"NCIS: Los Angeles" The Only Easy Day (2009)

Director:

Terrence O'Hara

Writers:

Shane Brennan (creator)
R. Scott Gemmill (written by)

TV Series:

"NCIS: Los Angeles" (2009)

Original Air Date:

29 September 2009 (Season 1, Episode 2)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Sam identifies suspects in an assault turned deadly at a drug dealer's residence as SEALs. Sam takes things a little personally since he's a former SEAL.

Plot Keywords:

Diving | Beach | Undercover Work | Special Agent | Military Crime

Cast

Chris O'Donnell	...	G. Callen
Peter Cambor	...	Nate Getz
Daniela Ruah	...	Kensi Blye
Adam Jamal Craig	...	Dominic Vail
Linda Hunt	...	Henrietta 'Hetty' Lange
LL Cool J	...	Sam Hanna
Barrett Foa	...	Eric Beale
Rodney Rowland	...	LAPD Detective Douglas Grozen (as Rod Rowland)
Matt Battaglia	...	Kurt Holgate
Brian Gross	...	Navy Seal Morris Raspen
Kathleen Rose Perkins	...	Coroner Rose Carlyle
Seidy Lopez	...	Navy Seal Gail Ramirez
Whitney Anderson	...	Waitress
Barry W. Levy	...	Sheriff (as Barry Levy)
Albert Garcia	...	LAPD Detective Mekowitz
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kinga Philipps	...	Heather

Directed by
Terrence O'Hara

Writing credits
Shane Brennan		(creator)
R. Scott Gemmill		(written by)

Produced by
David Bellisario	....	producer
Shane Brennan	....	executive producer
Jeff Diaz	....	financial line producer
R. Scott Gemmill	....	executive producer
Gil Grant	....	consulting producer
John Peter Kousakis	....	co-executive producer
Matt Pyken	....	consulting producer
Lindsay Sturman	....	supervising producer
Rick Tunell	....	co-producer
Erik Whitmyre	....	associate producer

Original Music by
James S. Levine

Cinematography by
Victor Hammer		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Lee Haxall

Casting by
Susan Bluestein
Jason Kennedy

Production Design by
Thomas Fichter

Art Direction by
Anthony D. Parrillo		(as Anthony Parrillo)

Set Decoration by
Michele Poulik

Costume Design by
Darryl Levine

Makeup Department
Rhonda O'Neal	....	key hair stylist
Trefor Proud	....	makeup artist
Brooks Stenstrom	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Christopher J. Molnar	....	post-production supervisor
Rick Tunell	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eric A. Pot	....	first assistant director
Ellie Smith	....	second assistant director
Christopher Wolfe	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Mike Brooks	....	construction coordinator
Steven B. Melton	....	property master
Randy Molique	....	on set dresser
James Addink	....	art department coordinator (uncredited)
Lance Larson	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Ron Licari	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Jeff Ozimek	....	set designer (uncredited)
Trevor A. Rudolph	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Krista Schoenbaum	....	construction assistant (uncredited)
Gaylene West	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Wilson Dyer	....	sound supervisor
Chris Elam	....	sound re-recording mixer
Chris Haire	....	sound re-recording mixer
Phillip W. Palmer	....	production sound mixer
Kevin Fisher	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Robin Harlan	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Patrick Martens	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Sarah Monat	....	sound (uncredited)
Andrew Morgado	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Randy Singer	....	foley mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Donald Frazee	....	special effects supervisor (as Don Frazee)

Visual Effects by
Dylan Chudzynski	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Paul Le Blanc	....	computer graphics playback (uncredited)

Stunts
R.A. Rondell	....	stunt coordinator
Robert Alonzo	....	fight coordinator (uncredited)
Robert Alonzo	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
Brennan Dyson	....	stunt double: LL Cool J (uncredited)
Jeremy Fitzgerald	....	stunts (uncredited)
Shauna Galligan	....	stuntwoman (uncredited)
Matt Leonard	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eric Linden	....	stunt double: Chris O'Donnell (uncredited)
Marco Morales	....	stunt performer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Steve Alessi	....	grip
Matt Cohen	....	computer/video engineer
Todd Csernecky	....	best boy electric
Kathleen Farry	....	second assistant camera: a camera
Frederick Iannone	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as Fred Iannone)
Russell McElhatton	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Tony Bendt	....	best boy grip (uncredited)
Matt Gulbin	....	grip (uncredited)
John Scott Mills	....	digital imaging technician (uncredited)
Jacqueline J. Nivens	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Meredith Fordney	....	casting assistant
Anthony J. Kraus	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Melanie Ghisays	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Chris Tracy	....	post-production coordinator
Eric Wilson	....	assistant editor
Jacob Tillman	....	on-line editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Josh Klein	....	composer: additional music
James S. Levine	....	composer: theme music
Mark Wike	....	music editor
Josh Hertz	....	assistant music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
David Bassett	....	transportation coordinator (as Dave Bassett)
Brenda Ryan	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Christopher Billig	....	main title design
Royce Binion	....	stand-in: LL Cool J
Erin Broadhurst	....	assistant to executive producer
Tim Clemente	....	consultant
Russell Dague	....	production coordinator
Jimmey Donchey	....	script coordinator
Jamila Farwell	....	production assistant (as Jamila E. Farwell)
Tom Holzhauer	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Dave Kalstein	....	story editor
Matthew Klipper	....	production accountant
Justin Maradiegue	....	multimedia coordinator
Chad Mazero	....	assistant to executive producer
Dana M. Michaelsen	....	first assistant accountant (as Dana Michaelsen)
Tony Salome	....	location manager
Dana Scanlon	....	assistant to executive producer
Danny Sconyers	....	assistant locations manager
Laura Starks	....	assistant production coordinator
Dorion Thomas	....	key assistant location manager
Diana Valentine	....	script supervisor
Speed Weed	....	executive story editor
Daniel Beck	....	stand-in: Chris O'Donnell (uncredited)
Royce Binion	....	stand in: LL Cool J (uncredited)
Roger Fath	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)
Vanessa Gibson	....	second assistant accountant (uncredited)
Peter Kelley	....	acting coach: Chris O'Donnell (uncredited)
Adam Rex	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jordan Schmidt	....	key assistant location manager (uncredited)
Charles A. Tamburro	....	aerial coordinator / helicopter pilot (uncredited)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Shane Brennan		creator

