Author => Vicki

Callen’s Corner: Callen And Food

It’s not very often that we see Callen or any of the team eat on the show, but when he does, it’s usually something unhealthy. Sam doesn’t hold back having a go at him about his unhealthy eating habits either, taking on a motherly role for his partner:

Sam: “We were supposed to meet. Go for a run before work.”
Callen: “We were supposed to meet at Patrick’s Roadhouse for breakfast.”
Sam: “If we try, we can still get a few miles in.”
Callen: “No way. I just had Pigs-in-Blankets, and waffles. Little bit full.”
Sam: “You’re full of something. And it ain’t waffles.”
Sam [later, after narrowly escaping some guard dogs]: “How are those waffles feeling now?”
Callen: “Ha. Ha. You know what’s really funny? Your car’s still in there.”

(S2E09 ‘Absolution’)

Sam [lowering Callen down a skylight to save Abbey Scuito from a psychopath]: “You’ve got to lay off the donuts Buddy.”

(S1E09 ‘Random on Purpose’)

At the beginning of Enemy Within, Callen shows little care in his attitude to take care of himself, which annoys Sam immensely:

Sam [scolds G for not taking care of himself]: “This is what I am telling you, G. If you don’t take care of yourself it becomes cumulative. Every broken bone, gun shot, stab wound…”
G: “Camel bite.”
Sam: “It starts to add up. You need a real bed, a real diet, some flaxseed oil, maybe a little Pilates.”
G: “You know what? I’ll stick with coffee and aspirin.”

(S2E19 ‘Enemy Within’)

There aren’t very many times (except when in the Hawaii Five-0 crossover and Recruit) that Callen has actually engulfed his food like he did while enjoying Agent Giordano’s Double Double Burger. Our hero doesn’t have much time to eat, but when he does, he apparently enjoys it very much. Also, Red part 1 is the only time besides Hawaii, where we’ve seen Callen sit down for a meal with others:

Callen [organises to meet Agent Giordano late down by the pier. He waits for her leaning on his car, when she pulls up. He leans into her open window]: “I need paper.”
Giordano: “Look at you, you got in with Pargo.”
Callen [looks down on the passenger seat and sees her burger and fries]: “Is that a double double?”
Giordano: “I missed lunch.”
Callen: “We’re sharing right?”
[Giordano shakes her head as Callen climbs into her car. She sips from her soft drink]
Callen: “Aah!”
Giordano: “So how much paper do you need?”
Callen: “Two thousand sheets.” [bites into Giordano’s burger] “Mmm! Mmm! By tomorrow.” [wipes his mouth with serviette] “That’s good.”

(S1E06 ‘Keeping it Real’)

[Callen, Sam, Kensi and Deeks are outisde a food truck]
Callen: “You sure you’re not hungry?”
Sam: “Not now. What the hell is that?”
Callen: “Fish tacos.”
Sam: “What kind of fish?”
Callen: “The kind that swims in the ocean.”
Sam: “Ho-how could you eat something without knowing what it is? That could have been last weeks bait for all you know. Even looks like chum.”
Callen: “Carlos is the Iron Chef of food trucks.”
Kensi [walking up]: “Smells good over here, what’s for lunch?”
Sam: “Mystery fish.”
Deeks: “Ah! Deep sea surprise is back?”
Callen: “Help yourself.”
Deeks: “Seriously? Nice!”

(S4E02 ‘Recruit’)

It could be argued that Callen’s not the most discerning person when it comes to cuisine, but at least he’s got Deeks on his side. Callen probably got more enjoyment out of his “mystery fish” because of how disgusted his partner was with it. So it was surprising that Callen commented on Kensi’s health from the cheese in her breakfast burritos:

Kensi: “If you and Sam have been exposed to something, the medical officer has to take a look at you. Your health could be at risk.”
Callen: “So could yours if you keep eating the breakfast burritos.”
Kensi: “How did you, umm…?”
Callen: “The cheese. Makes your voice phlegmy. Not good.”

(S1E14 ‘LD50’)

There’s one other occasion where we have seen Callen make a comment on “unhealthy” food. Usually he’s the one to eat it, not to comment on it. However, maybe Callen does have a problem with dairy:

Callen: “I’m actually allergic to dairy.”
Sam: “Oh, since when?”
Callen: “Since… that thing.”
Sam: “What thing?”
Callen: “That thing. Allergic.”

(S4E21 ‘Resurrection’)

Unless it’s cheese on a pizza in Skin Deep (when Deeks buys them all peanut butter sandwiches for lunch and they run off for the last remaining pieces of pizza left in the kitchen. Unfortunately for them, Eric has already beaten them to it) and in the Chosen One:

Callen [as his alias]: “You’re going to throw away a pizza? Do you know how much I have dreamed about American pizza since I left?”

(S4E13 ‘The Chosen One’)

Perhaps Callen always longs for pizzas and other fatty foods that make Sam get annoyed with him:

Callen [walks into the mission with bacon and eggs for breakfast]: “Hi.”
Sam: “Bacon. Third time this week.”
Callen: “U-huh!”
Sam:” When was the last time you got your cholesterol checked?”
Callen: “Last Month.”
Sam: “What was it? 250, 275?”
Callen: “Not even close.”
Sam: ” If it’s 300, I’m interviewing new partners.”
Callen: ” Sorry pal, you are stuck with me. Genetically gifted. 170.”
[Sam creases his brow]
Callen: “Bacon is my friend.”
[Kensi enters looking for Deeks]: “What are you eating?”
Callen: “Eggs, bacon.”

