fun twist that’s been put on Torres and Parker’s personal relationship, and I’m really hoping the popular CBS show, which can also be streamed with a Paramount+ subscription, explores this more in the coming weeks.

The case for this week’s episode was certainly filled with twists and turns involving a missing petty officer with ties to a stealth submersible powered by proprietary battery technology, a bizarre business called Bold Ventures that allows one to confront their fears in… shall we say, unorthodox ways, and said officer having a secret, wealthy father. But it’s the fact that Torres and Parker are currently roommates that really piqued my interest in “Left Unsaid,” which was directed by NCIS: Los Angeles vet Daniela Ruah.

Why Torres And Parker Are Currently Roommates

Before anyone gets too concerned, no, Torres is not living with Parker because of fallout from what the former went through in the NCIS Season 21 premiere (although I am still worried about him drinking again). This is simply because Torres’ landlord discovered mold in his building, and while he could have easily sprung for a hotel while his apartment is taped off, crashing on Parker’s couch comes free of charge. There’s even something in it for Parker, as he’s been wanting to get in better shape, so having a man like Torres around who’s exercises a lot and eats healthily is most beneficial.

Unfortunately for the team, this results in Parker bringing grapefruit slices rather than his usual pastries on the morning this new case starts, but it gets even worse for Torres. Even he’s getting sick of all “salads, juices and 4 a.m. workouts every single day” that Parker’s become obsessed with, and while he didn’t go around advertising it, even Torres has his cheat days with meals. Parker took the “Torres Lifestyle” too far, but Torres doesn’t want to share the truth with him because he doesn’t want to disappoint the man. 

While it initially looks like Parker isn’t going to back down from his dedication to healthy living, by the end of “Left Unsaid,” he admits that the Torres Lifestyle is too much for him; the “wacky juices and workouts” just aren’t doing it for him, and he misses his pastries. So before the episode is over, Valderrama’s character gets to save face by commending Parker for giving it his best and continue pretending like he follows the Lifestyle all the time. 

We Need To Learn More About Torres And Parker Living Together

Obviously I don’t expect Torres and Parker to permanently live together, but as Kasie laid out at the end of the episode, there’s no way Torres’ apartment will become inhabitable again in just a week. These two will need to keep living together for several more weeks, and since NCIS Season 21 consists of just 10 episodes. I think there’s a distinct chance we could follow up on these two still being roomies.

It’d be great to peek in on Torres and Parker at the latter’s home, perhaps learning about something they share in common from their personal lives, or maybe getting into some kind of disagreement Odd Couple-style. On the more serious side of things, if Season 21 delivers into Torres having fallen off the wagon, it could be interesting to see Parker discover that his co-worker’s drinking again and trying to help him through this difficult period. NCIS thrives when it leans into its main characters being a found family, so if there are more opportunities for Torres and Parker to form a deeper connection with each other, they should be seized.

New episodes of NCIS premiere Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS, with NCIS: Hawai’i following immediately afterwards. There are also two new NCIS shows on the way: NCIS: Origins, which has cast Austin Stowell to play the young Leroy Jethro Gibbs, and a yet-to-be-titled Paramount+ series focusing on Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David.

Warning: SPOILERS for the NCIS episode “Algún Día” are ahead!

The NCIS Season 20 finale ended on a dark cliffhanger for Nick Torres. In case you missed the episode when it originally aired, or need a refresher and don’t care to rewatch “Black Sky” with your Paramount+ subscription, While in prison as part of an undercover operation, Nick recognized one of his fellow inmates’ stepfather as someone from his own past. Upon being freed from incarceration, Wilmer Valderrama’s character confronted this man at his home, pointed a gun at his head and threatened to kill him.

It certainly ranked as one of the tenser ways NCIS has wrapped up a season, and because of last year’s writers and actors strikes, we’ve had to wait longer than usual to see what’s next. But now the 2024 TV schedule and NCIS Season 21 is finally here, and the premiere, titled “Algún Día,” didn’t waste any time wrapping up Nick Torres’ latest personal arc. However, there was a moment in this episode that has me worried about Nick’s well being for the rest of the season: when he broke his sobriety.

How The NCIS Season 21 Premiere Wrapped Up This Nick Torres Arc

It was revealed in “Algún Día” that this mystery man was Maurice Riva, who took in Nick, his mother Aida and sister Lucia when they moved Miami, Florida after they were forced to flee Columbia because Aida witnessed a crime. Maurice promised to help Aida find a job and get a green card, and the two eventually developed a romantic relationship. Sadly, not only did Maurice start abusing Aida and the kids, he also stole her identity and used it to commit fraud. One day, he just disappeared, and in the present day, he was now dating the mother of Reymundo de Leon, the aforementioned inmate who was behind bars for, you guessed it, fraud. In other words, this time, Maurice was framing someone who trusted him.

To make a long story short, Nick is arrested for a few days after his confrontation with Maurice Riva for killing him, as there was a lot of circumstances pointing to him as the murderer, which included him shooting a confession video prior to facing Maurice. This proved not to be the case, as we saw by the end of the episode that on the night Nick confronted Maurice, while he did physically assault the man, he couldn’t bring himself to kill him. Instead, the reason he was taken away by the authorities for Maurice’s death was because he was taking the blame on behalf of his sister, as he believed she killed him sometime after he left Maurice’s home.

But that’s not what happened either. The true culprit ended up being Marta de Leon, Reymundo’s mother, who detailed in a confession letter that she found Maurice Riva after his confrontation with Nick. Enraged by what had happened, Maurice confessed to Marta that he was only using her and her son. Then he attacked her and she killed him in self-defense using his own gun, then lied about what happened because she didn’t think her word would carry any merit with the FBI. 

Nick Drinking Again Has Me Worried

Although Marta has disappeared to parts unknown, Nick Torres has now been cleared of murder, and while he initially offered to resign from NCIS because of the questionable actions he did take, Alden Parker convinced him to stay and start trusting his teammates more. Unfortunately, this experience led to Nick breaking his sobriety. At the beginning of the Season 21 premiere, shortly after he and Maurice Riva fought, Nick went to a bar and ordered a double whiskey shot and a “bottle to go.” The next we saw of him, he was asleep at Alden’s desk on Monday morning, implying he went on a bender over the weekend.

Nick has officially fallen off the wagon, and I’m worried about what this means for his well being. I understand that there was too much going on in “Algún Día” for this to be readdressed in the episode, but with all the time NCIS has followed along with Nick getting sober, which has included him seeing Dr. Grace Confalone, I find it hard to believe the show’s not going to follow up on this. This is serious, and Nick needs to start taking steps to ensure he doesn’t continue drinking, or he may end up in an even worse mental head space than he’s been before.

Granted, because NCIS Season 21 will only consist of 10 episodes, this may not be explored as much as I hope it will. Still, some acknowledgment about this setback for Nick would be welcome, and then if NCIS is renewed for Season 22, then we can get more in-depth with delving into the aftermath of his relapse. To simply gloss over this portion of “Algún Día” would be a disservice to the character.

New episodes of NCIS drop Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS, and next week’s episode will pay tribute the late David McCallum’s Ducky. Stay tuned.

Following the news that the beloved NCIS star David McCallum had died, many of the actors who have come and gone from the hit procedural took to social media to pay tribute to the actor behind the beloved Ducky. Now, Wilmer Valderrama, who has been on the CBS drama since 2016, joined the mass of people who have spoken fondly of McCallum. 

Valderrama shared a photo of his character Nicholas Torres with Donald “Ducky” Mallard on Instagram. The two are looking at each other in a kind way, and it matched the loving tone of the actor's post as he wrote:

McCallum died at the age of 90 peacefully in his sleep. Almost immediately, the present and former cast of NCIS and its crew showed their love for the Ducky actor, noting how his legacy will always be felt on the set of the CBS procedural. 

For example, NCIS executive producers Steven D. Binder and David North, released a statement that said:

This statement goes right along with Valderrama’s post. A common understanding among this team was that McCallum was a consummate professional, and they all adored working with him. Considering he starred in 457 episodes of the procedural between 2003 and 2023 – with anything past 2018 being a guest appearance – he clearly loved his job, and the cast loved him. 

After his death, his co-stars, including Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Pauley Perrette and Brian Dietzen all showed their adoration for the Ducky actor. Harmon, who helmed the show as Gibbs for 435 episodes, explained that he “was in awe” of McCallum when they met for the first time. He also said, “all of us on the show were honored to have toed a mark opposite him.” 

Based on all these lovely comments made about David McCallum, it’s obvious how much his NCIS family loves him, including Wilmer Valderrama. It’s been made clear over the years that this cast loves working together, and they like to talk about it, kind of like how they celebrated the kick-off of Season 20 last summer. With that in mind, I imagine that losing a cast member can’t be easy. However, it’s lovely to see such an outpouring of appreciation and care from people he spent about two decades working with. 

If you are looking to see the iconic David McCallum doing what he did best as Ducky on NCIS, you can stream Seasons 1 through 20 with a Paramount+ subscription. 

NCIS is rolling strong ahead of Season 21, and that's thanks in no small part to the chemistry of its current cast. Despite the departure of Mark Harmon in Season 19, the CBS drama has managed to maintain a solid audience across CBS and those tuning in using their Paramount+ subscriptions. Despite that success, some allegations have surfaced pointing to behind-the-scenes issues between Nick Torres actor Wilmer Valderrama and Tim McGee portrayer Sean Murray, despite the public perception they're buddy-buddy. 

Months after Sean Murray publicly referred to Wilmer Valderrama as a "brother," rumors are spinning around the idea that the two TV stars are very competitive behind the scenes. Radar Online reported that it's actually led to some tension between them when it comes to credit for the show's continued success: 

The rumor goes on to allege that Wilmer Valderrama has requested more "perks" for his portrayal as Nick Torres but that he's reminded that as the veteran actor, Sean Murray gets top billing. The aforementioned wording used is "competitive," which doesn't seem to necessarily indicate bad blood between them, but it's certainly possible that could be the case. It's also possible that there's nothing going on between these two actors, as this is just an unconfirmed rumor. 

It's interesting to hear this chatter about NCIS stars, especially with Wilmer Valderrama involved. The Season 20 finale was a big one for Nick Torres and suggested that Season 21 will begin with him potentially murdering a man from his past. Mark Harmon's Gibbs also put a man down in cold blood before, so it's not too wild to believe Torres will do the same. 

As big as the ending of NCIS Season 20 was, there's no denying what Sean Murray brings to the table as McGee. He's the collective glue that holds the NCIS team together and one of the most tenured actors on the show next to Brian Dietzen's Jimmy Palmer and David McCallum's Donald "Ducky" Mallard (who appears sporadically at this point). Jimmy certainly gets more screen time than he has in previous seasons thanks to his romance with Katrina Law's Jessica Knight, but it's McGee who consistently serves as the bridge between the old school and new school NCIS. 

Stories about potential NCIS tension might be of interest to fans of the CBS series, especially with Wilmer Valderrama in high demand around Hollywood. The actor is starring in a Zorro series for Disney+, and reprised his role as Fez for That 90s Show on Netflix, without any negative-skewing reports coming from either project as of yet. 

