Warrick Brown Murdered; Gary Dourdan Leaves "CSI"

Troubled actor Gary Dourdan left the hit CBS crime drama series "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" Thursday night (October 9). His character, Warrick Brown, had had his own share of problems on the show and had been framed for murder in the last episode of Season 8. But in a two-part season premiere, Brown was exonerated of a murder, then was murdered himself, a murder which was solved in the second episode.

Gary Dourdan was actually arrested in Palm Springs, California in April, 2008, for possession of narcotics and dangerous drugs. The arresting officer found Dourdan asleep in his car parked on the wrong side of the street and, after a subsequent search of the disoriented Dourdan's vehicle, discovered "suspected cocaine, heroin, Ecstasy, miscellaneous prescription drugs and paraphernalia," according to the police. Gary Dourdan's character, Warrick Brown, fought an addiction to pills on the popular series.

Entertainment Weekly reported that Dourdan had discussed leaving the show with "CSI" producers. His contract was to expire in May and show insiders told the magazine that everyone was in agreement , and that Dourdan might reprise his role as Warrick Brown in future "CSI" episodes.

Thursday night's episodes laid to rest, so to speak, those potentialities (except perhaps with flashbacks).

But the episode itself was emotion-packed. One of their own had been killed. So close on the emotionally charged episode where Brown had been framed for murder and proven innocent by his tenacious CSI colleagues, the episode provided many somber moments and a terrific heart-wrenching memorial scene at the end where Gil Grissom (William Petersen) spoke a few parting words to his friend, who the audience found out earlier looked upon Grissom as a father figure.

The audience also found out that Warrick Brown had a son, something that will no doubt be used in future plots of "CSI."

To add to the emotional aspect of the show, Jorja Fox returned to the show (but not for long, it is rumored). William Petersen's Grissom was being emotionally bombarded. He held his dying friend, led the investigation into the death, was reunited with his lover (Jorja Fox), and found out that he was more than a friend to Brown. Tough for even the most detached, a role that Petersen played to perfection.

Gary Dourdan's final episode would have been perfect except for one thing - the audience knew who the murderer was from the onset. "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" is a whodunit. The audience was shown the murderer at the end of episode one. For whatever reason, the writers, who normally do an excellent job, forgot that the greatest appeal of the show is that the audience is also trying to figure out WHO DONE IT. Although many may have guessed who was truly behind it all in the first episode, actually showing Brown being killed flies in the face of smart writing.

The best written moment came in Grissom's elegy. At the close of his remarks, Grissom paused dramatically, caught himself, and then said that he would miss Brown. For just a split-second, in that pregnant pause so filled with emotion, just after the panning of the teary-eyed gathering of friends and colleagues, the audience just knew that Grissom was going to say that Brown was like a son to him. But that would not have been Grissom, who is always the professional. That is the allure of his character - and William Petersen stayed in character. And that is great writing.

It is doubtful, in light of Dourdan's troubles with the law, that the actor will have anything further to do with the top-rated series. However, in light of the resurrection of Anthony Edwards' dead character, Dr. Mark Greene, on this seasnon's "ER" through flashback, one can never completely write off the possibility of a return.

Still, all in all, Gary Dourdan's departure from "CSI" was a well-crafted effort, exemplifying why "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" remains one of the top-rated television shows every week.

Sources:

CBS Television
NYDailyNews.com
EW.com