Stunts
Lori Seaman	....	stunt driver (2009)

Camera and Electrical Department
Charles A. Vogeler	....	24 frame video operator (2009)

Production Companies

• Shane Brennan Productions
• CBS Television Studios

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (2009) (USA) (TV)
• Nelonen (2010) (Finland) (TV)
• Network Ten (2009) (Australia) (TV)
• Sat.1 (2010) (Germany) (TV)
• Sky One (2009) (UK) (TV)
• TV2 (2010) (Hungary) (TV)
• VT4 (2010) (Belgium) (TV)
• Veronica (2010) (Netherlands) (TV)

Special Effects

• Digital Film Tree (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Thomas Cobb Design  main title design (as Thomas Cobb Group)
• Digital Film Tree  post-production
• Larson Studios  post-production sound
• Lockheed Martin Corporation  specialized imagery software and promotional consideration furnished by
• Pictometry International Corporation  specialized imagery software and promotional consideration furnished by
• Perceptive Pixel  multi-touch display
• Avon Studio Transport  production vehicles
• Digital Film Tree  digital dailies

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Federal Building - 11000 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Shane Brennan Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: When Agent Hanna and the suspect finish fighting by pulling guns on one another, Hanna pulls a Glock 22. The camera pans to Agent Callen. When it returns to Hanna, he is holding his service pistol (a SIG Sauer P228).

Quotes:

Operational Psychologist Nate Getz:[Watching a security tape of the SEALS at a bar] How do you know they're not leaving?
Special Agent Sam Hanna:They didn't close out their tab. SEALS wouldn't leave unfinished beer on the bar if the place was on fire.

Movie Connections:

References "The Secret Squirrel Show" (1965)

Give it a chance, people!

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

I love NCIS. Here in Australia, two episodes of NCIS: LA has aired - "Identity" and "The Only Easy Day". Both times I've been left wanting more and more. I think this show is a winner in my book - great cast, good writing and interesting characters.

I am going to take this chance to address some of the issues that OTHER people seem to have with the show. "It's not enough like the original NCIS!" That's what I hear the most when people consider the negatives of the show. Think about it, people! If this show was a clone of NCIS just set in LA - it would be boring! It would be the exact same show, different setting. People say that characters are humourless - wrong! The chemistry between LL Cool J and Chris O'Donnell is electric. If you disagree, try opening your eyes and ears whilst watching the show...you'll notice a difference, trust me.

Finally, "Where is Special Agent Macy"? This annoys me. A Lot. Seriously people, When JAG aired "Meltdown" and "Ice Queen" which introduced us to the NCIS team, Special Agent Vivian Blackadder was on the team. When NCIS started she wasn't and was replaced by Kate Todd. Anyone complain then? No. Things change people, casts changes, characters change, the human body changes during puberty for crying out loud. Accept it! Things-can-change! As for the episode, "The Only Easy Day" I loved it. LL Cool J was awesome in the episode as he, a SEAL himself deals with fellow SEALS killing a drug dealer. Cool J's character of Hanna showed great development in this episode and I really am growing to love him. It was nice to see Kensi (Daniela Ruah) and Dom (Adam Jamal Craig) do more field work this episode and both characters developed nicely, as has the lovable, quirky operation psychologist Nate (Peter Cambor). I will single out one character this episode - Hetty (Linda Hunt). Hetty is definitely NOT Gibbs or Director Vance. She's fairly kind, has sly humour and gets the best from her team. There is something about her that makes you warm whilst watching her, she is a great addition to the show, even if she does look like a toy doll.

All in all, after two episodes of NCIS: LA I've been loving every minute of it. I can't wait for next week's episode. 8/10