Grissom's Hearing Will Be Restored

See Also: 'Assume Nothing' Episode Guide

Gil Grissom's ear operation will successfully restore the lead CSI's hearing, actor William Petersen revealed last night.

"He hears better, we find that out right off the bat," Petersen told entertainment programme Extra, ending the tension from last season's finale, "Inside The Box", in which Grissom finally decided to have the operation he was recommended in "High and Low".

The newsmagazine visited Petersen and the rest of the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation team while they were filming the season premiere, "Assume Nothing" in Las Vegas. Petersen hinted that season four could be the year of change for the very private Grissom. Not only will his hearing be restored, but the lead CSI will also sport a beard. "The beard is here because I got tired of shaving," Petersen said. "And Grissom, consequently, got tired of shaving."

Cosmetic trivialities aside, Petersen said his character will find himself at a crossroads. "Grissom like anybody else, like any other 50-year-old man, is going through a series of what one might term mid-life changes." And what form will those changes take? "He may take up chequers, or he may start drinking."

While CSI: Crime Scene Investigation's tried and true formula encourages over 20 million viewers to tune in each episode, Petersen, who also serves as co-executive producer, said the series should also try and push the envelope. "Any time we can take risks with something as successful as CSI, the riskier we can be, the braver we can be, the better we will be."

To view a Real Media clip of the segment, head over to Extra's web site. Thanks to the William Petersen Appreciation Page for the above screencap!

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