William Petersen departs 'CSI'

[Luna]

William Petersen will leave CSI: Crime Scene Investigation midway through next season, Entertainment Weekly reports.

Despite inking a deal to return to the police procedural drama earlier in the year, it has now emerged that Petersen's role in the ninth season will be greatly reduced.

Carol Mendelsohn, executive producer of the CBS show, disclosed that Petersen will remain involved in a production capacity and make occasional guest appearances.

"He will, whenever CBS asks, come back. I don't think you've seen the last of Gil Grissom," she said.

Petersen said of his new CSI role: "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].

"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."

With Petersen's departure, along with those of Jorja Fox and Gary Dourdan, Mendelsohn admitted that the ninth season would be "a year of transition for the show".

[Perdita]

Nooooo, I want him to stay. :wub:

[Abigail]

I don't watch CSI that often but Grissom is one of my faves.

[Jojo]

*runs away sobbing*

Was to be expected as everyone knows its been on the cards for ages. Although its time for change for the 9th season, have to wonder if it will make it to a 10th.

[Abigail]

All programs need a shake up at some point to keep them fresh. Unfortunately that sometimes means losing some of the cast.

I really wasn't sure about House season four because three main characters were going to be replaced but kept on in a different capacity. I think it's worked really well although the Chase/Cameron shippers are still up in arms about it.

[Chloe O'brien]

Downs her third bottle wine :crying: Please don't GO GRISS :crying: We knew it was on the cards after he took a break two years ago but it is still going to be a huge loss to the show and to CSI fans. The writers are going to have to pull something pretty special out of the bag if CSI is to remain a top show.

[CrazyLea]

I really wasn't sure about House season four because three main characters were going to be replaced but kept on in a different capacity. I think it's worked really well although the Chase/Cameron shippers are still up in arms about it.

Hmm it can work. But I think after 8 series it's, losing 3 main characters will make a huge impact on CSI Vegas - in a bad way. I think S9 may be the last one. I may very well eat my words though, hope I do :D.

[Jojo]

Exactly what I was thinking Lea - hope not, but to lose half the team in one season basically, it could be hard to bring itself up from that, plus I felt the last series wasn't as strong as it has been - whereas NY is going from strength to strength and improving all of the time (I am waiting to see what Miami is like this year).

[tammyy2j]

CSI wont be the same without Grissom he is the lead character

Will Liev Schreiber be returning now ??????????

So Warrick, Sara and Grissom all gone maybe its time to finish CSI maybe Catherine and Nick could transfer to Miami or NY

[Jojo]

Didn't Liev's character get killed off though? Or am I thinking of someone different?

[Debs]

:eek: ive onlty been watching for a little while and i couldnt imagine it with old grissom!!!

[Luna]

Didn't Liev's character get killed off though? Or am I thinking of someone different?

yup he did and anyway i think they would be wrong in tryuing to bring in someone to replace grissom