With every new project he takes on, there's always a question of whether it will signal his NCIS tenure is reaching its end. If the rumors are true that he's being denied perks due to set superiority issues, he could be looking for any of this next projects to be the one that closes out Torres' character arc. 

Catch up on NCIS ahead of Season 21 by streaming the show over on Paramount+. As for the rumors on any rivalries happening behind the scenes, we'll just have to wait and see if any more develops on that front.  

Have you ever been watching an episode of NCIS and found yourself asking: Is that Mark Consuelos? Or if you were watching Riverdale or All My Children you found yourself wondering if you were seeing Wilmer Valderrama. In both cases, you’d have the two actors confused, however, it’s a common mistake people make as the That ‘70s Show alum explained. However, he also revealed, to Consuelos I might add, that being mixed up is actually a “great compliment.” 

The two actors spoke with each other, and Kelly Ripa, on a recent episode of Live with Kelly and Mark about their resemblance. Right as Valderrama sat down he immediately joked that he had grown a beard so people could tell the difference between him and Consuelos. However, all jokes aside, he actually takes the public’s common mixup as a compliment, as he said:

Both men are Latino – Consuelos was born in Spain, and Valderrama’s father is Venezuelan and his mother is Colombian. And as the NCIS star pointed out, being able to “represent” their shared culture, and have so many people recognize them is a “gift.” With more and more Latinx TV shows and movies being released, there’s more representation than ever, and both these actors helped pave the way through their work on iconic TV shows, like That ‘70s Show and All My Children. 

They also continue to be beloved figures in the entertainment industry as they both have prominent shows on the 2023 TV schedule, with Valderrama staring in NCIS, and Consuelos taking over hosting duties from Ryan Seacrest, by joining his wife as a co-host of Live with Kelly and Mark. 

On a lighter note, the look-alikes and Kelly Ripa joked about other things the two guys have in common. Ripa noted that both men are great husbands and fathers, and that they both love ice baths, and working out too. She also brought up another fantastic fact, saying:

They then showed a screenshot of the two men, and they both indeed have great abs. Even though Valderrama joked that he wanted to have abs like Consuelos. 

All jokes aside, it was so much fun to see the two men together on the same screen, bonding over the fact that they get mixed up sometimes. It’s also heartwarming to hear how complimented Valderrama is by the small mistake. As he said, it shows just how many ways there are to represent their culture, and they both see this awareness as a “gift.” 

To see what Wilmer Valderrama is up to you can stream NCIS with a Paramount+ subscription, you can also catch him on Netflix’s That ‘90s Show, which got renewed for Season 2, where he reprises his role as Fez. As for Mark Consuelos, he’s officially transitioned into the new co-host of Live with Kelly and Mark, and you can see him every weekday at 9 a.m. ET on ABC.

That ‘90s Show was just renewed for a second season along with other streaming hits this past week. This shouldn’t be a surprise, given the teen sitcom has ranked high on Netflix since its release. As you would expect, the stars are pumped to be returning for Season 2, which is set to be comprised of 16 episodes. On that note, the OG That ‘70s Show cast immediately hopped online to celebrate the renewal, with Debra Jo Rupp, Wilmer Valderrama and more responding to the major development with some greatmessages.

Kitty Forman actress Debra Jo Rupp was one of the first cast members to jump on social media to mark the occasion. She took to Instagram account to post the most Kitty reaction ever, and it perfectly illustrates her excitement. Look at the That ‘90s Show clip she shared in the the A+ post down below:

Seriously, the beloved actress couldn't have chosen a better way to celebrate the big news, and she wasn’t the only Forman family actor to share thoughts on the spinoff's early Season 2 pickup. Red Forman himself, Kurtwood Smith, hopped on his Instagram Stories to repost the official word from Netflix. Just like his co-star, Smith tapped into his character's demeanor to react and did so with one of the gruff patriarch’s famous catchphrases. See what he had to say about audiences getting more of Grandpa Red:

Looks like fans – new and old – will get to hear Leia Forman and her friends get called “dumbasses” for the foreseeable future The excitement from Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp, who also serve as executive producers on the Netflix series, is lovely to see. And the Forman family celebration wasn’t done, as Eric Forman actor Topher Grace shared a message to his Instagram to champion the series’ renewal. And in typical Eric Forman fashion, Grace celebrated the show’s upcoming season with snarky and clever reaction:

Also joining in on the fun was Fez actor Wilmer Valderrama, who celebrated the surprising moment by borrowing a page from Smith’s playbook. The star reposted Netflix’s renewal announcement on Instagram and also shouted out the new cast as well as Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp for getting a second season:

But the star wasn’t done congratulating the cast and crew, as he sent out a special message to the young cast. The father of one took a moment to acknowledge the pride he felt for his “nephews and nieces.” Check out the proud uncle moment in his post below:

The OG ‘70s Show star is clearly excited for another season, so viewers might already be getting the idea that they'll see Fez return in Season 2, despite Wilmer Valderrama’s busy schedule. His on-screen girlfriend, Andrea Anders, seemed to hint at the possibility as she jumped on her Instagram account to celebrate the early renewal. Anders was quite ominous with her words, as she proclaimed the sequel series was here to stay.  Her posted was captured by co-star Kurtwood Smith:

It goes without saying that she seems ready for the viewers to revisit Point Place. The show has proven to be a breath of fresh air, revitalizing the classic TV franchise by placing it in a new decade. That's arguably made the series somewhat of a novelty. Of course, with Season 2, fans will get to see more of Leia and the gang and more of their misadventures. And since the show is set in the 1990s, maybe viewers will get more homages to classics like Beverly Hills, 90210 and even name-checks of stars such as Kevin Smith. And hopefully, more OG That ‘70s Show stars will appear in as well. We'll have to wait to see what happens but, in the meantime, let's just join the cast in celebrating this renewal.

While you wait for That ‘90s Show Season 2, check out Season 1 using a Netflix subscription. You can also stay in the know on the new movies and TV shows that are hitting the streamer over the next few months. And as always, CinemaBlend's 2023 TV schedule is a resource for you as well.

I would come to side with the more positive reviews for That ‘90s Show overall after giving the new coming-of-age comedy a shot. However, the biggest draw of the new Netflix original series for me was seeing a reunion of the stars of That ‘70s Show — the long-running sitcom the new show is spun-off from. 

In addition to Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp reprising their roles as Red and Kitty Forman, respectively, in the That ‘90s Show cast, some of their now A-list former co-stars — such as Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis — were kind enough to stop by Point Place, Wisconsin, for a sweet guest appearance or two. Let’s talk about what else the original That ‘70s Show cast has been up to lately.

Topher Grace (Eric Forman)

After leaving the role of Eric Forman a season early, Topher Grace pursued a film career that led to a variety of interesting roles like Eddie Brock (a.k.a. Venom) in the final, 2007 installment of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, David Duke in Spike Lee’s Oscar-winning, biographical cop drama, BlacKkKlansman, in 2018, and Anne Hathaway’s boyfriend in 2009’s Valentine’s Day (also starring Ashton Kutcher). 

He also, intriguingly, would make some great turns in three different sci-fi anthology series: Love, Death and Robots, Black Mirror (in arguably, the best episode of Season 5), and Jordan Peele’s Twilight Zone revival. Grace’s current day job is a new sitcom on ABC called Home Economics.

Laura Prepon (Donna Pinciotti)

Making her breakthrough as Eric’s girlfriend, Donna, was Laura Prepon, whose first major success after the sitcom was joining the Orange is the New Black cast as drug money smuggler, Alex Vause. However, before landing that Netflix hit, she did have a memorable recurring role opposite the How I Met Your Mother cast as Ted’s vile ex, Karen, and played a fictionalized version of Chelsea Handler on the short-lived NBC sitcom, Are You There, Chelsea? 

Prepon has also appeared in movies like 2016’s The Girl on the Train, and The Hero with Sam Elliott (Ashton Kutcher’s The Ranch co-star), recently continued her directing career with an episode of That ‘90s Show, and co-wrote the health and wellness book, The Stash Plan, in 2016. 

Ashton Kutcher (Michael Kelso)

While his character, Michael Kelso, was certainly not the brightest of the bunch, Ashton Kutcher would go on to prove himself as one of the more enterprising cast members with the development of successful tech-based media company A Plus, investing firms Sound Ventures and A-Grade Investments, and the anti-human trafficking organization, Thorn. 

As for his acting career, the former model played Steve Jobs in a 2013 biopic and replaced Charlie Sheen on Two and a Half Men, to name a few things. Kutcher also recently received praise for his performance in director B.J. Novak’s Vengeance in 2022, stars opposite Reese Witherspoon in the upcoming 2023 Netflix original movie, Your Place or Mine, and leant his voice to a web series called Stoner Cats, alongside another familiar face.

Mila Kunis (Jackie Burkhart)

Kutcher’s Stoner Cats co-star, Mila Kunis, rose to fame playing his onscreen love interest, Jackie Burkhart, years before — much to their former co-stars’ surprise — falling in love in real life. The Ukrainian-born actor went on to earn a Golden Globe nomination for Black Swan, tried her hand at launching a sci-fi franchise with Jupiter Ascending, did successfully lead a comedy franchise with the Bad Moms movies, and also balanced action with comedy well in The Spy Who Dumped Me. Kunis recently took another dark turn with the Netflix original drama, Luckiest Girl Alive, and is still the voice of Meg on Family Guy.

Wilmer Valderrama (Fez)

Also leading an eclectic career since That 70s Show’s final curtain call is Fez actor Wilmer Valderrama, who starred in Richard Linklater’s Fast Food Nation, played one of the main villains of the series adaptation of From Dusk Til Dawn, and voiced the title role of the animated series Handy Manny. 

He also played a cop on several TV shows — namely the short-lived Awake, Fox’s series adaptation of Minority Report, and, most notably (and currently), in the NCIS cast as Nick Torres. The Venezuelan actor also gave an impressive performance in the Blast Beat cast in 2020, had a memorable role in the Encanto voice cast, and is preparing to play Zorro in an upcoming reboot.

Debra Jo Rupp (Kitty Forman)

After she (temporarily) said goodbye to playing the ultimate ’70s-era mother, Kitty Forman, Debra Jo Rupp, would reunite with some of her co-stars with guest appearances opposite Kutcher on The Ranch and Valderrama on NCIS. She also added movies like Kickin’ it Old School and She’s Out Of My League on to her resume and would (technically) return to sitcom acting by poking fun at the genre on Disney+’s WandaVision. 

Rupp is now preparing to reprise her role from that hit on another upcoming Marvel TV show called Agatha: Coven of Chaos and, for now, it is refreshing to see her back as Kitty on That ‘90s Show.

Kurtwood Smith (Red Forman)

Also back on That ‘90s Show as Kitty’s husband, Red, is Kurtwood Smith, who was previously best known for another demanding father in Dead Poet’s Society, and as the main antagonist of one of the best ‘80s sci-fi movies, RoboCop. Like Rupp, he also went on to star in comic book adaptations — such as the animated series Beware the Batman as Commissioner Gordon — and guest-starred on The Ranch. 

More recently, he appeared alongside Amanda Seyfried on Hulu’s Elizabeth Holmes miniseries The Dropout, was in 2022’s Firestarter remake cast, and returned to the Star Trek franchise (years after playing one of Star Trek: Voyager’s best villains) by lending his voice to the animated series, Star Trek: Lower Decks.

