S15.E14: Keep Your Friends Close

[MyAimIsTrue]

After the body of a missing Navy commander is found, Vance orders Gibbs and the team to work with former FBI Agent Tobias "T.C." Fornell, the private investigator who was hired to locate him. Also, Bishop and Torres interview convicted investment advisor Albert Hathaway when the victim is linked to his highly publicized trial.

Yay, a Fornell sighting!

[roseha]

9 hours ago, MyAimIsTrue said:

 

Yay, a Fornell sighting!

I hope this means they will pick up the Hicks story line again, though I see no indication of that from the summary...

[secnarf]

43 minutes ago, roseha said:

I hope this means they will pick up the Hicks story line again, though I see no indication of that from the summary...

I believe there is more detailed information in the spoiler thread.

[Kelda Feegle]

when is this screening? lots of shows seem to have gone absent again :-(

[MyAimIsTrue]

This episode airs next Tuesday, February 6th.

[Kelda Feegle]

9 hours ago, MyAimIsTrue said:

This episode airs next Tuesday, February 6th.

Thanks - is it hiatus time in the USA again?

[rainsmom]

2 minutes ago, Kelda Feegle said:

Thanks - is it hiatus time in the USA again?

Kind of the opposite. February is sweeps month, so January is usually sparse.

[chitowngirl]

And last night was The State of the Union address. There was no new programming. Expect repeats during the Olympics also.

[Kelda Feegle]

Thanks folks - it's hard to keep track from here in Oz

[JessDVD]

Lawyer gets in car.

Me: Expect her to die in 3.... 2..... 1...

Car: (explodes)

Me: I'll be here all night.

[Katy M]

49 minutes ago, JessDVD said:

Lawyer gets in car.

Me: Expect her to die in 3.... 2..... 1...

Car: (explodes)

Me: I'll be here all night.

I literally did that.  I said, 3, 2, 1, Kablooey.  I was too soon, though.  LOL.   Was it wrong f me that I wished Jack was in the car, too?

Abby having an intervention for someone else drinking CafPow?  That has to be the most ridiculous thing ever.

[secnarf]

Well, I was bored through most of the episode and started paying attention exactly ten seconds before the car exploded, so I did literally jump in surprise!

I wouldn't mind if Jack died but I doubt she will.

I've been watching old re-runs that are on when I get home from work, and even though the last week or so has been all about La Grenouille, it's still much better than the newer episodes. I miss the old team.

[enoughcats]

Jack wasn't very close to the car, so we KNEW Boom!

Cafpow and the Brit getting a speaking roll there- even more foolish.

An episode with more Abby and lots of Gibbs, but never on screen together. Taping for the twins on gov't time?  No 40something does that during the work day, if ever.  

Pretty soon they're going to have us trained to expect five minutes or less for every not-Gibbs character. 

[JessDVD]

8 minutes ago, Katy M said:

I literally did that.  I said, 3, 2, 1, Kablooey.  I was too soon, though.  LOL.   Was it wrong f me that I wished Jack was in the car, too?

Abby having an intervention for someone else drinking CafPow?  That has to be the most ridiculous thing ever.

Mine was timed perfectly. I was pretty proud.

[Katy M]

7 minutes ago, enoughcats said:

Taping for the twins on gov't time?  No 40something does that during the work day, if ever.  

The taping thing doesn't bug me that much as she may have been using her break. The chemical analysis on Tim's cup is another story, though.  

[MDL]

This episode felt "off" to me. I know I missed a bunch of episodes, but:
 Who is Hicks?
When was this trial where Gibbs wound up getting Fornell fired from the FBI?

I'm confused!

That said, I also predicted the explosion at the end.

[stonehaven]

Yeah...that explosion...I knew Hicks would kill the lawyer at some point. I rather enjoyed this episode..for what it was...not the epitome of awesome from the early years but a damn sight better than almost all of last year's. I do think they should spin off Gibbs and Fornell as private eyes....I would totally watch that...

I did miss Ducky but I loved that they grew Palmer up....and McGee seemed to have a sore throat or something...

[rtms77]

26 minutes ago, MDL said:

This episode felt "off" to me. I know I missed a bunch of episodes, but:
 Who is Hicks?
When was this trial where Gibbs wound up getting Fornell fired from the FBI?

I'm confused!

That said, I also predicted the explosion at the end.

I’m asking the same question, what ep is the previously from because I don’t remember it at all.

[roseha]

4 minutes ago, rtms77 said:

I’m asking the same question, what ep is the previously from because I don’t remember it at all.

See Burden of Proof below, November 7 I think. 

I wasn't up to seeing this one yet but will probably watch it tomorrow.  At least they didn't make us wait until May to see Fornell again.

Edited February 7, 2018 by roseha

[rtms77]

Thank you, somehow I missed a whole episode,lol

[GHScorpiosRule]

2 hours ago, JessDVD said:

Lawyer gets in car.

