Tassler Reveals What Is In Store For 'CSI'

At the TCA Summer Press Tour, CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler discussed the decline in ratings during CSI: Crime Scene Investigation's ninth season and what's in store for season ten.

Tassler said the ratings decline was due to more than William Petersen( Gil Grissom)'s departure. "It wasn't just about losing Billy," she explained. "That show had some monumental changes last year. You lost Warrick [Brown, Gary Dourdan], you lost Sara [Sidle, Jorja Fox] and Grissom. You introduced a new character to the show. For those of you who don't know, George Eads [Nick Stokes] was having back issues at the end of last season, so he wasn't as present in the show. Fans were a little unsure as to where the show was going."

"What they wanted more than anything else, and we listened to viewers, we listened to research, we talked to producers -- they wanted to see the group back together," Tassler continued. She said the challenge with introducing Laurence Fishburne (Dr Ray Langston) was making him "an outsider coming in." She added, "He didn't just sort of insert himself right from the start in an authoritative position, that he earn his way into a place of authority amongst the team. So there was a gradual introduction to the character. He was an outsider, but fans wanted to see him in a more take-charge capacity. You're going to see all of that this season."

"He's more versed in the language of CSI," Tassler explained. "He's had a little bit of a wardrobe makeover. Our research and fans say they love and respect him, but they wanted to see him more comfortable in his clothes. We're very excited about the new season, and like I said, we're very respectful of the fans. We have a loyal fan base [and I] think they're going to be happy what they see."

In addition to the changes with Fishburne's character, Catherine Willows (Marg Helgenberger) is going to give Nick a promotion. And as CSI Files previously reported, Sara will be returning for five episodes. A spoiler posted by Jorja All Around reveals that Sara and Grissom are married by the time she returns to the Las Vegas crime lab.

The original information is from iFMagazine and Jorja All Around.

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