Timothy McGee
Encyclopedia
Timothy "Tim" McGee is a fictional character from the CBS
television series NCIS
. He is portrayed by Sean Murray. Timothy McGee is a special agent investigating crime in this police procedural
show. He started out as a minor character in the first season, but became one of the main characters of the ensemble cast.
on September 13, 1978. He spent his childhood in Alameda, California, as his father was a naval officer stationed there. His parents bought him his first car the day he turned sixteen - a 1984 Camaro Z28 5-speed. However, he crashed into a bus while trying to figure out how to use the windshield wipers. He got a student pass the day he got out of traction
. He earned a Bachelor of Science
degree in biomedical engineering
from Johns Hopkins University
and a Master of Science
degree in computer forensics
from MIT. He worked for a time at the NCIS field office in Norfolk, Virginia
before being transferred to the headquarters in the Washington Navy Yard
which was made permanent at the end of the season 2 premiere episode, "See No Evil".
His younger sister, Sarah McGee, attends Waverly College and intends to be a writer like her older brother.
as "Probie" or "McGeek", is part of a major case squad led by Special Agent Gibbs
. He gained his field agent status when he was transferred to Washington from Norfolk.
In addition to responding to crime scenes and conducting investigations (along with the rest of the field team), McGee also serves as Gibbs's computer consultant and sometimes assists Abby Sciuto
in the forensics lab when necessary. Now that Ziva David
is the newest agent, Tony calls her "Probie" or "Probette", but still uses variations of Tim's last name, such as "McGeek" and other names.
During the first few seasons, McGee was portrayed as timid and inexperienced, and his character was almost entirely altered by episode 6.12 "Caged", evolving into a bolder and more assertive character. Following Gibbs' brief retirement and Tony's subsequent promotion he becomes the senior field agent. He takes on the role very seriously, gaining Tony's respect (the latter is shown to call him Tim; a rarity). He is shown to be very protective of his younger sister, Sarah, especially when she shows up after apparently committing a murder; wherein he hides the case from his own team in order to protect her while simultaneously launching an investigation into the case in the episode "Twisted Sister".
account, explained that it was a deliberate weight loss via dieting, consuming only organic food and abstaining from alcohol and sugar. Murray has lost 25 pounds.
of the team, McGee is often subject to teasing from DiNozzo and Kate
/Ziva
, often together (though Kate and Ziva's teasing is not as mean-spirited as DiNozzo's), and, to some extent, Gibbs. In one episode, Gibbs walked into the lab, found him lying on the floor on his back while working on the underside of Abby's hotbox, and quipped, "Special Agent Goodwrench
?" McGee's most notable nicknames come from DiNozzo, either "Probie," due to his junior status on the team, or "McGeek," alluding to McGee's intelligence. DiNozzo uses multiple variations on both of these names to make fun of McGee, some of which are clever but not demeaning (McGPS, McProof, The Great McOz), some which are mocking (McLawyer, McGiggle, McGoo, McNerd, McFlowerPower) and some of which seem irrelevant (McTim).
Gibbs himself is shown to gain more respect of McGee over time, as his personality matures and he becomes a more assertive character. He is always shown as a computer consultant to Gibbs.
Ziva has had a friendly relationship with McGee since her start at NCIS. It resembles one of brother and sister. While Ziva teases McGee a great deal, often with Tony, they remain on friendly terms (Ziva's teasing is far more playful than Tony's, who takes a much more sadistic approach to the pranks he pulls on McGee). McGee was the first person to point out that Ziva was avoiding Tony at the start of season 7 and that sooner or later she would have to straighten out that relationship. He is much more comfortable and confident around Ziva than her predecessor, Kate Todd.
McGee lives near Ziva, in Silver Spring (a Maryland suburb of DC). When Ziva was in Israel between seasons 5 and 6, she and McGee e-mailed each other once a week. McGee has been to Ziva's house at least once, he was invited to her dinner party in season 3. McGee was also the one to show Ziva some ways to work from the area they live, and in return she gave him an apple - which Tony immediately stole before McGee was aware of the gift. Throughout season 7 as Ziva prepares to become an American citizen McGee supports her, even testing her. In season 7 he is with her as she becomes an American Citizen.