Me: Expect her to die in 3.... 2..... 1...

Car: (explodes)

Me: I'll be here all night.

This was me as well.

Another snoozer.

[enoughcats]

But this (IIRC) is the first mention that the FBI shit canned Fornell.  We could have expected that, but his line with his daughter's reaction was the one thing that made it real.  (And stoic Gibbs must have felt that, if the daughter hadn't reached out to him in the interim.)

It looks as if Fornell is slated for PI forever, unless , no, they wouldn't kill Fornell, would they?  I could tolerate the deaths of most of the Gibblets, but NOT Tobias. 

[enoughcats]

I revisited the thread for that episode, and , patting myself on the back,

Quote

enoughcats 

NOVEMBER 8, 2017

Quote

 

ON 11/8/2017 AT 2:20 AM, TWOODS SAID:

I feel sorry for the lawyer when she finds out she was defending a serial killer and let him walk out of prison.

 

Or she becomes victim #5.

[MyAimIsTrue]

Like several of you I knew the car was going to blow up as well.  It does seem as if this show has run out of original storylines and I'm slowly losing interest.

[JackONeill]

Is it just me, or does anyone else get Jack and Bishop mixed up, even though there’s a, uh, age difference? All I see is long-blonde hair. Sometimes Jack is with Gibbs, but sometimes Bishop is with Gibbs. And is it me, but it seems like no one else is ever with Gibbs?

It was a little funny when Gibbs pointed out to Fornell that his door was unlocked.

Edited February 7, 2018 by JackONeill

[pally]

Calm cool collected superpower Tim did not act like someone ODing on caffeine.  That whole intervention scene was totally unconvincing and seemingly random.  We had not seen any emotions or scenarios where we saw Tim having trouble coping.  Sean Murray as Tim is the epitome of the sidekick.  He just doesn't have the charisma or acting ability to carry off a lead role.  He really needs someone to help pull his scenes up.  Unfortunately,  the only person in the cast who can do that for him right now is Mark Harmon.

Sadly, the whole show feels like it is coming to an end.  Maybe because the chemistry among the previous cast was so amazing that they could pull off so-so scripts but this cast just doesn't measure up.

[meira.hand]

Am I the only one who thought it was strange that both NCIS and BULL episodes this week had the same name (Keep Your Friends Close). I know they cannot have a crossover as its not the same character, but still, it was weird.

[Katy M]

5 minutes ago, meira.hand said:

Am I the only one who thought it was strange that both NCIS and BULL episodes this week had the same name (Keep Your Friends Close). I know they cannot have a crossover as its not the same character, but still, it was weird.

That happened a few years ago on the CW.  Arrow and Supernatural had the same episode title "Sacrifice" on the same night.

[TJtrack99]

44 minutes ago, meira.hand said:

Am I the only one who thought it was strange that both NCIS and BULL episodes this week had the same name (Keep Your Friends Close). I know they cannot have a crossover as its not the same character, but still, it was weird.

I was freaked out by that too! I thought maybe it was a typo on one of the listings. NCIS it makes sense given next week's title. Weird, though.

[stonehaven]

Anyone else not see a preview for the next episode? I heard Harmon's voice say "Stay Tuned for the next episode"..and all I saw was a preview for Young Sheldon.

[eel2178]

39 minutes ago, stonehaven said:

Anyone else not see a preview for the next episode? I heard Harmon's voice say "Stay Tuned for the next episode"..and all I saw was a preview for Young Sheldon.

Ditto.

4 hours ago, JackONeill said:

It was a little funny when Gibbs pointed out to Fornell that his door was unlocked.

Actually, Gibbs picked the lock then told Fornell it was unlocked.

[abbey]

I didn't see a preview either.  Was anxiously waiting for it and then the preview for Young Sheldon showed up.

[eel2178]

15 hours ago, Katy M said:

Abby having an intervention for someone else drinking CafPow?  That has to be the most ridiculous thing ever.

I really with they would stop wasting time with all the ridiculous, insignificant stuff, and add more details about the actual plot. 

[eel2178]

15 hours ago, secnarf said:

I wouldn't mind if Jack died but I doubt she will.

I do viewer surveys for CBS and CW. Last month they asked people who watch NCIS their opinions about her character, specifically. They wanted to know if we thought she was or wasn't a good addition to the cast, or how her character could be improved. It seemed to me as though they were on the fence about keeping her. Although, if they do write her out I doubt they would kill her.

[GHScorpiosRule]

51 minutes ago, stonehaven said:

Anyone else not see a preview for the next episode? I heard Harmon's voice say "Stay Tuned for the next episode"..and all I saw was a preview for Young Sheldon.

My dvr cut off, just as it went into a preview.

10 minutes ago, abbey said:

I didn't see a preview either.  Was anxiously waiting for it and then the preview for Young Sheldon showed up.

