William Petersen by Robert Voets/CBS
I think I hear CSI fans everywhere screaming. We teased casting changes for the CBS drama in a recent Mega Minute, and alas, those changes include William Petersen, whose recently signed contract only guarantees his appearance until the upcoming season's 10th episode, a rep for CBS confirms, following a report from EW's Ausiello. Petersen isn't gone for good, though. He will be staying on as an executive producer, and has agreed to make special appearances throughout the remaining run of the series. This marks the third original cast member to leave the show, following Jorja Fox and Gary Dourdan's departures last season. Producers, however, promise a memorable exit for Grissom (including Fox's return next season for a multi-episode, Grissom-Sidle arc) and some exciting changes in the show's future. "We're out to add new characters to the show, and the show will change as a result," said exec producer Carol Mendehlson. "But that's a good thing."So, how do you feel about Petersen's c...
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Batman Gotham Knight courtesy Warner Home Video
The latest Batman movie, The Dark Knight, doesn't open until July 18, but an animated DVD out 10 days earlier should satisfy any Caped Crusader cravings. Batman Gotham Knight helps set the stage for Christopher Nolan's feature film, with a series of six interlocking animé tales. The voice cast of this visually stunning interpretation of the DC Comics legend includes Kevin Conroy, who played the title character in Batman: The Animated Series and later in Justice League, ER's Parminder Nagra, Ugly Betty's Ana Ortiz and ex-CSI star Gary Dourdan. Ortiz plays Detective Anna Ramirez,a part she was also up for in The Dark Knight. She lost out to Monique Curnen but got a unique second chance for the animated version. "I audition for so many things, it all just sort of rolls off your back," she says. "But I was glad that I got to play her one way or the other. And I get to put my own spin on it." She worked closely with Dourdan, who plays Ramirez's partner, Detective Crispus Allen. "T...
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Gary Dourdan by Tony Barson/ WireImage.com
Former CSI-er Gary Dourdan on Wednesday pleaded guilty to two felony drug possession charges, and will not have to serve any jail time, reports TMZ. The first charge regarding possession of heroin was dropped and according to his (clearly talented) lawyers, once he completes a 30-hour treatment program — not rehab — all charges against him will be dropped. Wow, from three felony charges and jail time to only participating in a 30-hour program, and all the charges will be dropped? Maybe Kiefer should have hooked up with Dourdan's lawyers before doing his time in the big house. Do you think Gary got off easy? — Erin FoxRelated• Dourdan's Exit from CSI• Dourdan "Embarrassed" about Arrest
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CSI finale - Gary Dourdan by Bill Inoshita/CBS
Get ready for the most shocking episode of CSI ever according to exec producer Carol Mendelsohn Given that past finales have featured Nick George Eads buried alive and a shocking revelation that Grissom William Petersen and Sara Jorja Fox had been sleeping together theyve got a lot to live up to But Mendelsohn promises theyll deliver Its a very personal episode she says Warrick Gary Dourdan finds himself in more trouble following past episodes in which he was suspected of murder and suspended while investigating a Vegas mobster The result is that sides will be drawn and as TV Guide has reported Dourdan who was recently arrested is leaving CSI The question remains how Mendelsohn says No one will ever forget it and it will change the show forever
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Gary Dourdan by Tony Barson/WireImage.com
Gary Dourdan on Saturday acknowledged regret over his recent arrest in Palm Springs. In his statement to People the former CSI star says, "Obviously I am embarrassed to find myself in this situation, and I am profoundly grateful to everyone for their support."Earlier Saturday, AccessHollywood.com posted a personal email Dourdan purportedly sent in which he lamented the situation, insisted on his innocence and apologized to fans. Dourdan had been at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival prior to his arrest. "The after party, it ran me ragged," he explains, "but I'm glad pulling over did prevent a DUI. I recommend not driving at all, but a little [nap] is always good."Dourdan continued, "I am blessed that the [sergeant] realized that the luggage carrying whatever [drugs] they found was not mine and that my tests have been coming back negative." The actor also apologized to fans, "especially the young ones, like Taylor Swift." (Dourdan was slated to present an award to the cou...
