Cote de Pablo is snacking on olives in a hotel bar, considering a key relationship that is about to come into focus again on NCIS, which emerged as TV’s No. 1 show in its seventh season. In a sweeps episode called “Jet Lag,” her character, Ziva David, spends most of the hour trapped on an overseas commercial flight with an unknown killer—but, more importantly, trapped in the company of Michael Weatherly’s Special Agt. Tony DiNozzo, with whom she may forever enjoy an unconsummated sexual tension.

Or is it possible that it was already consummated, years ago, and only she and he—and a minority of alert viewers—figured it out?

“Michael and I have spoken about it lightly, because we don’t want to go into it too deeply,” she says. “But we both have different views on what actually happened in ‘Undercovers’ [the 2005 episode in which Tony and Ziva spent time at a fancy hotel]. In many ways, it’s helped us play out whatever it is that’s happened since [with our characters]. Michael has his own agenda and I have mine, and sometimes it’s a complete conflict of ideas. It’s like the book Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus….”

7×13 – “Jetleg” (26 Jan)

NCIS Star Michael Weatherly on Playing Robert Wagner, His Appearance on The Cosby Show and His Trou-Dropping Habit

The most successful police procedurals on television boast more than a talented cast and expertly-written investigations solved within an hour — they depend on first-rate comic relief. And the most humorous moments (as well as some of the more sincere) on the most-watched television drama are brought to you by Michael Weatherly, who plays charismatic Senior Field Agent Anthony DiNozzo on NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service. As the foil to Mark Harmon’s humorless Senior Agent, Weatherly’s character regularly taps into pop culture for investigative inspiration (the movie Speed once helped him solve a case) while throwing back to the witty scoundrels played by Cary Grant. Thanks in part to Weatherly’s popularity, NCIS rang in its 150th episode on CBS last week.

A few days ago, Movieline caught up with Weatherly, who was en route to the house of recent NCIS guest star Robert Wagner, to discuss his affection for the It Takes a Thief star, his first television gig with Bill Cosby, and why he tends to take his pants off when he is nervous.

Congratulations on the 150th episode of NCIS. Seven seasons into the series, are you still nervous about ratings, especially since CBS scheduled you opposite American Idol again?

Entire interview on The Bonie Hunt Show

7×12 – NCIS – ET Online