To me it seems obvious that they hired a guy who looks like him, down to the glasses, blond hair (albeit less resplendent blond hair) and vest. But Weatherly doesn't have Baker's likability or charisma. We'll see how this show goes. Too bad they can't recast it with Baker, if he were interested...
That said, they had a nice little redeeming moment: a tribute to Al Pacino at the end of ...And Justice for All with Bull sitting on the courthouse steps at the beginning of the show.
I find this curious. Factoring in just the shows for which they are best known:
NCIS begain in 2003. Michael Weatherly was in it from the first episode.
Mentalist began in 2008,five years later.
You are apparently claiming that Baker is beter known than Weatherly, or that Weatherly is only a cheap "copy" of Baker.
That just seems to me to be irrational. Why wouldn't they hire a likely better known actor. Mentalist did well, but NCIS has been higher in ratings and likely more likely to be recognized by the average person.
(and yes, there are people who will not recognize it or have any idea what it is. Just as they will for Mentalist. There are people who have never heard of Superman. )
I like Michael Weatherly and think that of all the cast departures which "NCIS" has "weathered", the loss of DiNozzo is the one that could be their ultimate demise.
Having said that, Michael Weatherly is a couple clicks down from Simon Baker in both talent and resume of previous work.
Well, they're both handsome guys, and I like both of them as actors, but IMHO it would have been a bad move to cast Simon as Jason Bull. I'd been wondering if he'd lost his paranormal powers.
It's still a bit strange to see Michael Weatherly in a new roll, but I begin to warm up to him.
Perhaps they could cast Simon as Jason's wicked brother.