AFTER four seasons playing D.B. Russell on CSI, Ted Danson was forced to say goodbye to the role during last year’s two hour finale.
But Danson has now joined spin-off CSI: Cyber — even though it’s unlikely to be a permanent posting.
The techno-crime series, starring Oscar-winner Patricia Arquette and James Van Der Beek is now in its second season — with Russell replacing FBI Assistant Deputy Director Simon Sifter (Peter MacNicol) who got “promoted” out of the division sometime between seasons.
The director of Next Gen Forensics, Russell combines old school scientific skills with fancy new tech to help solve crimes — a very different approach to Avery Ryan (Arquette) who focuses on the psychological aspects of computer crime.
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Russell’s looking for a fresh start following his divorce, and the death of his “soulmate” Julie Finlay.
For Danson, famously the highest paid actor on television across 11 seasons of Cheers, joining CSI: Cyber gave him the chance to find a little more levity
“CSI: Cyber is a bit lighter because you’re not in an autopsy room,” explains the two- time Emmy winner. “You’re not doing bodies, human bodies, and that did have a slight impact. So you know, you couldn’t do jokes standing over a, you know, corpse.”
His character too is also enjoying a bit of a break from the grim work of the original CSI lab.
“He’s left this ‘I can’t take anymore, dead bodies’ kind of part of his life. His son has moved, Jules died, and that was kind of his emotional work-wife kind of relationship. So it feels like he’s taking a deep break and going, ‘I need to move on, I need to be a little uplifted’.”
Unfortunately Danson isn’t sticking around beyond this season after signing onto a new 13 episode sitcom Good Place alongside Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars) on rival network NBC. (CSI: Cyber screens on CBS).
And with CSI Cyber getting shuffled around timeslots in the US and even disappearing from the advance schedule, there are rumours the current season will be its last.
But creator Anthony Zuiker recently told The Hollywood Reporter the level of talent involved with the show meant he didn’t think it was going to be cancelled any time soon.
“It’s an amazing franchise and a very solid show,” he said. “Because the future of crime is cyber, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t continue.”
CSI CYBER, NETWORK TEN, MONDAY, 9PM