Don Stark (Bob Pinciotti)

Another That ’70s Show cast member with ties to “the final frontier” (i.e., a Deep Space Nine episode and one of the Star Trek movies, First Contact), is Don Stark, whose best know role is, arguably, as Donna’s father, Bob. Since then, he has made guest appearances and landed recurring roles on an eclectic variety of TV hits — including Supernatural, American Horror Story, and Maron, to name a few. You could also see Stark on the big screen in the likes of Disney’s 2012 The Princess of Mars adaptation, John Carter, and the 2019 Best Picture Oscar winner, Green Book.

Tommy Chong (Leo)

The only series regular in the cast who actually rose to fame in the ‘70s was Tommy Chong, who was perfectly cast as aging hippie, Leo. His popularity has, arguably, skyrocketed ever since, as has the variety on his resume, which includes hit animated movies like Zootopia as Jax and one of the best horror movies on Shudder, 2019’s Color out of Space. The Canadian legend has also been known to reunite with his old comedy partner, Cheech Marin, on various projects, including their own brand of cannabis, unsurprisingly. 

It was so refreshing to see the actors above coming back together again for yet another nostalgia-fueled sitcom. However, missing from That ‘90s Show and our list, as you may have noticed, are Hyde actor Danny Masterson —  who is currently facing sexual assault charges — Josh Meyers (Seth’s younger brother), who joined the That ‘70s Show cast in the show’s least favored season as Eric’s replacement, Randy Peterson, and the late Lisa Robin Kelly (as Eric’s older sister, Laurie) and Tanya Roberts (as Donna’s mother, Midge), who are deeply missed.

The cyclical nature of pop culture can be annoying at times, but audiences will soon be privy to arguably the best possible example when Netflix debuts the highly anticipated sitcom That ‘90s Show. The new series will center on Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp’s Red and Kitty Forman as their home becomes a summer refuge for granddaughter Leia (Callie Haverda) and her group of misfit friends. Before all that, though, the cast and creators (including other That ‘70s Show alums) came together for the streaming comedy’s red carpet premiere to remind us all just how old we’re getting. 

As evidenced in the show’s first big trailer, That ‘90s Show is bringing back the majority of the O.G. stars in some capacity or another — save for the legally embroiled Danny Masterson — but it looks like not everyone was able to make it out to the red carpet celebration. Not that it takes away from all the talented peeps that did attend, with various levels of styling and profiling on display, as seen below.

A few quick takes:

• The Red and Kitty stars look perfectly respectable, and I don’t even get the vague feeling that the former wants to put one of his feet in someone’s ass. It’s a true 2023 miracle! 
• I’d like to have a bed made out of whatever Wilmer Valderrama is wearing, and I’d definitely keep it that color. 
• Laura Prepon looks as lovely as can be, though I’m wondering why she’s not standing next to her returning TV dad Don Stark. Probably a height thing. 
• In true Tommy Chong fashion, the weed-embracing That ‘70s Show vet looks like he only found out about the red carpet as he happened to be walking by outside. I almost hope there’s a good reason why he’s wearing two different colored shoes, but then I also hope there isn’t.

Below, we have a closer look at Smith and Valderrama together, with the older actor showing off his youthful energy by bringing out what appears to be bunny ears behind his co-star's head. Although, amusingly enough, the gag doesn't exactly work from the angle at which this pic was taken, so it kind of looks like he's smirking at the idea of giving a peace sign. Which, by all means, could be the case. 

Maybe instead of having a bed made out of that material, I'd choose to just have my skin replaced, and...wait, that wasn't meant to be shared.

Ahem, now that we've seen everyone who showed up from That '70s Show — with Topher Grace, Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher being absent — check out the full group shot featuring the bulk of That '90s Show's cast and creatives, including O.G. show creators Bonnie and Terry Turner. 

I can't wait to get back to all kinds of throwback fun when That '90s Show premieres on Thursday, January 19, for everyone with a Netflix subscription. Head to our 2023 TV premiere schedule to see what new and returning shows are on the way.

The trailer for the highly-anticipated That ‘70s Show sequel series, That ‘90s Show, dropped in time for the holidays, and the cast has already had emotional reactions to the Netflix trailer. Now they, and fans, are getting quite nostalgic for the return to Point Place, and I don’t blame them.

Following the release of the extended trailer, we got first looks at the gang returning to the fictional Wisconsin town, and it’s hard to believe that they are really coming back soon. Cast and fans alike couldn’t help but to get nostalgic for the past and look forward to the future.

The Cast Weighed In

Wilmer Valderrama may currently be a series regular as a very different character than Fez, but he is getting fans excited for what’s to come. The NCIS star, set to return as everyone’s favorite foreign exchange student, got reflective on Twitter when talking about his time on the original Fox sitcom and getting to come back again. He posted some photos from That ‘90s Show, and by the looks of them, it’s going to be very satisfying:

Valderrama also posted the trailer to social media, throwing back to the '90s and hinting that viewers might have some reactions just like his upon seeing the original gang back to life on screen:

Meanwhile, Red Forman himself, Kurtwood Smith, took to Twitter to show his followers how much time has changed the OGs, while also making note that his on-screen wife Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp) never ages:

The actors also weren't the only ones feeling a lot behind the scenes at the original cast reuniting to set up a new cast of kids. That '90s Show creator Terry Turner told Netflix Queue:

Will fans also be bursting into tears? They've been waiting long enough to find out what has happened in the years since the '70s for the cast of characters, and the sitcom show will also showcase the next generation. It sounds like an emotional (and funny) ride!

Fans Are Ready

Unsurprisingly, fans of That ‘70s Show were also quick to share their excitement for the upcoming series. One user noticed that Eric and Donna were once again talking on the hood of Eric’s car in the trailer, which the couple did quite a lot on the original series. They posted:

With That ‘90s Show being centered on Eric and Donna’s daughter, it was inevitable that fans would get to see them back together again once it became clear that the initial concerns over Topher Grace wouldn't cause problems in his return after all. In the small clip that fans saw in the trailer, Eric and Donna still seemed as in love as ever, and one fan pointed out a particularly cute moment that had them sobbing:

That ‘70s Show ended in 2006 after 200 episodes, so it’s been a while since fans have seen the Point Place gang. With the trailer for That ‘90s Show coming out after a teaser with callbacks to the Fox sitcom was released, there are even more reasons to be excited. One fan had a short but simple message to exclaim how much they were looking forward to it:

That ‘90s Show already looks promising, with plenty of stars returning as a new generation is introduced. Even though Mila Kunis doesn’t like how Jackie and Kelso ended up, there's a lot to look forward to... and feel nostalgic about. 

The first season of That ‘90s Show premieres on Thursday, January 19 on Netflix with a subscription as part of Netflix's 2023 TV schedule. If you have a Peacock subscription, you can catch up on all seasons of That ‘70s Show now!

It’s almost time to head back to Point Place, Wisconsin, as Netflix recently dropped the trailer for That ‘90s Show just in time for the holidays. After the trailer previewed the returns of many familiar faces from That ‘70s Show, many of the sitcoms stars including Wilmer Valderrama, Debra Jo Rupp reacted.

The spin-off of the beloved Fox sitcom centers around Eric and Donna’s daughter staying with grandparents Red and Kitty in Point Place in the summer of 1995, where she meets new friends. The trailer showed just a bit of what fans can expect, including what some of the characters from That ‘70s Show have been up to. Wilmer Valderrama is set to return as Fez, and he got emotional on Instagram for Throwback Thursday:

As one of the first who was announced to be returning for That ‘90s Show, Debra Jo Rupp also got emotional in a short but sweet post involving her on-screen husband, Kurtwood Smith:

Rupp also posted a picture with Valderrama, which shows that Fez grew up to be a hairstylist, and the two couldn’t stop laughing:

Kurtwood Smith, meanwhile, took a different route when posting his reaction. He expressed his excitement about working with the cast again, and how he couldn’t wait for fans to see the final product when it finally drops on Netflix in January:

Since the new series revolves around Eric and Donna’s daughter, of course, you have to have Eric and Donna return, and Laura Prepon couldn’t be more happy to welcome a new generation of viewers Point Place. She also made sure to point out how much she missed Donna, and how excited she was to work behind the scenes on a few episodes:

Topher Grace had a simpler approach, posting several pictures from the trailer and proving that it really is nice to go home for the holidays:

The teaser trailer for That ‘90s Show was released just after Thanksgiving, and it included plenty of callbacks to That ‘70s Show. With this new trailer including more callbacks and familiar faces, fans of the original series seem to be in for a treat come 2023. 

When That ‘90s Show was announced, and it was confirmed that Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith would be leading the charge, it was a question of whether more stars from That ‘70s Show would also return. One by one, the returning cast was revealed, with Wilmer Valderrama rocking a Fez outfit to celebrate his return, and Tommy Chong beating Netflix to the punch to announce his long-awaited return. It’s clear that That ‘90s Show is going to be a show you won’t want to miss, whether you are a fan of That ‘70s Show or not.

Don’t miss the premiere of That ‘90s Show on January 19 on Netflix with a subscription! Also, if you have a Peacock subscription, you can catch up on all seasons of That ‘70s Show to get ready for the new series.

Even though streaming didn’t exist in the 1990s, everyone with a Netflix subscription will get to go back to that snazzy boom-bazzy decade to visit the Forman family in That ‘90s Show. The upcoming sitcom released its full-length trailer after having given fans a taste of what those hangouts will feel like — answer: like Red’s foot up our ass — and offered up a first look at nearly the full ensemble of returning That ‘70s Show stars. (At least those who entered the picture before the final season.) And in that respect, we learned a bit about what’s to come for Wilmer Valderrama’s Fez, while a big detail was revealed for Ashton Kutcher’s Kelso and Mila Kunis’ Jackie.

For those who weren’t able to check out the trailer above, let’s run through some of those first looks, starting with Topher Grace’s Eric and Laura Prepon’s Donna sitting in quite the familiar location. 

Check out Wilmer Valderrama's fresh AF look below, as he's now styling and profiling like nobody's business. Well it's his business, I guess. Remember how buttoned-up the character was all those years ago? Where are those top buttons now, I ask you?

Seeing Fez in his current glory makes Valderrama's butt-shake revival celebraton all the more understandable. Not that it wasn't understandable before, since what is Fez going to do with his butt except shake it?

And now here's Ashton Kutcher's Kelso all dressed up and not wearing his tie upside-down or anything, next to Mila Kunis' Jackie, who presumably didn't tie Kelso's tie for him. 

Mila Kunis has shared that she felt a little skeptical upon finding out where Kelso and Jackie landed in the years between the flagship series’ conclusion and the start of That ‘90s Show’s narrative. Not only did she believe she’d end up with Fez — which perhaps speaks to why he looks as good as she does, while Kelso looks like he sells door-to-door encyclopedias — but she brought up how Kelso was already married to a wholly different character in the previous narrative. It’s unclear how that will be addressed, but it should be fun, especially if Shannon Elizabeth also makes a cameo.

Okay, now it's time for a SMOKE BOMB ALERT! Um, wait, I mean: BOMBSHELL ALERT: For those who didn't already have sneaking suspicions, Netflix paired the trailer release with the reveal that Mace Coronel's Jay is a Kelso, as he's the son of Kutcher and Kunis' doofuses. That's the bloodline that just keeps on giving.

