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EXCLUSIVE: After two-and-a-half seasons, Laurence Fishburne is leaving CSI. The Oscar-nominated actor’s deal on the show was up and he opted not to renew it. He is expected to return to features full-time. It was a major coup for CBS to land Fishburne as a successor to original star William Petersen who left the series in December 2008. But when he last renewed his contract for CSI last May, Fishburne only did it for one season. After ten-and-a-half seasons as CBS’ Thursday 9 PM anchor, CSI is moving to Wednesday 10 PM this fall. I hear CBS and the veteran crime drama’s producers were not surprised by Fishburne’s decision. “Nobody expected him to be on the show for 7 years, it’s Laurence Fishburne,” one insider said. Fishburne will next be seen in Steven Soderbergh’s thriller Contagion. With Fishburne gone and Marg Helgenberger only returning part-time, CSI is in a similar position to another veteran crime procedural, Law & Order: SVU where Chris Meloni left and Mariska Hargitay is coming back but not full-time.
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While it was a coup for CBS, I never liked his character. CSI is clearly on its last legs, but if anything would help this show, I think him leaving would. But with the rumors of Marg Helgenberger (sp?) also leaving, that does not bode well…
First off, Billy P is way too happy getting to do other work to come back for more than a cameo.
Second I’m glad for the fans and for Laurence Fishburne since the Ray character was largely unpopular, partly due to the over focus on just him and partly due to the complete lack of logic in having him be a new CSI who everyone ran to for advice and leadership.
If they must bring in a new star or two, then go YOUNG this time. Let him/her be a true newbie CSI who turns to the other CSIs for advice and they get to lead.
My worry is that we’re still stuck with Carol Mendelssohn as show runner and she’s the most responsible for bad casting choices made of late. I worry we’ll get a repeat of the same only with a different actor.
Whaat other work is he getting? A long awaited sequel for “to Live and Die in L.A.”? LOL! he lucked out being cast in the 80s with “Manhunter” and then had basically nothing until CSI. Let’s not pretend he will suddenly be an Oscar winning actor in great movies.
I hear Forest Whitaker is available.
Good news.
Either find another good actor, bring Petersen back or let show go off the air….either way the show run it course…Im sure CBS has another procedural drama lined up in the back office just waiting to aired, that all they tend to show on the tiffany network. God forbid they actually show a well written. drama on CBS (the only one The good wife)
Could not watch this season! Between the his awful arch-nemisis story line and his own character, Langston didn’t come nearly as close as William Peterson did to creating a harmonious, highly-watchable ensemble. I don’t blame him, but the actor who played Nate Haskell made the entire season completely unwatchable for me. Don’t mess with the winning formula, solve one or two cases per show, the multple show story archs are achingly boring.
Fishburne was collecting a paycheck as he was so over weight on a sexy show he did not look sexy.
If anyone could have taken over for William, it was Laurence. I loved his time on CSI. But now which big name star are they gunning for because without Laurence or William, I can’t see CSI maintaining its audience?
They better offer a crap lot of money to bring back William. He made that show what it is and is well worth the price.
Please keep Laurence fishburne on the show . He had to fill big shoes when Peterson left. I think he did a great job filling them. Chemistry great with the other actors . Thank you.
Gaynne
So happy to hear he’s leaving. This used to be one of my favorite shows. After Grissom left, the group chemisty seemed to die. I also miss the Warrick character. I don’t want the show to go away, I just want new actors, maybe someone young. I like the Greg character, but the writers took away the fun part of the character and made him too generic. Bring back his unique personality…and mess his hair up!
as much as i like and respect LF, i never liked him on CSI…sorry but i am happy he’s taking his leave…as someone said it would be great if WP returned..! LF just didn’t fit in as far as i was concerned and i’ve been watching the show since day one…
so wow he’s a big time actor (yawn)…he’ll be ok of course but so will CSI..
heard charlie sheen’s available. he supposed to be very good with sinking ships.
Not a great loss; I doubt William Peterson would come back and CBS wouldnt want to pay him.
Maybe Mandy Patankin wants to work for a year and a half before he leaves like he usually does.
