For his directorial debut Michael Weatherly doesn't stretch himself in the slightest, as the movie/TV/pop cultural references come fast & furious, but it's a competently done, entertaining segment of his hit series.
Not concerned with advancing the NCIS story arc or dealing with its characters' relationships, this lark was notable for me in showcasing guest star JoBeth Williams.
She is definitely among Hollywood's unsung character actresses -always turning in solid performances but never quite getting that dream role elevating her to the top rank of Close, Streep or even Lange. She's at the level of a Teri Garr, wonderful but never subject of a star vehicle.
Here she's the lovable villain, named Leona (after Helmsley) but making fun of Martha Stewart as she cuts a deal with a surprisingly flexible Mark Harmon to get out of prison in exchange for giving the NCIS team key info on their weekly murder investigation.
Williams is a true pro -creating the required one-dimensional character with such effortless cool and perfect comedy timing that a clip could be used in an acting class as prime example of the old maxim: "it's not the size of a role that matters".
In long-running TV series it's always fun to see what the stars conjure up when they step behind the camera, whether it be a Vince Edwards helming "Ben Casey" or "Grey's Anatomy" episodes directed by Chandra Wilson. I liked Weatherly's light-hearted approach, and would definitely look forward to seeing his co-stars follow suit, especially Pauley Perrette (imagine the possibilities).
Not concerned with advancing the NCIS story arc or dealing with its characters' relationships, this lark was notable for me in showcasing guest star JoBeth Williams.
She is definitely among Hollywood's unsung character actresses -always turning in solid performances but never quite getting that dream role elevating her to the top rank of Close, Streep or even Lange. She's at the level of a Teri Garr, wonderful but never subject of a star vehicle.
Here she's the lovable villain, named Leona (after Helmsley) but making fun of Martha Stewart as she cuts a deal with a surprisingly flexible Mark Harmon to get out of prison in exchange for giving the NCIS team key info on their weekly murder investigation.
Williams is a true pro -creating the required one-dimensional character with such effortless cool and perfect comedy timing that a clip could be used in an acting class as prime example of the old maxim: "it's not the size of a role that matters".
In long-running TV series it's always fun to see what the stars conjure up when they step behind the camera, whether it be a Vince Edwards helming "Ben Casey" or "Grey's Anatomy" episodes directed by Chandra Wilson. I liked Weatherly's light-hearted approach, and would definitely look forward to seeing his co-stars follow suit, especially Pauley Perrette (imagine the possibilities).
