No need for fingerprints. A very familiar face has signed on to star in the hit CSI: Crime Scene Investigation this season. The Matrix's Laurence Fishburne will replace William Peterson, who's leaving the series after eight years behind the microscope, the Associated Press reports.
Fishburne – who earned an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Ike Turner in What's Love Got to Do With It – said he was "elated and delighted" by the news. The actor will reportedly portray a former pathologist turned college lecturer. He meets up with members of the CSI team during a homicide investigation – and ends up joining them.
But, of course, he has a secret: The character's genetic profile has been identified in serial killers. "This gentleman knows this about himself and is ... in this journey to discover who his true character will ultimately become," CBS programming chief Nina Tassler told the AP.
Peterson – who plays team leader Gil Grissom – will depart the series partway through the upcoming season. But he will continue as an executive producer for the long-running series – and he has not ruled out occasional guest appearances.
Source: www.people.com
William Petersen is leaving CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and many fans of his Gil Grissom will not be happy. Petersen has agreed to return for occasional guest appearances and will remain a "CSI" executive producer but his run as an original cast member will end this coming season, executive producers Carol Mendelsohn and Naren Shankar said Tuesday. The air date for his final episode, the season's 10th, has yet to be determined but probably will be at the beginning of 2009, the producers said. The series debuted in fall 2000.
A number of familiar characters will return in the episodes building up to Grissom's departure, among them his former colleague and flame Sara Sidle, played by Jorja Fox; the Miniature Killer and sexy Lady Heather. "Who better to turn to when you're a scientist in crisis," Mendelsohn said jokingly of Heather (Melinda Clarke).
The decision to leave was Petersen's, the producers said, declining further comment. A call to Petersen's publicist was not returned Tuesday. The actor had taken a break during the 2006-07 season to perform in a play, with Liev Schreiber stepping in as a visiting investigator.
The long-running show remains key for CBS: CSI finished last season as the network's top-rated series, 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.
The producers were mum about specific plot points but said that Grissom will be reappraising his life after years of high-tech forensics investigations with the Las Vegas Police Department and after facing personal turmoil. "We're talking about a man who has suffered a great deal of loss recently... A man thinking about the next phase of his life," Shankar said. Shankar and Mendelsohn vowed that cast changes won't change CSI. "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.
Remember it was just this season that cast regular Jorja Fox left after playing the character of Sara Sidle since the show aired and Gary Dourdan’s run as Warrick Brown…. well that ended in the season finale. So that means three of the original cast members will be gone. This will really change the show. Let’s hope only for the better.
Source: www.msnbc.msn.com
The Nielsen Ratings the week of May 26, 2008:
1 LOST ABC 7.3
2 TWO AND A HALF MEN CBS 6.9
3 60 MINUTES CBS 6.8
3 MILLION DOLLAR PASSWORD CBS 6.8
5 NCIS CBS 6.7
6 CRIMINAL MINDS CBS 6.4
6 CSI: NY CBS 6.4
8 48 HOURS MYSTERY TUESDAY CBS 6.0
8 CSI CBS 6.0
8 SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE-THURSDAY FOX 6.0
Gary Dourdan, best known for his role on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, pleaded guilty to counts of cocaine and Ecstasy possession during his arraignment Wednesday in Indio, California. Dressed in a navy blue suit, light blue shirt and matching striped tie, Gary casually flashed the peace sign as he left court, got into the back of a waiting car and drove away.
He was charged with three counts of felony drug possession following his April 28 early-morning arrest in Palm Springs, California. The heroin count was dismissed. "As a result of today's proceedings, Gary has been given diversion (a drug treatment program)," his lawyer, Shawn Chapman Holley said outside the Lawson Justice Center. "He very much regrets what happened and he's very embarrassed by what occurred, but he's looking forward to moving on and getting back to work."
Gary had faced up to three years and eight months based on the charges filed against him. Instead, he faces no prison time, but must complete the 16-class drug program. Holley added: "He is very grateful to the court for being understanding and giving him an opportunity to resolve the issue and move forward."
Police spotted Gary, 41, sleeping in his car on the wrong side of the street. He was charged with possession of cocaine, heroin and Ecstasy and released on $5,000 bail. The weekend before his arrest, Gary attended the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in nearby Indio, California. "Obviously, I am embarrassed to find myself in this situation," he said in a statement to PEOPLE, "and I am profoundly grateful to everyone for their support."
Gary played Warrick Brown in the popular CBS crime show. In the season finale, a crooked officer shot his character twice in the neck. A show source said it was common knowledge that Gary's contract was up at the end of the season. His rep said Gary was preparing to star in a French horror film called Black Jack, where he plays an American soldier who parachutes into a French village exposed to chemical warfare during World War II.
Source: www.people.com
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