Marg Helgenberger - Marg Helgenberger Quits As Ted Danson Arrives

During a press conference on Wednesday (3rd August 2011), producers of Csi, now the most watched television series in the world, confirmed the show would take on a less serious tone following Danson's arrival. The actor was the surprise choice to replace the outgoing Laurence Fishburne, who left to return to movie roles. However, Helgenberger says she will only remain on the show for one more season - even admitting she considered leaving in 2010. The actress said, "[I had a] hard time letting go and that I was not yet done playing this character. That's why I decided to extend [my contract] a little bit". Discussing the upcoming season, executive producer Carol Mendelsohn explained, "Season 12 - that's a lot of years, and we wanted to excite the audience and excite ourselves as writers".

Ted Danson and Marg Helgenberger will begin their first and last seasons respectively when the show returns on 21st September 2011. It is not clear whether Marg will then make the foray into movies- she starred alongside Val Kilmer in the 2008 crime-drama flick 'Columbus Day'.