For some time now, reports have gone around that CSI: Crime Scene Investigation's main man, William Petersen (Gil Grissom) is ready to depart the show.  In a rare interview, the actor spoke to the British Radio Times about his plans regarding CSI.

Petersen talked about his reasons for wanting to hang up his CSI gloves, as well as the factors holding him back from doing so just now.

"It's hard to play the same character all the time; at some point you want to be released from that," Petersen told the Radio Times.  "I understood that going into CSI to a certain degree, but you don't know how long it's going to last.  I think the time is coming when it will be the right choice for Grissom and the audience for me to do something else.  I sort of know when, but it's between me and the producers."

In his first UK interview in six years, the CSI star also offered his thoughts on his series' two spin-offs, CSI: Miami and CSI: NY.

"I still think that the other shows could have been done in a more interesting way.  I think they just rubber-stamped them and stuck more of them out there,” the actor, who hasn't been shy in the past about being critical of the rest of the CSI franchise, said.  “CSI: Miami does 24 shows a year, CSI: NY does 24; everyone gets tired.  There's a whole lot of stories we can't do because of the other shows, and that's a problem."

Despite his apparently set decision to exit CSI in the near future, there is one major consideration holding Petersen back.

"[My family never makes] any money and they work long hours, and I've asked my dad and brother over the years, 'Why don't you sell up and retire?'  But they say it's because it gives livelihoods to 20 people.  I was always impressed by that.  On CSI we give work to 200 people and I feel a real obligation to them.  I believe acting is just what I do for work."


-Rosario Santiago, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: CSI Files
(Image Courtesy of CBS)