The real-life Navy Secretary Ray Mabus will make a special appearance on "NCIS" tonight, but not in a cameo as himself. Mabus has an acting role playing an NCIS investigator.

"NCIS" stars Mark Harmon and is the number one TV show in the country. Harmon said Monday morning on "Live with Regis and Kelly" that Mabus did a great job with the role.

In the Thanksgiving-themed episode, called "Child's Play," the NCIS team cancels their normal holiday plans to investigate the death of a Marine. The investigation leads them to a 12-year-old prodigy, who may be the killer's next target.