"I was a track and field guy, and now I'm big into swimming," says Elliott. "I'm getting my strokes together, working with Bill Jewel, who's a coach at USC."

Iron man indeed. He's also written an episode of "JAG" with partner John Tache, which Elliott himself will direct this year. "It's called 'Old Soldiers Never Die.' If I told you any more, I'd have to kill you," he says. He'll also direct several other episodes.

With "JAG" going into its 10th season, Elliott isn't predicting how long his show will continue. "I just take it one day at a time. I have to see where I'm at later in the season, and see whether the people who spend the money to make the show want to continue with it. I'm at that that point where I'm having fun right now, enjoying it, and things are running smoothly."

They weren't quite as smooth during shooting of the first four episodes of the show this season. Due to a guest star's illness, according to Elliott, the team found itself "filming all of the first four episodes at the same time. It was a little trying, but we all helped each other out and we did it."