Entertainment, TV, Television - Marine Corps Times

William Petersen steps down from ‘CSI’ role

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — After eight seasons with William Petersen at the top of its most important show, CBS is bracing for a transition.

Petersen has led “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” from the beginning. He pushed for the show when network officials were hesitant. It barely made it on the schedule in 2000, then — along with “Survivor” — transformed what had been basically a comfy network for old people.

Now he’s stepping down from his role as Gil Grissom. Nina Tassler, the CBS programming chief, told reporters Friday that:

• He’ll be in the first 10 episodes of the new season.

• A new character, not yet cast, will semi-replace him. He won’t be the agency chief — at first — but he will be a doctor-scientist who has an unusual genetic makeup.

“In most cases, serial killers have that genetic profile,” Tassler said. He isn’t one, but he’s trying to secretly learn more about himself.

• The other key players have been re-signed, and a young CSI agent has been added. She’s played by Canadian actress Lauren Lee Smith, 28.

• Producers are planning lots of unusual episodes. “They have literally event-ized the whole year.”

• And as for Petersen, don’t think he’ll vanish. “I predict it will not be the last we see of him on the show.”

Tassler has had a busy time lately, making CBS the quickest network to bounce back from the writers’ strike. She’s also found one other thing to fill her day. She has enrolled (but hasn’t yet started classes) at Hebrew United Junior College, learning to be a cantor.

Then there are all those CBS duties. She told reporters that:

• “Flashpoint,” the Canadian series, has been a summer ratings surprise. If it holds up, it may be back.

• “Swingtown,” however, has had so-so ratings. She said she likes the show, but made no promises for its return.

• Six new “Password” episodes are being taped, but there’s not yet a specific place for them to air.

• “Dexter” is likely to merely stay on Showtime, where it started. CBS borrowed the show during the strike and got solid ratings. Now “Dexter” has its first Emmy nomination for best drama series, but she isn’t expecting to put its reruns on CBS again.

• The network will continue plunking name actors into guest shots. That includes Jason Alexander and Luke Perry on “Criminal Minds” and Sarah Chalke on several episodes of “How I Met Your Mother.”

• CBS seems to be reverting to traditional shows this year, but the people in charge are nontraditional. They include the creators of HBO’s “Rome” and Showtime’s “Sleeper Cell.”

• And yes, there have been plenty of complaints about canceling “Moonlight.” Most of the people, she said, were fans of the star (Alex O’Loughlin) more than the show.

She didn’t mention it, but that would suggest a solution to all major problems — cast O’Loughlin as the new, weird “CSI” guy.