For TV shows that run as long as CSI it’s expected that characters will leave the series at some point. Law & Order is a perfect example of this. However, there are rare instances when an actor or actress exits a show only to return later. Usually it’s because they realized the would-be breakout movie career they were aspiring for fell flat.
The latest comeback is by Jorja Fox who played (and will play again) Sara Sidle on the original CSI series. Producer Carol Mendelsohn stated Fox’s original five-episode run has been extended indefinately. She went onto say:
“We will be seeing a lot more of Jorja,” says Mendelsohn. “The season is about bringing the [CSI] family back together again, so [this] was just a natural. Jorja has been the glue that has really helped to reform the bond of our team.”
“Glue”? Really? It’s been awhile since I’ve watched CSI but I never got the impression Sara was the person holding everyone together. Nevertheless, Sara’s coming back for a lot longer then anyone thought. Hey, a girl has to eat.
Unfortunately, as much as Mendelsohn wants to tote the “bringing the family back together” line it’s not as complete as it sounds. While Fox will return no plans have been mentioned of her on-screen husband Gil Grissom, played by William Petersen, reprising his role. There’s hope however given that Petersen is still a producer on the show so he’s not too far removed.
The other person I can’t see returning anytime soon would be Gary Dourdan who played Warrick Brown. Dourdan was arrested for a plethora of drugs back in April 2008. Mind you, I suppose they could bring him back as drug dealer, but who wants art to imitate life that much?
CSI airs Thursdays on CBS.
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The writing is poor, the characters lack personalities, and the result,- boring!The Grissom/Sidle relationship is not convincing because the actors behave more as father to a not well-liked daughter than lovers. There is more sensuality and intimacy when “Heather” gives Grissom a cup of coffee than all the contrived Grissom/Sidle bedroom scenes.Too bad that this character”Heather”, doesn’t appear again. She was by far the most interesting personalities. This character also grow and evolved, showing more depth. William Petersen is toi be congratulated for returning to legitimate theatre, confronting audiences that actually want to see him act!Bringing back the character “Sidle” proves H.L. Mencken’s theory, that you can never go wrong underestimating the taste of the American public.
I think it’s great that Sara is back. She was my favorite character from the moment she joined the team, and I have really missed her. I’m kinda glad Warrick’s gone though. He was a real pain in the you-know-what!=)
whatever the reason, I’m glad she is back. Always enjoyed this CSI with Grissom and the regulars. Was glad Jorja survived the pay dispute she had with them some time back and stayed. It’s been kind of “draggy” with Grissom gone, her gone, Warrick of course gone. the others are ok, but I haven’t really cared if I miss it (figure can catch on reruns, maybe) Everyone is getting older and chubbier (except the redhead – I guess lot of exercise & lipo – I used to really like her on China Beach!)..after so many years, they’re running out of story lines – you can only kill so many people, so many different ways for so many years, etc.
Apparently those who think Warrick couldn’t be brought back after being killed off have never watched Days of Our Lives, Dallas, and other shows where popular characters were killed off and then brought back later. Not that I’m a fan of those shows anymore, although I was when I was younger. But I do remember Stephano Dimera (spelling?) on DOOL being killed off, sometimes buried, on numerous occasions, and Patrick Duffy was once killed off Dallas and was gone for one season before being brought back after his onscreen wife “woke up” from a season long nightmare. I’m just pointing out that it could happen. Not that, even if it did, it would be very believable or anything.
As I recall, they’ve mentioned more than one time this season that Grissom and Sara are married, but definitely at least one time.
@Kelley, according to series producer Carol Mendelsohn they are, or she at the very least refers to Gil as Sara’s “wife”:
“Despite the extension, Mendelsohn says there are no current plans for Grissom (William Petersen) to join his wife in Las Vegas.”
Also, if you take Wikipedia at its word (which is sometimes hard to do I know):
“Sara’s return to CSI in the first episode of Season Ten reveals that she and Grissom are now married.”
This would lead me to believe the two are in fact married, but it sounds like there was not much fanfare around this particular event.
Thanks for the comment though, Kelley, and making me show my work (feel like I’m back in math class).
You haven’t watched in a while……….Gil and Sara never got married…
According to the first episode of this season, Sara and Grissom are married. But about bringing Warrick back, they killed him off. Doesn’t matter what he’s done in his personal life, his character literally cannot be resurrected.
@ Brian, Murdered, eh? Well, a zombie story would be pretty cool (especially this close to Halloween) but I think that may be a pretty big leap for the viewer to make. Thanks for the details on that one!
It has been a while since you’ve watched CSI. The Warrick Brown character was murdered, so that’s a little plot hurdle they’d have to clear to bring him back to the show.
Maybe he could come back as some sort of zombie drug lord.