July 16, 2008 10:00 AM
Is 'CSI' slowly melting?
The announced departure of William Petersen from CSI next season is a major blow in my book. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CSI_WILLIAM_PETERSEN?SITE=CODER&SECTION=ENTERTAINMENT&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
CSI is one of my favorite TV shows. (Don't even get me started on CSI Miami, which suffers from the presence of David Caruso.)
Never big on personality, Petersen nonetheless anchored the show with his sarcasm and gravitas. His Gus Grissom was CSI, a man as fascinated by the science of bugs as women.
CSI producers have announced that he will appear only occasionally this fall, and likely will appear on his last episode in January 2009.
For avid CSI fans, Petersen's departure is more serious that two recent high profile departures, Jorja Fox and Gary Dourdan.
I never liked Fox. Her character, Sara Sidle, always struck me as petulant, moody and anti-social. I know she has her fans, I just wasn't one of them.
Dourdan was arrested for drugs at a music festival in April, which pretty much sealed his fate on the show, though rumor has it he was considering departing before then.
Last season the show averaged 17 million viewers a week.
How will producers respond? If they're smart, they'll give Marg Helgenberger -- nee CSI Willows -- a bigger role. Some shows allow her to shine, while others have her doing little more than a walk on.
Every successful TV series has its share of departures and arrivals, especially when it's long-running. Remember when Harry Morgan replaced McClean Stevenson on M*A*S*H?
I just hope CSI can survive the turmoil. Petersen was the lynchpin in a well-oiled machines.
July 17, 2008
5:56 AM
Sara Sidle writes:
Gus Grissom???
Oh well, luckily I won't take the rest of the article too seriously now...
July 17, 2008
5:34 PM
Mary writes:
Gus - Gil - what's in a name - especially if the actor playing GIL Grissom is leaving? Of course, when he said "Marg Helgenberger -- nee CSI Willows" - is another boneheaded error (nee means either (1) Born. Used to indicate the maiden name of a married woman. or (2) Formerly known as - neither is accurate here) - perhaps he meant "aka CSI Willows", perhaps something else - but "nee" is just plain wrong. This is what happens when you get rid of the folks who used to proofread columns for both factual content - and verifying the word used is correct in context.
July 17, 2008
6:13 PM
SirRealist writes:
But now, to actually discuss the questions asked in the article, how the producers will respond will likely include leaning more heavily on the remaining characters instead of on new actors brought in to replace the originals.
It is exceedingly difficult to successfully transplant new leading characters without alienating presently dedicated viewership. Any number of programs have met their demise in such moves, even if it took a full season or two.
What they probably will need to do is promote either Katherine or Nick to Gil's spot, and hire CSI's to replace Warrick and Sara, along with whomever is promoted. Frankly, I always liked Sara because she was introverted. Katherine's annoying-as-Hell habit of cramming her opinion down everyone's throat, and upholding the pope as the greatest human to walk to planet any time in recent history is far beyond arrogant and atrocious.
There needs to be an under-toned portion of next seasons episodes that deal from time-to-time with that crooked under-Sheriff, and it is imperative that he get his just desserts. More also needs done with the "miniature killer" - perhaps an escape from prison and some more tormenting of the crew, or maybe an identical MO but she's still in prison and can't possibly be doing the dirty deeds - or, can she?
Hey, writers, let me know if you need any ideas - in the words of Durante, "I got a million of 'em".
July 17, 2008
8:11 PM
Emma writes:
"(Don't even get me started on CSI Miami, which suffers from the presence of David Caruso.)" -Mike Perterson
Don't even get me started on RockyMountainNews.com, which is 'suffering' from the presence of Mike Peterson.
How dare you?! You can't even get the name of the lead character on your 'favorite' show right! How can you presume to pass judgement on David Caruso and CSI: Miami?!
July 22, 2008
10:28 PM
C Conley writes:
The factual ("GUS Grissom") & spelling ("Petersen was the lynchpin in a well-oiled machines." )errors in this article, not to mention the uncalled for swipe at CSI: Miami from the linebacker-ish Mike Pearson seems more appropriate for the Rockhead Mountain News, than the Rocky Mountain News.
Perhaps the brilliance of the Denver Post is due to the fact that the Rocky Moutain News suffers from the presence of Mike Pearson, who I could easily imagine trading a football jersey for a Coca Cola Zero with a small child under the stands of a football stadium in Pittsburgh.