(S3E06 ‘Lone Wolf’)

There have been some occasions when some great banter between Callen and Sam have entertained us, that have involved around the subject of food:

Sam: “SEALs eat pirates for breakfast.”
Callen: “Uh-huh. What do they taste like, chicken?”
Sam: “Fish sticks.”

(S2E23 ‘Imposters’)

[Callen has offered to take Sam out to eat. And you can just see Sam licking his lips]
Callen: “You’re always trying to milk it.”
Sam: “Is it truffle season yet?”
Callen: “Okay, a couple ground rules though: No weird expensive fungi. No eggs that don’t come from a chicken. No scotch that’s older than you or me.”
Sam: “I can still order a Seafood Tower.”
Callen: “Great.”

(S2E20 ‘The Job’)

Callen [feeling rejected by Sam]: “Suit yourself. Come on Kens. Hey, what do you say we, uh, stop for some donuts.”
Kensi: “I love donuts.”
Sam Hanna: “You didn’t say anything about donuts!”

(S1E17 ‘Full Throttle’)

[Callen and Sam are driving Lily to a safe house]
Callen”: “What the hell is slow food?”
Sam: “It’s eating what’s around you. Watching it grow. Knowing your food G.”
Lily: “Impressive”.
Callen: “I know my food.”
Lily: “Oh yeah? What’d you have last night?”
Callen: “Burger.”
Lily: “Do you know the cow’s name?”
Callen: “Mac. And he was big.”

(S5E12 ‘Merry Invasion’)

[Sam and Callen are in the shooting range firing their weapons for practise. Sam is trying to get G to come out with him and Michelle for dinner]
Sam: “Well?”
Callen: “It’s last minute.”
Sam: “No it’s not. It’s tonight. That’s hours from now.”
Callen: “I’ve got stuff to do.”
Sam: “Doing what?”
Callen: “You know, stuff.”
Sam: “Please! You’re going to leave here and go and get some takeout. Probably Indian. Go home and open a beer. You’re going to turn on the history channel and you’re going to play chess against the computer.”
Callen: “Oh, you’re so off base.”
Sam: “Oh yeah?”
Callen: “I’m having Greek food.”
Sam: “No you’re not. You’re coming out for dinner with us.”

(S5E14 ‘War Cries’)

He’s also used food or in this this case salt mixed with tequila and lime to cheer Hetty up:

Callen [walks over to Hetty]: “Something I can do?”
Hetty: “No. No. This one’s stuck squarely in my lap, I’m afraid. Oh it…it’s just all a bunch of bureaucratic nonsense anyway. We must take it all with a grain of salt.”
Callen: “I find that it helps if the salt is followed by a shot of tequila and some lime.”
Hetty: “I like the way you think, Mr. Callen.”

(S2E23 ‘Imposters’)

From Sam’s comment while searching a suspect’s apartment, it’s common to only find beer and not much else in Callen’s fridge. However, this was back in the day when Callen didn’t have a place to call home:

[Sam and Callen are searching a guy’s apartment. G opens the fridge]
Callen: “Beer and mustard.”
Sam: “You sure you don’t live here?”

(S1E06 ‘Keeping It Real’)

That being said, there is evidence that Callen has dabbled in eating expensive Japanese food, even though he was being one of his many aliases:

[Callen walks into Hetty’s office]
Hetty: “I already sent the others upstairs.”
Callen: “Good morning, Hetty.”
Hetty: “Well that’s a matter of perspective, Mr. Callen. Uh, I’ve been doing some accounting and I came a crossed anomaly in your expenses. This is a fourteen hundred dollar restaurant bill from Matsukisa.”
Callen: “Um-hmm, that’s from the Miygomi case.”
Hetty: “You mean it’s not a mistake? You actually spent fourteen hundred dollars on raw fish!”
Callen: “Not me, my alias Tony Z did.”
Hetty: “Ah, ah, ah and is Tony Z going to reimburse me?”
Callen: “Well, you’ll have to ask him.”
Hetty: “Uh-huh”
Callen: “Hetty, when I go undercover as a beach bum, I eat off the Kogi truck. When I’m going after a high roller, I’ve got to hit it a little harder.”
Hetty: “Try ordering soup, player.”

(S1E11 ‘Breach’)

What’s your opinion on Callen’s diet? Do you think Sam has over reacted on his poor choice of foods, seeing Callen looks healthy and fit? Or do you agree with Sam that Callen needs to start looking after himself more, before it catches up with him and it’s too late to take care of his health? Are you a junk food addict like Callen or a healthy salad person like Sam?

Lastly, but definitely not the least, we leave you with some images of Callen with what he likes to consume the most.

I would like to thank the ladies from Callen’s Corner: ChrisDaisy, Bee, Mary and Richtsje for having a food fight with me on this topic. Also a big thank you to ncislosangelesfan.com for the screencaps.

