William Petersen & Marg Helgenberger Talk About the Show

September 30, 2008 by Lynn

Sadly, we all know that William Petersen, aka Gil Grissom, will be leaving CSI: Vegas, sometime around episode 10 of this season. I know most of you are as disappointed as I am to see him go, since he’s one of the main reasons I grew to love the show in the first place.

But in preparation, the October 6th issue of TV Guide (it hits the newsstands on October 2nd) features a great photo of Petersen and Helgenberger on its cover and an interview with the pair inside.

And, they have generously sent an excerpt from the interview for me to share with you:

TV Guide: What would you like to see happen in your last scene together?

William Petersen: We finally have sex? Believe me, it’s been brewing all along. For me, anyway.

Marg Helgenberger: Catherine would love to have a roll in the sack with Grissom!

Petersen: They have this understanding with each other. There’s a different kind of respect Grissom has for Catherine that would preclude a relationship on that level. The very thing that was wrong with Grissom and Sara is what he wouldn’t allow to happen with him and Catherine.

TV Guide: Maybe after a few eggnogs at the next CSI Christmas party?

Petersen: That could still be in the offing. Grissom’s not going away forever, anyway. Maybe he’ll go to Mexico, then come back and take Catherine with him. A tequila holiday!

Helgenberger: [laughs] Our lost weekend.

TV Guide: How will Grissom say good-bye?

Petersen: We’ve been mapping out my last 10 episodes that will take Grissom from one place to another. There will be no brain tumor for four episodes. That’s the easy way out. We’re trying to paint it as we have done with Jorja [Fox] and Gary [Dourdan]. We’re trying to make it as real and close to reality as the show has been all along.

TV Guide: You had a pretty decent movie career going before you met Gil Grissom. Do you want to get back to the big screen?

Petersen: If this was about going off and making films, I’d stay on CSI. I’d love to see us make a CSI film.

Helgenberger: Really?

Petersen: That’s the other reason Grissom isn’t going to die of a brain tumor.

Helgenberger: I didn’t know that.

Petersen: It could be good if we did it right. The whole world is interested in the show.