Yasmin Alami on NCIS Hawaii: Character Growth and Storytelling

Yasmin Alami embraces growth in her role as Lucy on NCIS Hawaii, continuously learning and evolving alongside her character.

### Exploring Character Growth and Audience Engagement in NCIS Hawaii with Yasmin Alami
* 🎬 Welcome to Popternative, where host **Peter Rottis**, also known as **P.D. Beats**, engages in discussions about **pop culture, social media, and sports** with guests like **Yasmin Alami**, who plays **Lucy in NCIS Hawaii**.
* 💬 Yasmin shares her ongoing journey of understanding her character, stating, "**I'm still learning**," emphasizing her desire to grow alongside Lucy as they both navigate new experiences.
* 👥 She reflects on the importance of considering the audience while filming, noting how **fan engagement has influenced the direction of the show**, particularly in response to **character popularity**.
* 📺 The excitement of storytelling is highlighted as Yasmin describes the creative contributions of fans, who produce **edits and music videos** that enhance the show's **community experience**.
* 🧩 Yasmin discusses the balance of drama and action in NCIS Hawaii, revealing her favorite scripts involve **multi-part episodes that allow for deeper storytelling and character development**.
* 📅 She appreciates the traditional week-to-week episode format, which fosters **community discussions and anticipation** among viewers, contrasting it with the binge-watching trend.
* 🌐 Yasmin expresses her gratitude for being part of a show that tells diverse stories, emphasizing the **collaborative nature of modern storytelling** that allows for narratives that were **previously untold**.
* 📲 To connect with her audience, Yasmin invites fans to follow her on social media, highlighting the **importance of engagement** despite her sporadic posting.

Welcome to Popternative, where we dive into topical discussions from the worlds of pop culture, social media, and sports. Here is your host, Peter Rottis, AKA P.D. Beats. P. Beats here from Pop Turn Me to Yasmin Alami about NCIS Hawaii on CBS and on Paramount Plus. Welcome to the show. Thanks so much for being here. Thank you, P.D. Beats. I appreciate you having me. I mean, you know, Lucy is a fan favorite, but I feel like there's going to be kind of situations where you get really quaint with this character, but or it's maybe you're always kind of learning about this character. When did you kind of think that you kind of had like an understanding of grasp of playing this character, or are you still learning about it? I'm still learning, okay? I'm still learning, which I prefer, just because I want to make sure that I'm growing with her like all of us. You know, we all grow, we're all learning, we all are put into situations where we feel like we have to navigate that maybe

never been through a certain situation before, and so I enjoy those things. I never want to feel like I have a good grasp. I always want to feel like I'm still trying to reach for something. When are you, when do you start kind of thinking about the audience member that watches shows like NCIS Hawaii? Because obviously, when you're filming it, you're obviously in the zone, or maybe you're thinking about it, but it's so cool. I feel like from being a storyteller like yourself, really kind of visualizing the audience as a detective watching the show, you know what I mean? I find that's the coolest thing. Yeah, well, no, it's so, it didn't, I guess it never really hit me until people started getting really into Casey hash, Casey Me, Lucy, and Kate. Um, and so once that hit, all of a sudden I was like, Oh, people are watching, so let's just make sure, you know, but you don't want it ever to affect too much, you know? You also want

it to be like you don't want to do things. You want to make sure that you're respecting the writing, you're respecting the directing, you're respecting your other co-workers, everyone involved. Um, but you also want to make the audience happy, and you know they're all doing. They're all playing their part in making sure that the audience is happy. Man, have they listened to the audience though in terms of direction? Would they follow it? Like, they responded. People responded to Casey. They followed that route. And so, it wasn't until that which was just like such a jolt. All of a sudden, people were just coming at you and just like, Oh my gosh, Casey. That now I start thinking about, Oh, people like, I think Casey fans really love this. Oh, the NCIS Hawaii fans, they love, they love, they love it. And they're so quick. And you know, an episode drops and they're online like 15, 20 minutes. Montes, there's like music videos. Yeah, that's attached to all these little scenes. And then this stuff, it's there's