When McGee was introduced in "Sub Rosa", Todd protested at DiNozzo's apparent abuse of authority when he ordered McGee to stay on a crime scene until someone else can come to relieve him. Todd and McGee were partnered for a very short time during the episode "UnSEALed", during which he came to her help when she was tied up by a former Navy SEAL.
Throughout Season 2, DiNozzo and Todd would sometimes gang up on McGee to tease him, but Todd generally disapproved DiNozzo's pranks and hazing of McGee. After the murder of a witness under McGee's watch, Todd was the first to try to comfort him.
In the episode "See No Evil", the air conditioning of the building is down. McGee tries to manually restore it from a panel beneath Kate's desk. She believes McGee is trying to look up her skirt and despite McGee's protests, drags him up from underneath by his ears. Seconds later, McGee tells Tony he didn't look and Tony says he believes him, only for him to ask if Kate is a panty-hose or a thong
girl but McGee doesn't reply as Kate responds by elbowing DiNozzo in the stomach.
After Todd's death, like the grief-stricken rest of the team McGee had to cope with the loss of a friend, and like DiNozzo would fantasize about her. Later, McGee is shown mourning with DiNozzo over Todd's dead body.
Following Gibbs' retirement, McGee is promoted to Senior Field Agent after DiNozzo was promoted to Team Leader, after which Tony displays increased respect for McGee. With Ziva's departure in the episode "Aliyah", McGee is promoted to be Tony's partner in the field, and their relationship in the episode "Truth or Consequences" is shown to be friendly. For example, Tony used McGee's first name, Tim, more often and hasn't called him 'Probie' since season seven began. However, McGee's online gaming persona, "Elf Lord", persists as a nickname which even Gibbs still uses in season seven. However, despite his junior status on the team, it is apparent that, despite teasing, he is on friendly, even familial, terms with every member of the team.
In Season 5 McGee has issues with a girl who stole his heart and his credit, when he asks for help from Abby she tells him "I love you McGee and that should be enough" Which hints that Abby has feelings for McGee.
When in stressful or uncomfortable situations, as seen in the episode "Grace Period", while trying to deal with the death of a friend, McGee will often retreat to the forensics lab for reassurance from Abby.
McGee owns a dog called Jethro, that was accused of murdering a Petty Officer during the Season 5 episode, "Dog Tags". Abby looked after him and named him after Gibbs, but because her landlord wouldn't let her have a dog in her apartment, she forced McGee to take him much to his dismay as the dog had attacked McGee at the beginning of "Dog Tags", forcing him to shoot it in the leg.
Aside from Gibbs' basement, McGee's home has been shown in the most number of episodes of all the series' characters. Various characters have been inside at one point or another; namely Tony DiNozzo, Ziva David, Caitlin Todd, Sarah McGee, Abby Sciuto and Abby's previous boyfriend/stalker, Mikel.
At the end of Season 8, however there is a very tender moment between the two of them and McGee tells Abby 'If something ever happened to you I would" this indicates that he has feelings for Abby and worries about her, also that he cares and wants to protect her.
, his real-life step-sister, and daughter of executive producer Donald Bellisario
.
In "Hide and Seek" (episode 6.19), it is revealed that McGee's father was in the Navy, and stationed in California. In "The Penelope Papers," it is revealed that McGee also has a grandmother, Penelope Langston, played by Lily Tomlin
. While talking to Penelope, McGee reveals that he and his father have not spoken in seven years; Penelope and McGee agree that McGee's father is like Gibbs, in that both love McGee, but have difficulty expressing their affection.
Y-SAE71-SK-2930 keyboard to carry out his everyday work.
In the episode "Dead Man Talking", it is revealed that McGee writes mystery/crime stories, and in the season four episode "Twisted Sister", it is revealed he has published a book entitled "Deep Six". It became known in the episode "Cover Story" that McGee has been successful as a writer, and garnered a fanbase. It was kept a secret from the NCIS team for a long time. Under his pseudonym "Thom E. Gemcity" (an anagram of "Timothy McGee"), he has penned at least two novels as part of the Deep Six series, one published and one in progress. The title of the first book, Deep Six: The Continuing Adventures of L.J. Tibbs (whose name and character are based on Leroy Jethro Gibbs) suggests there have been previous novels, but these have yet to be named, though the cover of McGee's first revealed book states that it is volume one. The next of McGee's books to be released, and sequel to its predecessor is entitled Deep Six: Rock Hollow. In the episode "Cover Story", Rock Hollow becomes a focus point in that the NCIS team are investigating two murders (both committed because their killer thought they had robbed a convenience store and killed the clerk, as it was written in the book), when McGee is pressured to, and reveals everything that has taken place has been part of the book he is currently writing. It is then discovered that the story was stolen from the typewriter ribbon
McGee threw away, and that Abby could be the next victim.
