William Petersen's `CSI' life of crime to end
William Petersen is leaving "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," a gesture that would have the fans of his brainy crimebuster Gil Grissom screaming bloody murder.
Petersen agreed to return for the occasion invited and will remain a "CSI" executive producer, but its course as an original cast member to stop this next season, executive producer Carol Mendelsohn and Naren Shankar, said Tuesday. The air date of his last episode, the season's 10th, has yet to be determined but will probably be in early 2009, producers. The series began in autumn 2000. A number of characters will return in episodes building up Grissom departure, including his former colleague and flame Sara Sidle, played by Jorja Fox, the Mini Killer and sexy Lady Heather. "Who better to turn to when you are a scientist in crisis," Mendelsohn said jokingly Heather (Melinda Clarke). The decision to leave was Petersen, producers said, declining further comment. A call to the journalist Petersen was not returned Tuesday. The actor had taken a break during the 2006-07 season to perform in a play, with Liev Schreiber strengthening as a visiting scholar. The long-running show remains essential for CBS: "CSI" finished last season as the network of top-rated series, No. 9 ranking among all shows with an average weekly audience of 17 million. Spin-offs "CSI: Miami" and "CSI: New York" ranked 16th and 28th, respectively. "CSI" is ready to cope with the loss Petersen, its producers. "Displaying the chance to go this long inevitably face this type of change," Shankar told The Associated Press. A new investigator men will join "CSI", a role that has yet to be cast. The producers have been mum ground on points, but said that Grissom will reassess his life after years of high-tech judicial investigations Las Vegas Police Department and staff after the storm. "We are talking about a man who has suffered the loss ... A man recently thinking about the next phase of his life," said Shankar. It is wrong to characterize it as a mid-life crisis, which drew the image of someone who buys a Porsche as a solution, and Mendelsohn said Shankar; Grissom is faced with far deeper issues. "It Grissom in transition and Grissom asks" Who am I? "Mendelsohn. In addition, said Shankar, Petersen would not buy a sports car. "Billy did buy a Prius," says producer. Shankar and Mendelsohn promised that changes will not change expressed "CSI". "What makes shows off the rails is that they forget who they are. We are a crime mystery-courtroom drama" focusing on exceptional cases, Shankar. "Whoever comes and joins the team after Grissom will be a different guy. But the nature of the show and what the fans get out of it, that will not change," he said. Petersen, in his role as executive producer, viewed "CSI", a show on the "quiet heroism" of workers, said Shankar. This will remain true, with no new soap opera movements or "jump in bed." |
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