Jordan Karlesson
What would NCIS be without Pauley Perrette playing the role of Abby Sciuto? Well, it looks like we almost found out.
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The NCIS team almost didn’t hire Pauley Perrette for the role of forensic specialist Sciuto, The Daily Express recently reported. Battlestar Galactica star Katee Sackhoff nearly landed the NCIS part instead.
In fact, a scheduling conflict between NCIS and Battlestar Galactica is reportedly what prevented Sackhoff from joining the crime series. While NCIS team reportedly loved Sackhoff’s audition, she had already committed to Battlestar Galactica, and the shows’ schedules conflicted.
‘NCIS’ And ‘Battlestar Galactica’: A Tale Of Two TV Smash Hit
Perhaps the outcomes of Pauley Perrette and Katee Sackhoff turned out for the best. Both NCIS and Battlestar Galactica became enormous successes.
For instance, NCIS ranks seventh among the longest-running scripted primetime TV shows of all time. Meanwhile, sci-fi show Battlestar Galactica collected 19 Emmy nominations and won a Peabody Award during its four-season run.
Battlestar Galactica went off the air in March 2009. However, it spawned spinoffs like the TV prequel series Caprica and the 10-episode web series Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome.
Unquestionably, NCIS garnered — and continues to attract — much more commercial success. It too spawned multiple spinoffs, and its 20th season will air starting September 19.
Despite the CBS show’s continued dominance on TV, NCIS junkies mourned the departure of Pauley Perrette at the end of Season 15 in May 2018. She was a fan favorite on the series since the very first episode in 2003.
Pauley Perrette addressed her departure in a tweet she posted in October 2017
“So, it is true that I am leaving ‘NCIS’ after this season,” she wrote. “There have been all kinds of false stories as to why (NO I DON’T HAVE SKIN CARE LINE AND NO MY NETWORK AND SHOW ARE NOT MADE AT ME!)”
She continued: “It was a decision made last year. I hope everyone will love and enjoy EVERYTHING ABBY not only for the rest of the season but for everything she has given all of us for 16 years.”
Her tweet concluded: “All the love, all the laughter, all the inspiration…. I love her as much as you do.”
