"NCIS: Origins" will catch up with present-day Leroy Jethro Gibbs as part of its big crossover with the flagship series in November

After 19 years, CBS manages to evade tackling the only acceptable plot hole in all of NCIS' history with Ducky's return to the franchise.

Harmon will return in the flesh for a special crossover event on Tuesday, Nov. 11. For one night only, “NCIS” and “NCIS: Origins” are swapping time slots; the spinoff will air first at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the original series.

NCIS: Origins” paid tribute to the beloved Donald “Ducky” Mallard in its latest episode, bringing back actor Adam Campbell to the franchise

Because of David McCallum's death in 2023, NCIS already had a Ducky send-off episode, which features the surprise return of Michael Weatherly's Anthony DiNozzo Jr. The shock cameo was great. That said, it still felt incomplete because Mark Harmon's Gibbs didn't return.

Gibbs gets a visitor at Camp Pendleton from DC Headquarters in a new NCIS: Origins Season 2, Episode 3 sneak peek. See the very special reunion here.

"NCIS: Origins" honors David McCallum in a tribute episode Oct. 28 featuring young "Ducky" Mallard's return. USA TODAY gets an exclusive sneak peek.

David Slade's 30 Days of Night, a vampire movie produced by Sam Raimi and starring Josh Hartnett, is streaming for free and is worth your time. A quiet takeover unfolds in plain sight. The horror is realizing you were right, just too late for it to matter.