The Las Vegas forensic team will continue to unveil the circumstances behind mysterious and unusual deaths and other crimes but tonight, it's all about saying goodbye to Grissom (William Petersen) as he makes a stunning announcement in the episode “One to Go.”

In tonight's CSI episode, the team works close to Grissom's last open case, the "Dick & Jane" murders, but is shocked and distraught when he announces to leave the team for good.  Before leaving, though, Grissom offers Dr. Raymond Langston (Laurence Fishburne), who helped the CSI's with the "Dick & Jane" case, a permanent position as part of the CSI team.

Grissom's long goodbye officially began in November 2007, when his fiancée Sara (Jorja Fox) left Las Vegas, and it continued with the tragic shooting death of Warrick (Gary Dourdan) in October of the following year.  In fact, Warrick's death and Grissom's swan song were originally scheduled to air by last May, but the 100-day writers' strike shortened the season, so there wasn't enough time to tell all the stories Petersen wanted, including the return of the Miniature Serial Killer and Melinda Clarke's dominatrix, Lady Heather.

Postponing his farewell not only put some much-needed space between the high-profile exits of Fox and Dourdan, but it also gave the show's creative team plenty of time to find Petersen's successor.

Meanwhile, Fishburne hints on what fans can expect in Grissom's final episode.

“The fun stuff begins when Grissom makes his exit, and Langston comes in as a bona fide CSI," Fishburne said.  "The character has some troubles to start with.  He messes up a crime scene, and it isn't easy for him to adjust to working on the night shift.  While David Hodges [Wallace Langham] keeps his distance from the man replacing Grissom, Dr. Al Robbins [Robert David Hall] quickly becomes a friend.”

CSI airs tonight at 9pm ET/PT on CBS.


-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: CBS, EW
(Image courtesy of CBS)