'CSI' spells 'confusion'

Fort Worth StartleGram ^ | 07/21/2008 | ROBERT PHILPOT

[VRWCmember]

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - Call it CSI: DNA.

With William Petersen’s announcement this week that he will leave his role as Gil Grissom on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS Entertainment boss Nina Tassler didn’t even wait for questions before addressing the departure Friday during her Q&A with critics. Petersen will stay with the hugely popular show through episode 10 of this season and will make return appearances, Tassler said. That was easy to grasp.

The description of a new character taking — or not taking — Petersen’s place, however, led to some confusion and a series of questions.

The writers have "created a great character," Tassler said. "He’s a doctor, a scientist who’s got a very interesting DNA that is going to inform the duality of the character." Interesting DNA? "He has an interesting genetic profile that in certain sorts of medical contexts they’ve noticed that many times serial killers have that same genetic profile," Tassler said in response to a reporter’s request for clarification. "And this gentleman knows this about himself and is sort of in this journey and — and to discover who his true character will ultimately become."

So the new CSI boss is a serial killer? ...

She said the role hasn’t been cast yet but will be played by an "actor of stature." According to several Internet reports, Laurence Fishburne and John Malkovich have been approached, but the Newark Star-Ledger reports that Tassler said Malkovich turned down the offer.

[OldEagle]

"He could pull off the character as described."

He is one of my favorites.

[CharlesWayneCT]

On the other hand, CSI is probably why my daughter ended up deciding to go to our Biotech specialty high school program, rather than the specialty Drama program.

Because she always said she wasn’t interested in science or math, and then after CSI for a few months she was excited about the biotech program which has a CSI aspect to it.

[mad_as_he$$]

That seems to be a good thing to me!!! I know many liberal arts majors that are working for pennies.

[daler]

And pretty, too.

Don't know Eva Larue's (Emily's co-star) political leanings, but she's definitely a 12 in my book...

And I don't have pictures.

[peggybac]

I'm pretty sure Eva is a liberal. She was part of some big lib Hispanic thing awhile back.

[tatsinfla]

if they bring warick back that is really stretching considering he took to at point blank range. but then again bobby’s death was only a dream....lol..