Fishburne was fine but the writing lately has been horrible on CSI, throwing all reality out the window. Remember the early seasons when the CSIs acted like CSIs instead of the local SWAT team? They have thrown out what was interesting about the show (unique crimes and following the evidence in the lab) in favor of making it just another run of the mill cop show.
I completely agree that they’ve lost what made this show unique. It’s time to get back to its roots.
Could be a good role for Joe Flanigan . He played a detective perfectly on Stargate Atlantis episode Vegas
Marg helgenberger must never leave. She is my favorite character. Love Catherine willows!!!!! If anymore characters from the first 8 seasons leave then there is no more csi. This team needs to stop breaking up. I love the family. I bought all 10 seasons and only each Vegas. I’m watching them my second time and I’m already on the fifth season. I love the characters that’s why I only watch Vegas. Please stop making changes!!!!!!!!
I do not understand actors, who have an enormous fan base specifically because of one character they portrayed, denying their legions of fans satisfaction by acknowledging the character that made them famous. I respect the fact William Petersen is an accomplished actor and wants to do more with his career than play the same role and cash a hunky pay check, but his refusal to appear on CSI is elitist. Grisom is a beloved character, and because of the success of CSI, Petersen is now able to pursue his acting dreams, so why slap his fans in the face by not allowing the character and series bow out successfully? I find it pretentiousness that Lauren Graham will not discuss the Gilmore Girls, Sarah Michelle Gellar will not discuss Buffy or Jenifer Aniston will not discuss Friends. These roles made you famous people! You should respect these characters and respect your fans!
I totally understand why those people want to get away from their roles. They want to be known for more than just playing a famous character. I can only imagine how irritating it must be to be walking down the street and hear people saying, “Oh look, it’s Grissom” or “Hey, it’s Buffy”. I so totally sympathize with them. Some people are actors because they want public recognition, the adoration, the attention. Others are in it because they truly love the craft and from everything I’ve ready about Petersen, he’s in it because he truly loves the craft and not necessarily the recognition.
I don’t see why they just can’t bring back Gary Dourdan…..oh wait, nevermind
Miss peterson in his CSI role. Fishbourne wish you all the luck in the world you are a fantatastic actor. You are wonderful on screen and on Broadway looking forward to seeing you on either.
Loved Lawrence Fishburn in the role. Did not think I would after William Peterson, but got used to him. It did take some time. Peterson is the definitive. Going to be sorry Ray go. But I will say I am annoyed that they are trying him for the murder of Nate Haskell. Give me a break. Intentional or not…really. I would have killed Nate Haskel myself. Get real.
I never liked Ray Langston. I think Nick and Greg (togheter or not)desserve more lines.
The show has certainly declined in recent years, but it isn’t Laurence Fishburne’s fault. The investigations took more and more of a backseat to the boring personal stories of the characters, like the ridiculous relationship btw Wendy and Hodges. Why would a woman that attractive and intelligent be interested in such an annoying mama’s boy? Sarah shows up without her husband. The explanation for this long distance marriage never made much sense. CSI’s real strength came from the investigations and what they revealed about the suspects and the investigators. The spotlight on certain subcultures, like the furry episode with people who dressed in animal costumes, were usually a kick.
But the biggest problem for me was the serial killer story arcs. Too many shows depend on the omnipotent mass murderer so much, it has become a boring cliche. They should have stopped with the miniature killer.
Bringing Peterson back will not save the show. Go back to the investigations and ensemble cohesion that made it interesting in the beginning.
I am sooo not happy about this! L.F. was the reason I started watching CSI again! I dont know why they said they “Didn’t expect him to be on the show for 7 years.” Why not? Many movie stars have made a successful transition to t.v. I certainly expected him to be on longer than 2 years! What I dont understand is all this whining about “Bring William Petersen Back!” He doesn’t need to act on the show. He’s making plenty of money as CSI’s executive producer. Plus, his character was such a loner and stand-offish. L.F.’s character was basically the black version of Grissom.
Good he’s leaving, can’t bring myself to watch repeats of S10/11…all around Ray Ray Ray….where’s the team?
How about introducing a new female character to compete with Catherine, say someone like Sasha Alexander (ex NCIS).