McGee's writing has given him enough fame to be feted as a minor celebrity and he can enjoy perks such as VIP clubbing, as seen in the episode "Friends and Lovers". McGee has ostensibly used the profits from his writing to purchase a Porsche Boxster
(seen in the episode "Twisted Sister") and an Armani leather jacket (seen in the episode "Dead Man Walking").
The characters in McGee's books are actually based on the NCIS team, with Leroy Jethro Gibbs
as L.J. Tibbs, Anthony DiNozzo
as Tommy, Ziva David
as Lisa, Abby Sciuto
as Amy Sutton, Jimmy Palmer as Pimmy Jalmer, and himself as McGregor. This displeases some of the NCIS team, but especially Tony and Ziva, who are portrayed as lovers in his novels; McGee is victim to constant torment from Ziva and DiNozzo for many episodes thereafter. Palmer seems especially unhappy with his portrayal, which seems to include some acts of necrophilia
, and when Gibbs learned that his character Tibbs' love interest was also a Lt. Colonel, mirroring his then relationship with Hollis Mann, Gibbs seemed surprised and unhappy about his private life being a part of McGee's books.
In the episode "Ignition", he discusses his fascination with jet packs, even going so far as to show Gibbs a film he has made about them (produced under his pen name "Thom E. Gemcity"). Gibbs allows McGee to take the lead in the case because of this knowledge.
McGee is also shown to be an expert tracker, being able to find a cadaver without the assistance of dogs by reading changes in the land and observing bird droppings. He revealed he was a scout, which occupied his time while his father was deployed. He even said "I love the outdoors", much to the chagrin of the more city-like DiNozzo. However, at least twice McGee has encountered poison ivy and suffered severe rashes.
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
television series NCIS
NCIS (TV series)
NCIS, formerly known as NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service, is an American police procedural drama television series revolving around a fictional team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which conducts criminal investigations involving the U.S...
. He is portrayed by Sean Murray. Timothy McGee is a special agent investigating crime in this police procedural
Police procedural
The police procedural is a subgenre of detective fiction which attempts to convincingly depict the activities of a police force as they investigate crimes. While traditional detective novels usually concentrate on a single crime, police procedurals frequently depict investigations into several...
show. He started out as a minor character in the first season, but became one of the main characters of the ensemble cast.
Background
McGee was born in Bethesda, MarylandBethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
on September 13, 1978. He spent his childhood in Alameda, California, as his father was a naval officer stationed there. His parents bought him his first car the day he turned sixteen - a 1984 Camaro Z28 5-speed. However, he crashed into a bus while trying to figure out how to use the windshield wipers. He got a student pass the day he got out of traction
Traction (orthopedics)
In orthopedic medicine, traction refers to the set of mechanisms for straightening broken bones or relieving pressure on the spine and skeletal system.There are two types of traction: skin traction and skeletal traction....
. He earned a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in biomedical engineering
Biomedical engineering
Biomedical Engineering is the application of engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and biology. This field seeks to close the gap between engineering and medicine: It combines the design and problem solving skills of engineering with medical and biological sciences to improve...
from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
and a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
degree in computer forensics
Computer forensics
Computer forensics is a branch of digital forensic science pertaining to legal evidence found in computers and digital storage media...
from MIT. He worked for a time at the NCIS field office in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
before being transferred to the headquarters in the Washington Navy Yard
Washington Navy Yard
The Washington Navy Yard is the former shipyard and ordnance plant of the United States Navy in Southeast Washington, D.C. It is the oldest shore establishment of the U.S. Navy...
which was made permanent at the end of the season 2 premiere episode, "See No Evil".
His younger sister, Sarah McGee, attends Waverly College and intends to be a writer like her older brother.