Had they not shown the preview for a show I don't give a shit about, I think we would have seen it. Unless y'all watched live and they never showed a preview?

[eel2178]

1 minute ago, GHScorpiosRule said:

. Unless y'all watched live and they never showed a preview?

That's what we're saying.

[GHScorpiosRule]

Just now, eel2178 said:

That's what we're saying.

Ah. Got it. Thanks. Just ignore me then.

[JessDVD]

I watched live (which I hate doing but anyway) for both NCIS and Bull and there was no preview for mothership in that time (8 PM - 10 PM EST). They did show a preview for the next Bull.

[GHScorpiosRule]

I posted the preview in the episode thread.

[MDL]

15 hours ago, roseha said:

See Burden of Proof below, November 7 I think. 

I wasn't up to seeing this one yet but will probably watch it tomorrow.  At least they didn't make us wait until May to see Fornell again.

Thanks for the info!

[HurricaneVal]

As Sean Murray gets older and his goatee grows, he is starting to look more and more like Joe Mantegna from Criminal Minds.  The resemblance really hit me over the head last night.

[Notwisconsin]

On the LA spinoff, they had an entire subplot which was only shown on the previews and previouslies. As to them cutting out the preview, this happens from time to time and is totally annoying.

As to the innocent guy who was really guilty, that was annoying too, The defendent is always guilty in these things.

Edited February 7, 2018 by Notwisconsin

[LuvMyShows]

4 hours ago, eel2178 said:

I do viewer surveys for CBS and CW. Last month they asked people who watch NCIS their opinions about her character, specifically. They wanted to know if we thought she was or wasn't a good addition to the cast, or how her character could be improved. It seemed to me as though they were on the fence about keeping her. Although, if they do write her out I doubt they would kill her.

Hi eel, a little OT, but how does one go about getting a gig like that?  I'd be interested!

[roseha]

10 hours ago, MDL said:

Thanks for the info!

You're welcome!

[Kelda Feegle]

I remember someone mentioning the lack of Gibbs and Abby in scenes together ages ago and I have looked for this ever since - is there any reason/theory as to why they are never together any more?

[ForReal]

I figured the lawyer was not long for this world when Jack was trying to press her for information at the diner and pulled back because she wanted to preserve the friendship, saying something along the lines of the lawyer being the only friend she had in town -- death sentence right there. 

I loved the pep in Fornell's step now that he's become a PI. I would totally watch a show with just Gibbs and Fornell. That's pretty much what I watch for now, come to think of it.

[GHScorpiosRule]

8 hours ago, Kelda Feegle said:

I remember someone mentioning the lack of Gibbs and Abby in scenes together ages ago and I have looked for this ever since - is there any reason/theory as to why they are never together any more?

Yes. It was discussed in the media thread.

[Mrs. Stanwyck]

Quote

 do viewer surveys for CBS and CW. Last month they asked people who watch NCIS their opinions about her character, specifically. They wanted to know if we thought she was or wasn't a good addition to the cast, or how her character could be improved. It seemed to me as though they were on the fence about keeping her. Although, if they do write her out I doubt they would kill her.

I wasn't thrilled with her first episode or two but I haven't found her offensive since then.  Given a choice between her and Bishop, I'd keep Jack.

 

I thought Joe Spano looked fit and gave off an energetic vibe that I haven't normally associated with Fornell.  I don't know if it was just the actor or if the new feel for the character was intentional.  He seemed years younger.  I do call BS on using his unfinished garage as an office.  I live in the DC area and in the summer time, your garage is hot and in the winter, it's freezing.

 

ETA:

Does anyone know if they going to do more with that Maddoff rip-off?  Since they got someone as recognizable as Kevin Pollak, I would think there would be more to it than that little throw away bit they did here.

Edited February 8, 2018 by Mrs. Stanwyck

[eel2178]

22 hours ago, LuvMyShows said:

Hi eel, a little OT, but how does one go about getting a gig like that?  I'd be interested!

Go to the MGM resort and casino in Las Vegas. Way in the back near the entrance to the grand ball room and the pool they have a viewing area set up where you watch shows that are in production and give your opinions on them. There are people handing out tickets at both the main entrances and in the hallway if front of The CSI Experience, but you can actually get in without of ticket if you just approach their desk. It usually takes 45 minutes to an hour, and it's fun especially if you are really into TV production. When you enter your demographic information into their computer after viewing the program, they ask if you'll give your email address so they can send you follow-up surveys. It's probably been ten years since I first signed up, and they are still sending me surveys.

[UncleChuck]

Quote

I do call BS on using his unfinished garage as an office.

Two things about that:

You cannot tell me that Fornell (living all alone in his house, with no wife and his daughter grown) does not have a spare bedroom that he could use for an office, because...

As a former FBI agent, he would not want to leave his car in the driveway where it could signal to anyone interested whether he was at home or away, not to mention being exposed to rain, snow, hail and bird poop.