1.01 - Yankee WhiteThis is a featured page


Previous Episode Season #: 1 Episode #: 01 Air Date: September 23, 2003 Next Episode

Yankee White

Synopsis:
While on Air Force One, a Navy Commander dies. Agents from NCIS decide to take the investigation into their own hands and coerce Secret Service Agent Kate Todd to help. Now the NCIS team has to figure out if the Navy Officer's death was of natural causes or not.

New Character Development / Insights:
  • Gibbs establishes his predilection for breaking everyone's rules but his own; he establishes that he is absolutely entrenched in inter-agency rivalry; he shows that he doesn't let that stop him admiring someone who can stand up to him, admit their mistakes, show expertise, and handle a crisis
  • Ducky shows that, for all his seemingly fuddy duddy ways, he is actually very polished at deception in a double act with Gibbs, that he uses his ability to win the warmth and affection of his peers to good effect, that he is willing to make promises that he doesn't really intend to keep (the offer of a seafood dinner to the local coroner) (NB: We don't know that Ducky doesn't intend to keep his promise. It is more likely that he does. Very few people hold people who break promises or tell outright lies in the high regard that Ducky is held in my his professional colleagues)
  • DiNozzo shows his competitive streak straight off (against Kate), his childishness (the photos in the president's office), and his willingness to take whatever risk is necessary to get the job done (hiding in the body bag and incurring Fornell's wrath).
  • Fornell, in this episode, does not recognise Gibbs (Gibbs is able to pretend to be Ducky's assistant): the storyline of the shared ex-wife has not yet been invented (we do not mind: we will later love that storyline and the humour it engenders)
  • Gibbs prescience and omniscience are established: he accurately predicts what the baddie will do (and thus prevents catastrophe) and he also knows what Ducky and DiNozzo get up to, even when he is 'otherwise engaged' and not able to watch them (he is in the head).
  • In the beginning, Kate doesn't like Gibbs, saying 'I think I'm destined to shoot you."
Funny Moments:
  • The posturing early on among Gibbs, Kate, and Tony -- about the jock-strap and the frogs.
  • Ducky and DiNozzo furtively, thus rapidly, posing for photos at the president's desk on air force one, whilst Gibbs is in the head. When Gibbs emerges, his comment makes it clear that he knew what they were doing all along.
  • Fornell and his colleague thinking that they outsmarted Gibbs...and then they hear a cell (mobile) phone go off...and the body in the body bag answers the call.
  • The Coroner smirking at Fornell when he says "I never said it was my medical examiner"...and Fornell realises he has been outwitted.
  • The way that Gibbs offers a job to Kate...Not so much an offer, as a threat of what will happen to her if she ever pulls a stunt like that on Gibbs' watch. His presumptuousness is outrageous but compelling...and funny.
  • Fornell telling Kate "Don't get into this pissing contest, Agent Todd."
  • Tony saying they can't take off until the "Secret Service chick" clears them... then seeing Kate standing there.
  • Tony's photo analysis for Kate, then Ducky commenting. "Isn't 36D a bit of wishful thinking?" "Really?"
  • Gibbs sleeping on an autopsy table while Ducky is working.
  • Gibbs asking "why would Abby go to a fat party?" just before he's going to sleep and Ducky just saying "sleep, Jethro.."
  • Ducky asking Kate if she'd rather have him use the liverprobe instead of a normal thermometer.
  • Kate vs. Tony in the President's Office.
  • Kate asking Gibbs how she is supposed to meet men when she works 24/7, and he responds, "In church."
  • When the LEO at the airport doesn't recognize their agency, and Gibbs turns to Tony and says, "That's embarrassing."
  • Tony goes to close the hatch and Fornell is at the door and Tony says "Sorry we overbooked," and then proceeds to slam the door in his face.
  • Fornell walks by Tony's desk and asks how his butt is. Tony replies, "still bouncing on the beltway."
Trivia:
  • Gibbs and Special Agent Fornell appear to not know each other in this episode. However, as we learn later that is impossible since Fornell married Gibbs' second wife and Gibbs says to Fornell, "I tried to warn you." On the DVD Bellasario states he didn't intend for Fornell to be a recurring character until he saw how well Spano played the role.
  • Special Agent Fornell's name is given as "Tom" in this episode. Later, we learn that it is actually Tobias.
  • Gibbs character appears to be a film buff in this episode. This is a trait given to Tony in future episodes.
  • Gibbs rules: rule #1 - Never let suspects stay together; rule #2 - Always wear gloves at a crime scene; #3 - Don't believe what you're told - double check.
Recurring Cast: Guest Starring:
      • Vivienne Bellisario (Mysterious Redhead)
      • Paul Major (Agent)
      • Doris E. McMillon (News Anchor)
      • Dwayne Mac Opson (Marine Major Carl Pritchard)
      • Richard Anthony Crenna (Chief Steward)
      • Michael Maize (Security Guard)
      • Steve Bridges (George W. Bush)
      • Michael Adler (Navy Captain Burger)
      • Gerald McCullouch (FBI Agent)
      • Robert Bagnell (Leonard Rich)
      • Gerald Downey (Navy Commander Ray Trapp)
      • Dane Northcutt (Marine Major Kerny)
      • Gregory Itzin (FBI Director)
      • Lawrence Pressman (Sercret Service Director)
      • Gerry Becker (William Baer)
      • Gary Grubbs (Coroner Elmo Poke)
      • Jeremy Overstreet (Agent Bowman)
      • Asante Jones (Detective Andy Kochifis)
      Written By: Directed By:
      • Donald P. Bellisario




