'CSI' plans for William Petersen's departure

July 18, 01:55 PM

As has been widely reported, William Petersen will exit CSI: Crime Scene Investigation mid-way through the hit forensic drama's upcoming ninth season.

Addressing reporters at the Television Critics Association press tour on Friday (July 18) morning, CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler says that the show's producers have a plan for the exit of their leading man.

"Strategically, we've been talking about this for quite some time," she says. "It started last year. And they have an unbelievable season planned. We're starting certainly with the resolution of the cliffhanger. Jorja Fox is coming back. We've got an unbelievable -- I call it the DVR-proof season of CSI."

Petersen, also an executive producer on the show, is expected to leave after the season's 10th episode, but don't expect a tragic end for the popular character. Tassler says that it is "certainly not the last time we'll see him." In the meantime, though, CSI will introduce a new male lead, a character who sounds like he'll bring a fresh dimension to the long-running procedural.

"I don't think you replace Billy, but you sort of look at adding elements to the show that are really going to invigorate and contribute to the -- sort of the alchemy of the show where it is today," Tassler explains. "They've created a great character. He's a doctor, a scientist who's got a very interesting DNA that is going to inform the duality of the character. So I think there -- like I said, it's not necessarily replacing Billy, but it's adding an element that is going to sort of inform the dynamic of the team today."

Interesting DNA? Like he's half-frog? No.

"He is an outsider coming into the CSI unit," Tassler elaborates. "He comes in not immediately as the boss, but he has an interesting genetic profile that in certain sort of medical contexts, they've noticed that many times serial killers have that same genetic profile. And this gentleman knows this about himself and is sort of in this journey and -- and to discover who his true character will ultimately become."

Tassler promises that the currently uncast role will be inhabited by an actor of stature. One performer mentioned in previous buzz was John Malkovich, who reportedly turned the network down.

"We never met with him, but we had talked about him," Tassler says. "Certainly you like at someone like John Malkovich, who is an extraordinary actor and who has got a very interesting sort of internal life to every character he does. And we're looking for someone who has depth and scope and gravitas."

Another name that has come up is Laurence Fishburne and, again, Tassler doesn't issue a denial.

"Did you see his show in New York?" Tassler asks rhetorically of Fishburne's recent acclaimed performance as Thurgood Marshall. "He was amazing, so certainly a name that had been talked about as well."

Either way, the exec promises fans will be satisfied.

"[W]ith CSI, it's such a great time for that show in that you've also added Lauren Lee Smith, who is a terrific young actress, who comes in as a new CSI. And this new character is also going to give to the other supporting characters and Marg an opportunity to sort of show parts of their character, show parts of their personality, that the audiences perhaps haven't seen ever before or at least in a while. So I think it will be a great transition. I promise you."

in CSI , Press Tour

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Comments (23)

Comments

Nothing's "DVR-proof". There's no point watching live TV anymore.

OCGuy | Jul 18, 2008 4:58:57 PM | #

I think the point of that comment is that the show will be so good, they figure people will WANT to watch it live. Not wait to see it later while you watch something else first.

As for replacing Petersen... hey, Mandy Patikin is available! Errrr.... nevermind.

Frank Rook | Jul 19, 2008 12:12:08 AM | #

What bout Jason Dohring, from Moonlight.He has a cynical serial killer vibe to him., in my opinion.

ray | Jul 19, 2008 12:21:41 AM | #

William is the only reason I watched the program. Guess I won't be watching after he leaves.

Alice | Jul 19, 2008 7:24:36 AM | #

i haven't seen much of csi, didn't really like the show. but now with peterson gone, i may watch more of the show. peterson sucks.

tom | Jul 19, 2008 8:11:28 AM | #

Frank Rook -- Talking to Nina Tassler after the session a couple of us jokingly suggested that the part would, indeed, be PERFECT for Mandy Patinkin and that Mandy is "an actor of stature."

She laughed...

-Daniel

Daniel | Jul 19, 2008 9:19:40 AM | #

love the show from the beginning. sorry to hear MR. PETERSON IS LEAVING. i don't recall the actors name who replaced him for several episodes. he was great in the part. did they kill his character, or can they consider him in the part. also miss the african actor who i assume was killed in the season closer. it's a great cast, and i will continue to watch. thank you for listening...

manuel toirres | Jul 19, 2008 11:18:02 AM | #

Manuel, It was Liev Schreiber who replaced Grissom for those 4 (?) eps a couple of years ago. And yes, his character did indeed get killed.