Callen’s Corner: Season 3 Banter

There were many significant events that happened in season three of NCIS Los Angeles, which led into it’s following seasons: four and five. The season began with Callen and the team in Romania on a rescue mission to save Hetty, and continued with the run ins Callen had with Lauren Hunter. But what else do you remember about the third season? Let’s take a recap:

Hetty revealed to Callen that she knew his Mother and gave him some details on who she and his grandfather were; Callen and Sam celebrated five years of partnership; Sam’s charger Charlene was stolen; Callen almost lost his partner in Sudan; we met the not so popular Assistant Director Owen Granger; Kensi was on the hit list by Granger for killing men on her Father’s SEAL team, only to be faced with their real killer; Callen’s arch enemy, Dracul Comescu appeared in Hawaii, sending him and Sam to the beautiful paradise island of Honolulu; and Callen found himself up against a new enemy who became his biggest nemesis to date; Marcel Janvier. This storyline led into the season finale of Callen shooting him on national television (or so we were led to believe).

Here on Callen’s Corner, we’ve put together some of our favourite banters for you to enjoy.

Sam: “You hear anything?”
Callen: “She’s recuperating…like she was last month…and the month before that.”
Sam: “You think something is going on?… Of course. It’s Hetty. Something else is going on.”

Sam: “You think may she’s grooming Nell for something more? Even her ulterior motives have ulterior motives.”
Callen: “Hetty’s a riddle wrapped up in a mystery inside an enigma clutching a hand grenade.”

Kensi: “Have we heard any news on Hetty’s condition?”
Sam: “According to Nell, Hetty’s still keeping an eye on things.”
Callen: “Big Brother is watching.”
Deeks: “Or in Hetty’s case…Little Mother.”
[Everyone stares at Deeks]
Deeks: “What? You guys have been doing this too long. You’re getting paranoid.”
Hetty [from Deeks’s computer]: “A healthy dose of paranoia can keep you alive in this business, detective.”
[Deeks yells out startled and slams the computer shut]
Callen: “Did you see that?”
Sam: “I saw you slam Hetty’s face shut.”

(S3E02 ‘CyberThreat’)

Callen: “It’s comparing apples and oranges.”
Sam: “Lethal injection or firing squad.”
Kensi: “Not really fair to either of them.”
Deeks: “I’m just saying comparison begs to be made.”
Callen: “Hetty or Hunter?”
Deeks: “Pick your poison.”

(S3E03 ‘Backstopped’)

[Sam pulls up outside a house]
Callen: “I think you secretly like Monty.”
Sam: “Not a dog person.”
Callen: “Cats?”
Sam: “Nope.”
Callen: “What if you want to get a pet?”
Sam: “Not gonna…..Fish.”
Callen: “Fish!”
Sam: “Low maintenance. Don’t make any noise. They even poop in their own environment.”
Callen: “Yeah, well you can’t pet a fish.”
Sam: “Exactly, and if it doesn’t work out…”
Sam & Callen: “Sushi.”

(S3E04 ‘Deadline’)

When Sam lost his charger Charlene:

Callen: “I’m just trying to ease your grief.”
Sam: “I’m not grieving. I’m pissed.”
Callen: “Denial’s the first stage. That’s natural.”
Sam: …”This is me *naturally* ignoring you.”

Sam: “Whoever stole Charlene better hope LAPD catches them before I do.”
Callen: “You don’t mean that.”
Sam: “Yeah, okay.”
Callen: “Stage 2.”
Sam: “What?”
Callen: “Anger. It’s the second stage of grief.”
Sam: “I’m not grieving. I just want my car back!”

Sam: “I promise if I get her back, I use a bigger lock – no – better security system… Maybe a guard dog.”
Callen: “Your bargaining. That’s Stage 3.”
Sam: “Last I checked Nate was out in the field.”
Callen: “Just saying, I know how much Charlene meant to you.”

Callen: “You good?”
Sam: “Why do you ask?”
Callen: “So far, you’ve done a car, a gun and I believe that’s a dead body. Amazing detail.”
Sam: “I’m good.”
Callen: “It’s okay to be depressed.”
Sam: “I’m not depressed.”
Callen: “You will be. Stage 4.”
Sam: “Look, I’m not depressed, bargaining, angry, or in denial. But I *am* getting a little irritated.”
Callen: “Are you hungry?”
Sam: “Hunger’s not a stage.”
Callen: “It’s true. But loss of appetite is a sign of depression.”
Sam: “Keep it up.”

Sam: “It’s just a car. It hurts. But it’s not the end of the world.”
Callen: “Fifth Stage. Acceptance.”
Sam: “Yeah, right.”

(S3E05 ‘Sacrifice’)

Deeks: “Don’t you think it’s strange that Callen’s a talk radio guy?”
Callen: “Why’s that?”
Deeks: “I don’t know. I’ve always kind of considered you more of a, you know, a TV-static white noise type of guy.”
Callen: “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Deeks: “Well, I am a man of mystery.”
Kensi: “Mystery or misery?”

Kensi: “Speaking of partners, where’s Sam? Mr. ‘Always-five-minutes-early’ is late – again.”
Deeks: “And he’s taken 3 long weekends this month.”
Kensi: “You know what that means?”
Deeks: “He’s in rehearsals for an off Broadway revival of Cats.”
Callen: “I’ll tell him you said that.”

Sam: “Yeah, well Hetty just got me a new coffee maker -except this one takes an extra long time to brew.”
Callen: “Waiting can be the hardest part. Takes a lot out of you.”
Sam: “The waiting I can deal with. This uh, coffee maker came with a special mug – an incredibly stunning mug.”
Callen: “That can be tricky, because if you get distracted by the mug…”
Sam: “I know.”
Callen: “Or if you let things heat up.”
Sam: “I know.”
Callen: “That’s when you get burned.”

