The NCIS Season 5 Cameo That Means More Than You Think

The show's dedication to realism is just one of the reasons fans love it so much. For information about the types of crimes the unit solves (they're not real cases, as real as they may seem) to how the team cracks cases (often with the help of state-of-the-art forensic procedures), NCIS often consults with real-life special agents from the real Naval Criminal Investigative Service based in Quantico, Virginia. These consultants help the writing team make sure everything stays within the realm of possibility, according to the USO.

With such a solid working relationship, the creators like to highlight the partnership by including some of the consultants on the show from time to time. For instance, in the NCIS season 5 episode "Identity Crisis," the NCIS director at the time, Thomas Betro, was featured walking down the hall of the fictional NCIS headquarters. As Screen Rant notes, Betro catches Gibbs' eye and they exchange "finger guns" in a playful moment. IMDb notes he was an uncredited character referred to as "Coffee Man."