‘NCIS’ Season 16 Air Date, Spoilers: Brian Dietzen Says It’s 'Bittersweet' to Say Goodbye to Pauley Perrette

“NCIS” season 16 is set to premiere without one of its main cast members. In the finale of the previous season, it was confirmed that Pauley Perrette, who played Abby Sciuto in the procedural drama, was leaving the show. When the announcement came, it was hard for the fans to accept as the star had been on the show since the first installment.

Needless to say, fans have come to love the quirky forensic scientist of “NCIS” and they feel it will never be the same without her in “NCIS” season 16. It was not just the fans who were saddened by Pauley Perrette’s departure but her co-stars as well. In fact, Brian Dietzen (Jimmy Palmer) recently opened up about losing a veteran of the show.

Speaking to Cinema Blend, the “NCIS” season 16 star, who plays Abby’s assistant medical examiner said, "I mean personally, obviously it's bittersweet to say goodbye to someone professionally that you've been working with for 15 years.”

He added, “She's been a really close friend for a really long time. I think I have a lot of the same feelings as when Michael Weatherly had left the show or when Cote de Pablo did, when she took her leave as well.”

Although Dietzen said that he hates to see his colleagues go, he is excited about what they will do next. He is just excited about what they will become after “NCIS” as they can now spread their wings and try their hand at other things.

Meanwhile, “NCIS” season 16 has been confirmed to premiere on Sept. 25. When it airs, Diona Reasonover (Kasie Hines) is set to fill the void that will be left behind by Pauley Perrette, EconoTimes previously reported.