Télé 7 Jours: CSI Desperate to Keep Marg Helgenberger

In this week’s Télé 7 Jours (French TV Guide), there is an interview with CSI’s show runner Carol Mendelsohn regarding Marg’s statement on leaving the show after season 11. A scan of the interview has been uploaded to the gallery. You can click the thumbnail below to see it. We also had the interview translated into English. Many thanks to @veji_ninizik for sending us the scan and to MCO for helping with the translation!

Please do keep in mind that regardless of the subtitle and the last two questions and answers in the interview, it has been confirmed that the news about a CSI movie was a result of misunderstanding. There is no project for a CSI movie taking place in Paris right now or in the near future.

CSI: Desperate to Keep Marg Helgenberger

Executive producer Carol Mendelsohn is seeking a solution to prevent the departure of CSI Willows and confirms a project: CSI: Paris!

Will Marg Helgenberger really leave CSI as announced?
No way! Nothing’s final yet. Marg Helgenberger is back on the set since July 26. We just started filming season 11. Marg will be there throughout the new season that will last until May 2011.

And after that?
We will discuss about making schedule changes to keep Marg. Her main concern is the pace of shooting.

What is your plan to keep Catherine Willows?
I’m going to drop on my knees and beg her to stay [laughs]. My idea is to give Marg the same offer that was given to Jorja Fox (Sara Sidle), which is to give her the opportunity to take a few weeks off by having Catherine absent in a few episodes.

Will it be enough to convince her to stay?
Several producers of my team including Louis Shaw Milito have started a campaign. We have set up a huge billboard on the wall in my office with details of each episode and every character. This should allow us to shorten the filming time and offer Marg a few days off.

Melina Kanakaredes is leaving CSI: NY and will be replaced by Sela Ward. Have you already thought about a replacement if Marg decides to leave?
For the moment, our writers have not written a single line leading to the exit of Catherine Willows.

After the departure of William Petersen, wouldn’t Marg’s absence, even limited to just a few episodes, cause a decline in the audience?
No. CSI has managed to overcome the departures of three main actors. We try to constantly evolve our show.

How do you do that?
Quentin Tarantino as the director of the last episode of season 5 was a prime example of this evolution. In season 11, we get Justin Bieber, the idol of teenage girls all over the world. He’s going to be in two episodes. His role is going to be impressive because it’s nothing like the adorable teenager that everyone loves. Since the appearance of John Mayer, who played himself, there have been many artists that would like to be on the show, such as Taylor Swift.

During his last stay in Paris, William Petersen mentioned a film, CSI: Paris. What is it?
It has been two years since my team planned the project, but it will not be a feature film for cinema. I have discussed with Jerry Bruckheimer (producer of CSI), we are leaning towards a two-hour TV movie special. It takes longer than expected to put everything together because there are a lot of people involved [in the project] and budget issues to be settled. But we have a script ready which is great.

It is rumored that our first lady, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, would make an appearance in CSI…
We actually received a message from her saying that she loves the show, and we’d love to offer her a role in our TV movie. Imagine Carla Bruni-Sarkozy between Marg Helgenberger and William Petersen. What a visual treat!