Character
Special Agent Timothy McGee, commonly referred to by Special Agent Tony DiNozzoAnthony DiNozzo
Anthony "Tony" D. DiNozzo Jr. is a fictional character from the CBS TV series NCIS. He is portrayed by Michael Weatherly.-Background:Tony comes from a wealthy family from Long Island, New York. He is an only child, but has been cut off from his family's fortune. His mother, maiden name Paddington,...
as "Probie" or "McGeek", is part of a major case squad led by Special Agent Gibbs
Leroy Jethro Gibbs
Leroy Jethro Gibbs is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the CBS TV series NCIS. He is portrayed by Mark Harmon.-Background:...
. He gained his field agent status when he was transferred to Washington from Norfolk.
In addition to responding to crime scenes and conducting investigations (along with the rest of the field team), McGee also serves as Gibbs's computer consultant and sometimes assists Abby Sciuto
Abby Sciuto
Abigail "Abby" Sciuto is a fictional character from the NCIS television series by CBS Television, and is portrayed by Pauley Perrette. Like Jethro Gibbs, Anthony DiNozzo and Donald Mallard, Abby was first introduced in the episodes "Ice Queen" and "Meltdown" in the television show JAG, and has...
in the forensics lab when necessary. Now that Ziva David
Ziva David
Ziva David is a fictional character from the NCIS television series by CBS Television, portrayed by Chilean actress Coté de Pablo....
is the newest agent, Tony calls her "Probie" or "Probette", but still uses variations of Tim's last name, such as "McGeek" and other names.
During the first few seasons, McGee was portrayed as timid and inexperienced, and his character was almost entirely altered by episode 6.12 "Caged", evolving into a bolder and more assertive character. Following Gibbs' brief retirement and Tony's subsequent promotion he becomes the senior field agent. He takes on the role very seriously, gaining Tony's respect (the latter is shown to call him Tim; a rarity). He is shown to be very protective of his younger sister, Sarah, especially when she shows up after apparently committing a murder; wherein he hides the case from his own team in order to protect her while simultaneously launching an investigation into the case in the episode "Twisted Sister".
Appearance
Timothy McGee has green eyes and brownish-blond hair. He was overweight until the end of season six; during season seven, he was shown to be losing weight. When DiNozzo pesters him about it, McGee replies that he has lost 15 pounds. McGee's weight loss led to speculation that Sean Murray, the actor who portrays McGee, was ill; in October 2010 Murray, via his TwitterTwitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
account, explained that it was a deliberate weight loss via dieting, consuming only organic food and abstaining from alcohol and sugar. Murray has lost 25 pounds.
Field Team
As the junior field agentField agent
In espionage, a field agent is an agent who works in the field as opposed to one who works at the office or headquarters. A field agent can work alone or in a group but usually has a case officer who is in charge....
of the team, McGee is often subject to teasing from DiNozzo and Kate
Caitlin Todd
Special Agent Caitlin "Kate" Todd is a fictional character in the CBS drama NCIS, and was portrayed by actress Sasha Alexander.The character was introduced in the show's first episode "Yankee White" replacing Robyn Lively's character Vivian Blackadder which had appeared in the JAG Season 8 episodes...
/Ziva
Ziva David
Ziva David is a fictional character from the NCIS television series by CBS Television, portrayed by Chilean actress Coté de Pablo....
, often together (though Kate and Ziva's teasing is not as mean-spirited as DiNozzo's), and, to some extent, Gibbs. In one episode, Gibbs walked into the lab, found him lying on the floor on his back while working on the underside of Abby's hotbox, and quipped, "Special Agent Goodwrench
GM Goodwrench
GM Goodwrench is an auto repair service for General Motors in Canada, and previously, the United States. In 2011, GM replaced Goodwrench in the US with separate Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC Certified Service brands.-Background:...
?" McGee's most notable nicknames come from DiNozzo, either "Probie," due to his junior status on the team, or "McGeek," alluding to McGee's intelligence. DiNozzo uses multiple variations on both of these names to make fun of McGee, some of which are clever but not demeaning (McGPS, McProof, The Great McOz), some which are mocking (McLawyer, McGiggle, McGoo, McNerd, McFlowerPower) and some of which seem irrelevant (McTim).
Gibbs himself is shown to gain more respect of McGee over time, as his personality matures and he becomes a more assertive character. He is always shown as a computer consultant to Gibbs.
Ziva has had a friendly relationship with McGee since her start at NCIS. It resembles one of brother and sister. While Ziva teases McGee a great deal, often with Tony, they remain on friendly terms (Ziva's teasing is far more playful than Tony's, who takes a much more sadistic approach to the pranks he pulls on McGee). McGee was the first person to point out that Ziva was avoiding Tony at the start of season 7 and that sooner or later she would have to straighten out that relationship. He is much more comfortable and confident around Ziva than her predecessor, Kate Todd.
