Mark Harmon’s Single Line in a 1994 Show Redefined His Whole Career

Having spent years on TV screens as NCIS ’ most famous Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Mark Harmon is still the show’s biggest star even after leaving the franchise several years ago. However, not so many may know that the actor completely changed the game rules of television with his completely different series.

Before NCIS came around back in 2003, Harmon starred in a 1994 medical drama show Chicago Hope as a regular character and Orthopaedic Surgeon Jack McNeil, and his role was way more important than everyone thought.

It may not have come as something that obvious, but Harmon was the first actor on TV to say a swear word that was actually included in the script.

In one of the episodes that sees Jack McNeil trying to deal with a failed operation, the character tells his colleagues that “s—t happens,” thus successfully paving the way for future shows that at some point needed to be obscene for no matter the reasons.

Additionally, Harmon’s unhinged line turned out to be a major source of inspiration for an animated series South Park which even allowed itself to use the word “s—t” more than 150 times in season 5 episode 1 titled It Hits The Fan.

Decades later, it still seems like there was no better candidate for making such a breakthrough on TV screens than Mark Harmon.

Having kicked his television career off with a character that could masterfully bend the rules in case there was a need for this, Harmon kept the tradition alive when he became a significant part of NCIS’ franchise.

Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ sharp wit and ability to navigate all kinds of situations have repeatedly bailed the character’s colleagues out, proving that Gibbs was like no one else, even if he had to use swear words every so often.