Thread: Ted Danson on CSI replacing Fishbourne ( replacing Peterson )

Suddenly, Ted Danson is hard at work on 'CSI'
By FRAZIER MOORE - AP Television Writer | AP – 29 mins ago

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — It was just three weeks ago that Ted Danson was announced as the new star of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," and now he's in production — and a bit dazed by the suddenness. "My jaw is kind of hanging down from the newness of all of this," Danson told reporters on Wednesday as he recalled that just two weeks earlier, he was leisurely staring out at the ocean from Martha's Vineyard, Mass.

Danson plays the new supervisor for the Las Vegas CSI team on the CBS drama, which films in Los Angeles. Danson steps into the position originally held by William Petersen and then filled by Laurence Fishburne, who had been on the show since its 2008-09 season.

Danson's character, D.B. Russell, is the child of counterculture parents who schooled him themselves at home and during travels in their van. He has a less obsessive way of experiencing the world than his fellow investigators.

Explained "CSI" executive producer Don McGill, "Here's this character who has things really, really in balance: family; work; life."

"I feel like I have walked into this perfect situation for me," Danson said.

The 63-year-old actor first found TV stardom nearly 30 years ago playing Boston bar owner Sam Malone on "Cheers," a comedy hit on NBC that ran for 11 seasons. And though he has had a variety of roles since then, he said he had never played a crime-buster before. But even now, he said, "They still won't give me a gun."

"CSI," whose stars also include Marg Helgenberger and George Eads, will begin its 12th season on Sept. 21. But will it go on to match the longevity of "Law & Order" and "Gunsmoke," which tie the record for TV drama at 20 seasons?

"Ted has signed on for an additional 12 years, plus an option," joked executive producer Carol Mendelsohn. "Yeah — I think it will."

http://news.yahoo.com/suddenly-ted-d...204317871.html

Ted Danson: 5 Things to Know About 'CSI' Star
The Hollywood Reporter – Wed, Jul 13, 2011 5:05 AM

Ted Danson will replace Laurence Fishburne on CSI, it was announced Tuesday.

"You can create a new character on the page, but until the perfect actor comes along and breathes life into it, it's just words," executive producer Carol Mendelsohn says. "We're very excited Ted Danson came along."

Here are a few things to know about the actor.

1. He makes his debut in CSI's Season 12 premiere on Sept. 21 at 10 p.m., which is the series' new time slot. He will remain a series regular on HBO's Bored to Death.

2. Although probably best known for playing Sam Malone in the '80s on Cheers, he earned an Emmy notation for his role as a villain on FX's Damages. He's been nominated for 14 Primetime Emmy Awards (he won two); 10 Golden Globe Awards (winning three) and one Screen Actors Guild Award.

3. He's an activist for ocean conservation. In March of this year, he wrote his first book, "Oceana: Our Endangered Oceans And What We Can Do To Save Them" with bestselling author Michael D'Orso.

4. He's follows a strict diet. He told Conan O'Brien in 2007 that he follows a vegan diet, except for occasionally eating fish.

5. He came under fire in 1993 for appearing in blackface at the Friar Club's roast of then-girlfriend Whoopi Goldberg and delivering a controversial, expletive-filled monologue. Goldberg later said they co-wrote the skit. He married actress Mary Steenburgen on October 7, 1995.

http://movies.yahoo.com/news/ted-dan...090501224.html

Marg Helgenberger is saying goodbye to "CSI"
By Jill Serjeant | Reuters – 7 hrs ago

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Long-running TV series "CSI:Crime Scene Investigation" will take on a less serious tone this season as former "Cheers" actor Ted Danson joins the cast of forensic detectives, producers said on Wednesday. But in a surprise announcement, lead actress Marg Helgenberger told reporters that she plans to leave at the end of the upcoming 12th season of what CBS says is the most watched TV series in the world.

Helgenberger, who plays former CSI supervisor Catherine Willows, said she had considered leaving at the end of last season, but decided she was "having a hard time letting go and that I was not yet done playing this character. That's why I decided to extend (my contract) a little bit."

Danson, 63, takes over from the departing Laurence Fishburne (Dr. Raymond Langston), playing a new character D.B. Russell -- a family man with four children, an unconventional hippie upbringing, and a good sex life.

Executive producer Carol Mendelsohn said Russell has his own unique process for solving crimes, adding that "the season will be a little lighter. There is more humor than there was last season. Season 12 -- that's a lot of years, and we wanted to excite the audience and excite ourselves as writers," Mendelsohn added of the change of tone.

"CSI" is one of the most valuable franchises at CBS and is licensed in 200 countries. But U.S. audiences have fallen by about four million viewers in the past two years since original headliner William Petersen left the show in 2009 and Fishburne took over, bringing a far more serious edge to the series."

CBS entertainment chief Nina Tassler acknowledged that Peterson's departure had been "impactful". But she said that Danson brings a huge fan base and could attract new audiences for the series. "It is a successful show, long running, and I think it is a great opportunity for us," Tassler said.