(S3E07 ‘Honor’)

Callen: “You got some people worried. Think about picking up the phone, maybe an email?”
Sam: “Hi , Mom, I’m okay?”
Callen: “Yeah, something like that.”
Sam: “Things got a little hot. I couldn’t take any chances. You know I still love you, right?”

(S3E09 ‘Betrayal’)

Sam: “Gotta say. Fisk does have swagger.”
Callen: “Swagger?”
Sam: “Panache. Chutzpah. Flair. That undefinable “it.” Float like a butterfly. Sting like a bee. The kind of style that can’t be taught, G. Game recognizes game.”
Callen: “Float after me, butterfly.”
Sam: “And haters gonna hate.”

Callen [Holding up some designer clothes]: “I have special name for this outfit – “Swagger.””
Sam: “Game’s looking. Game sees nothing.”
Callen: “Haters gonna hate.”

Callen: “We don’t even know who we can trust in LAPD. We go with Kensi and Deeks, we risk losing the RDX getting away.”
Sam: “Kensi and Deeks have Bates under control. Handling Fisk and the RDX – comes down to us.”
Callen: “You mean us against Fisk, his body guards, a crew of Neo-Nazis and the LAPD SWAT team that may or may not be on our side.”
Sam: “Gotta love Tuesdays.”

(S3E10 ‘The Debt’)

Callen: “Never commit a crime in a Gremlin.”
Sam: “Driving a Gremlin IS a crime.”
Hetty: “Mr. Callen, Mr. Hanna, should you find yourselves on the roof, there will be no air support. A helicopter would drop like a stone in an EMP. I hope you have a Plan B if you can’t stop this thing from firing.”
Callen: “Sam’s working on Plan B.”
Sam: “I’m working on Plan A. You’re working on Plan B.”
Callen: “We’re still working on Plan B.”
Hetty’: “Is that so? Well, I hope it doesn’t involve me identifying both of you from your dental records.”

Callen: All right. There must be other toy ponies.
Sam: You don’t get it. She talks. She flaps her wings. And she responds to 30 commands.
Kensi: OH! Five more than Deeks.
Deeks: [enters the room] How’s that? Talking about me?
[Then Eric finds one on the internet, does the bidding but looses…]
Callen: Well, maybe Santa will bring it to her.
Sam: Maybe I’ll tell her Uncle Callen said he’d get it for her. “It’s okay baby girl, Uncle Callen didn’t mean to let you down.”
Deeks: “That’s messed up!”
Callen: “You wouldn’t.”
Kensi: “You shouldn’t!”
Sam: “Ho ho ho.”

(S3E11 ‘Higher Power’)

Callen: “You know someone in Belgium?”
Sam: “Before I got stuck with you, Sam Hanna was an international brand.”
Callen: “Oh. Before I got stuck with you, I didn’t realise people who refer to themselves in the third person really existed in life.”
Sam: “Yeah, right. Kind of like guys who have one letter of the alphabet for a first name.”
Callen: “Five years to the day.”
[Sam and Callen hug]
Sam: “Partners.”
Deeks: “Oh, look out. I think we’ve got a stage-four bromance on our hands here.”
Kensi: “Will they or won’t they?”
Callen: “You hear people talking right now?”
Sam: “Only people I hear talking are people who have been partners for more than five years.”

[Callen & Sam talking about their first case]
Sam: “So I stepped in, cleared the room.”
Callen: “Actually, I went in first.”
Sam: “No, it was me.”
Callen: “I took point, I cleared the room.”
Sam: “I always take point, when it’s a heavy breach like that. Always.”
Callen: “On every op since then, yes. Not that one.”
Kensi: “Maybe you just went in at the exact same time, together.”
[Everybody exchanging glances]
Callen: “You’re right, Sam.”
Sam: “You’re humouring me?”
Callen: “Me, humour you?”
Sam: “I don’t have a problem with conflict, if it leads to a discovery of the truth.”
Callen: “Not a conflict. It’s a discussion over who entered the room first. That’s all.”
Sam: “Five years. Never humoured you.”
Callen: “Enjoy your champagne.”
Sam: “Okay.”

(S3E14 ‘Partners’)

[with Det. Lt. Chin Ho Kelly and Det. Sgt. Danny Williams…Discussing Dracul Comescu]
Danny: “Hold on, you’re telling me that his guy is ready to risk worldwide epidemic just to make some cash?”
Callen: “Without even blinking.”
Danny: “What about you? I hear you got a personal beef with him?”
Callen: “Comescu’s tried to kill my entire family.”
Danny: “Say again?”
Callen: “Blood feud.”
Danny: “Ah, well, that, uh, that happens.”

Danny: “I’ve also never been in a blood feud either, so…”
Chin: “Unless you count your mother-in-law.”
Danny: “How does that happen, anyway?”
Callen: “It’s a Romani thing.”
Danny: “You’re a gypsy?”