McGee lives near Ziva, in Silver Spring (a Maryland suburb of DC). When Ziva was in Israel between seasons 5 and 6, she and McGee e-mailed each other once a week. McGee has been to Ziva's house at least once, he was invited to her dinner party in season 3. McGee was also the one to show Ziva some ways to work from the area they live, and in return she gave him an apple - which Tony immediately stole before McGee was aware of the gift. Throughout season 7 as Ziva prepares to become an American citizen McGee supports her, even testing her. In season 7 he is with her as she becomes an American Citizen.
When McGee was introduced in "Sub Rosa", Todd protested at DiNozzo's apparent abuse of authority when he ordered McGee to stay on a crime scene until someone else can come to relieve him. Todd and McGee were partnered for a very short time during the episode "UnSEALed", during which he came to her help when she was tied up by a former Navy SEAL.
Throughout Season 2, DiNozzo and Todd would sometimes gang up on McGee to tease him, but Todd generally disapproved DiNozzo's pranks and hazing of McGee. After the murder of a witness under McGee's watch, Todd was the first to try to comfort him.
In the episode "See No Evil", the air conditioning of the building is down. McGee tries to manually restore it from a panel beneath Kate's desk. She believes McGee is trying to look up her skirt and despite McGee's protests, drags him up from underneath by his ears. Seconds later, McGee tells Tony he didn't look and Tony says he believes him, only for him to ask if Kate is a panty-hose or a thong
Thong
Thong may refer to:* Thong , a garment which primarily covers only the pubic area* Thongs, jandals or flip-flops, a type of footwear similar to sandals but which are not secured to the ankles...
girl but McGee doesn't reply as Kate responds by elbowing DiNozzo in the stomach.
After Todd's death, like the grief-stricken rest of the team McGee had to cope with the loss of a friend, and like DiNozzo would fantasize about her. Later, McGee is shown mourning with DiNozzo over Todd's dead body.
Following Gibbs' retirement, McGee is promoted to Senior Field Agent after DiNozzo was promoted to Team Leader, after which Tony displays increased respect for McGee. With Ziva's departure in the episode "Aliyah", McGee is promoted to be Tony's partner in the field, and their relationship in the episode "Truth or Consequences" is shown to be friendly. For example, Tony used McGee's first name, Tim, more often and hasn't called him 'Probie' since season seven began. However, McGee's online gaming persona, "Elf Lord", persists as a nickname which even Gibbs still uses in season seven. However, despite his junior status on the team, it is apparent that, despite teasing, he is on friendly, even familial, terms with every member of the team.
Abby Sciuto
McGee had an extended relationship with forensics technician Abby Sciuto in season one, but there is no direct reference to their relationship ending. However, despite this, they are still very close and often tease each other about their previous relationship/dates (sexual jokes, suggestive comments, etc.), and in some instances Abby has shown jealousy of attention women have given McGee. In contrast to Tony DiNozzo, McGee has had few relationships, or possible ones, almost all of which have begun and ended in the same episode.In Season 5 McGee has issues with a girl who stole his heart and his credit, when he asks for help from Abby she tells him "I love you McGee and that should be enough" Which hints that Abby has feelings for McGee.
When in stressful or uncomfortable situations, as seen in the episode "Grace Period", while trying to deal with the death of a friend, McGee will often retreat to the forensics lab for reassurance from Abby.
McGee owns a dog called Jethro, that was accused of murdering a Petty Officer during the Season 5 episode, "Dog Tags". Abby looked after him and named him after Gibbs, but because her landlord wouldn't let her have a dog in her apartment, she forced McGee to take him much to his dismay as the dog had attacked McGee at the beginning of "Dog Tags", forcing him to shoot it in the leg.
Aside from Gibbs' basement, McGee's home has been shown in the most number of episodes of all the series' characters. Various characters have been inside at one point or another; namely Tony DiNozzo, Ziva David, Caitlin Todd, Sarah McGee, Abby Sciuto and Abby's previous boyfriend/stalker, Mikel.
At the end of Season 8, however there is a very tender moment between the two of them and McGee tells Abby 'If something ever happened to you I would" this indicates that he has feelings for Abby and worries about her, also that he cares and wants to protect her.