Rishi | Jul 19, 2008 12:23:30 PM | #

Oh so sad. Peterson is the show. Promise all you want but when something is this good it is a shame it has to be changed. Maria

maria | Jul 19, 2008 8:40:26 PM | #

I'm a big fan of all the CIS shows. I have been watching CSI from the start and was disappointed when Jorja Fox left and then the charater Ward, now Peterson is leaving. Shows never do well when all the orginal people leave. The best ones are gone. The ony one left is Marg. The show will not be the same. To bad!

Terry | Jul 20, 2008 4:04:22 PM | #

I stand by my statement: Nothing is DVR-proof.

Worst case, for a 1 hour show, you start watching 20 minutes after the hour and still skip all the commercials.

Commercials are dead, long live the DVR!

OCGuy | Jul 20, 2008 8:11:40 PM | #

Nicholas Campbell from the CBC series Davinci's Inquest would be an awesome replacement.

What's he up to these days?

He should at least arrange an audition.

Phil | Jul 21, 2008 10:57:52 AM | #

Phil -- that is a great suggestion! I love that show. I miss having new episodes of DI, but there are still quite a few of the old ones I haven't seen yet. But NC definately has the right vibe for what they are describing -- too bad he is almost a complete unknown in the U.S. No way the CSI braintrust is going to take that kind of risk.

aev | Jul 21, 2008 9:37:51 PM | #

Let's face it... if CSI wasn't making a truckloads of money for CBS, they would make the upcoming season the last and go out on a creative high note. But since it's a VERY profitable TV franchise, of course they will replace Peterson.

If large amounts of money were not the issue (and that's all that matters to CBS and the other networks), the show runners would say "Grissom is absolutely the key to CSI and without him, it'll never be the same. 10 years is enough… time to pack it up and allow the other franchises to continue on."

Personally, I stopped watching once they really amped up the gore factor and the show became less of a whodunit mystery and more of a ‘let's shock the audience with truly gruesome images of nasty murders and various body parts’.

IDC | Jul 24, 2008 1:38:59 PM | #

Yes, the "DVR-proof" comment is silly. I haven't missed an episode of CSI for years--and I haven't watched an episode of ANY prime-time network show in real time for years.

Glenn | Jul 27, 2008 5:00:29 PM | #

I agree Jason Dohring would have an edge as a character. I'll continue to watch and see where it goes. The best ones ARE NOT gone. George Eads, et all, are fine at their craft and I'm willing to give the new actors a chance. One should try to keep an open mind. Something I learned as a thirty year veteran Deputy Sheriff (twenty-six of them as a Detective).

Manper55 | Jul 28, 2008 8:47:33 AM | #

i'll miss petersen, why not get colin farrell to replace him, then i'd watch CSI again.

julia | Jul 28, 2008 6:21:44 PM | #

Nina Tassler is known for mkaing stupid comments about CBS shows. "DVR proof". Yeah, right. It wasn't DVR proof with Peterson, it certainly won't be without him. Dream on, Nina.

Maureen | Jul 29, 2008 5:32:33 PM | #

Why are they taking 2 of the top guys out? From the last show of Miami CSI Cain lay shot on a airfield. Now Grissin is going too.

Grams | Jul 29, 2008 9:09:22 PM | #

Am a huge fan of CSI. Sad to see Mr. Petersen leave.
Hated to see Jorja leave - didn't think I would watch again, but I have missed only a few. Have even watched the re-runs on Spike channel. Keep
up the good work!!!

Pam | Aug 6, 2008 12:54:14 PM | #

I only watch the older episodes on spike because they have gotten rid of some of my favorite characters and now Grissom? Who is going to be left on the show? I get attached to the characters of television and I hate it when they get rid of them. Oh well, life going on and new shows start every season.

Jenny | Aug 7, 2008 7:14:51 AM | #

Now that "Moonlight" won't be back, & they're replacing it w/some lame "ex-list" show, they should bring alex o'yummy pants & jason dohring to CSI, otherwise, i quit watching both time slots....

ps: no fishburne either & gary unmarried, no way....charlie sheen rip-off...

julia | Aug 7, 2008 9:19:21 PM | #

I love CSI!! It's one of my very favorite shows! I got introduced to it by my teenage daughter a couple of years ago, who happened to watch it at a friend's. It was the first of its type for me but has led to more, CSI - Miami, CSI - NY, NCIS, etc. But it's my favorite. Grissom is the main reason I watch, I love his logical, but educated statements and he's good looking, too, even with a beard! If he goes, I don't think it will be worth it, with Sara and Ward already gone.

marge

Marge | Nov 11, 2008 12:11:52 AM | #