Michael Weatherly, famously known for his role as Tony DiNozzo on NCIS, initially expressed strong reluctance to crossover with the NCIS spin-off, Los Angeles. He believed that his character was best suited to interact with his original team, stating, “I won’t do a crossover, unless they put a gun to my head.” Weatherly felt that without the familiar context of Ziva, Gibbs, and McGee, DiNozzo’s value might diminish.
However, his perspective shifted over time. In a crossover episode titled “Blame It on Rio” in 2015, he embraced the opportunity, realizing that exploring DiNozzo in a new environment could enrich his character. Despite some initial nervousness about how DiNozzo would be received by the LA team and audience, Weatherly found the experience refreshing, particularly as he interacted with younger, athletic co-stars.
Reflecting on the success of the NCIS franchise, he marveled at how, years prior, he wouldn’t have believed that NCIS: LA would become a top-rated show. Interestingly, Weatherly’s parents had their own concerns, thinking the spin-off signaled his impending departure from the series, prompting them to offer unsolicited advice about his job security
