Many fans of NCIS may be surprised to learn that the pilot for the hit series actually aired as part of a different show. In 2003, the NCIS pilot was originally part of JAG, the legal drama about military law, as a two-part backdoor pilot. The characters, including Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Tony DiNozzo, made their first appearance within the JAG universe before NCIS was spun off into its own series. This surprising origin is often forgotten by fans who now associate the characters strictly with their own long-running show.

At the time, NCIS was intended as a special feature, but its popularity led to the decision to give the spin-off its own series. The crossover made for a unique introduction to the team, blending military legal drama with the investigative elements that would define NCIS. Looking back, this pilot within a different show is a fascinating piece of television history, showing how a successful franchise was born from an unexpected origin, paving the way for the massive success NCIS would become.