The Buddy-Buddy System

George Eads (Nick Stokes) and Gary Dourdan (Warrick Brown) give their take on the connections between characters.

For Eads, the line between character and actor is somewhat blurred. "Sure, I think he's a lot different from myself," he told WOWOW, "but at the same time, we're the same person." He compared the relationship to a famous superhero, saying that "it's almost like he's Batman and I'm Bruce Wayne." Eads said that playing the same character over the course of several years has allowed the fans to watch that character grow. For him, it was important that Nick take a journey on screen. "I think Nick used to want to be a good CSI 'cause he wanted to please [Gil] Grissom (William Petersen), and now he wants to be a good CSI to fight for those victims that can't fight for themselves anymore. I think he's completely matured and come full-circle."

For Nick, Grissom has "always been his father figure, just always has, it's undeniable," Eads said. "And I've done it on purpose, even picked up some of Grissom's mannerisms as Nick and used them before, too." He described the relationship as almost like that of an "apprentice and wizard." For Eads, it isn't just Grissom that is a good role model for those he works with. Petersen himself also makes an impression on the actor. He acts as an "inspiration not by telling us what to do but by doing it himself," Eads explained, "so it's awesome having Billy here. Billy's a great guy."

Dourdan also had a lot to say about his character's relationship with Grissom. The two have a good rapport despite the fact that they approach their jobs differently. Dourdan said that Warrick "takes what is happening in the streets and turns it into science." Grissom, on the other hand, takes the science and "applies it to life." Ultimately, "[t]he relationship between Warrick and Grissom is such that he is like my mentor, he's like the father that my character didn't have," Dourdan said. Grissom is always there for Warrick, and when Warrick gets in trouble, "he's always there to make sure that I still have my job."

The friendship between Nick and Warrick is also important to the actors. Early on, the pair approached the writers about the relationship between their characters. "[W]e wanted to show what it was like with two cops to get along, to be buddies, you know, because we're really buddies in real life," Dourdan said. However, the friendship between Nick and Warrick illustrates more than just two cops that are also comrades. These two stand together, Dourdan said, and their relationship shows unity "between nationalities." It was important to show "that we could work together and be good friends...especially in this climate of war and confusion." For Dourdan, that was "something we wanted to show America as well as the world."

The video interviews can be seen at WOWOW.

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