Doctor Donald Mallard
Ducky is one of the few individuals to use McGee's full given name of Timothy as illustrated in episode 2.01,"See No Evil." As with Abby, Ducky at times adopts a fatherly attitude towards Tim as demonstrated in the fourth season episode entitled "Smoked." It seems that Ducky's fatherly relationship with McGee mellows into one of mutual respect.Director Vance
In episode 6.07 "Collateral Damage" a discussion occurred between Gibbs and Director Vance in which, they discussed what qualities the ideal NCIS agent should possess. During the discussion Director Vance told Gibbs that in his view McGee exemplified the model NCIS agent, in sharp contrast to Gibbs who prefers agents in the mold of DiNozzo. During "Enemies Domestic", McGee seemed pretty shaken-up and almost distraught after seeing the extent of Vance's injuries following the explosion.Family
In "See No Evil" (season 2), McGee is revealed to have a sister, Sarah, who appears in the episodes "Red Cell" and "Twisted Sister." In the latter episode, the two seem to differ greatly in personality, but are very close, as McGee helps clear Sarah as a potential murder suspect, and is willing to risk his NCIS career to do so. Sarah McGee is portrayed by Troian BellisarioTroian Bellisario
Troian Avery Bellisario is an American actress. She currently stars as Spencer Hastings in the ABC Family series Pretty Little Liars.-Career:Bellisario made her acting debut in the 1988 film Last Rites at the age of 3...
, his real-life step-sister, and daughter of executive producer Donald Bellisario
Donald Bellisario
Donald Paul Bellisario is an American television producer and screenwriter who created and sometimes wrote episodes for the TV series Magnum, P.I., Airwolf, Quantum Leap, JAG, and NCIS...
.
In "Hide and Seek" (episode 6.19), it is revealed that McGee's father was in the Navy, and stationed in California. In "The Penelope Papers," it is revealed that McGee also has a grandmother, Penelope Langston, played by Lily Tomlin
Lily Tomlin
Mary Jean "Lily" Tomlin is an American actress, comedienne, writer, and producer. Tomlin has been a major force in American comedy since the late 1960's when she began a career as a stand up comedian and became a featured performer on television's Laugh-in...
. While talking to Penelope, McGee reveals that he and his father have not spoken in seven years; Penelope and McGee agree that McGee's father is like Gibbs, in that both love McGee, but have difficulty expressing their affection.
Hobbies
McGee has a passion for computers and enjoys playing games relating to tactical warfare and covert infiltration. This is shown to be an interest shared by his sister Sarah, as seen in the episode "Red Cell", when she takes over his live war game as he leaves his apartment. In the episode "Broken Bird," his first computer was revealed to have been a Mac SE, followed by a PowerBook, and finally a PC. He uses a LogitechLogitech
Logitech International S.A. is a global provider of personal peripherals for computers and other digital platforms headquartered in Romanel-sur-Morges, Switzerland. The company develops and markets products like peripheral devices for PCs, including keyboards, mice, microphones, game controllers...
Y-SAE71-SK-2930 keyboard to carry out his everyday work.
In the episode "Dead Man Talking", it is revealed that McGee writes mystery/crime stories, and in the season four episode "Twisted Sister", it is revealed he has published a book entitled "Deep Six". It became known in the episode "Cover Story" that McGee has been successful as a writer, and garnered a fanbase. It was kept a secret from the NCIS team for a long time. Under his pseudonym "Thom E. Gemcity" (an anagram of "Timothy McGee"), he has penned at least two novels as part of the Deep Six series, one published and one in progress. The title of the first book, Deep Six: The Continuing Adventures of L.J. Tibbs (whose name and character are based on Leroy Jethro Gibbs) suggests there have been previous novels, but these have yet to be named, though the cover of McGee's first revealed book states that it is volume one. The next of McGee's books to be released, and sequel to its predecessor is entitled Deep Six: Rock Hollow. In the episode "Cover Story", Rock Hollow becomes a focus point in that the NCIS team are investigating two murders (both committed because their killer thought they had robbed a convenience store and killed the clerk, as it was written in the book), when McGee is pressured to, and reveals everything that has taken place has been part of the book he is currently writing. It is then discovered that the story was stolen from the typewriter ribbon
Typewriter ribbon
A typewriter ribbon is an expendable module serving the function of transferring pigment to paper in various devices for impact printing. Such ribbons were part of standard designs for hand- or motor-driven typewriters, teleprinters, stenotype machines, computer-driven printers and many mechanical...
