Casting News: 'Bates Motel', Cote de Pablo's 'NCIS' successor
In casting news, it looks like NCIS is prepping for life after Cote de Pablo.
TVLine reports that the search for a full-time cast member to replace departing star Cote de Pablo is currently underway.
The casting release specifies that the new character will be a female in her twenties named Bishop, a woman who “is bright, educated, athletic, attractive, fresh-faced, focused and somewhat socially awkward. She has a mysterious mixture of analytic brilliance, fierce determination and idealism. She’s traveled extensively, but only feels comfortable at home.”
The start date for whomever is cast in the role is listed as mid-October, which places the newcomer’s in-show arrival roughly at midseason, in January or February.
Until that point, however, the show will “rotate some fun people” through the open spot in the cast. “The first two episodes are all about Ziva’s departure,” said Executive Producer Gary Glasberg. “And then in the third episode we introduce, for instance, a woman in her 50s who is a few days away from retirement and just needs to fill the desk time. She, in theory, knew Gibbs all the way back to the days of Mike Franks. So we’re going to bring in people like that and have some fun with different characters. And then, hopefully, when people are comfortable enough, one will walk in and be The One.”
Season 11 of NCIS premieres on Tuesday, Sept. 24.
Credit: Showtime
Meanwhile, A&E's Bates Motel is getting some fresh blood in its cast for season two.
Kathleen Robertson, a vet of the Showtime drama Boss, is joining the Season 2 as Jodi, a "smart, sexy businesswoman and artist who’s as hard-charging as she is successful," TV Line reports.
It’s not clear how the show plans to integrate Robertson’s character into the world of the Bates clan, but she's not the only newcomer to the hit A&E drama. Alias alum Michael Vartan recently joined the Season 2 cast as a new romantic interest for Norma Bates (Emmy nominee Vera Farmiga).
Credit: ABC/SHERYL NIELDS
In addition, other new characters will be implemented into Season 2, including Christine, a "local socialite in her late 30s who becomes Norma’s first real friend"; and Caleb, Norma’s estranged fortysomething brother "who comes to town to coax his little sis into investing in a presumably shady business venture."
Production on the 10-episode second season began late last month for the show's return in 2014.