Terry Morrow: Muse Watson of Roane County returns to 'NCIS'

Photo by SONJA FLEMMING, ©2008 CBS BROADCASTING INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Actor Muse Watson, right, who got his start with local community theater and owns land in Roane County, will reprise his role as the now-late Mike Franks in the 200th episode of "NCIS."

For a ghost, Mike Franks sure is seen around "NCIS" a lot.

Actor Muse Watson, who got his start with local community theater and owns land in Roane County, will reprise his role as the now-late Mike Franks in the 200th episode of "NCIS."

Watson confirmed his return via Twitter: "Just got my script for the 200th episode of 'NCIS.' It's a great script ... I got an e-mail from Mark (Harmon) welcoming me back."

The 200th episode will air in early 2012.

At the end of the past season, Franks was murdered. But that has not stopped the popular recurring character.

He's already made one return back to the show (via flashback). Now he'll be around at least one more time. (And who knows? Maybe he'll be back again this season.)

Makes you wonder why they killed him off in the first place, right?

"NCIS" airs 8 p.m. Tuesdays on WVLT, Channel 8.

n Year's end. Where would country music be without East Tennessee talent?

Well, probably in a sorry state. In the just-released year-end look of 2011 country music, three East Tennessee-related acts land in the top 10 country albums of the year.

Rolling into the countdown at No. 7 is The Band Perry's self-titled debut CD. The work contains such songs as "If I Die Young," which has been a crossover tune for the trio. Kimberly Perry and her brothers, Neil and Reid Perry, live in Greeneville.

It's hard to catch them there lately, though. They seem to be everywhere but home.

At No. 8 is "The Incredible Machine" from the duo Sugarland. The act consists of Kristian Bush, who is from Knoxville.

To date, "Machine" has sold more than 9 million copies.

And rounding out the top 10 at No. 10 is Kenny Chesney, who hails from Luttrell. His CD, "Hemingsway's Whiskey" earned him multiple honors during 2011.

The CD's lead single was "The Boys of Fall," a hit for Chesney in 2010.

n What's to eat? While talking to Antone Davis recently about "The Biggest Loser," I asked him about what he ate the day of the finale.

He has heard stories of how contestants practically starve themselves in order to get down to the lowest possible weight during the finale.

Davis, a resident of Knoxville who came in second place in the latest season, didn't go that extreme.

He had a salad and some berries prior to the final weigh-in.

And after the show? Davis munched on some turkey, strawberries and allowed himself to have a cold beer.

Davis came in second this season but managed to lose 202 pounds. He started his run on the show at 447 pounds.

Terry Morrow may be reached at 865-342-6445 or morrowt@knoxville.com.

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