(Hawaii Five-0 Crossover ‘Pa Make Loa’)

[Callen and Sam driving in the challenger]
Callen: “Maybe you and I should retire to a nice warm island.”
Sam: “What about my family?”
Callen: “Oh, you could bring them.”
Sam: “Heh, heh, Gee, thanks.”
Callen: “No, I mean it. After this is all over, we ought to settle down somewhere nice and quiet. Do some fishing, some golfing, build things.
Sam: What kind of things?”
Callen: “I don’t know. Whatever guys build when they retire. You know, like, hobby stuff.”
Sam: “Hobby stuff.”
Callen: “Yeah.”
Sam: “You don’t fish and you don’t golf.”
Callen: “I’m not retired.”
Sam: “You don’t have any hobbies. The only way a guy like you would retire is with a bullet.”
Callen: “Nice. Thanks.”
Sam: “What I meant to say – what I meant to say was that I can’t see you giving this up. All right?”
Callen: “Then say that. Don’t jinx me by saying that I’m gonna get…you know what.”
Sam: “Okay.”
Callen: “I’ve been ‘you know what’ several times.”
Sam: “I know.”
Callen: “I’m already pressing my luck. You know what I’m doing after we get this guy?”
Sam: “What’s that?”
Callen: “I’m getting a hobby.”
Sam: “Maybe you should start scrapbooking our cases.”

(Hawaii Five-0 crossover S3E21 ‘Touch of Death’)

Have we covered your favorite banter from season three? If not, what was it? Even if we have covered your favorite banter from the third season, we would still love to hear about it.

Thanks to ChrisDaisy, Richtsje and Bee for their contributions on this post. A special thanks to Saori and ncislosangelesfan.com for their images and screencaps.

Callen’s Corner: Callen And Tea

Whenever we hear the word TEA mentioned, we instantly think of Hetty. So why are we discussing TEA on Callen’s Corner, you may wonder? Well it seems that G Callen loves his tea (unlike his partner Sam), and sometimes a little too much. From early on in Season 1, we notice Callen drinking tea from a bag, but it seems that the influence of the petite Operations Manager at the Office of Special Projects, has in fact had an affect on him. But from some comments he’s made here and there, it is obvious he knows a little already about the drink (such as being aware that the Chrysanthemum Tea was mouldy).

Callen [comes up behind Sam whose making tea]: “What are you doing?”
Sam: What’s it look like I’m doing?”
Callen: “You don’t drink tea.”
Sam: “No I don’t. I’m making it for Hetty.”
Callen: “You’re making tea for Hetty?”
Sam: “ I promised her I would try some.”
Callen [picks up a tin of tea and reads the label]: “Yellow Mountain Tribute Chrysanthemum Tea. Nice!”
Callen [takes a whiff of the tea. He scrunches up his nose and sniffs again]: “That smells…” [He screws his face up] “Mouldy.”
Sam: “Maybe it’s suppose to smell mouldy.” [He looks at Callen] “Do you think I should say something to her?”
Callen: “They didn’t train you for that at school?”
Sam: “Yeah! Escape and evade.”
Hetty [singing]: “Mr Hanna. How’s our tea?”
Sam: “Right here Hetty.”
Hetty: “Did you warm the pot the way I told you?”
Sam: “ I did.”
Hetty: “And the water?”
Sam: “ Fresh off the boil.”
Hetty: “Oh excellent.”
Callen [dunks his teabag in a paper cup]
Hetty: “You must never underestimate the cardiovascular benefits of tea. You’ll thank me in the morning.”
Hetty [turns to Callen]: “Mr Callen?”
Callen [holds up his tea bag with a strained smile on his face]: “I’m good.”
Hetty: “Aha! And you aah…you can’t taste the paper?”
Callen [looks down at this tea]
Hetty: “Huh!”
Callen [looks up looking lost for words and appetite for drinking his tea]
Hetty: “Well now Chrysanthemum tea is not Chrysanthemum tea without wolf berries.”
Sam [dead panned]: “Wolf berries.”
Hetty:” Now I want you to savour that and consider it’s calming qualities. Not to mention it’s health benefits.”
Sam [takes a sip, trying hard not to show how much he dislikes the tea]: “Hmmm! It’s delicious.”
Hetty [smiles and bows, happy. Then walks away carrying her tray with the teapot and cup]: “That phone call is for you Mr Callen.”
Callen [looks bewildered]
Hetty: “Director Vance.”
Callen [watches Hetty leave]
[Phone on table in the Bull Pen rings]
Callen [picks up the phone]: “Callen. Yes Director. Standby.”
Callen [puts the phone down. He looks at Sam]: “How does she do that?”
Sam: “I don’t know, but that’s the worst tea I’ve ever had in my entire life.”
Hetty [sits at her desk and savours the smell of her tea. She takes a sip and scrunches up her face]: “Eh! Mouldy.”

(S1E07 ‘Pushback’)

But it seems so much more has happened around Callen with regards to TEA, or should I say a TEA BOX.

Later in Pushback…

Callen [making tea using a tea infuser]
Hetty [walks up behind him]: “As I live and breathe; a convert.”
Callen [smiles]: “I was tasting the paper.”
Hetty: “Aah! Anything exotic?”
Callen: “Just tea.”
Hetty: “Well every journey starts with a small step.”
Callen [nods in agreement]
Hetty [hands Callen a yellow envelope]: “From Arkady, through back channels. Enjoy!”
Callen [opens the envelope and finds a photo of a fourteen year old version of himself lifting up a four year old version of Alina Rostoff]: [in Russian] “My little sister.”
Callen [looks around and removes all the teabags from the tea box and places the photo inside]

(S1E07 ‘Pushback’)

This was the start of Callen’s Keep Box of his life. First the photo of him and Alina, and later he added the card and toy soldier he found on his sister’s grave; photos of his Mother and then the photos of his childhood and film strip of him with his Father and sister (found in Michael Rhinehart’s home in S5E04 ‘Reznikov, N’).