To be sure, it was already known that Jackie and Kelso brought life into this world together, though it wasn't confirmed before now that their kiddo was part of the main group. But after watching him in the trailer, particularly during the basement-blazing, it seems like he couldn't have been cast as anyone but Kelso and Jackie's offspring.

The trailer also featured a peek at what'll likely be a s-weed-t return from Tommy Chong's Leo, as well as new adult character Sherri (Andrea Anders), the mother to Maxwell Donovan's jock-esque Nate and Ashley Aufderheide's rebel Gwen. 

With more smoke-filled reveals likely set for the episodes themselves, That ‘90s Show is set to debut on Netflix on Thursday, January 19, so be sure to get your Lisa Frank Trapper Keepers, your blank VHS tapes, and your pump-up sneaks for a binge session that thankfully doesn’t need to rely on dial-up internet. Head to our 2023 TV premiere schedule to see everything else that’s heading to the small screen soon.

As revealed around the time when CBS was delivering its Fall 2022 TV premieres to its audiences, the NCIS franchise is set to deliver its first ever three-series crossover event, with the flagship drama (technically a JAG spinoff) set to cross the country to cross paths with NCIS: Hawai’i and NCIS: Los Angeles. Now, the network has at last revealed when the three-hour block will debut, as well as what viewers can expect to see when they pop up. 

Luckily for everyone who can’t wait to see the respective ensembles mixing it up with each other, NCIS won’t be making us wait very long once the new year breaks. CBS has revealed the three-way crossover will take place on Monday, January 2, and will run for the entire primetime block from 8:00-11:00 p.m. ET. (All eps will also be available to stream the next day with a Paramount+ subscription.) Now let’s take a closer look at how the night will break down for each drama. 

NCIS

Understandably, the night of crossover action won't kick off with comedic farce, but rather a surprising murder that will kick off the overarching and interconnected case. Check out the synopsis for Hour 1 of the night, with NCIS kicking things off. 

• NCIS agents from Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Hawai’i, all in D.C. to attend the retirement party of a beloved Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) professor, find themselves jointly investigating his shocking suicide.

As far as who viewers can expect to see flipping locations for this episode, "Too Many Cooks" will welcome NCIS: L.A. stars LL Cool J and Chris O'Donnell as Sam and Callen, respectively, as well as NCIS: Hawai'i's Vanessa Lachey and Noah Mills as Tennant and Jesse. And from there, the night will jump to...

NCIS: Hawai'i

The second hour of the big crossover event will center on NCIS: Hawai'i within its usual time slot, and here's what CBS says we should expect to see from Act II. 

• Tennant, Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen) and Sam Hanna (LL COOL J) find themselves captured with a woman who claims to be a CIA agent demanding intel from the team. Also, Jesse, Ernie, Whistler and Alden Parker (Gary Cole) learn about an asset that arrived in Hawai’i who could be connected to several overseas assassinations.

Clearly, this episode's synopsis was a lot more friendly about revealing who will be involved. The episode (titled "Deep Fake") will be welcoming longtime NCIS star Brian Dietzen as Jimmy, Gary Cole as Parker, and the aforementioned duo of LL Cool J and Chris O'Donnell as Sam and Callen. Somebody better make sure the latter two don't get so used to crossing over with shows that they start showing up on CBS' Tuesday night shows and beyond. Or wait, we DO want that.

NCIS: Los Angeles

Now we'll presumably get to see Sam and Callen back in their home turf, at least assuming they aren't still out of town when the episode's timeline kicks off. (It's technically possible this hour of the crossover will focus entirely on L.A.'s Rountree and Fatima and the guest stars. Here's what fans can expect:

• While Agent Rountree and Fatima are searching for Kilbride, who has been MIA, they are ambushed and learn that every member of the team has a $200,000 bounty on their head via the dark web. The NCIS team must save Agent Rountree and find Kilbride while every cartel, hit man, gang and psychopath hunts them down.

As far as who those guest stars will be, fans will get to see Gary Cole getting a three-show sticker for appearing across all the shows, and he'll be joined by Hawai'i's Vanessa Lachey in that respect. That's not all, though, as Wilmer Valderrama's Torres and Yasmine Al-Bustami's Lucy will also be in the mix. They're used to this kind of thing, as they were involved in past crossovers, such as the one that kicked off the drama's current seasons, but this'll be the first time they head to NCIS: Los Angeles proper.

Considering this is the first time we’ll get to see this big of a crossover, it seems like it’d be a good time to drop in a surprise return from franchise vet Mark Harmon, who notably bowed out of the role of Leroy Gibbs early on in Season 19. But that’s not so likely, and we probably shouldn’t expect other surprises such as Michael Weatherly’s DiNozzo or Linda Hunt’s return as Hetty, but there’s nothing stopping anyone from putting a request in to Santa Claus for it. 

 Don’t forget to mark you (presumably new) calendars for the three-way crossover hitting CBS on Monday, January 2, starting at 8:00 p.m. Head to our 2023 TV premiere schedule to see what shows will be debuting around the same time, while our 2022 rundown of debuts will clue fans in on what’s yet to come before the year’s end.

CBS’ unstoppable ratings giant NCIS is coming back this fall for its historic 20th season, making it one of very few scripted series to achieve such a lauded achievement. And when the currently filming season arrives, it won’t exactly be alone either, as CBS announced fans will be privy to a full-blown crossover event for the September premieres for both NCIS and NCIS: Hawai’i.  

On Monday, September 19, NCIS will kick off the two-hour premiere event with a suspenseful case that will become bigger than anyone expected, which will lead the Washington D.C. squad across the Pacific and over to the Aloha State for some high stakes action. We’ll get into the specifics of the first hour after peeping out the first look at the upcoming crossover.

Clearly NCIS’ creative team was keeping things close to the vest recently when addressing the topic of the drama’s chances of fully crossing over with either its Hawai’i or Los Angeles spinoffs, as it wasn’t hinted at that the two Monday night dramas would be doing just that with their first eps back on the schedule. This marks the second episodic crossover for the two shows, with the spinoff’s first season bringing over Wilmer Valderrama and Katrina Law into the Hawaii sunshine. 

Considering those characters now have that history behind them, viewers can probably expect for Torres and Knight to fall in quickly when working again with Vanessa Lachey’s Tennant, as well as Jason Antoon’s tech-savvy Malick. 

The real question, though, is who’s rocking the harder glares: the Torres/Tennant combo seen above, or Knight/Tennant below? If you guessed the all-female duo, you are correct. I wouldn't want to be the suspect who gets brought down by these two.

Things are much happier in the pic below, which brings Sean Murray's McGee into the crossover fun as he gets introduced to the Hawaii-sourced agents. That said, don't expect to see McGee rocking sweet ass sunglasses on the beaches of Hawaii, as he's not listed as one of the spinoff's guest stars.

And though we don't see Gary Cole's Alden Parker in these first look images, it has been confirmed that he'll appear in the NCIS: Hawai'i side of the crosscover, as well as presumably in his own series. That said, it's unclear if he took a trip to Hawaii while on the lam with Vivian, or if things will clear up enough for him to get back to work at the D.C. headquarters. (Also worth noting is that Brian Dietzen and Diona Reasonover's respective characters Jimmy and Kasie are also guest-starring.) 

Check out the two episode synopses below for both eps in the crossover event.

• NCIS "A Family Matter" - Following the cliffhanger season 19 finale, with Special Agent Alden Parker (Gary Cole) still on the run with his ex-wife Vivian (Terri Polo), the team investigates who from his past might have a personal vendetta against him in hopes of clearing Parker’s name. Enlisting the help of NCIS: Hawai’i’s Special Agent Jane Tennant (Vanessa Lachey) and computer specialist Ernie Malick (Jason Antoon), who are in town meeting with director Leon Vance (Rocky Carroll) in preparation for a global military exercise, the group tracks down their prime suspect, The Raven.
• NCIS: Hawai'i "Prisoners' Dilemma" - Tennant’s team, along with NCIS agents Nick Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) and Jessica Knight (Katrina Law), track The Raven’s whereabouts to the island of Oahu and learn about his plans to attack RIMPAC (The Rim of the Pacific Exercises), the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise.

Still no telling if or when Mark Harmon's Leroy Gibbs will grace the show with his presence again, Get ready to watch worlds collide in non-destructive ways when NCIS Season 20 debuts on CBS on Monday, September 19, at 9:00 p.m. ET, followed by the Season 2 premiere of NCIS: Hawai’i at 10:00 p.m. ET. All 19 seasons of the O.G. series can be streamed with a Paramount+ subscription. Head to our 2022 TV premiere schedule to see what other big arrivals are hitting this fall and beyond.

With hundreds upon hundreds of TV shows airing in any given year, one wouldn’t think that the middle of summer could still be so light on entertainment, and yet here we are. (One can only survive Stranger Things’ massive fourth season finale so many times, after all.) Thankfully, though, it’s about that time for many of the fall’s biggest and most-watched shows to start filming, and that includes NCIS and its beloved ensemble. The CBS procedural drama kicked off production for the upcoming Season 20 as one of relatively few scripted series to stay in primetime for so long, and stars like Wilmer Valderrama were pumped to share the news with fans.

Fans will get to watch Torres, McGee, Knight and others once again when NCIS debuts its twentieth season on CBS in September, but the cast and crew obviously has to bring the episodes to life first. So you can bet the network was quick to celebrate the latest production start for the most-watched drama on network TV year in and year out. Check out CBS’ Instagram post below:

While we’ll give that post a thumbs up in general for getting the NCIS fanbase pumped up about new episodes coming together behind the scenes, the images seen in the post aren’t exactly brand spanking new. For something more current, we’ll hop over to Wilmer Valderrama’s Instagram, where he shared a fun and teasy-peasy video with his fellow co-stars. 

Though Katrina Law may have been cracking a joke about catching one of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted in Season 20, her co-stars appeared to be completely genuine in saying that the upcoming episodes will feature moments and elements that NCIS fans “have never seen before,” per Brian Dietzen. (Like perhaps a steamy romance between Jimmy and Knight?) Diona Reasonover added that they’re going to surprise us. Your guess is as good as mine for what the creative team is planning.

 While Brian Dietzen may have been promoting big surprises and unexpected moments in Season 20, his own Instagram post focused on something that fans would be shocked to see Jimmy without in upcoming episodes. 

With Jimmy's glasses on and ready for both business and pleasure, Brian Dietzen and Diona Reasonover were front and center in a video shared by the latter NCIS star, in which they were back in their signature lab coats. Arguably the best thing about this particularly post is that Reasonover apparently doesn’t know how the game 20 Questions works.

At this point, co-star Sean Murray hasn't shared any fun posts regarding NCIS going back into production, and neither has Gary Cole. But it looks like the latter was pretty busy over the last week on a different project, as he closed out filming for the final season of Paramount+'s The Good Fight, with co-creator Robert King marking the occasion. 

 While we already know the aforementioned actors comprise the bulk of NCIS' core unit, but given that Season 20 will be unpredictable and a milestone in its own right, you just know fans are going to be clamoring as hard as ever for Mark Harmon's Gibbs to return, which isn't an impossibility. In that same vein, the fact that Bull is finished now technically allows for Michael Weatherly to return for an appearance as Tony DiNozzo. So stay tuned for more on that front.

