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CBS at Press Tour: Life After Grissom
William Petersen by Robert Voets/CBS
If the season opener of CSI is any indication—CBS gave critics screeners of the episode this week—William Petersen is going to get quite the emotional workout in his final 10 episodes as a series regular. He gives one of his strongest performances to date as he grapples with the aftermath of the climactic shooting of Warrick (Gary Dourdan) in last season’s cliffhanger shocker. The episode also brings Jorja Fox’s Sara (looking softer and prettier) back into the picture, at least temporarily.
CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler, kicking off CBS’s portion of the fall-season TCA press tour on Friday morning, spent much of her session explaining the new character who will be introduced to eventually take over the team. Described by Tassler as “an outsider coming into the CSI unit … not immediately as the boss,” he’s a doctor and scientist with “an interesting genetic profile that, in certain sort of medical contexts, they’ve noticed that many times serial killers have that same genetic profile.” Tassler says exec producers Carol Mendelsohn and Naren Shankar aren’t copying Showtime’s Dexter here; for one thing, he’s not symptomatic.
“This gentleman knows this [genetic background] about himself and is sort of on this journey to discover who his true character will ultimately become. … Since [CSI] is rooted in science, they wanted him to have a quality that would really inform his curiosity. … He’s not only learning what it is to be a CSI, but also a journey of self-discovery.” Tassler says the new character, who she promises will be played by “an actor of stature,” will give the remaining ensemble a chance to “show parts of their personality that the audiences perhaps haven’t seen ever before or at least in a while.”
With so much change afoot, Tassler is calling this the “DVR-proof season of CSI.”
In the bigger network picture, CBS is returning to its core strengths—procedurals with a twist, and broad comedies—in its new fall lineup, after a year in which experiments in form like Viva Laughlin, Cane and Moonlight failed to survive last season. “Certainly a couple of the [new] shows are more within our wheelhouse. There’s no doubt about it,” says Tessler, while noting “a marked departure, an evolution in the form in terms of tone, style, sensibility. The characters are a little bit more idiosyncratic,” like Simon Baker’s charmingly perceptive investigator in The Mentalist and Rufus Sewell’s intense scientific crimebuster in Eleventh Hour.
CBS, which continues to have great success with traditional sitcoms like The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men, is also trying something relatively new on Mondays with the new single-camera comedy Worst Week, an adaptation of a British comedy about a hapless stooge (affable newcomer Kyle Bornheimer) who wreaks slapstick havoc whenever he tries to impress his pregnant fiance’s skeptical parents (including That ’70s Show’s hilarious Kurtwood Smith). “[Worst Week] certainly speaks to a look to the future of comedy at the network,” Tassler says.
In other highlights, Tassler did nothing to endear herself to disgruntled Moonlight fans—as if such a thing were possible—when she addressed that cult vampire drama’s cancellation. While saying she loved vampires, as well as witches, werewolves and warlocks, The response to Moonlight was actually more actor-centric, so I think it certainly measures our decision on the show. Right now, I don’t question the choice we made. I’m not getting as much mail, and most of those comments were actor-centric.” Which begs the question: Are they interested in being back in business with Alex O’Loughlin? “We’d love to.” But don’t expect another Jericho-style resurrection on this front.
Other notes:
Don’t look for CBS to repeat last season’s strike-induced experiment of repeating Dexter, or any other Showtime series, on their schedule.
Scrubs’ Sarah Chalke will make multiple appearances in How I Met Your Mother this season. (Scrubs is expected to wrap production on its upcoming season for ABC in early September, so she’ll be available.) But Tassler says, “Right now, I don’t think she’s the mother.”
She’s noncommittal about the future of ’70s-set summer series Swingtown, except to say she’s “disappointed in the ratings” but “very proud of the show. I love the show.”
And how will the networks’ biggest comedy hit, Two and a Half Men, confront the issue that Angus T. Jones isn’t getting any younger? “You’re going to see Angus is going to be going through typical teen [stuff]. I mean, he’s 14. So it opens up a whole new treasure trove of stories. Charlie’s got a whole host of issues that he has to deal with in terms of having a teenager in the house.”
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Jul 18, 2008 4:57 PM
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Nina Tassler is dead wrong on the reason why fans are so upset about Moonlight's cancellation--it was the STORY, Ms. Tassler, and the ensemble of actors that brought it to life.
And yes, Alex O'Loughlin is a talented actor, no question. I expect (and hope) that he is in a position to choose a better option than returning to the network that treated him so poorly.
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Jul 18, 2008 10:24 PM
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OK, I'm sorry if I sound unsympathetic, but it's time to stop. Moonlight is gone - please get over it. I have to be honest here: I'm not a fan of anything that plays fast and loose with established mythology (vampires can come out in sunshine? No way!), so I can't say I'm sorry it's gone, but whether or not CBS did the right thing, they're a business and they made their decision from a business point of view. And the fact that no one else picked up Moonlight despite the vocal fan outcry leads me to believe that CBS was probably right in their call.
So can all you pro-Moonlight (and Jericho, and whatever else) people please accept reality and move on? I understand your anger, as there are shows that I regret were canceled, but there are far more important things in this world to concentrate on.
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Jul 20, 2008 10:20 AM
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I love William Peterson and was expecting this news to come since last year when he was off for 5 months. He is such a talented actor and I think he is doing the right thing by walking out on top.
Any truth to the fact that the talented and much desired Alex O'Loughlin is the new character? The role sounds perfect for him and if we can't have Mick St John and Moonlight back please don't take Alex away from us for good.
I never thought I would say this but I could deal with Grissom leaving and continue watching if I could watch Alex do his "thang" each week, not only is he fun to look at but the man can act. I would love to see him get this kind of exposure. Who knows, this kind of exposure could even lead to a reunion of the Moonlight cast for a movie.
