New 'NCIS' is a whole lot like the old one

When CBS launched its second and then third "CSIs," the mandate was to clearly differentiate them from the original (and each other).

But with the launch of "NCIS: Los Angeles," the goal is to make the new show so much like the old one that all the "NCIS" fans — and there are a lot of them — won't be able to help themselves. They'll just have to stay tuned on Tuesday at 8 p.m. (Ch. 2) to watch the spinoff.

"My biggest concern … is to please the current "NCIS" fans first and foremost because there's very loyal fans and a huge following," said Chris O'Donnell, who stars as special agent G. Callen.

"We don't want to make them have an allergic reaction to what we are doing," said LL Cool J, who stars as special agent Sam Hanna.

To that end, "NCIS: Los Angeles" is different, but the spirit is the same. It's not just about the investigations, it's about the relationships of the various characters and the humor that grows out of them.

And the show gets off to a very good start. Fans of the original should like the new series. And, even if you've never seen a single episode of "NCIS," there's plenty to like about "NCIS: Los Angeles."

The biggest difference is that the new show uses some amazing, whiz-bang surveillance technology, which is really cool.

And, these days, anything "NCIS" is amazingly cool. Including "NCIS: Los Angeles."

— Scott D. Pierce