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William Petersen To Leave CSI By Midseason - A Season Of Change
Hello Folks!
EW's Michael Ausiello reports today that by episode 10 of next season of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation", William Petersen will be leaving as a series regular.
But by then, you haven't seen the last of Gil Grissom. Petersen will remain an executive producer on the show, and will make the occasional "special guest" appearance in the future. Thus in an interview, he was hesitant to call it a departure.
I'm in a great place in terms of knowing that I'll be more free to make choices. And I'm responsible enough to not do it in a way that would hurt [the show].
"I want it to work for the writers, I want it to work for the cast, and, most importantly, I want it to work for the audience," he added. "I don't want them to abandon the show."
And how and why will Grissom be leaving? After the death of Warrick (Gary Dourdan) in the finale, Grissom will be "in crisis", as Petersen points it.
"As a man. As a scientist. As a teacher. As a middle-aged person who has been very successful at what he's done... [he] wonders, 'What's the point?'
"It's all of a sudden becoming more difficult for him to do his job," he continued. "What had been a sort of fun job for him to do, because he loved the solving of the riddle, has become ever more taxing and difficult."
The return of Jorja Fox for multiple episodes is key to Grissom's final act on the show. Petersen promises a "ride into the sunset".
"I wouldn't want to say exactly what we're going do -- I want people to watch, certainly," he chuckled. "But Sara is involved... It's often darkest just before the dawn."
In another article, Michael Ausiello has more info about the next season of the vetran crime drama. As mentioned, it will be a season of change.
- Lauren Lee Smith joins the cast in the third episode, playing new CSI Riley Adams. Described as a person with a wry sense of humor, she will have a different kind of relationship with Grissom, since he was never her mentor.
A second, this time male, character is about to be added. A professor in pathology who helps the team in a case, stays and becomes a CSI. He's sort of branded as Petersen's replacement. No wonder the names of the actors looked into for the part is impressive: Kurt Russell, John Malkovich and Laurence Fishbourne are on top of the list.
- Liz Vassey (lab tech Wendy) and David Berman (coroner David) have been upped to regulars. And expect to see more of Hodges (Wallace Langham) next season.
- The Miniature Killer will be back for an episode.
- The 200th episode will be directed by William Friedkin (his second directing gig for the show), and there's a good chance it will feature a "special guest" appearance by a certain William Petersen. Nothing is confirmed yet though.
Confirm and find more info here and here.
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Jul 15, 2008 6:40 AM
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I would like to see some Wedges (Wendy/Hodges) romance this year, and with Wendy becoming a regular, this might happen.
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Jul 15, 2008 8:27 AM
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I'm happy about Wendy getting more screentime, but how about some more Archie?
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Jul 15, 2008 10:11 AM
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I'm with Rap - I'd like more Archie too; why isn't he being made a regular?
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Jul 15, 2008 12:23 PM
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Oh wow!
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Jul 15, 2008 1:20 PM
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Marci, I like Bobby, the firearms tech also.
I will watch CSI'snew season, but I still haven't forgiven them for Warrick. At least Nick's still around!
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Jul 15, 2008 8:37 PM
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Rap - Warrick was my favorite, and the show isn't going to be the same for me without him. If they somehow ended up with Laurence Fishburne, or someone comparable, it would go a long way toward my forgiving them.
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Jul 15, 2008 9:11 PM
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