      Add Episode Photos Below: (No blurry or duplicate photos please)
      Yankee White 1.01 Yankee White


      ducky - president's desk
      Gibbs sleeping on the autopsy table


      1.01 - Yankee White - NCIS 1.01 - Yankee White - NCIS


      1.01 - Yankee White - NCIS 1.01 - Yankee White - NCIS
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      Latest page update: made by Sorgiña , Jan 14 2013, 2:38 PM EST (about this update About This Update Sorgiña Edited by Sorgiña

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      Started By Thread Subject Replies Last Post
      angiekchick1975 LOVE THIS EPISODE 0 May 10 2010, 3:44 PM EDT by angiekchick1975
      Thread started: May 10 2010, 3:44 PM EDT  Watch
      THIS IS SUCH A GOOD EPISODE, LOVE THE HUMOR AND THE ACTORS.
      2  out of 2 found this valuable. Do you?    
      jml709 Old episodes on the USA Network are edited from the originals 0 Aug 11 2009, 12:56 PM EDT by jml709
      Thread started: Aug 11 2009, 12:56 PM EDT  Watch
      Yesterday (August 10) one of the episodes shown on the USA Network was "Yankee White." The USA Network edited out the part where Tony explains to Kate why he has to do sketches with measurements in addition to photographs for accuracy's sake. They also edited out the funny bit where Ducky asks Tony if '36D is a bit of wishful thinking.' Funny stuff ... sadly missing from yesterday's airing of this episode.
      1  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
      Keyword tags: editing USA Network
      redrkr Yankee White 0 Jul 3 2009, 11:14 AM EDT by redrkr
      Thread started: Jul 3 2009, 11:14 AM EDT  Watch
      I recently purchased all seasons on DVD. Started at #1 and so on. The first episode they are at Mid Cont airport in Wichita KS. It says Wichita County... WRONG! Wichita is in Sedgwick county. Bummer they couldn't get a hometown connection right, but still an awesome show. I keep reminding my kids how HOT Mark Harmon was when he was younger (not that there is anything wrong now). Hopefully it will be on TV for many more seasons
      Do you find this valuable?    
      Keyword tags: Yankee White
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