There have been times when Callen needed a drink of Hetty’s TEA to warm him up. But one has to wonder whether he used that as a decoy to check that Hetty was in fact okay, after watching Esther Balmore forget things (who was taken advantage in her old age).

Callen [walks into Hetty’s office]
Hetty: “You’ve come to offer to call the ADA for Esther Balmore, because you think watching an old lady go baddie has set off a nerve in me.”
Callen: “I’ve come for a cup of tea because I’m cold.”
Hetty: “Aah!” [She turns to pour tea from her teapot]
Callen: “You know in nursing homes they only have tea in bags, so they will taste of paper.”
Hetty [looks at Callen]
Callen: “When the time comes, I’ll bring in the good stuff. Smuggle it in if I have to.
Hetty: “Aah! Go undercover as an orderly?
Callen: “Whatever you need.”
Hetty: “U-huh!”
Callen [sits down with his tea]
Hetty: “You know it’s not the loneliness I fear.”
Callen: “But you are scared of something.”
Hetty: “Yes! Spilling everything I know. All my secrets being blabbered out into a world that should never hear them. So when the time comes, as you put it, there is something you could do. You can smother me with a pillow. Make sure it’s synthetic. I’m allergic to feathers.”
Callen [smiles]: “Okay!” [He sips his tea]

(S1E14 ‘LD50)

We’ve also witnessed Callen utilise Hetty’s love of tea to his advantage in capturing a suspect in Afghanistan, in persuading Hetty to approve of himself and Sam to go in person. They laid a trap for their suspect Kahn, waiting for him to come to capture or kill the Taliban’s master bomb maker.

Callen and Sam [walk out of Ops and down to Hetty’s office]
Hetty: I sense impending mayhem, and perhaps an outrageous petty cash request.
Callen: One simple question, Hetty.
Sam: Do you trust us?

AFGHANISTAN, in a Tea House

Sam:” I can’t believe Hetty authorised us to do this in person.“
Callen: “We had her at the word TEA.”
Callen [holds a sack of tea in his hand and throws it to Sam]

BACK IN LOS ANGELES

Callen and Sam [enter the Office of Special Projects and place the sack of tea on Hetty’s desk, before heading home]
Hetty [enters her office]: “Oh goodie. TEA!”

(S2E08 ‘Bounty’)

Earlier I mentioned that sometimes Callen loves his tea a little too much. This was evident when Callen was a little bit too sneaky for his own good and was caught out by Hetty, helping himself to her hidden supply of Agave Syrup for his cup of tea in Overwatch.

Callen [looks around before walking over to a metal cupboard in the gym. He places his cup of tea on the top and unscrews the bottom of a gas bottle to reveal it’s hidden contents; a small bottle of syrup. He pours a small amount into his tea and replaces the bottle back to it’s rightful place]
Hetty [walks towards him, holding a file in her hands]: “Do you think you’re clever? That you can read people, that you know things?”
Callen [remains behind the metal cupboard door, facing away from Hetty]: “Well I’m an undercover agent for a highly respected agency, so [stands and nods before turning to face Hetty], I’m going to go with yes. [He lifts his cup of tea] And I’m sorry about your syrup.”
HETTY [annoyed]: “What you so crassly referred to as my SYRUP is my Michoacán shade-grown agave nectar… my personal sweetener.”

(S2E12 ‘Overwatch’)

Hetty’s love not only for her tea, but also for her tea sets obviously put some form of fear into the seasoned agent, when Sam picks up Hetty’s favourite tea cup and looks inside to see it still dirty.

Sam [picks up a tea cup in Hetty’s office and looks inside it]
Callen: “Are you reading anything in those tea leaves?
Sam: “Yeah! Somebody needs to wash their cup out.”
Callen: “Be my guest. But you’re taking your life in your own hands if you drop it, with that being Hetty’s favourite cup.”

(S3E02 ‘Cyber Threat')

Having a cup of TEA with Hetty gave Callen many opportunities to sit and chat on a more intimate level with the woman who was the closest thing he had to a Mother. In Fame, Callen approached his suspicions on why Hetty had acquired Detective Marty Deeks onto their team.

Callen: “I haven’t seen the bill but if it’s over 5 grand, go easy on him.”
Hetty [quoting Callen’s earlier statement]: “Why? The cops hate Deeks. He’s a lousy liaison.”
Callen: “It’s not what you wanted him for. You do your homework, don’t you? In choosing agents. Deeks didn’t end up in this building because we needed some L.A.P.D. liaison. You’ve been watching him for a while.”
Hetty: “There is value in being patient.”
Callen: “ So how long did you watch me before I joined NCIS? When did G. Callen become a blip on your radar?” Was it Kiev?”
Hetty [doesn’t answer but goes to prepare a tea]
Callen: “Houston? Bogotá? God, don’t tell me it was Jersey City.”
Hetty: “Peking.”
Callen: “You mean Beijing.”
Hetty [holds up a tin of Peking tea]
Hetty: “Tea, Mr. Callen?”
Callen: “It was Jersey City, wasn’t it?”

(S1E20 ‘Fame’)

Callen tends to prefer normal black tea, with no sugar or milk added to the drink, however one does wonder if he finds the calming and health benefits Hetty spoke about in Pushback? Are you also a tea drinker like Hetty and Callen? If so, what is your favourite blend? Do you drink tea from a tea bag or have you also become a convert and drink loose tea in an infuser?