NCIS Season 20 will premiere on CBS on Monday, September 19, at 9:00 p.m. ET. While waiting to see how things shape up for the special agents, all 19 former seasons can be streamed with a Paramount+ subscription, while our 2022 TV premiere schedule will clue viewers in on all the other big shows debuting this fall and beyond. 

As soon as the news went public that Netflix would be giving That ‘70s Show fans another peek into that universe through the spinoff That ‘90s Show, fans were no doubt instantly waiting to hear about various cast members returning in some capacity or another. With Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp ruling the roost once again as Red and Kitty Forman, respectively, it seemed likely that the comedic follow-up series would find a way to incorporate other legacy cast members, and that news was confirmed by the streaming service (with the trial-bound Danny Masterson as the obvious, though still supportive, exception) on April 30. And we didn’t even have to wait a full two days to see Wilmer Valderrama back in butt-shaking action as Fez.

While Wilmer Valderrama is usually promoting his current TV hit, CBS’ stalwart drama NCIS, the actor changed things up for an absolutely Fez-tive Instagram post. It would appear that at some point after Valderrama signed on to appear in That ‘90s Show with four of his former co-stars, he broke out some boxes of Fez’s costumes — although I feel the character would be offended at his fashion being described in such a way — and hilariously confirmed that the clothes do indeed still fit. Check out the video, set to “I Will Survive,” below!

Honestly, it’s hard to tell if Wilmer Valderrama was rediscovering his character’s clothing, or if fans were watching the “real” Fez pulling his own 20-year-old outfits out of storage. It’s quite the tease, since the video makes me as eager as can be to see the actor putting on a full fashion show with a wide variety of looks. Probably not any turtleneck sweaters in that bunch, though, since it’s difficult-bordering-on-impossible to show off tufts of chest hair while wearing a turtleneck. 

Props to the That ‘70s Show vet for still being able to fit in things that he wore while in fictional high school, especially when pants that fit as snugly as Fez’s are part of the wardrobe. If I could possibly still fit in my teen-era jeans, it would only be because I bought them super-oversized at the time, and not because my physique shares anything in common with Valderrama’s.

When the actor puts his hands on his hips and pops his butt to the side, it doesn’t take much imagination to hear the “oohs” and “woos” that would be coming from a rambunctious studio audience if Fez made a similar move during an episode. Wilmer Valderrama knows what the people want, clearly.

Thankfully for all the fans and Netflix subscribers out there, showrunner Gregg Mettler and That ‘70s Show co-creators Bonnie and Terry Turner also knew what the people wanted, and they found a way to bridge the generation gap between grandparents Red and Kitty and their granddaughter Leia (played by Callie Haverda). Not only will Wilmer Valderrama’s Fez be around to presumably still misunderstand American proverbs, but we’ll also see other guest stars such as Topher Grace, Laura Prepon, Mila Kunis, and Ashton Kutcher, with everyone reprising their original roles. 

It was only two weeks or so before Netflix made its big announcement, while also sharing a first look from the spinoff, that Wilmer Valderrama directly addressed the prospect of reprising Fez in the streaming continuation. Of course, he played it completely coy at the time, without cluing anyone in on the fact that he’d probably already signed the dotted line to appear in That ‘90s Show ahead of that moment, or at least had discussions about it. 

Personally, I’m now looking forward to O.G. star Don Stark to share a video similar to Wilmer Valderrama’s, where he’s dressed to impress once more as Bob Pinciotti. That actor hasn’t yet been confirmed (or even rumored) to return, but everybody knows it’s not a real party without Bob. Incidentally, I feel like he would be the kind of dude who got really obsessed with beepers in the ‘80s and ‘90s. 

With no release window yet set for That ‘90s Show, fans will have to wait until Netflix offers up more details to start planning for Fez’s wide-open shirt collars. In the meantime, read up on Valderrama's other future streaming project, which will see him playing another character with a "Z" in his name.

Since Netflix announced the spinoff's existence, That ‘90s Show has made That ‘70s Show fans nostalgic for seeing the original cast back in their original roles. Right now, we know a new cast of teenagers will be around and stirring up trouble for Kurtwood Smith's Red Forman and Debra Jo Rupp's Kitty, but outside of those two original stars, it is unknown if other original cast members will come back for the spinoff series. One particular character viewers would love to see return is everybody’s favorite horny foreign exchange student Fez, who has presumably turned some of that horniness down as a full-grown man. Of course, Wilmer Valderrama has been getting pegged with questions about his return, and the NCIS actor finally responded to the notion of possibly reprising his That ‘70s Show role on the upcoming Netflix offshoot.

Despite some questionable humor along the way, Wilmer Valderrama's Fez grew to become an essential member of the Point Place crew, with his frequent faux pas and inappropriate jokes clouding up his lovable nature. But while it would be nice to see the character this many years after his time in the '70s, it might not be entirely up to the actor's whims and desires, as he is currently committed to both CBS’s NCIS as special agent Nick Torres and Disney’s Zorro revival. Valderrama revealed to TV Insider what his full scorecard means for Fez potentially popping up on the streaming continuation series.

So, you say there might be a chance? If he's leaving the door open for the foreign exchange student to return at some point, should his schedule permit it, let's make sure and prop that door open for as long as possible. The That ‘70s Show alum’s stance is a reasonable one given how full his plate is both professionally and personally, including being a father to his one-year-old daughter. As much as he'd seemingly love to play Fez again under the most ideal circumstances, that's just not how things work in Hollywood. 

To that end, it might be a while before the misunderstood character surfaces in the 1990s and on our TV screens. For now, we will have to imagine how living in the U.S. for over a decade may have changed Fez. But while still keeping our fingers crossed that we may see the Encanto actor making a surprise appearance in the new series (or maybe in a second season if Netflix is so inclined to keep it going).

Since the original show ended, Valderrama has come to more fully understand the character’s importance to viewers outside of being a comedic force. The actor admitted he didn’t realize the magnitude of Fez’s presence in the Latino community until he started speaking more about his own Latin roots. After which, he saw the character and himself as equals to his castmates while filming the classic sitcom.

The actor isn’t the only former star to throw doubt on their involvement in the Netflix reboot. Topher Grace (a.k.a. Eric Forman himself) also played coy about his potential return for the spinoff, saying the production is “top secret.” Much like his former co-star, Grace is busy on his own broadcast series, starring as struggling author Tom on the ABC sitcom Home Economics. 

That '90s Show will focus on Forman and Donna Piinciotti's daughter Leia Forman spending the summer with her grandparents, so it's entirely possible that Grace and Laura Prepon might make cameos at some point. Prepon, Mila Kunis, and Ashton Kutcher have remained equally mum about the new series. Unfortunately for this project, if not their careers in general, it seems the original '70s Show cast is just that busy with their film and television careers, keeping the spinoff series at bay for now. Hopefully, Fez, Eric, Donna Jackie, and Kelso will take some time to return to Point Place, Wisconsin. Go see ya momma 'n 'em.

In the meantime, viewers can watch the Handy Manny actor Wilmer Valderrama on NCIS every Monday night on CBS at 9 pm EST. As the series heads toward its season finale, you can check out which returning and new shows will be popping up throughout 2022.

It’s almost time for some of NCIS' elite to go tropical with the upcoming NCIS: Hawai’i crossover! Wilmer Valderrama’s Nick Torres and Katrina Law’s Jessica Knight are heading to the Aloha State in an upcoming episode of the newest franchise spin-off, and CBS finally unveiled a first look at the highly-anticipated team-up!

In the photos, Torres and Jessica are meeting up with Vanessa Lachey’s Jane Tennant and her island-bound team, and although it’s hard to tell just what everyone is discussing, their expressions indicate that things are pretty serious. (Torres looks like he could sneer his way out of straitjacket.) It will be nice to see the two teams finally team up and it looks like it will be an episode you won’t want to miss!

Now let's take a peek at Katrina Law popping up alongside an NCIS: Hawai'i familiar, Jason Antoon's Ernie Malik.

The NCIS: Hawai’i episode is titled “T’N’T,” and will only feature Wilmer Valderrama and Katrina Law from the flagship NCIS squad, though that’s not too much of a surprise, since the pair's involvement was announced when news of the crossover initially broke. However, NCIS star Brian Dietzen also spoke out about the chances of appearing on the crossover recently, and while he was on board to take part, Valderrama and Katrina Law ended up being the only ones going to Hawai’i. Though it isn't happening this go-around, he's still hopful for next season or the future beyond.

The NCIS and NCIS: Hawai’i crossover has been on everyone’s radar for a few months now and the fact that fans finally get it at the end of the month is something to look forward to. It will be interesting to see how exactly Torres and Jessica interact with Jane and co. and how they will work together, as per the synopsis:

Dun dun dunnn! The crossover between the two shows was first announced in the early days of 2022, and details were being kept under lock and key regarding what would happen in the ep. But even though we're that much closer to it, the synopsis still isn’t giving too much away as far as exactly what case is bringing Torres and Jessica to Hawai’i. Since NCIS: Hawai’i went a different direction and didn’t get a backdoor pilot before premiering, the episode will be the first time we are seeing the two shows come together, aside from being paired on the same night.

Hopefully with this NCIS crossover, it won’t be long until NCIS: Los Angeles gets the same treatment. Considering the stars were pretty enthusiastic following the news of Hawai’i joining the franchise, it would be great for those two to crossover, and probably easier to explain the coastal traveling. Maybe Tennant and her crew can go to the City of Angels? Though I’m sure the L.A. cast would much rather have some fun in the sun in Hawai'i.

Don’t miss Agent Nick Torres and Agent Jessica Knight traveling to the Aloha State to catch a witness on NCIS: Hawai’i, airing on Monday, March 28 at 10 p.m. EST on CBS! Check out what else to look forward to on TV with CinemaBlend’s 2022 winter and spring TV schedule.

Spoilers ahead for the January 24 episode of NCIS.

NCIS has been putting Nick Torres through the emotional wringer since the end of Season 18 with the departure of Bishop and then the loss of Gibbs in early Season 19, and the latest episode just upped the ante by putting him through the physical wringer as well. As part of an investigation, Torres went undercover into a fighting ring where anything goes, and he took a serious pummeling before ultimately getting the better of his opponent. Now, actor Wilmer Valderrama has spoken out about the physical toll of the episode, and it actually hurt him too!

Torres – whose actions in this episode were so extreme that it seems like he may need to be benched soon – dropped some troubling comments on McGee in the middle of the fight, and he was a mess by the time he was able to leave the ring. On the day after the episode aired, the actor took to Instagram to shed some light on what went down:

Any viewers who caught the latest episode of NCIS may not be surprised to learn that Wilmer Valderrama felt a little bit of real-life pain in the process of filming Torres’ big fight! The episode managed to combine a seriously loaded exchange between Torres and McGee with a pretty epic brawl between Torres and a guy who was so big that none of the other agents would have blamed Torres for bowing out rather than going into the ring. All in all, it was a big episode both for the character and the actor.

