Rambo: Don't Miss It!

See Also: 'For Warrick' Episode Guide

Season nine holds a lot in store for viewers.

"For Warrick", the premiere of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation's ninth season, will air on CBS October 9. Writer and producer David Rambo described the episode to GSR Forever as "devastating to watch, beautifully done in every respect." Gil Grissom (William Petersen) is scheduled to leave the show on a full-time basis after the tenth episode of the season. Rambo wouldn't reveal any details about Grissom's departure. "I can only say, 'Don't miss it!'" he urged.

Other spoilers have indicated that Lady Heather (Melinda Clarke) would be back during season nine. Rambo said Lady Heather is "an important element in Grissom's understanding of himself. She's the only person he can speak with about anything -- even about Sara [Sidle (Jorja Fox)]. They've been through a lot together. Having him interact with Lady Heather also allows us to explore aspects of Grissom's psyche that we can't show in other ways."

According to Rambo, the relationship between Grissom and Sara "really pushes buttons for some people," while other viewers support the match. However, the fans' preference doesn't dictate how the writers handle the interaction between the pair. "I just write the characters as they evolve, which is a collaborative pursuit, and hope the fans know we're always doing our best," he explained.

Planning out a season of the show is a joint effort. "Carol Mendelsohn and Naren Shankar are very generous showrunners and excellent listeners," he said. "They generally discuss the tone and shape of the season together first, then share their thoughts with us and allow everyone to pitch in as things evolve."

Rambo said he is writing the eighth episode of the ninth season using research he started gathering two years ago. The length of time it takes to create an episode varies from one instance to another. "'Bull' - which I loved writing - was researched for about a year," he explained. "Other stories get kicked around for a few weeks before we go into the writers room to organize ideas on the white boards. That takes about a week, then another week to ten days to write the script, followed by a week of rewriting. Episodes are shot in 9 weekdays, occasionally less, and occasionally on weekends as well. About 6 to 8 weeks later, the episode is ready for airing."

Rambo is confident that CSI will remain on television screens for years to come. "I'm astonished at how long it's stayed on top of ratings and captured the imagination of viewers worldwide," he said. "Very rare today in TV. That's partially because we are never satisfied with where the show has been, and always challenge ourselves to go where we haven't been before, without losing the essence of the show. It will evolve and change, but will always ask, 'Who are you?'"

The original interview can be read in its entirety on GSR Forever.

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