Emmy-award winning actor Danson -- best known as the skirt-chasing bar owner Sam Malone on the 1980s comedy "Cheers" -- said he was surprised but pleased at the chance of returning to a leading role on a top-rated network TV series. "I was thrilled, happy... My jaw is still hanging down a little bit from the newness of all this. I love going to work. I am so happy to hang with this cast...to be able to step into that atmosphere is a joy," he said.

Danson also revealed another, little known qualification for his new role. "I grew up around skulls. My father was an archeologist in Arizona and I would go on digs with my dad as a kid."

Danson makes his debut in the new season premiere on September 21.

http://news.yahoo.com/marg-helgenber...205004114.html

comments

Why does it matter if his character has "a good sex life"? They're not going to show him shagging at a crime scene, are they?

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I always liked her. I wonder how she'll leave the show. Maybe they'll kill off her character in a dramatic way in an act of heroism or she could get cancer or even just decide to retire. I'm interested in knowing how her character will exit the show.

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I see the shark circling and predict this beloved show will be jumping it this season.

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Grissom - gone
Warrick - gone
Langston - gone
Catherine - leaving
Sara - left, but came back

What's next? The core cast is leaving and soon there's going to be a whole new cast of people. It's not the same, it doesn't have the same magic. I stopped watching regularly after Grissom left and they killed Warrick off, and now I don't think I'm going to tune in once and a while like I do now.

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Note it says she is leaving AFTER this season. Maybe just a contract negotiation strategy, or an easy out if the show flops with Ted Danson (hope not, I like him)(her too).

They need to finally put CSI to rest. I stopped watching it when they killed off Warrick and everyone started to leave the show. But I do miss Capt. Brass, is his character even on the show anymore?

I pretty much cut way down (watching almost non-existent) on my CSI viewing when Petersen left and I tried to watch with Fishburne but dang, he was boring. I probably still won't watch it very much but I will definitely see what Danson brings to the table. I probably won't miss Helgenberger much because the team dynamic has changed so drastically since Petersen left and I was interested in it. I want him back! (won't happen, of course.) It probably IS time to let the series die.

I really wish they would let CSI:Miami die and put something interesting in its place. I quite dislike Caruso and his character. I have tried to watch it SO many times and have been disappointed each time. CSI:NY is only just ok. I miss Stella Bonasera, but I am a huge fan of Sela Ward so I continue to watch.

Marg Helgenberger returns to 'CSI'
Former star to reprise her Catherine Willows role for landmark 300th episode
By Mekeisha Madden Toby 7 hours ago

The magic number is 300 for Marg Helgenberger and "CSI." The former star of the series, who left the show in Season 12, is reprising her Catherine Willows role for the drama's 300th installment, CBS announced Tuesday.

Catherine will return during a Season 14, Oct. 23 episode to help the team solve a cold case that has been haunting them for more than a decade. Packed with flashbacks, the episode will revisit the show's beginnings, as the team investigates the murder of a reclusive former casino mogul, who was a suspect in a similar case 13 years ago.

Helgenberger fans can also look for the 54-year-old beauty in the new CBS drama "Intelligence." The midseason offering will also star Josh Holloway of "Lost" fame.

Although Helgenberger and William Petersen, who played Grissom, are gone from "CSI," the series is still going strong with relative newcomers Ted Danson and Elisabeth Shue and series originals George Eads and Jorja Fox. Are you excited about Helgenberger's 300th episode comeback?

"CSI" Season 14 kicks off Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

http://social.entertainment.msn.com/...?ocid=ansent11

George Eads to Exit 'CSI'
TVLine - Rebecca Iannucci - 1 day ago

Nick Stokes is leaving the scene of the crime.

George Eads, who has long portrayed the forensic investigator on CSI, will exit the series at the end of the show’s current 15th season, TVLine has confirmed.

Though Eads has not made an official statement about his departure, TVGuide.com — who was first to report the news — notes that Nick’s exit will be connected to the Gig Harbor Killer case.

Eads took a leave of absence from the procedural last season, after an on-set clash with a writer caused him to miss several episodes, including the series’ milestone 300th installment.

CSI‘s future is also unclear in the wake of Eads’ exit; Season 15’s episode count was recently trimmed from 22 to 18 episodes.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/geo...id=ansTVLine11

'CSI' Canceled After 15 Years On The Air
The Huffington Post | By Jessica Goodman Posted: 05/11/2015 3:14 pm EDT

It's official. "CSI" will end after 15 seasons with a two-hour movie on Sept. 27. Original cast members William Petersen and Marg Helgenberger are set to reprise their roles. CBS announced the news on Wednesday morning during its upfront presentation.

EARLIER: CBS has canceled "CSI," according to multiple reports. The network has yet to make an official announcement. Vulture originally broke the news on Twitter last week.

Industry insiders are reporting that the network will finish off the show, which wrapped its fifteenth season in February, with a two-hour long movie. EW reports that original CSI star William Petersen may return for the special, as well. CBS did not return request for comment on the rumors. Spinoff show, "CSI: Cyber," has, however, been renewed for a second season .

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/0...n_7259176.html

I missed the series ending two hour episode ... can anyone fill me in ??

Originally Posted by Jolie Rouge

I missed the series ending two hour episode ... can anyone fill me in ??

just go to youtube.com, and you can watch it yourelf, tons of tv shows there