Entertainment Weekly first reported, and other news agencies have now confirmed, that William Peterson, who plays Gil Grissom on the hit CBS show that started it all CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, will be leaving the show this season – the shows 10th. Fans are already bemoaning the loss.
Although Peterson will be appearing in episodes this season and has agreed to make appearances from time to time as needed, this season will be his last. He will be staying on as an Executive Producer as well which will keep him highly involved in the show. It is expected that his last episode as a regular will appear early in 2009.
“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],” added Petersen. “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. I don’t want them to abandon the show.”
Peterson is leaving to pursue other interests and insists it has nothing to do with him not being happy or anything like that. He took a leave from the show this past season for four episodes to appear in a play, with Liev Schreiber stepping in as a visiting investigator.
The character of Grissom will apparently be going through some tough times according to the producers. He will be reappraising his life after years of high-tech forensics investigations with the Las Vegas Police Department and after facing personal turmoil which included Sara Sidle leaving last season. Grissom will be facing some deep issues and will be forced to think about the next phase of his life.
Peterson’s exit comes immediately on the heels of the exits of two other long-time cast members, Jorja Fox and Gary Dourdan, both of which left last season. Fox will be returning for episodes this season including the season premiere and her character, Sara Sidle, will play an important role in the development of Peterson’s character and his reasons for leaving CSI.
Meanwhile, it is assumed that Gary Dourdan’s character, Warrick Brown, will be killed off the show. Last season’s finale made it appear as if that were the case. He is scheduled to appear in the season premiere, however, which makes that episode, perhaps, the last time anyone will get to see the full regular cast all in one episode again for the remainder of the show.
CBS hasn’t lost sight of the fact that audiences are likely to take the changes hard. CSI was their top rated series last year, ranking No. 9 among all shows with an average weekly audience of 17 million. Spinoffs CSI: Miami and CSI: New York ranked 16th and 28th, respectively. They can’t afford to take any chances on the show fizzling after so many changes.
Executive producers Carol Mendelsohn and Naren Shankar outlined a lot of the steps they are taking to help insure audiences stick around to keep watching the show for the whole tenth season and possibly beyond:
- Jorja Fox will be back for “multiple” episodes including the season premiere.
- Previously-announced addition Lauren Lee Smith (The L Word) joins the cast in the third episode as new CSI Riley Adams. “She will come in to ostensibly replace Sara Sidle,” says Mendelsohn. “She has a very distinct personality… a very wry sense of humor. She doesn’t take herself too seriously.” Since she will be the only CSI who wasn’t mentored or trained by Gil Grissom their relationship (while he’s still there) will probably lend itself to some story lines.
- Current cast members Liz Vassey (lab rat Wendy) and David Berman (coroner David) have been upped to full-fledged series regulars. Wallace Langham’s Hodges, meanwhile, will become more prominent.
- The show’s very popular serial killer, The Miniature Killer, will be coming back for an episode to go up against Grissom yet again.
- The show’s 200th episode will occur this season and will be directed by Peterson’s good friend and acclaimed filmmaker, William Friedkin.
- The biggest news of all is that another male CSI will be brought on to the show, but he won’t be coming on to the show as a CSI to begin with. “He’s a professor with background in pathology. He will appear when Grissom is investigating what will be a two-part case. He will help Grissom and the team bring the perpetrator to justice, and then this character will stay around and ultimately become a CSI,” says Mendelsohn.The new guy will have a rare genetic abnormality of some kind and may not actually replace Grissom as supervisor, but will eventually be seen as Grissom’s replacement because of the caliber of actor the producers are trying to lure in. It is said that their top three choices for the role were Kurt Russel, Laurence Fishburne and John Malkovich. Unfortunately, John Malkovich has already been ruled out due to scheduling conflicts. No word on the other two.
I think the loss of Peterson, on top of the loss of Fox and Dourdan, would be almost catastrophic to the show. I’m not sure how the show can survive the loss of three of the main characters in such a tight knit ensemble cast. However, I do feel that there are some possibilities for keeping it going a bit longer if the producers could actually land a Kurt Russell or Laurence Fishburne in the lead. My vote would go to Russell who’s movie career could use a shot in the arm but who has always been a fine actor. I think Fishburne’s personality might be too overwhelming for such an intimate show.
No matter what happens, Shankar says the focus of the show will remain the same.
“What makes shows go off the rails is they forget who they are. We’re a crime-mystery-forensics drama” with a focus on exceptional cases, Shankar said.
“Whoever comes in and joins the team after Grissom is going to be a different guy. But the nature of the show and what fans get out of it, that’s not going to change,” he said.
I love CSI: and will keep watching even though Jorja Fox, Gary Dourdan, and William Peterson are gone, but I just hope that they can keep what is left of the original cast. I wouldn't watch the show if anymore of the cast were to leave because it would be like a whole new show and I don't think that's what any of us CSI: fans want.