Thanks to ChrisDaisy for her help on this post and to ncislosangeles.com for the screencaps.

Callen’s Corner: Callen’s Clothes

Back in July Keviana discussed the Tuxedo (S2E07 ‘Anonymous’) as our favourite Callen outfit and then later the Caribbean blue shirt from Standoff (S2E06). Yet there is so much more to this subject than meets the eye. From the very beginning (S1E01 ‘Identity’), Hetty addressed the need to update his biometrics, driver’s licence, back stopping and..”um wardrobe.” The way Hetty emphasises this topic highlights Callen’s choice in clothing to be lacking, as far as the petite Operations Manager goes. She continued in the wardrobe department later when providing Callen with a change of clothes, so he didn’t look the part of Oliver Twist.

Hetty: “Now wardrobe for your undercover work. I know you grew up in the well-meaning but cold embrace of the welfare state, Mr. Callen. But just because you’re an orphan, doesn’t mean that you have to dress like Oliver Twist. Now, we need something modern, individual… that speaks to the man within. That’s not for you to admire. It’s for you to try on. Here. And here. And here. This or this?”
CALLEN: “Those.”
HETTY: “A fitted boot jean, medium weight, distressed denim. I think we need something more relaxed, Mr. Callen.”
(S1E01 ‘Identity’)

Hetty knew what he would pick, didn’t she? We’ve noticed her use everyday things to try to teach her “chicks” about life.

It’s funny that Callen really doesn’t care about clothes the way Hetty does, but there’s a momentary hesitation, as if he was a touch taken back. Are fancy clothes just a part of the job to him? It’s common to see Callen wear comfortable jeans, slip on boots (which we have learnt to be Australian Blundstone boots, thanks to Executive Producer John Kousakis) and a cotton T-shirt or shirt to work everyday. He needs something functional to chase down suspects or fight terrorists. However, when Henrietta Lange has a say in what he wears, he become a new man of money and charisma. We have to thank Henrietta Lange for her good taste in quality fashion and her decisions she makes for the man with only a letter for a name. When Hetty dresses Callen up for an alias, what a fantastic job she does. She’s an expert in fashion and manages to choose the right fit and style to emphasise his body so well. Although Callen is a practical kind of guy, maybe he does enjoy dressing up every now and then to become someone else (such as in S2E07 ‘Anonymous,’ when the guys wanted to go out in those tuxedos after they had finished the case).

When the team go undercover, it’s not comfort Hetty goes for, but style and quality. This was highlighted in S1E04 ‘Search and Destroy,’ when Sam made the mistake of saying, “it’s just a shirt” to Hetty.

Hetty [walks over to Callen holding a white shirt]: “What is this Mr Callen?”
Callen: “That is a knit combed cotton.”
Hetty: “With a blood stain.”
Callen: “I would never bleed on your wardrobe. It had to be a bad guy.
Hetty: “Good, Bad or ugly, I don’t care. The point is you neglected to tell me about it and now it’s set long enough so that it might be permanent.”
Sam: “Hetty, it’s just a shirt.”
Hetty: “No, no, no, no, no, no, no. This is not just a shirt. This is a Savile Row one hundred percent polished Egyptian cotton. Hand stitched with pearl buttons. That thing you’re wearing is just a shirt.”
Sam: “Yeah! But it’s a comfy shirt.”
Hetty turns to Callen: “Your new color scheme is black.”
Callen: “I can live with black.”
(S1E04 ‘Search and Destroy’)

LATER…

Hetty [Picking up a pair of dark blue denim jeans]: “These were on sale at Lucky Brand. They already have rips so a few more won’t matter.” [Hetty hands them to Callen]. “And this is the latest drivel from what they call the music scene.” [Hetty holds up a grey T-shirt with CRASH KINGS printed on it].
Special Agent G. Callen: “I thought we were going all black.”
Henrietta ‘Hetty’ Lange: “Well, sometimes damaged goods can actually be more valuable because of their unique qualities.”
Special Agent G. Callen: “Is that right?”
Henrietta ‘Hetty’ Lange: “Hmm! It’s a thought.”
Special Agent G. Callen: “Well I will try and take good care of them.”
Henrietta ‘Hetty’ Lange: “Don’t try, just do.”
At the end of the episode…
[Hetty walks back into her office. She finds Callen’s T-shirt with a ‘No Blood’ note pinned to it. She holds it up and reads it, happy that Callen had remembered to leave a note for her].
(S1E04 ‘Search and Destroy’)

Operations Manager Henrietta ‘Hetty’ Lange: “Is that blood, Mr. Hanna?”
Special Agent Sam Hanna: “Mostly.”
Operations Manager Henrietta ‘Hetty’ Lange: “Yours?”
Special Agent G. Callen: “Other guy’s.”
Operations Manager Henrietta ‘Hetty’ Lange: “Can we bill him?”
Special Agent Sam Hanna: “Not anymore.”
(S1E03, ‘Predator’)

There have been so many great blues on Callen, however, there have been moments when Callen has looked great in other colors as well: charcoal grey cargo shirt in S1E08 ‘Ambush;’ olive green T-shirt in S1E12 ‘Past lives;’ purple Johnny O shirt in S1E02 ‘The Only Easy Day;’ white shirt and grey suit in S2E06 ‘Standoff;’ and who can forget “Dr. Callen” in the white coat S4E22 ‘Raven and the Swans’ or Callen in leather jackets?

