Michael Weatherly, known for playing Tony DiNozzo in NCIS, may have just delivered the perfect pitch for how the franchise can bring back its punkish, fan-favorite medical examiner. Ever since Pauley Perrette left the show, fans have speculated about Abby Sciuto’s NCIS return and how it might happen. Although there are still notable roadblocks, Weatherly’s plan is the best yet.

While Perrette left the show because of issues with her co-star (or his dog, to be specific), Mark Harmon’s NCIS departure sparked fan rumors that Abby could finally return. Perrette’s retirement in 2024 seemingly closed the book on the conversation, but Weatherly has the perfect idea to bring her back through NCIS’ franchise spinoffs, provided that she’s up for it.

Michael Weatherly Wants To See Pauley Perrette As Abby In NCIS: Tony & Ziva

He Just Doesn’t Want To See Her Until The Show’s Ready For Her

Abby’s one of few characters that even Tony would say can be a bit over the top, but that’s not to say there isn’t a great deal of professional respect between them. That respect appears to be shared by the characters’ actors as well, going by Weatherly’s answer when asked why Gibbs and McGee aren’t in NCIS: Tony & Ziva:

“I think in the initial outing of [NCIS: Tony & Ziva], it was really important that it felt like they were in their own world and that we needed to sort of build and understand that world. Because it’s more grounded in a way. There’s less music telling you how to feel. There are fewer propulsive plot devices, like we’ve got to get to the thing and find them. And just when you are missing that, then all of a sudden, we are doing that. Like the show does do it.

They just do it in a different kind of energy and pattern, and pacing. And so, I think we wanted to figure out what the show was, because it would be weird if suddenly Abby shows up. By the way, I love Pauley Perrette, just from the moment I ran into her. Pauley Perrette is a fantastic human. But we needed to really create the world. And then later, anyone who comes into it, we would have to make it appropriate to the way it feels. And to give somebody a sense of, they would have to watch it and go, ‘Oh, I get it.’”

While he might not directly call for Abby’s appearance in the spinoff, it certainly piques interest that he brings her up so quickly. As Weatherly explains, Tony & Ziva is too busy finding its own legs to justify bringing in a character like Abby just yet, but he seems very on board with having Perrette show up in the future.

He’s not exaggerating the need to wait before bringing in other characters. Tony and Ziva’s spinoff strikes a different tone from the flagship NCIS. Although the characters are still recognizable to any fan, Weatherly portrays a slightly more grounded version of DiNozzo with notes of exhaustion behind the quips. The new tone needs breathing room before bringing in nostalgia hires.

There are plenty of potential NCIS cameos in Tony & Ziva that fans would love to see. Abby, like all of them, faces the same challenge in that Perrette would have to adjust her character’s behaviors to better fit the spinoff’s tone. In a way, however, that’s exactly what makes Weatherly’s new Paramount+ series the perfect fit for her return.

Why Pauley Perrette’s Return As Abby Works Best For NCIS: Tony & Ziva

The Spinoff’s Tonal Change Is Perfect For Sciuto’s Character

If Michael Weatherly feels like he has to tone down DiNozzo’s character a bit for NCIS: Tony & Ziva, then an off-the-wall character like Abby Sciuto would arguably take even more adjusting to fit the spinoff’s tone. That could be a slight frustration for Perrette, but it honestly might not be the worst thing in the world for her character.

Criticisms of NCIS’ Abby Sciuto take a number of forms, from those who find her skillsets unrealistic to those who simply haven’t forgiven Pauley Perrette for leaving the show. But a very common critique among those less eager to see her character return is that Abby’s non-stop quirks and “manic pixie dream girl” mannerisms are a bit overdone at times.

This many years after leaving the agency, it would be easy to tone Abby down a bit if she were to return to the flagship as well. The difference is that fans of the mainstream series might find it jarring to see a more grounded Abby walk into the MCRT offices. But it’s a bit more forgivable in the spinoff.

Since she’d only be toned down enough to fit the vibe NCIS: Tony & Ziva is aiming for, it would be easier to make any character changes feel a bit more natural. Moreover, even if her return were put off a few seasons, it’s harder to disrupt the tone of a series that’s still building its own core emotional rhythm.

That speaks to the heart of the problem. Abby’s alternative style and boundless energy are key components of the character’s appeal, but many fans felt Abby was too cartoonish to age well with NCIS as it got more serious. Tony & Ziva could balance her out somewhat, just as soon as they’ve tackled the other problems with bringing her back.

NCIS Still Faces Hurdles Bringing Pauley Perrette Back As Abby Sciuto

Her Retirement Is Not By Far The Only Issue Standing In The Way

One of the most obvious roadblocks to NCIS bringing Abby back is that Perrette herself has made it quite clear in the past, even before she retired from acting altogether, that she has little interest in reprising her role. Plenty of retired actors have returned to the screen for roles or stories they found compelling, but it’s never a guarantee.

Perhaps NCIS: Tony & Ziva could hook her with the right script, and Perrette’s friendship with Weatherly might not hurt. The fact that NCIS: Tony & Ziva is in Paramount+’s top ten shows could also be a motivating factor. But even if Perrette did want to come back, her return could spark backlash from irate Mark Harmon fans.

There seems to be little debate that he kept bringing his dog to set after it bit a crew member, but conflicting narratives and inconsistencies led to some valid questions about Perrette’s account. Sadly, the result is that a large portion of the NCIS fandom still denigrates Perrette for opposing Harmon, often using language more suitable for Paramount+ than CBS.

Finally, there’s the issue of convincing Abby herself to return. Story-wise, she left NCIS in large part to get away from death. She might like Tony, but that doesn’t mean she likes him enough to go back on such a major decision. If she ever does return, her storyline won’t work without a lot of personal motivation baked into it.

Enjoy ScreenRant’s primetime coverage? Click below to sign up for our weekly Network TV newsletter (make sure to check “Network TV” in your preferences) and get the inside scoop from actors and showrunners on your favorite series.