The NCIS franchise is one of television’s biggest success stories, a great testimony considering that the parent show was almost killed off. In the spring of 1996, NBC sent JAG to the guillotine after it finished a dismal 79th in the ratings. Luckily, CBS picked up the series as a mid-season replacement. Slowly, the military legal drama climbed the ratings chart, becoming one of the most-watched shows in America. It ultimately ran for nine additional seasons, spawning NCIS, which in turn led to spin-offs NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: Sydney, NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Hawaiʻi, and NCIS: Origins.
Each show has a list of strong, exclusive characters. However, a few people who appeared on the parent show have been spotted in NCIS and its spinoffs over the years. Most only appear in a cameo capacity, providing a level of continuity or helping to tick the ‘fan service’ box. Whatever the reason, fans who’ve stuck around since the beginning are always happy to see some old faces, and we sure hope to see some more familiar figures down the line.
5. Harmon “Harm” Rabb Jr.
In JAG, Harm (David James Elliot) is introduced as a former naval aviator and a lawyer in the US Navy’s Judge Advocate General Corps. He is said to have left the skies after he began suffering from partial blindness and pursued a legal career in the Navy. He reappears in NCIS: Los Angeles 14 years later, and is shown to be serving as the executive officer aboard the USS Allegiance.
Stopping Terror
Harm’s reappearance leaves viewers with a good taste in their mouths and reminds them of the importance of never quitting. Even though the character might not be able to fly planes anymore, he is shown to have worked hard enough to still be in charge of planes. Here, he assists NCIS officers with preventing a terrorist attack targeting U.S. aircraft carriers. To hold our interest, he is made to reunite with his former fiancée, Sarah “Mac” MacKenzie — a simple yet effective way of infusing some warmth and humanity into what would otherwise have been a dark and emotionally arid affair.
4. Sarah “Mac” MacKenzie
Sarah “Mac” MacKenzie (Catherine Bell) spends her days in JAG working as a Marine Corps lawyer, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and getting to serve in the Judge Advocate General’s office. Her inner demons make her relatable, as she happens to be a recovering alcoholic with several unresolved traumas. Despite this, she manages to channel her pain into her work. Her unresolved romantic tension with Harmon “Harm” Rabb Jr. makes for great viewing, too, and we get to see it play out again when she reappears in NCIS: Los Angeles.
Rekindling Flames
Like Harm, Mac enjoys tremendous career progress. After 14 years away from the screen, she returns as the Marine liaison to the Secretary of State. She then helps the NCIS officers with preventing a terrorist plot involving ISIS members who are targeting U.S. aircraft carriers. Her return paves the way for another interesting romance arc involving her and Mac. Viewers learn that Harm had left the Navy to be with her after a coin toss loss, only for them to part ways. He then returned to service.
3. A.J. Chegwidden
A.J. Chegwidden (John M. Jackson) is the Judge Advocate General of the U.S. Navy in JAG. He is a former SEAL and Vietnam veteran, hence he fully understands the life of a marine. Thanks to his wisdom, integrity, and discipline, his staff members deeply adore him. He eventually retires but makes appearances in NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles.
Old Heads Know Better
In Season 10 of NCIS, Chegwidden helps Gibbs during a corruption hearing spearheaded by the Department of Defense, and in Season 9 of NCIS: LA, he helps the team as a civilian lawyer. As good as Gibbs is, he often needs guidance, especially from someone as authoritative as him, so Chegwidden’s appearance helps add more gloss to the show’s recurring theme of collaboration.
2. Faith Coleman
Faith Coleman (Alicia Coppola) first appears in Season 8 of JAG as a fierce prosecutor who has a great track record of getting offenders jailed. She then shows up in the later episodes of NCIS’s first season, helping the team with crucial legal expertise.
Upholding the Law
Away from her work, Coleman lacks enough character development to make fans truly care for her and remember her in the long term. Even so, she stands out as a perfect symbol of professionalism and justice, reminding viewers that it is not only important to do your job well, but also to do the right thing at all times. Thanks to her, Gibbs and his team can sort through complex jurisdictional quagmires. Her episodes are also some of the best in terms of storytelling, coming off as effective suspense thrillers that are very reminiscent of noir films rather than modern-day police procedurals.
1. Bud Roberts Jr.
In JAG, Lieutenant Commander Budrick J. “Bud” Roberts Jr. (Patrick Labyorteaux) evolves from a guileless public affairs officer working on the USS Seahawk to a Navy JAG lawyer. A man of integrity and charm, Bud adds two kinds of spices to the show: a television lawyer’s wit and comic relief. He marries Lieutenant Harriet Sims, then loses his daughter in one of the show’s most tragic moments. And it doesn’t just rain for Bud… it truly pours. In Season 7, he loses a leg while attempting to rescue a child in Afghanistan. Despite this, he keeps pushing. During his appearance on NCIS, he is shown to have achieved the rank of Captain.
Return of a Fan-Favorite
Bud contributes to the events of the Season 14 episode “Rogue” where he helps the NCIS officers dig into the activities of a rogue Navy SEAL. The episode is a run-of-the-mill kind that offers little in the way of dialogue and narrative shocks, but Bud’s appearance is essential since he gets to offer unique legal insight that every member of the team wasn’t aware of. Through his cameo, the show accentuates the importance of dedication and hard work, no matter how deep the challenges go. Above all, the cameo is a welcome nod to longtime fans.