And the actor definitely earned the appreciation of plenty of people on social media, with his post gaining nearly 11,000 likes at the time of writing and well over a hundred comments. One of the comments even came from the official NCIS account, and I’m guessing that plenty of fans will be able to relate to the sentiment:

Wilmer Valderrama went on in his post to express “so much respect” for the athletes participating in MMA and cage-fighting, and stated that it “was an honor to humbly showcase” the sport. And honestly, on top of kudos to the actor, the stunt team, and the stunt coordinators, I have to give credit to the makeup team at NCIS for making Torres look so believably roughed up. Take a look:

All things considered, Torres got some time in the spotlight, even if it wasn’t the most enjoyable time for him. His delayed reaction to losing Gibbs drove him throughout the episode, and it couldn’t have helped that he lost Gibbs so soon after he lost Bishop. Considering how she left, the odds seem pretty good that she won’t be able to come back, although there’s always the possibility for Mark Harmon to pop back up on NCIS. And he did get a mention over on NCIS: Hawai’i directly after this week’s episode of NCIS. 

Wilmer Valderrama will be heading over to NCIS: Hawai’i himself for the first-ever crossover event between the two shows, although fans will have to wait until March to see how Torres and Knight fit in with Tennant’s team over in the Aloha State. For now, you can find episodes of NCIS on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS in the 2022 TV schedule.

For four seasons now (give or take a few episodes), former That '70s Show star Wilmer Valderrama has shown off some occasional badassery as Nick Torres on CBS' stalwart hit NCIS. His career certainly hasn’t slowed down outside of the procedural drama, as his current voice role in Disney’s box office smash Encanto can attest, but only in ways that clearly wouldn’t affect his time on NCIS. But now, Valderrama has been revealed to be reteaming with Disney to star in a very interesting new project that will no doubt take up a lot of his time, while also showing off more of that badassery.

Wilmer Valderrama is working with Disney Branded Television on developing a newly reimagined take on the classic western action-adventure Zorro. He will serve as the new project’s star and executive producer, so this is clearly more than just a passing interest for the fan-beloved actor, whose love for the titular hero goes way back.

In fact, here’s how Valderrama explained his passion for a new Zorro series:

At this point, it’s unclear if or how Zorro could affect Wilmer Valderrama’s work on NCIS. While he is currently developing other projects as an EP behind the scenes, this will be the first time he’s set to take on a full starring role in a new project outside of the CBS drama. And while there are certainly ways to make it happen without Nick Torres being written off of the show, that’s more of a possibility now than ever. If Mark Harmon can walk away, anybody can. 

That said, fans of the show shouldn't get too worried just yet. Torres is a core part of the NCIS crew at this point, and Wilmer Valderrama has been very vocal about loving his time on the show, while also always quick to show appreciation to the fanbase. And as far as the narrative goes, there are no clear signs that Torres is heading in any direction other than "after the bad guys." So while that could obviously change in a moment's notice, that moment has yet to arrive. 

It's also unclear where this new Zorro project will end up, assuming it comes to fruition as a full-blown series. (Let's not forget about Hollywood's relatively recent attempt to bring Zorro back as a theatrical release.) Will Disney want to play up Valderrama's network TV recognition by putting it on ABC, or will they want to offer up something less rigidly crafted as a streaming drama for Disney+? Or will it somehow become a preschooler animated series for Disney Jr.? Probably not the last one, but stranger things have happened. 

Keep watching Wilmer Valderrama on NCIS (while you still can) when it returns to CBS after its winter hiatus on Monday, January 3, at 9:00 p.m. ET. While you're waiting, check out everything else coming to the small screen next year with our 2022 TV premiere schedule, and go check out Valderrama's voice-acting skills in Encanto!

Few creatives have made as meteoric a rise as Lin-Manuel Miranda has since the start of the 21st century. After breaking out with his Broadway hit In The Heights in 2007, he became a one-man phenomenon thanks to the spectacular success of Hamilton, and since then his career has made incredible strides as he’s proven to be a true renascence entertainer. This past month, for example, has been massive for him, as he has not only released his directorial debut, Tick, Tick…Boom!, on Netflix, but he also had a key role in the creation of Encanto, the latest film from Walt Disney Animation Studios.

He’s built an incredible level of clout in the entertainment industry, and while it’s clear that filmmakers and performers love working with him, it can also be a creatively intimidating experience, as I recently learned talking with the stars behind the lead characters in Encanto.

The new animated film is a project that Lin-Manuel Miranda had a direct hand in creating from very early stages (creating a distinction between it and his work on Moana), and that work included writing a full soundtrack of songs. These tracks are in a variety of genres and demand extreme range from the performers, and that, as you might imagine, put the actors back on their heels a bit in the recording process.

Stephanie Beatriz, who plays protagonist Mirabel Madrigal in Encanto, made a clear distinction between her time recording dialogue versus recording music, and emphasized the enhanced degree of difficulty in the latter. Beatriz has experience working with Lin-Manuel Miranda, as earlier this year she was featured in Jon Chu’s big screen adaptation of In The Heights, but even still she acknowledged the advanced degree of difficulty that came with the job:

Anxiety inducing as it may have been, Stephanie Beatriz explained that she had a secret weapon against it in the making of Encanto: preparation. Being honest about her dedication to her craft, she explained that taking on a project means making sure that she is in the best position to do the best job that she can, and working that hard took the edge off of a hard gig. She continued,

Diane Guerrero, Jessica Darrow, and Wilmer Valderrama – who respectively play Isabela, Luisa, and Agustin Madrigal in Encanto – were grouped together for our interview, together they all echoed many of the same sentiments of Stephanie Beatriz when I asked about the pressure inherent in collaborating with Lin-Manuel Miranda and recording music that he has written. They particularly highlighted the challenge that comes with Miranda’s tendency to blend styles together, making each song a different kind of effort. Said Guerrero,

Continuing Diane Guerroro’s thought, Jessica Darrow added that recording the soundtrack for Encanto meant accessing skills she didn’t know she actually had prior to the making of the film, saying,

As for Wilmer Valderrama, he plays a character who doesn’t have his own song in Encanto, which is something true for both Diane Guerrero and Jessica Darrow, but he had his own intimidating experience recording the music, acknowledging not only the complexity of the songs, but also performing them right in front of Lin-Manuel Miranda. Said the actor,

Bruno Madrigal, the black sheep of the family at the heart of Encanto, is another character that isn’t made to be a prominent voice on the soundtrack, but that didn’t totally excuse John Leguizamo from the music half of the assignment in the creation of the Walt Disney Animation Studios film. The beloved character actor has a fantastic rap in the movie, and he egoless-ly explained that the recording session for that part took far longer than one might expect:

Also starring María Cecilia Botero, Mauro Castillo, Angie Cepeda, and Carolina Gaitán, Encanto is now playing in theaters everywhere, and you can discover everything else heading to the big screen and streaming in what remains of this year by checking out our 2021 Movie Release Calendar.

Whenever a new animated Disney movie comes out there are a few things you are guaranteed to see: dazzling visuals, a fun yet emotional story about the main character finding themselves, and an impressive cast list. We could talk about the first two characteristics for Disney Animation Studios’ latest offering, but for now let’s turn our focus to the star-studded Encanto voice cast with its combination of rising stars and up-and-coming talent. 

Below you will find a quick yet comprehensive list of actors who have used their voices to tell the story of a new Disney hero who makes the most of what life has given her and sets out to discover her magic gift to save her family and their enchanted home.

Stephanie Beatriz (Mirabel Madrigal)

Stephanie Beatriz leads the Encanto voice cast as Mirabel Madrigal, the lone member of her large and colorful family who was not blessed with magical powers, and brings with her a tremendous list of credits on the big screen and small screen alike. First and foremost, Beatriz is probably best remembered for her portrayal of the tough-as-nails and mysterious Rosa Diaz on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which completed its eight-season run in September 2021. The majority of Beatriz’s career has been spent on TV, with a mix of live-action comedies like Modern Family, Hello Ladies, and Reno 911!, as well as animated series including Central Park, DuckTales, BoJack Horseman, and numerous others. Her film appearances include In The Heights, Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday, Short Term 12, and The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.

John Leguizamo (Bruno Madrigal)

Next up on our list is the legendary John Leguizamo, who uses his remarkable set of skills and dynamic range to bring to life Bruno Madrigal, the black sheep of the family and Mirabel’s uncle who has the ability to look into the future. Throughout his career, Leguizamo has appeared in countless movies, TV shows, and stage productions including multiple voice-acting roles in the Ice Age franchise, The Adventures of Puss in Boots, and Walking with Dinosaurs. Leguizamo’s live-action work is how most will remember the actor who has played major roles in the likes of Romeo+Juliet, Moulin Rouge!, John Wick, and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar, which earned him his first Golden Globe nomination. Leguizamo won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1999 for his Spike Lee-directed semi-autobiographical one-man show Freak, which aired on HBO the previous October.

María Cecilia Botero (Abuela Alma Madrigal)

Taking on the role of Mirabel Madrigal’s grandmother, Abuela, in Encanto is María Cecilia Botero, a veteran Colombian TV actress whose list of credits goes all the way back to the early 1970s. Throughout her career, Botero has appeared on Los Dueños Del Poder, La Bruja, Nuevo Rico, Nuevo Pobre, María, and dozens of other programs, movies, and specials.

Wilmer Valderrama (Agustín Madrigal) 

Then we have Wilmer Valderrama, who lends his voice to Agustín Madrigal, Maribel’s father, on the Encanto cast. Best known for his portrayal of foreign exchange student Fez on That ‘70s Show and later Special Agent Nick Torres on NCIS, Valderrama has been a major name in film and TV for more than 20 years now. This includes voice work on shows like Handy Mandy, Clifford’s Really Big Movie, and Onward to name a few. During that same stretch of time, Valderrama has appeared in live-action movies like Party Monster, Fast Food Nation, The Adderall Diaries, and Blast Beat. Oh, and we can’t forget his portrayal of Don Carlos Madrigal on From Dusk till Dawn: The Series or all those small roles on the likes of Grey’s Anatomy, Royal Pains, and Raising Hope.

Adassa (Dolores Madrigal) 

Adassa, the Reggaetón sensation who has worked with Pitbull, Lil Jon, and Juvenile to produce massive hits throughout her career, lends her voice to the character of Dolores Madrigal, Mirabel’s sisters, in Encanto. The Disney animated movie is the acting debut for the singer-songwriter, whose previous credits include appearances as herself on various TV shows and awards shows.

Diane Guerrero (Isabela Madrigal)

Isabella Madrigal, Mirabel’s picture-perfect sister who can make flowers appear out of thin air, is portrayed by Diane Guerrero in Encanto. Since making her debut in the medical crime series Body of Proof in 2011, Guerrero has taken on major roles on shows like Orange Is the New Black, Jane the Virgin, and most recently Doom Patrol, on which she plays “Crazy” Jane. Guerrero’s other TV work includes voice acting on Elena of Avalor and Harvey Girls Forever!, as well as the appearances on Are We There for Yet?, Blue Bloods, and several others. Her film work includes Blast Beat, Peter and John, and Killerman.