such a creative bunch of people will show whatever things that they put together sometimes just like some hilarious things. I think one of my favorite ones was someone created to the theme of Friends, you know that show Friends, yes, the M seen that actually, yeah, it's so funny with all of our characters introducing all of us, it's hilarious, it's amazing. No, the edits and yeah, know, it's amazing, it's sometimes like on pop trative too, like there's so many shows and movies that people do edits and they like tag us 'cause we interview that person, so they're like check out this edit, you know, which was awesome. Um, you look at NCIS, you look at the originals, you look at the chosen, is it all storytelling to you or does the mindset change depending on kind of the genre you work in specifically? Oh, it's all storytelling, yeah, thankfully all the things that you've mentioned, all the things that I've worked on, they've had, you know, some

more than others, but they've had a through line. There's a reason. And then there are those ones where you know, I just pop in, I have to just stay in my line, and then that's it. And you don't really have a backstory, whatever. But the ones at least that you mentioned where I am there for, if I'm recurring, if I'm a regular, man, there, it's, I've been very grateful to have something to play with. I feel like it's cool too because there's like, there's differences with the shows a little bit, obviously, but there's like differences with the characters as well. So I think it's kind of twofold, right, where you get to be like these different shows but play like completely different characters, especially your character in The Originals, right, compared to, oh my God, I call her, you know what I call her? I call her the [__] Witch. She was not nice. I was about to say she was like, yeah man, I, it's so funny, I, I will like from time to

time this special. I will interview people like from that show 'cause I love The Originals. It's so good, and everyone is so awesome. Everyone is so awesome in it, and they're so nice. Is it cool to also... It's funny because you look at that, and you look at other shows like 'Bad Part Ders' as well that have... There was a big boom with that kind of genre of stuff, right? But you were like part of that like before The Boom. Like, there's the Twilight boom and everything, but then the TV show vampire boom with like The Originals, the vamp... Like, is it cool to think about that, that you like the cast of that was almost like it was before his time a little bit? Like, it's like honestly now when you bring that up, yeah, it's super cool to think about that. I never thought about that, so that's kind of awesome. You know where I'm coming from though, right? Your shows were out a little bit more. There was like during the pandemic, vampire culture was so huge and everywhere and

everything, and it was like you got the originals to go watch. Yeah, and all of a sudden, it's so funny. It always comes alive again in certain moments, in certain spurts. So sometimes people will forget about it, and then all of a sudden, people are like, Are you on that show? I'm watching it now. I'm like, Oh, all it's coming up again. It's coming live again. And you know, you look at NCIS Hawaii, and you look at even NCIS Los Angeles. One of my favorite things about this is every episode, like there is this balance of kind of the drama and the arc of the characters, and of course, the cases and the action and everything. Some episod episodes have more like more like relationship stuff and drama. Others have more action and focus on the cases. It's a mix in everything. What's it like reading a script for a new episode? Is it kind of almost like a kid in a candy shop a little bit, being like, Oh man, like we get to do this, this, SE, this?

episode like what is that like there so much you know my favorite script so far to read I mean like there there's obviously there's so many but it's been it's been the ones where all of our characters have to converge to solve a problem um especially when it's a two-parter it's a twofold so it's like part one part two split into two episodes uh just because there's more time to breathe in terms of telling the story there's more time to insert a bunch of those actions a bunch of those emotional stuff um have people be in turmoil for longer so that's that's always fun but yeah anytime that there's just like one mystery to solve then those those are the ones that I'm just like I I really grasp on to you know what's really funny too is I always like talk about how there's two different types of shows there's like the shows for the passive audience members and the active audience members so like passive would be like you come