Although we’ve rarely seen Callen with a tie, he is aware of how to tie them. Like when he teased Nate in S1E10 ‘Brimstone’:

CALLEN: “Full Windsor.”
NATE: “Really? Again with the tie?”
CALLEN: “I had you pegged more as a Half Windsor guy.”
NATE: “Is that supposed to have some sort of meaning?”
CALLEN: “You’re the psychologist.”
…later Nate enters the Bull Pen. Sam is fiddling around with a diffused bomb.
[Nate is scared and doesn’t move…until…]
CALLEN: “Hey!”
[Nate jumps and spills coffee all over his chest]
CALLEN: “Oops. Sorry about that.”
[SAM CHUCKLES]
CALLEN: [Pointing at the tie, speaking to Sam] “Full Windsor.”

So which work clothes do you prefer on Callen? A plain T-shirt or shirt or the check or plaid shirts?

The blue Carribean although appears to be a favourite since it appeared back in season two, appears to have a rival; the orange plaid shirt, viewed recently in season five. Why is that I ask? Perhaps it’s because both of these shirts are something we see very rarely on the seasoned agent. We see Callen wear a lot of blue and we agree here at Callen’s Corner that he does look great in all shades of blue. Please stay tuned for a special treat next Monday on Callen in blue.

Thanks to ChrisDaisy, Richtsje, FanGCallen, Mary, sindee, Keviana, B and Executive Producer John Kousakis for their input into this subject on Callen’s Clothes.

Callen’s Corner: Callen Vs Golf

We’ve recently discussed Callen and exercise and discovered that he does workout quite a lot. But what about playing sports, such as golf? Back in Season 2 in Overwatch, Hetty approaches and catches Callen in the gym sneaking some of her Guava Syrup for his tea.

Hetty: “Do you think you’re clever? That you can read people, that you know things?”
Callen: “Well I’m an undercover agent for a highly respected agency, so (nods head), I’m going to go with yes.”

Callen is known for becoming whoever he needs to be for success in an operation. We’ve seen Callen train, shoot in the range and brush up on his languages. But what else does G Callen do to aid him in becoming whoever he needs to be for an alias?

If we go back to the beginning of NCISLA, to episode 2, ‘The Only Easy Day,’ we will remember seeing Callen on a golf course in a purple Johnnie O shirt. He was pretending to be Holgate’s partner, Morris Raspen, who had what the crooked LAPD Detective Rosen wanted. The money the SEALs had stolen at the cartel’s home. As Eric pointed out, “how are we going to get Rosen to confess, when his own people couldn’t?” Callen’s reply was, “because we’ve got what Rosen wants.” Rosen arrives on the golf course with Holgate in a golf buggy. Callen (as Raspen) is swinging his club to prepare to hit the ball.

Rosen: “The elusive Mr Raspen. Now I thought your buddy was kidding when he said the golf course…but I get it now. Public place, yet it’s wide open, so you can see anybody approaching, and you’d have to be a sharp shooter to get a shot from any real cover. How many SEALs have you got hidden around?”
Callen (as Raspen): “I’m just working on my short game.”
(S1E02 ‘The Only Easy Day’)

Nothing more had been mentioned about the game of golf until S3E21 ‘Touch of Death,’ when Callen brings the subject up with Sam in the challenger. They were looking for a doctor who had stolen the smallpox vaccine to save the planet. She was deluded to think that she could release the smallpox virus out into the environment to control the world’s population crisis.

Callen: After this is all over, I’m going to settle down somewhere quiet. Do some fishing, some golfing, build things.
Sam: What kind of things?
Callen: I don’t know. Whatever guys build when they retire. Hobby stuff.
Sam: Hobby stuff.
Callen: Yeah!
Sam: You don’t fish and you don’t play golf.
Callen: I’m not retired.

SKIN DEEP

SAM: “Maybe the most ridiculous game ever invented.”
CALLEN: “It’s a metaphor for life, Sam. Nothing to react to but your own actions.”
SAM: “Doesn’t look like fun.”
CALLEN: “It’s just you, the ball, the course and your thoughts.”
SAM: “No one to throw the ball to, no one to catch it…”
CALLEN: “You just stare down your fears.”
[Sam scoffs]
SAM: “Didn’t take you for a golfer, G.”
CALLEN: “Never played a day in my life. Too scary.”
(S4E13 ‘Skin Deep’)

It’s interesting to look deeper into Callen and Sam’s words here in Skin Deep. Callen, who has a tendency to go lone wolf and Sam, the former Navy SEAL. Sam clearly shows his dislike for the game of golf because it’s not a team sport. However Callen on the other hand, would rather a sport that required time on his own. That’s where golf would suit the seasoned agent, rather than football or basketball, although we have seen Callen enjoy playing with his partner and the rest of the team.

So is it possible that Callen has had lessons in the sport of golf to aid himself in a future alias, such as seen in ‘The Only Easy Day?‘ He looked comfortable on the course with the club in his hand and at ease talking to Rosen about his short game. If you look back at Sam’s expression when Callen talks about golf in Skin Deep, it’s clear to see surprise in the former SEAL. One has to wonder, when he dropped the subject in Touch of Death with Sam in the challenger. Perhaps Callen is testing the waters to see if Sam has figured his secret past time out?

What are your thoughts on the subject? “The possibilities are endless” (a quote from Deeks in Frozen Lake).

Thanks to ChrisDaisy for her input on this subject.

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