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Gary Dourdan by John Parra/ WireImage.com
CSI star Gary Dourdan on Monday morning was busted in Palm Springs on suspicion of possessing heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and prescription drugs. TMZ reports that the actor was asleep in his car when law enforcement officials approached his car at 5:21 am/PT, and subsequently made the bust.As first reported by Ausiello, Dourdan and the CBS procedural recently agreed to "mutually" part ways, though new intel suggested that an "ongoing problem personal to Dourdan" played a role in his perhaps not-so-voluntary ouster. CSI's May 15 season finale could well be Dourdan's final appearance as Warrick. — MWMRelated:• Was Gary Dourdan (Gulp) Fired?• Exclusive: Gary Dourdan Leaving CSI!• CSI Star Not Fired After Allegedly Popping Paparazzo
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Gary Dourdan by Andrew Macpherson/CBS and Diane Neal by Virginia Sherwood/NBC
I believe it was Mark Twain who once said: "Cast shake-ups are like Transformers — there is usually more to them than meets the eye." And I was reminded of how true those words were this week following my back-to-back exclusives that CSI and Law & Order: SVU would be losing Gary Dourdan and Diane Neal, respectively. Initially, I reported that the actors were leaving for the most mundane of reasons: Both of their contracts were up, and they had decided to move on. But in the hours that followed the posting of those stories, new information came to light that now calls into question my original sources the exact circumstances surrounding the exits — specifically, whether the stars were leaving of their own accord or if they had been shown the door. In the case of Dourdan, an insider at the show insists that he and CSI execs "mutually agreed" to part ways for "creative reasons." However, a CBS mole claims the 41-year-old actor was essentially fired, adding that producers ...
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Gary Dourdan by Andrew MacPherson/CBS
With all the attention focused on William Petersen's successful contract negotiations, this ginormous scoopbit nearly slipped right by: Sources confirm to me exclusively that original CSIer Gary Dourdan — whose contract is also set to expire next month — is leaving the show. Although a precise timeframe is not known, CSI's May 15 season finale could serve as Warrick's swan song. Regarding Dourdan's exit, a CBS spokesperson says, "We can't confirm or deny this information." This is the second major departure to rock CSI this season. As anyone with a pulse and/or access to TVGuide.com knows, Jorja Fox made her final appearance as Sara in November. The good news: Marg Helgenberger and George Eads are expected to follow Petersen's lead and re-up with the show.Meanwhile, CSI execs aren't wasting any time searching for Dourdan's replacement. I'm told producers have put out a casting call for a new male series regular in his late twenties to early thirties to play Ray Santoro, a ...
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Marg Helgenberger and Gary Dourdan, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Last week, months of speculation came to an end with an eighth-season opener that kept us on the edge of our seats and finally revealed Sara Sidle's fate (she's alive, but how long will she stick around?). Tonight's CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (9 pm/ET, CBS), entitled "A la Cart" and written by Sarah Goldfinger and Richard Catalani, offers a breather, an episode that's "slightly more lighthearted and should be fun for the audience," says Catalani.
Our favorite clue-finders dive into two cases: The first is a death at a restaurant where patrons dine completely in the dark. "The dining-in-the-dark story Sarah Goldfinger experienced firsthand," explains Catalani. "She went to a trendy [Laughs] restaurant where you dine in the actual pitch-black darkness, and we thought that was interesting enough to formulat
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Gary Dourdan by Andrew Macpherson/CBS
As suggested by video playing here, CSIer Gary Dourdan got into a bit of a row with a TMZ.com cameraman on Tuesday morn. At first, TMZ says, Dourdan ordered the camera to be shut off, then tried to wrest it from its owner. In the course of fighting over the equipment — and with the camera rolling — Dourdan allegedly shoved the shutterbug into the pavement before taking off on his motorcycle. Dourdan later returned to the scene (the L.A. hot spot Hyde) to resume the scuffle, ultimately chasing the photog into a taxi. Per the New York Daily News, the pap has since filed a vandalism complaint, with TMZ's owner saying, "Dourdan is a thug and... needs to look at some time behind bars." Dourdan's rep responded with a statement saying, "Gary has always been respectful of the media and the paparazzi but also values his privacy. It's our belief that this is a minor incident exaggerated... to create a story."CBS says the scrape has not affected CSI production and that rumors of Dou...
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