McGee threw away, and that Abby could be the next victim.
McGee's writing has given him enough fame to be feted as a minor celebrity and he can enjoy perks such as VIP clubbing, as seen in the episode "Friends and Lovers". McGee has ostensibly used the profits from his writing to purchase a Porsche Boxster
Porsche Boxster
The Porsche Boxster is a mid-engined roadster built by Porsche. The Boxster is Porsche's first road vehicle to be originally designed as a roadster since the 550 Spyder....
(seen in the episode "Twisted Sister") and an Armani leather jacket (seen in the episode "Dead Man Walking").
The characters in McGee's books are actually based on the NCIS team, with Leroy Jethro Gibbs
Leroy Jethro Gibbs
Leroy Jethro Gibbs is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the CBS TV series NCIS. He is portrayed by Mark Harmon.-Background:...
as L.J. Tibbs, Anthony DiNozzo
Anthony DiNozzo
Anthony "Tony" D. DiNozzo Jr. is a fictional character from the CBS TV series NCIS. He is portrayed by Michael Weatherly.-Background:Tony comes from a wealthy family from Long Island, New York. He is an only child, but has been cut off from his family's fortune. His mother, maiden name Paddington,...
as Tommy, Ziva David
Ziva David
Ziva David is a fictional character from the NCIS television series by CBS Television, portrayed by Chilean actress Coté de Pablo....
as Lisa, Abby Sciuto
Abby Sciuto
Abigail "Abby" Sciuto is a fictional character from the NCIS television series by CBS Television, and is portrayed by Pauley Perrette. Like Jethro Gibbs, Anthony DiNozzo and Donald Mallard, Abby was first introduced in the episodes "Ice Queen" and "Meltdown" in the television show JAG, and has...
as Amy Sutton, Jimmy Palmer as Pimmy Jalmer, and himself as McGregor. This displeases some of the NCIS team, but especially Tony and Ziva, who are portrayed as lovers in his novels; McGee is victim to constant torment from Ziva and DiNozzo for many episodes thereafter. Palmer seems especially unhappy with his portrayal, which seems to include some acts of necrophilia
Necrophilia
Necrophilia, also called thanatophilia or necrolagnia, is the sexual attraction to corpses,It is classified as a paraphilia by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association. The word is artificially derived from the ancient Greek words: νεκρός and φιλία...
, and when Gibbs learned that his character Tibbs' love interest was also a Lt. Colonel, mirroring his then relationship with Hollis Mann, Gibbs seemed surprised and unhappy about his private life being a part of McGee's books.
In the episode "Ignition", he discusses his fascination with jet packs, even going so far as to show Gibbs a film he has made about them (produced under his pen name "Thom E. Gemcity"). Gibbs allows McGee to take the lead in the case because of this knowledge.
McGee is also shown to be an expert tracker, being able to find a cadaver without the assistance of dogs by reading changes in the land and observing bird droppings. He revealed he was a scout, which occupied his time while his father was deployed. He even said "I love the outdoors", much to the chagrin of the more city-like DiNozzo. However, at least twice McGee has encountered poison ivy and suffered severe rashes.
Special episodes
Some episodes are particularly insightful to McGee and reveal certain facets of his personality or his past:- "Witness": McGee must investigate when a single woman said she witnessed a murder.
- "Probie": During a protection mission, McGee kills a policeman. He takes it pretty hard, seeing as he believed the policeman was a drug dealer trying to kill him when in fact he was an undercover DC Metro officer.
- "Twisted Sister": McGee's sister Sarah shows up at McGee's door, her hands bloodied and thinking she killed her ex-boyfriend, a Marine. McGee hides evidence of his sister's supposed crime and launches a secret investigation into the affair.
- "Cover Story": A man is inspired to commit murder by McGee's book; McGee is pressured to determine where the murderer will strike next.
- "Caged": McGee is taken hostage in a women's prison.
- "Kill Screen": A dead Marine's girlfriend becomes a key witness to a murder investigation, and McGee's computer skills become important in solving the murder.
- "The Penelope Papers": McGee's grandmother Penelope Langston is a person of interest, and almost a victim, in a murder investigation.