home from late at work. You put the office on. You just relax, type thing. You can have your phone and everything, yeah. And then you have a lot of the shows that aren't like that. I feel like your show kind of ruined my argument for that, 'cause I feel like it's a little bit of both, you know what I mean? Is it for you? I'll be like, yeah, it's deceiving. Actually, no, I think it's more. I think it's like, I think it's pretending to be one of those passive shows, but if you don't pay attention, you'll miss something really important that happens. So, I feel like, you know, you know what I mean? It's one of those, like, you have to pay attention. Why CU? If you tried putting it in the background, that's one of those at night for sure. Even with, like, CSI and everything, right? Those were Criminal Minds, those shows, you know what I mean? You put them in the background, it's nice to have in the background, yeah. Oh, hell yeah, yeah, but

then you miss a lot of things, though. Yeah, yeah, but then you can catch up. You can catch up on them. It's a hybrid. You're on a hybrid show for the audience. We just have to respect that, I guess, because if you miss something, one of us is going to reference it later, and we're going to say something of like, Remember that thing? And is it, What is your favorite thing about being part of NCIS Hawaii? Like, is it kind? Like, is there one kind of element about it? I mean, yeah, it's the people. I knew you were going to say that. No, listen, I agree. No, everyone says that, and it's awesome, but like, you know, but literally every time. Sometimes I retire that question because I say one time I even said, like, What's your favorite thing about being part of the show? And like, I understand it's the people, but like, Can you not say the people? And then they're like, The people. Goa, can I tell you? You know what stunt it is? The people.

though 100% it is though people, but even with like my other answer would be stunts. But even with stunts, it's only because the stunt guys are cool, you know? So, it's like the stunt people are cool. The doubles, the stunt doubles are awesome. I've learned so much from them. They're all patient. So, it always comes down to anything that we do is exciting, but then it's only exciting because of the people. Getting back to kind of how I started the interview about like the understanding and the kind of being comfortable with this character Lucy. Is there a quality of this character that you really, really kind of enjoy that you're a, that we're seeing in more episodes now that maybe we didn't in the beginning, specifically that we're seeing more? A yes, I think for me it would be more of the emotional, loving, caring side, just because I feel like Lucy wasn't able to really show that to the most that she wanted to. That was just like in her little body that

she just wanted to show Kate, uh, because you know she's trying to respect Kate, but now that Kate is blossoming and blooming, um, she and is feeling more, more re cve and open to just outwardly expressing their love. I feel like just Lucy just melts into that, so it's really nice to just see her being in that without having to worry about other people and just wanting to love someone just to love them. It's really awesome too with like kind of the new age of streaming and everything. I mean, people can watch it on CBS, but it's really cool the episodes also stream also on Pont plus and everything. We talked about kind of The Originals and that show was kind of on, I feel like a little bit before the big kind of streaming boom and everything. What's it like being a Storyteller and actor with kind of this because you're on a show on cable TV, but you're also on a show now that like people could stream it as well, which is really cool. Yeah, I

mean so far all the shows right now that I can think of that I'm that that you've mentioned and even the chosen is on also like it's on its own app and Netflix um oh The Chosen comes up the chosen comes up a lot of Facebook it does Clips oh it does a lot and man they will pop up they pop up where you don't even expect them I was watching football one time like just like American football and a commercial popped up and I was like look at y'all yeah like there we go um it's it's so cool obviously like to be able it's so easy too like anything where because we do this to entertain people and so if we can create more more Avenues of access where people can watch then awesome because maybe not everybody has cable but everybody has streamer so there you go and that that was kind of the base of my question there's kind of the more opportunities and everything um I think there's this kind of really exciting thing about storytelling these days where stories