Matt, I look for you to bring us the good news.
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Jul 20, 2008 11:00 AM
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I think CSI can survive without Grissom if they bring in interesting and intriguing characters. I'm sure they expect some ratings dip, though.
I am excited to see how his final episodes play out. I can't wait to see Jorja Fox back and I applaud the actors and producers for seeing the Sara/Grissom storyline through. I know there are many who don't like it, but I find it completely intriguing and unique to anything else on TV. It has certainly been a rollercoaster ride for 8 years for them and their fans. I truly hope they have a happy send-off planned for this fabled couple.
A big 'Thank You and Good Luck' to both Mr. Petersen and Ms. Fox!
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Jul 20, 2008 1:24 PM
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I cannot believe Ms. Tassler is lying to the press. We sent thousands of letters telling CBS how much we loved the SHOW. The chemistry between the cast, writing, sets, music, etc. all worked! The romance of Mick and Beth is what most viewers responded to.
This is not Save Alex...this is Save Moonlight!
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Jul 20, 2008 4:20 PM
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I actually liked Moonlight (even though I didn't really expect i would). I wish tv execs would give viewers more time to warm up to shows, instead of axing them so quickly. It makes folks almost reluctant to try a new show cause there's too much conern you'll get invested only for it to be cancelled.
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Jul 20, 2008 6:29 PM
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Please correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Moonlight consistently win its timeslot? I still haven't heard a good reason why it was cancelled if that is true. If not true, OK, I can understand the cancellation and move on, as so many Moonlight-haters have repeatedly ordered us to do. Oh, by the way, I don't do well with being ordered to do anything, so back off already!!!
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Jul 21, 2008 3:12 PM
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Cheers to CSI, William Petersen is finally leaving! Maybe now we will once and forever hear and see the end of the no-mance with that dreadful train wreck and mentally unstable Sara Sidle. The faux-mance was so boring and predictable from the start; I can’t imagine why CBS force fed this feeble soap opera to the audience for so long. It was bad enough that they assassinated Grissom’s character and integrity by having placing him in a supposed love relationship with a rude, emotionless snot of a subordinate, but to keep dragging it on year after year, GAG! It was bad from the start and got worse with each episode.
It’s good that Petersen it returning to the stage where he can do the same thing over and over every night which may be fine on stage but it is getting really old on CSI. Just how predictable have they become? Grissom runs off with Sidle as everyone knew would happen from the start of the “fling” . And hmm I am guessing he won’t even tell the rest of his CSI team he is leaving; he will just write them a letter! When Sidle left I promised myself that if they ever thought about bringing her back that I was done and would never watch the show again. I intend to keep my promise to myself. CSI isn’t worth the effort it takes to turn on the TV anymore
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Jul 21, 2008 7:26 PM
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well MAC.RC as a fan of Sara Sidle who thinks YOU are the one that's emotionally unstable let me say this, don't let the door hit you on your backside on the way out! SEEE YA!!! Long live GSR!! By the way, you might want to seek professional help if you construe Sara as 'emotionless' LOL that's like the last word anyone could use to describe her. Maybe you're thinking of LH who lives behind a mask of fakeness
And to those people who loved Moonlight you go right on ahead complaining. Don't let anyone tell you when to stop caring. It was a show that had a future and they canned it. I watched one or two eps so I'm not a fan per se but i can see how one would be. It's been what 23 years since Beauty and the Beast went off and there still hasn't been anything to replace it.
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Jul 22, 2008 12:52 PM
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and as to this
show parts of their personality that the audiences perhaps haven’t seen ever before or at least in a while.”
I just have to again say what an insane show CSI is that they have characters we all love, who we would LOVE to know more about and they treat them like hemmorhoids who are victims of band litigation... they just leave them there dying, barely hanging on and then Grissom leaves and the NEW character is going to let us see parts of their personalities we haven't seen? LOL Does anyone else think the showrunners on CSI are completely certifiable? Frankly, I like to see the characters interact WITH Grissom not after he's gone with someone new. My head spins with this show. It's so unfathomably stupid sometimes.
Oh and Matt, thanks for the 'softer and prettier' Sara comment though I'm not sure if it should make me mad or not... it's sort of getting under my skin as we speak. Perhaps, more centered and rested might have worked better then "Prettier" I wonder why we don't hear any comments like that about male leads (I love WP don't get me wrong) but he has aged over the last 10 years so while Sara returns Softer and Prettier Grissom will no doubt return older and probably fatter too. So what gives? Hopefully you meant it in a nice way... not like 'oh I love your new haircut... it looks SOOO much better than how it looked before... oh God it was awful back then'
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Jul 22, 2008 1:00 PM
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pinkiepie230 wrote:
I love William Peterson and was expecting this news to come since last year when he was off for 5 months. He is such a talented actor and I think he is doing the right thing by walking out on top.
I agree. Having been able to see Mr. Petersen perform live in the theater, all I can say is that CSI's loss is the theater's gain!
And for the record, Mr. Petersen was not off for 5 months. His time off for the play in Rhode Island coincided with the Christmas break and he only missed 3 episodes.
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Jul 23, 2008 1:35 PM
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heard Alex was one of the people being considered in the CSI replacement....I've never watched..but if Alex is in it..I'll start
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Jul 24, 2008 5:50 PM
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I'm very very disapointed to hear William Peterson is leaving CSI he is one of, if not the main reason I watch the show. I have always been a huge fan of his. The show may not survive his loss!
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Jul 31, 2008 7:05 PM
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I'm very very disapointed to hear William Petersen is leaving CSI he is one of, if not the main reason I watch the show. I have always been a huge fan of his. The show may not survive his loss!
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Jul 31, 2008 7:06 PM
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