Mauro Castillo (Félix Madrigal) 

Portraying Mirabel Madrigal’s uncle Félix in Encanto is musician and actor Mauro Castillo. Over the years, Castillo has been recognized with Latin Grammy nominations for his composition and singing, and has appeared on a few TV series including Paro De Mi Corazón, Rafael Orozco, El Ídolo, and El Joe.

Angie Cepeda (Julieta Madrigal)

Then we have Angie Cepeda, who brings to life the character of Julieta Madrigal, aka Maribel’s mom, whose magical cooking has mysterious healing qualities. Prior to landing a role on the Encanto cast, Cepeda made a name for herself with movies like Sammy Y Yo, which earned her critical acclaim upon the film’s 2003 release, Ilona Ilega Con La Iluvia, Love in the Time of Cholera, The Seed of Silence, and a couple dozen others. She has also spent a great deal of her career on the small green with appearances on Pablo Escobar, El Patrón Del Mal, 2091, and Los Protegidos.

Jessica Darrow (Luisa Madrigal) 

Taking on the role of Luisa Madrigal, Mirabel's sister with superhuman abilities, is Jessica Darrow. Including Encanto, Darrow has four credits to her name, including Feast of the Seven Fishes, Following Hannah Stone, and the podcast series titled Anomaly.

Rhenzy Feliz (Camilo Madrigal) 

Rhenzy Feliz joins the Encanto cast as Camilo Madrigal, Mirabel’s cousin with the magical ability to shape-shift. Fans of Marvel’s Runaways will surely recognize Feliz as Alex Wilder, the leader of the titular group of teenagers on the Hulu superhero series, but if not that, then his other shows and movies may ring a bell. Before showing up on the Marvel adaptation, Feliz landed roles on Casual and Teen Wolf. Since then, he has made one-off appearances on Kevin (Probably) Saves the World and American Horror Stories. In 2020, Feliz made his feature film debut in the Netflix drama All Together Now. He is also set to appear in George Clooney’s coming of age drama The Tender Bar, which will soon land on Amazon Prime Video.

Carolina Gaitán (Pepa Madrigal)

Pepa Madrigal, Mirabel’s emotional aunt who has the power to control the weather around her in Encanto, is voiced by Carolina Gaitán. The release of the Disney animated movie will be the first feature film Gaitán has been a part of since providing background vocals in the 2017 musical drama The Greatest Showman, though she has appeared on a number of TV programs since making her acting debut nearly 20 years ago. Over the course of her career, Gaitán has appeared on shows like the Netflix crime drama Narcos, portraying Marta Ochoa in the series’ first season, Hermanitas Calle, Celia, Flor Salvaje, Gabriella, Giros Del Destino, Isa TK+, and several others. Her most recent appearance was on the telenovela Sin Senos Si Hay Paraíso, which wrapped up in 2019.

Ravi Cabot-Conyers (Antonio Madrigal) 

Ravi Cabot-Conyers shows up in Encanto as Antonio Madrigal, Maribel’s young cousin who idolizes her in addition to being able to speak with animals. The youngest member of the Disney animated movie’s cast, Cabot-Conyers made his big debut in a 2016 episode of Saturday Night Live, briefly appearing in the skit titled “Kids Talking Trump.” Since then, he has appeared on The Resident, Tell Me a Story, Ode to Joy, and #blackAF, portraying Kam Barris.

Maluma (Mariano)

And then there is Colombian singer Maluma, who takes on the role of Isabela Madrigal’s charming and dashingly handsome fiancé Mariano. Encanto marks the Grammy-nominated performer’s acting debut, though he has previously appeared as himself on a number of reality and competition series over the course of the past decade. During that same stretch of time, Maluma has released five albums and taken home several awards, one of the most notable coming in 2020 when he was named the Best Latin Artist at the MTV Video Music Awards.

And if Pico, the keel-billed toucan featured briefly in Encanto, sounds familiar, it’s because he is voiced by Alan Tudyk, who has become one of Disney’s most prolific voice actors in the past decade or so with appearances in Frozen, Big Hero 6, Zootopia, Moana, and most recently Raya and the Last Dragon as Tuk Tuk. Now that we have gone through the Encanto cast and where you’ve seen (and heard) the stars before, check out our schedule of the remaining 2021 movie premiere dates so you don’t miss out at the theater (or at home on a streaming service) this holiday season.

Wilmer Valderrama has been portraying Nick Torres on the long-running CBS procedural NCIS since Season 14, but now he has a new project in the works. It was recently announced that he is part of the development process for the new comedy, Mexican Beverly Hills, which is being set up to his home network and some fans have thoughts.

The That ‘70s Show alum posted the big news to his Instagram when news broke and while Wilmer Valderrama is clearly excited to be working on a new project, some NCIS fans were freaking out over the thought that Nick Torres may be leaving the series. One fan was excited for the actor while at the same time, worried that he will be departing from NCIS:

It should be noted that, according to Deadline, the series is being developed by Wilmer Valderrama (who had some good news on the personal front earlier this year), Erick Galindo and Aaron Izek, with Valderrama also executive producing under the NCIS star’s WV Entertainment. So Valderrama is on board the new show, but not necessarily as an actor. Even so, fans are still worried that this could be the end of either Nick Torres, or NCIS as a whole:

Despite the major career news that has some worried about his future on NCIS, there are still plenty of people who are excited for this new development. Whether it means that Wilmer Valderrama is leaving NCIS or not is still up in the air, but some fans are still looking forward to it:

Wilmer Valderrama has worked on numerous projects during NCIS before. While the most recent ones were movies and voice roles, fans shouldn’t have to worry too much. And most aren’t, as some are simply congratulating him different languages:

It’s not clear on whether or not he will be starring in the new project or just serving as developer and executive producer. It should also help that Mexican Beverly Hills is in development at CBS, the same home as NCIS. It’s likely easier to work on another show that is at the same network your other show is on. 

Hopefully Wilmer Valderrama will still be Nick Torres on NCIS because the show would not be the same without him! Actors have balanced working on two shows at once before, so maybe it will work out that way even if he is starring in it. Besides, it would be a shame to lose another NCIS character so soon after Bishop and Gibbs.

Fingers crossed that this isn’t the end of Nick Torres or NCIS but whatever the case may be, Mexican Beverly Hills sounds like an intriguing show that follows a working-class Mexican-American family who moves into the city of Downey, so hopefully CBS picks it up to series!

Every family can be ordinary, even when they're extraordinary. But what about a family where the ordinary is extraordinary? That's the basis for Disney's Encanto, the latest CG-animated movie from the Mouse House, which features the voice talents of Stephanie Beatriz, Wilmer Valderrama, and Diane Guerrero, as well as the award-winning musical talents of Lin-Manuel Miranda. Premiering exclusively in theaters worldwide on November 24th, this vibrant and celebratory animated feature promises to be one of the most anticipated new films of the fall season. 

We’re still learning some key details about this upcoming title, but what we’ve seen so far is already very exciting. Here’s what we know (so far) about Encanto. 

Encanto Will Screen Exclusively In Theaters On November 24, 2021 

It won't be long before audiences can see Disney's latest animated movie for themselves, as Encanto is set to arrive in theaters before the end of the year. The family-friendly studio has its newest title slated for November 24, 2021, which puts it exclusively in theaters in time for Thanksgiving, assuming the date sticks. But this time slot has served the studio well before, notably with Moana, and they’re hoping for renewed success. 

The Original Animated Musical Stars Stephanie Beatriz

Best known for her supporting turns in Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Short Term 12, to name only a couple, Stephanie Beatriz has proven her star power on screens both big and small. Now, the actress will finally have a star vehicle of her own with Disney’s Encanto, which sees Beatriz taking on the lead voice role. Though she’s well-versed in comedy and drama alike, this movie will have the potential to advance her profile in a major way — especially if it’s the next Disney classic. 

Encanto Follows An Ordinary Girl In A Town Filled With Extraordinary People

What does it mean to be ordinary when everyone around you is extraordinary? Usually, movies — be it superhero blockbusters or generation-spanning biopics — ask the opposite question. But Encanto delightfully looks to spin this familiar tale on its head, exploring the everyday life of a family with incredible gifts and capabilities … and the one 15-year-old girl who doesn’t quite have it all together. With some catchy tunes and Disney magic thrown into the mix, we might be looking at the Mouse House's next big hit. But only time will tell on that front. 

The Voice Cast Includes María Cecilia Botero, Wilmer Valderrama, Adassa, Diane Guerrero, Mauro Castillo, Angie Cepeda, And More

Along with Stephanie Beatriz lending her pipes to the lead role, Disney’s Encanto will also feature the voice talents of Maria Cecilia Botero, Wilmer Valderrama, Adassa, Diane Guerrero, Mauro Castillo, Angie Cepeda, Rhenzy Feliz, Carolina Gaitan, and John Leguizamo. More specifically, Valderrama will be heard as Agustin Madrigal, Mirabel’s father, Cepeda will play Julieta Madrigal, Mirabel’s mother, Guerrero will voice Isabela Madrigal, Mirabel’s sister, Adassa will be heard as Dolores Madrigal, Mirabel’s aunt, and Leguizamo will lend his voice to the role of Bruno Madrigal, Mirabel’s uncle. 

Disney’s Newest Animated Movie Features Original Music From Lin-Manuel Miranda 

Lin-Manuel Miranda is an exceptionally busy man. Following the continuing success of Broadway’s Hamilton, the actor-writer-composer is keeping himself busy with a number of projects. Earlier this year, he was seen and heard in In the Heights and Vivo, both of which he had a heavy hand as a creative, and he’s keeping active with his upcoming work in Netflix’s directorial debut, tick, tick… BOOM!, as well as producing and composing with The Little Mermaid and The Kingkiller Chronicles. Furthermore, he’s also a writer and composer for Disney’s Encanto, which is a project that he holds near and dear to his heart (for reasons we’ll discuss later). Hopefully, the talented man isn’t burning himself out. He’s got a lot of fingers in a lot of pies, and this year could be the one that turns him into an Oscar winner — assuming this movie (or the aforementioned tick, tick… BOOM!) match the lofty expectations surrounding them. But let's not skip a beat. 

Encanto Is Directed By Zootopia’s Byron Howard And Jared Bush And Co-Directed By Charise Castro Smith

In this rejuvenated era for the Mouse House, one of their biggest modern hits is Zootopia, 2016’s adventurous, thoughtful family film that explored a world filled with anthropomorphic animals living in their own wild world. Winning an Oscar for director Byron Howard, Encanto certainly comes with some lofty expectations as the filmmaker’s follow-up, though he’ll be joined by Jared Bush, another Zootopia director, and Charise Castro Smith, a newcomer to Disney animation. Hopefully, if this movie does well, Howard will renew his previous film’s heights.

Stephanie Beatriz Has Said That This Role Fills Her ‘With Immense Pride’ 

It’s safe to say that Encanto is not simply a plushy paid gig for Stephanie Beatriz. It’s a tremendous honor to be cast in the lead role of a Disney movie, and she’s not taking this opportunity lightly. Beatriz expressed a wealth of nostalgia and pride when talking about starring in Encanto, and she seems to want to make the most of this experience. 

Specifically, here’s what Stephanie Beatriz said: 

Let's hope Encanto becomes another Disney classic. 