that like weren't told before are finally getting told. Do you agree with me that that's one of the best things about being a storyteller these days, that you're able to kind of work on these stories that weren't necessarily told before? As in, yeah, yeah, and I absolutely love it, and I'm so happy that I'm on shows right now that are doing that and in a creative way, not in a way that was done before. Exactly like what you said in um, not just yes, a creative way, but it also feels very collaborative. It's such a collaborative team effort too. Absolutely. Is it also cool to be part of a show like NCIS Hawaii that has the kind of traditional week after week episodes where people can have like kind of dinner party dinner table about episodes and everything? Cuz the binge, I love them both. I think there's a place for both, but the week to week is cool. There's something about waiting. There is something about waiting because like I don't know, it's so different now. You

know it's such a niche now. I feel like it doesn't happen that much. People just kind of like put all of their episodes out there. So whenever you see one of those shows where it's like you have to wait every week, there's something about it that's just, it feels kind of old school, and I like it. It's worth the weight with N Hawaii episodes on CBS as well as Paramount Plus. Yeah, it's been so great chatting with you. Thank you for joining me up alternative. Oh hell yeah, it was so nice getting to know you and chat with you. Absol, absolutely. Any plug specifically like they like we said like they could watch, they could catch the on NCS Hawaii on CBS Paramount Plus, is the chosen any any social medias to plug, anything you want to plug specifically. Oh, I mean all my socials are yads y Alami. Um, I'm sorry if I don't if I don't post because I don't uh, but they're there, they're all there. Instagram

Twitter. They exist. They exist, and maybe one day I will come back. Sometimes I get on there and like I'll say hi to people, but it's very sporadic. It was like a big kind of Lucy episode. Everyone's gonna go and be like, Oh my God, what's happening on Instagram? You know what I mean? Like, I'm just... I know, know. Oh, she's still doing her thing back in 2019. Oh my goodness, what has this been? Popped her if you just / previous episodes. Till next time, this is Yasmin Abami, who plays Lucy in NCIS Hawaii on CBS and Paramount Plus and Pi Beats, signing off. Thank you for tuning in to Pop Turnative. Make sure to check out our past episodes of Pop Turnative on YouTube. Be sure to like Pop Turnative on Facebook and follow us on [Music] Twitter. This has been an Autograph Communications production and

Yasmine Al-Bustami talks about playing Lucy in NCIS: Hawaiʻi on CBS and Paramount+ and much more!

Popternative

Yasmin Alami's Journey as Lucy in NCIS Hawaii

Yasmin Alami is still learning and growing into her character, Lucy, in NCIS Hawaii.

She became aware of the show's impact on the audience when fans started reacting strongly to her character.

The show's team has responded to audience feedback, leading to a deeper engagement with the fans and their quick responses to new episodes.

The Impact of Creative Edits and Storytelling in TV Shows

Creative edits of popular shows, like Friends and The Originals, have gained attention and humor, often tagging the actors involved.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of storytelling in their work, with recurring and regular roles offering depth and character development.

They reflect on being part of the vampire TV show boom, highlighting the show's influence and timing in popular culture.

The show's popularity often resurges as viewers discover it later, creating a cycle of renewed interest.

Each episode balances drama, character development, and action, with some focusing more on relationships and others on cases.

The most enjoyable scripts for the actor are those with a two-part storyline, allowing for more character interaction and emotional depth.

The show has a hybrid format, allowing the cast to catch up on missed moments.

The actor emphasizes that the best part of being on the show is the people, including the stunt team, who have been supportive and patient.

The character Lucy is evolving to show more emotional and loving sides, especially in her relationship with Kate, as the two characters' dynamics change.

The Impact of Streaming and Storytelling in TV Shows

Streaming platforms are providing more access to shows, making it easier for people to watch without cable.

The current era of storytelling is exciting, as previously untold stories are finally being shared in creative and collaborative ways.

The traditional week-to-week episode format, like in NCIS Hawaii, offers a different viewing experience, creating opportunities for shared discussions and anticipation.

The trend of releasing all episodes at once is common now, making weekly releases feel old school and special.

NCIS Hawaii is available on CBS and Paramount Plus.

Yasmin Abami, who plays Lucy in the show, has social media accounts but posts sporadically.