Sorry, I just posted the first comment and misspelled my name is Stephanie, not Stephanei.
That's okay
Welcome to the site!
I've been a fan of CSI since Season 1 and haven't missed an episode. The producers of CSI are 'walking on egg shells', so to speak, replacing so many characters. I did notice a contradictory statement in the article. The article stated Gary Dourdan (a.k.a. Warrick Brown) was 'killed' last season, but yet appears in the season opening.
For big CSI fans (like myself), can remember when the producers let Conrad (a.k.a. Eckley) break up the CSI Team. Remember what controversy that caused ? After almost 10 years it's going to be very difficult to keep the energy and the togetherness with practically a brand new team.
Hopefully, CBS can understand that this could be CSI's last season…….I'm not sure the show can survive that many cast changes.
Was he not “killed”? Or was it just left in question?
As someone mentioned on our Scrubs post, ER survived countless cast members leaving…I think the thing is to make sure they bring in the RIGHT replacements.
Remember when Liev Schreiber guest starred? He is someone who could step in and take over for Grisson and maybe even inject new life into the show.
What I actually said about Warrick Brown was: “it is assumed that Gary Dourdan’s character, Warrick Brown, will be killed off the show. Last season’s finale made it appear as if that were the case. He is scheduled to appear in the season premiere, however…”
Cancel it already! Everyone's gone!
I agree, cancel the show. It will be a flop without Grisson (William Peterson). Nobody can replace him or take over his personality he portrayed on the show. I called him “the bug man”, he would crack me up with his bugs and all the info he would find out from them.
Too many leaving at one time, it will never be the same.
He’s a very handsome man and good on the eyes too.
Fishburne would make a great CSI! If the description of the role says that he's a professor, it would fit him perfectly. Akeelah and the Bee is a good example. Kurt Russell just doesn't have it.
MAN this bite…you know whats gonna happen dont you? the show will fold without him,,i know it,,,just like most shows i have watched,,when they change too much of the cast or story line the show takes a season or two and then crashes and burns,,Without the Character of Grissom we will lose too much,,for one thing the bug man is gone,,,Sara Sidel character was a HUGE loss and now this ? uh uhhhhh no way,,William Petersons lose will be entirely too much for the show to handle,,mark my words,,and not fer nothin but,,they should have honored the pecking order,,,and moved Marg Helgenburger into the slot ,,,It would be that way in real life,,it SHOULD be that way here,,
This is so bad…I think I will stop watching, I hope that the reason of Grissoms leave will be that he goes to Sara. But one more reason not to follow CSI anymore is the more prominent appearance of that idiot Hodges. I hate the stupid character. No, I have to watch the old DVD's to get the atmosphere back…
Oh my goodness, I hear William Peterson will be leaving CSI too after this Season .Well I personally don't see myself watching the show if there is No Gil Grissiom.I have watched and been a fan of the show since it first aired.The show might be about crime investagations, but it has been a show of great ''Team Effort ''and working together as a family as well.How do you bust a team up that has been in the ''viewers living rooms Thursday's at 9:00 pm and expect it to stay the same?They tried that when once before spliting the team up…and what happened?I had a hard time when Gil went on his sabbatical.. With no disrespect to the actor that attempted to replace him…..There is no replacement for William P. that was a NO NO!!! Now that Warrick is gone..and Gil leaving ,I know without a doubt once Gil leaves that will be my final show.I do wish the best for William & Gary in their careers.I know they will be Great in everything they decide to do. You will be greatly missed by me! We all have watched the show. Will CSI survive the lost of Dr. Gil Grissiom and Warrick Brown?I was crushed last night even though I knew he would die. Replace Brass ,or someone other than the TEAM.Change is good,however that will just be too much change!!! As Gil would say to his Team Follow the clues…………… The Evidence NEVER LIES!!!!
Evidently Bill Petersen is returning to something that he’s missed and has wanted to return to for a long time but hs put his obligations to CSI first for the past few years. His plans, so I hear, include working at the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago, which is probably one of the most prestigious theaters in the world. To be accepted by and be able to perform in a venue where he is at his happiest is something I think all of Bill’s fans would want for him. I admit I will probably stop watching CSI, for the show came alive (no pun intended) due to the effort of Bill’s team, and just the months without Jorja Fox have been drier and harder to watch than when she was on and the electricity cackled whenever the two shared a scene together. They just had “it” and no words had to be said…the looks were enough. I wish Catherine could have had more of a personal life and let the show delve deeper into how a job as critical and with such high pressure can affect the emotional state that a CSI must deal with either alone or with a companion who must learn just how deep those emotions run and how a relationship with a CSI is affected ( read: a roller coaster ride with the highest ups and lowest downs). CSIs deal not just with life and death but the “behind the scenes” and often the depths of hell that their victims have suffered-much of which the CSI’s have to semi-relive leading up to solving their portion of the crime solving. That was what made Gil and Sara fan favorites , for they reached the point where they could semi open up to each other, not just revealing their pasts but also could share thoughts and feelings about currect cases and emotional problems involving them. Catherine needs the same.