Encanto’s Trailer Promises A Magical New Disney Movie 

We won't get the full picture on Encanto until we see the movie for ourselves in November, but the trailers have done a nice job of teasing the movie's fun, colorful arrangement of characters and settings, showcasing an alluring animated movie filled with heart and humor alike. Vividly realized, based on these early promotional materials, it's clear that this movie is set to be among Disney's most inspired in ages, which should hopefully bode well for success. But it's too early to say with any certainty, of course, until we see it for ourselves. 

For now, be sure to check out the trailer below: 

Lin-Manuel Miranda Has Said He Wanted To Tell A Story About An ‘Intergenerational Family’ With ‘All The Complexity That Brings’ 

It should come as no surprise that Lin-Manuel Miranda puts his heart into his work. He’s not one to simply work for a paycheck. The well-acclaimed musician likes to make high-spirited, passionate musicals, filled with humor and heart in healthy bouts, and Encanto should be no exception. As Miranda noted in an interview with io9, he wanted to tell a story about an intergenerational family "with all the complexity that brings." Here's what Lin-Manuel Miranda said: 

Additionally, the Hamilton creator noted to io9 that, unlike Moana, Lin-Manuel Miranda had an opportunity to work on Encanto from the ground floor up, which should be seen (and, obviously, heard) in the film.

Disney's Encanto dances into theaters on November 24th, 2021. 

Before Wilmer Valderrama was Nick Torres on CBS’ long-running NCIS, the actor was known as the lovable, adorkable, and sometimes hard to understand Fez on the sitcom That ‘70s Show. The series aired between the late ‘90s and mid ‘00s, a time when diversity on television was not as much of a topic as it is today. Valderrama recently opened up about his time on the hit show and what he thought about diversity while on the series.

On That ‘70s Show, Fez is known as the horny foreign exchange student whose name was too long and too unpronounceable, so the group shortened it to Fez. He had trouble with the ladies at the beginning of the series but became a ladies’ man during the eighth and final season. Wilmer Valderrama was still a teenager when he started on That ‘70s Show, which was his first big break. At the time, Valderrama didn’t think much about diversity and the representation he brought to the series. He told Good Housekeeping why he never thought much about diversity on That ‘70s Show until later:

Diversity on television has gotten better in the years since That '70s Show, but that doesn’t mean it can’t improve. Wilmer Valderrama also said that how he saw himself as an actor then helped him, and posed an interesting question:

Last year, Wilmer Valderrama talked about the importance of being a person of color on TV, noting the responsibility they have at a time like this. He went on to say that as a person of color, he feels it's important to inspire and create an awareness of alternatives for young people, reminding them about the opportunities they have in the world. Recently, some stars have called out studios for the lack of diversity, or have even clapped back at fans for complaining about diversity in series or movie. Even Valderrama's comments show the shift in the conversation over time.

It just proves that while it is 2021, we’re always going to have to work towards getting more (and better) representation on screens. Luckily, Wilmer Valderrama has a long-standing gig on NCIS, and can continue to help that mission along.

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One of the most acclaimed 2021 movies thus far is the coming-of-age drama Blast Beat - a refreshingly and brutally honest commentary on the struggle to achieve the American dream as seen through the eyes two Colombian teenage brothers whose family moves to the United States in the late 1990s. The young protagonists are played by Mateo Arias and his real-life sibling Moisés Arias, who is just one familiar face from the film based on co-writer and director Esteban Arango’s 2015 short you may recognize, such as Wilmer Valderrama among others. If you cannot seem to place where you may know these actors and the rest of the Blast Beat cast from, allow us to help refresh your memory, starting with ambitious lead.

Mateo Arias (Carly Andres)

Playing Colombian born, heavy metal-loving aerospace prodigy Carly Andres in Blast Beat is Mateo Arias - a 25-year-old American born actor of Colombian descent who made his acting debut in the 2005 remake of Yours, Mine & Ours alongside Drake Bell, whose hit Nickelodeon sitcom Drake & Josh would be his next credit in 2007. Arias’ first starring role, after more small parts on other TV shows like Cold Case, was as a martial arts student on the Disney XD series Kickin’ It, followed by more feature-length films like lesbian teen romance First Girl I Loved or the 2016 coming-of-age dramedy Good Kids opposite Zoey Deutch. I should also mention his early guest spot on Hannah Montana, which was also his first time sharing the screen with his brother.

Moisés Arias (Mateo Andres)

Despite playing Carly’s troubled younger brother in Blast Beat, Moisés Arias is one year older than Mateo Arias, but both started acting around the same time, with Moisés debuting on Everybody Loves Chris before hitting the big screen in the Jack Black luchador comedy Nacho Libre in 2006. That same year, he joined the Hannah Montana cast as Rico, which opened the door for him land bigger roles, such as in The Kings of Summer, young adult sci-fi novel adaptation Ender’s Game in 2013, the 2019 teen romance Five Feet Apart (reuniting him The Suite Life of Zack & Cody’s Cole Sprouse), and The King of Staten Island with Pete Davidson the following year. Arias will reunite with the SNL cast member in the Vietnam War drama The Things We Carried and stars opposite Sylvester Stallone in the superhero movie Samaritan, which is now in post-production.

Diane Guerrero (Nelly Andres)

Speaking of superheroes, Diane Guerrero’s latest claim to fame is playing Crazy Jane on Doom Patrol - one the most acclaimed DC TV shows exclusive to HBO Max - although her role as Maritza Ramos on Netflix’s Orange is the New Black cast is what really began to get her noticed. Like her onscreen sons Blast Beat, the 35-year-old Latinx actress is also a Disney star, having voiced Vestia on Elena of Avalor, and also had a recurring role on the Jane the Virgin cast as the title character’s good friend and co-worker Lina Santillan. Guerrero’s upcoming animated horror series Woman in the Book is now in pre-production and she was recently cast as Buddy Holly’s wife, Maria Elena Holly, in the historical music drama Clear Lake.

Wilmer Valderrama (Ernesto Andres)

Playing Diane Guerrero’s onscreen husband, Ernesto in Blast Beat is Wilmer Valderrama, who is also of genuine Colombian descent, as well as Venezuelan, despite being born originally in Miami, Florida in 1980. Best known as Fez on the That ‘70s Show cast, the actor quickly found more dramatic roles, such an illegal immigrant in 2006’s Fast Food Nation, a drug lord on El Rey’s From Dusk Till Dawn series, and an NCIS cast regular since 2016, in addition to also being a Disney star voicing the title role of Handy Manny. Valderrama would reunite with Ashton Kutcher for a recurring role on his sitcom The Ranch and continues to stretch his voice acting talents as the title role of the animated Netflix movie Charming and a small part in Pixar’s Onward in 2020.

Daniel Dae Kim (School Professor)

Another CBS crime procedural veteran in the Blast Beat cast is Daniel Dae Kim, who played Chin Ho Kelly on the Hawaii Five-0 cast for seven seasons after his stint with the Lost cast ended with that strange drama’s series finale. South Korean Kim also has voice acting in common with Wilmer Valderrama - for both Avatar: The Last Airbender and its spin-off The Legend of Korra as well as Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon - and he is no stranger to the comic book movie genre after playing Major Ben Daimio in the 2019 Hellboy reboot. His most recent movie is the the latest of Netflix’s space movies, Stowaway, and he is currently preparing two new TV series, the animated sci-fi drama Pantheon and a follow-up to National Geographic’s The Hot Zone covering the post-9/11 fear of anthrax.

Andrene Ward-Hammond (Mrs. Johnson)

Another superhero movies veteran in the Blast Beat cast is Andrene Ward-Hammond, who appeared in the Netflix original Project Power in 2020, which proved to be a big year for the Just Mercy star in several other ways. She also played a cop in The Lovebirds (another one of the most popular Netflix movie releases from 2020), a magic practitioner on the HBO horror hit Lovecraft Country, and joined the Manifest cast that year. Ward-Hammond, also known for Mindhunter Season 2, the Oscar-nominated Loving, and the comedy Instant Family from 2018, also appears on the Bryan Cranston-led miniseries Your Honor, just completed the sci-fi TV movie Cipher, and is preparing to star in executive producer Michael B. Jordan’s upcoming series 61st Street.

Kali Uchis (Mafe)

Outside of her own music videos or that of her peers in the music industry, Grammy-winning R&B artist Kali Uchis is not very well known for acting. In fact, the singer-songwriter of Colombian descent (known for hits like “After the Storm,” which also features rapper Tyler the Creator and funk legend Bootsy Collins) makes her official debut in Blast Beat as Mafe. However, Uchis (born Karly-Marina Loaiza) seems to have caught the acting bug and landed a recurring role on the telenovela What Happens to My Family, which premiered in February 2021.

Because Blast Beat is a story of great importance, especially to its creator and those of the same cultural identity that understand the characters’ struggles, it is right that the cast come from the same cultural identity as their characters. It allows them to channel their genuine understanding of the material into the story, ensuring a richly personal experience for fellow Latinx people and immigrants as well as enlightening experience for those less familiar with the struggle. Blast Beat hits theaters Friday, May 21, 2021.

NCIS is nearing the end of Season 18, but we thankfully no longer have to worry about the future, since Season 19 is definitely on the way, with lots of big stuff on the horizon. Before the season comes to an end, however, Arrow vet Katrina Law will be debuting her new character Special Agent Jessica Knight in the May 18 episode, with the potential to recur more in the future beyond her two-episode stint. While we don't know quite what to expect yet, beyond what she'll look like in the role, star Wilmer Valderrama is teasing what her arrival means for Torres.

Wilmer Valderrama, who has portrayed Special Agent Nick Torres since 2016, has already had the pleasure of working with Katrina Law, and it sounds like the dynamic between Torres and Jessica will be an unexpected one. The actor told TVLine what fans can expect from the two special agents, and I think it's safe to say not to expect Jessica Knight to be Torres' polar opposite. Valderrama explained:

With Jessica Knight coming into the picture, what does this mean for the spark that has finally been igniting between Torres and Bishop? The two characters have definitely been getting closer this season, especially after some big moments both of them have gone through, and fans are eating it up. Even though the finale airs on May 25, just one week after Jessica’s introduced, there will most likely still be some heartfelt scenes for Torres and Bishop on the way. But could Jessica be getting into the way of a potential relationship years in the making?

Meanwhile, this isn’t Katrina Law’s first time on a beloved CBS procedural. The actress joined the cast of Hawaii Five-0 for its tenth season, replacing a long-time and beloved character. Before that, she was part of police drama Training Day. So with all the badass roles she’s already earned, there’s no doubt she’s going to fit right into the NCIS franchise. And if all involved are pleased with her impact, it's likely she could return in Season 19 for more.

While it’s not uncommon for TV characters to be introduced right at the end of a season, it’s not exactly common, either. It will definitely be interesting to see Jessica trying to quickly build up a dynamic with the team as the season ends and sets up the story for Season 19. While the upcoming season is obviously still months away, it’s never too soon to start theorizing and predicting what could possibly happen.

So it seems like these early days for Jessica and Torres' partnership will be something to look out for. Could this be the start of something new blossoming, or is this strictly just a professional relationship with all signs still pointing towards Torres and Bishop? I know where I want that arrow to be pointing. (Nailed it.)

Katrina Law’s first episode of NCIS will hit CBS on Tuesday, May 18, at 8 p.m. EST.