No show can match NBC’s “Law & Order” when it comes to rotating cast members. But “CSI” certainly seems to be trying.
The show, which weathered the departure of original cast member Jorja Fox last season, will lose two more this year. Gary Dourdan appears in his final episode tonight, when the ninth season premieres at 9 p.m. on CBS. Nine episodes later, William Petersen follows him out the door.
“CSI” averaged a 4.5 adults 18-49 rating last season, according to Nielsen, down 27 percent from a 6.2 the previous year. Among total viewers it averaged 16.04 million, 19 percent below the previous year’s 19.78 million. The big question for “CSI” this year is whether the show can keep those remaining viewers interested while breaking in a new cast.
Though certainly the show focuses more on forensics than personal affairs, Petersen, as one of the show’s two leads with Marg Helgenberger, is more important to “CSI” than any assistant DA or detective has been on “Law & Order.” His Gil Grissom served as the mentor and moral compass for the show since its inception, and his relationship with Sara (Fox) was one of the few intimacies actually explored on-camera.
“CSI” writers have 10 total episodes to set up Grissom’s departure. Unlike Dourdan’s Warrick, who was shot in last season’s finale, he won’t go out with a bang. Instead, Petersen, who’ll remain an executive producer on the show, has said he’ll be available for future guest spots. He’s leaving to return to theater work and will be replaced by Laurence Fishburne.
In tonight’s episode, the team deals with the aftermath of Warrick’s shooting, as Sara returns to mourn her former co-worker.
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A look at this week’s top TV draws
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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7 a.m.
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ABC
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“Good Morning America” (N)
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Actor and producer Ashton Kutcher guests.
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7:30 p.m.
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ESPN
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“College Football” (S)
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ACC matchup between Clemson and Wake Forest.
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8 p.m.
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Fox
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“Major League Baseball” (S)
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Game one of the National League Championship Series.
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8:30 p.m.
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NBC
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“Kath & Kim” (C)
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Series premiere. A daughter moves back in with her dysfunctional mother.
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9 p.m.
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CBS
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“CSI” (D)
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Season premiere. Warrick is shot and Grissom and the team investigate.
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9 p.m.
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NBC
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“The Office” (C)
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Holly leads an ethics meeting after Ryan’s scandal.
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10 p.m.
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ABC
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“Life on Mars” (D)
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Series premiere. An NYPD detective is hit by a car and wakes up in 1973.
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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7 a.m.
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NBC
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“Today” (N)
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Richard Branson and Paula Deen both guest.
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8 p.m.
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CBS
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“Ghost Whisperer” (D)
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One of Melinda’s high school classmates dies unexpectedly.
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8 p.m.
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NBC
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“America’s Toughest Jobs” (R)
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The remaining six take part in a monster truck challenge.
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8 p.m.
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TBS
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“Major League Baseball” (S)
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Game one of the American League Championship Series.
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9 p.m.
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CBS
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“The Ex List” (D)
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Bella runs into a guy who used to be a slacker but is now obsessed with exercise.
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10 p.m.
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History
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“In the World of… Jack the Ripper” (N)
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Reexamining the 1888 murderer and life in 19th century London.
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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Noon
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ABC
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“College Football” (S)
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Huge Big 12 game between Oklahoma and Texas.
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3:30 p.m.
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ABC
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“College Football” (S)
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Either Arizona St.-USC or Purdue-Ohio St.
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7 p.m.
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ESPN Classic
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“Soccer” (S)
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The U.S. men’s team takes on Cuba in a World Cup qualifier.
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7:25 p.m.
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ABC
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“NASCAR Racing” (S)
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The Bank of America 500 from Concord, N.H.
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8 p.m.
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TBS
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“Major League Baseball” (S)
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Game two of the ALCS.
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8 p.m.
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CBS
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“College Football” (S)
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LSU versus Florida in an important SEC matchup.
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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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8 p.m.
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Fox
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“Major League Baseball” (S)
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Game three of the NLCS.
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8:15 p.m.
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NBC
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“Sunday Night Football” (S)
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The Patriots take on the Chargers in San Diego.
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9 p.m.
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ABC
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“Desperate Housewives” (D)
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Gaby and Susan fight after their kids get into it.
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9 p.m.
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VH1
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“Rock of Love Charm School” (R)
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Season premiere. The “Rock of Love” girls get the “Charm School” treatment with host Sharon Osbourne.
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10 p.m.
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CBS
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“The Unit” (D)
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The team finds a nuclear weapons smuggler who may also be involved in sex trafficking.
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10 p.m.
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AMC
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“Mad Men” (D)
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Don makes some new contacts during a business trip in Los Angeles.
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10 p.m.
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HBO
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“Entourage” (C)
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Turtle agrees to work as Drama’s personal assistant.
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A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show.
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