tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post4603749175166492788..comments2024-03-19T07:27:06.216-04:00Comments on VOTARIES OF HORROR: Bellisario's Anomaly: JAG Compared to NCIS and Quantum LeapKatherine Woodburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14364517253667798449noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-71287099734775242992011-06-05T15:40:43.660-04:002011-06-05T15:40:43.660-04:00I served 12 years in the Navy. I couldn't stan...I served 12 years in the Navy. I couldn't stand either one of 'em - just couldn't suspend disbelief to that extreme. The only thing worse than NCIS were the NCIS spin-offs.a calvinist preachernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-52378164712228511202011-06-03T18:07:39.700-04:002011-06-03T18:07:39.700-04:00The more I think about it, the more I realize that...The more I think about it, the more I realize that <i>JAG</i> is very derivative of <i>Magnum</i>. It even has many of the same characters (different actors, different names, but the same character.) The difference is, as you said, Tom Selleck and John Hillerman. Likewise, like any show, <i>Quantum Leap</i> had some stinker episodes, but Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell carry it.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04450897654318345683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-12757642742875442852011-06-03T16:57:57.648-04:002011-06-03T16:57:57.648-04:00Knowing Magnum is one of Bellisario's puts all...Knowing <i>Magnum</i> is one of Bellisario's puts all his shows in context for me! Bellisario <b>really</b> likes the charming rogue character (Al, DiNozzo, Magnum), and I think you're right, Joe: Magnum was Al AND Sam in one. And since Magnum was Tom Selleck, the show worked! After <i>Quantum Leap</i> unfortunately cancelled, Bellisario must have thought a return to what worked initially was the solution. <br /><br />Plus <i>Magnum</i> is more of an action-detective show than an investigative show which <i>JAG</i>, first season, is as well. <br /><br />Magnum did have his Gibbs/Ziva/McGee foil, Higgins, right off the bat. Which Harm doesn't in the first season of <i>JAG</i>. In fact, he gets three different (blond) partners over the course of the season! None of them are strong foils. I'm assuming Catherine Bell (who shows up in Season 2) proved a stronger foil since she ended up staying the course.Kate Woodburyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06276977170991272672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9721761.post-48957656944334026842011-06-03T15:32:48.806-04:002011-06-03T15:32:48.806-04:00I think JAG started out with an entirely different...I think JAG started out with an entirely different concept. I remember liking it, but the it failed with the public and so Bellisario reworked the show.<br /><br />One thing I've noticed about all three is that I stopped watching them before the end of their runs.<br /><br />To be fair, I never did get into NCIS. It was just too cutsie and cliche for me and had too many main characters. When I start accurately predicting dialog and scenes, I rarely keep watching a show.<br /><br />Magnum, P.I is another Bellisario invention. Magnum has chivarly, toughness and roguishness all in one! Where the show goes wrong (for me) is when it takes the focus off Magnum.<br /><br />With that in mind, perhaps JAG was an attempt to redo Magnum as in "what if Magnum stayed in active duty and became a lawyer?"Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04450897654318345683noreply@blogger.com