The rest of the CSIs are all amazing actors. However, the addition of Lawrence Fishburne, in my opinion, does not keep the magic (begun and evolved throughout the years by the relationships of the closeness of the rest of the team) alive. Instead, it feels like it nearly did when Eckley tried to split up the team several seasons ago.. However, this time the rest of the team won’t be there -not even to get a slap on the back in the locker room. To me, our favorite show will soon become just another “CSI: Everyone for Themself”.
When I heard that William Peterson is leaving I really felt so bad, he is the kind of boss that I wanted to work with. I am a big fan of Gil and Sara and will cherish all their scenes together. Will wait for some more episodes with both of them together. I hope Greg Sanders will stay ‘coz he’s the last one that’s left among my favorite characters.
GIL, SARA whatever you’re doing right now, I miss you on the show and will be missing you forever. Can’t wait for the coming episodes that you will be together again. My day is not complete without CSI, I”ll keep watching the repeats. Love you … Gil you’re my man
“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],” added Petersen. “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. I don’t want them to abandon the show.”
thats what william said guys!!!!!! dont abandon the show if your a true CSI fan!!! hes working rlly hard so that we can still like the show! he doesnt want you guys 2 quit watching so keep watching so the ratings will keep up up up!! PLZ GUYS! DO THIS FOR WILLIAM PETERSEN!!
I have watched the CSI-Las Vegas series since it’s inception and have been motivated by the show. Most Television series shows are so fake when it comes to the forensic and biology aspect as I know with working in the healthcare field. I did not like the other CSI series from Miami or New York. I found the Las Vegas Series the most interesting due to the casting ensamble. Now, it will be very difficult for me to continue to watch the show with Michael Peterson leaving. His character has been one that has inspired so many people and kept the show going. I am not sure how this is going to benefit the show. I hope Mr. Peterson reconsiders the lasting effects this will have with the audience. I hope that he comes back!
Well, I’ve had the chance to now watch L. Fishburne as the “replacement” CSI member for Grissom, and I’m sorry but he just doesn’t fit in to this type of series. His movies have been great and I’m a fan, but not in this instance. I’m glad to see that Petersen is still keeping his fingers in the show’s formats, so it’s with this knowledge that I hope he reads these boards and keeps up with what the viewers think. It’s not just the blood and guts that have made this show so very suggesful…it’s been the interactions between the team members as well. I strongly feel the viewers need more of this in the coming episodes. We need Gil back once or twice if he can manage it, and we need some sort of connection between he and Sara if that can take place. Catherine needs a LIFE….one other than chasing her brat of a daughter all over town or one other than showing her picking up strange men in bars for a one night stand. Catherine is a beautiful, intelligent woman and can do better than this, but the writers need to give her more. The same with the other two guys on the team. We need to see the “flip side” of all the team members…to know they have personal lives and how they handle dealing with dead bodies all day or often around the clock but then to know they are humans who have actual lives and actual companions or mates to deal with while leaving their work feelings at the office. I honestly feel that the reason this show has been so popular is because not only was the audience exposed to actual crime solving using real body parts, but there was also a small personal side in each episode ( thus why Gil and Sara had such a following) which gave a wonderful balance to the shows. THIS needs to continue, and perhaps viewers will continue to watch CSI and give it a chance even though Gil and Jorja have left the show. I do hope that they both could make one or two return visits during this next season…if nothing more than to give the show a “shot in the arm” and bring back some of the wonderful memories we all have of their cat=and-mouse relationship.
Boy Howdy, Don’t know about Peterson leaving the show, the Gil Grissom character is kind of the one all the rest are centered around, although this is a forensics show, there is still the dynamic between the characters, believe that Grissom leaving is going to affect the show more than the producers think it will.
Perhaps, Keppler has a twin brother involved in police work no one knows about yet or perhaps his being “killed” off was some sort of cover and he isn’t dead after all. Had actually begun to like him and he would be good to fulfill a role similar to Grissoms… He was beginning to carve out a place for himself… not an easy feat.
Well they have lost a faithful watcher. It was bad enough when they lost Warrick. Now with Gil gone that did me in. It was my last show to watch!
I AM SO SAD< I MISS GRISS SARA AND WArRICk…=(
I just watched the 1/29 show (on DVR) and I got a kick out of Fishburne “not getting it” on so many levels. He may have been a physician, but all of this crime scene investigation is over his head and it may work well having him on as he starts out at the bottom level and has to learn most of what the show is all about. I thought he did well, which of course is saying that the writers did well showing him in the “don’t know” light. I’ll give the show a chance, as I still think the others on the team are so very good. I hope the writers read these entries, as I’ m
hoping that the ideas I wrote in my 1/8 entry still sound good to me!!!!!