Re: If Grissom Leaves After 2007
While I would be sad if Grissom left, I do believe the rest of the cast and the show in general is strong enough to move forward without him. Look at ER--they've had a total cast turn over and none of the original principals are on anymore--and yet it is still popular, though not as popular as it was in the Clooney/Edwards/LaSalle/Wylie days.
Look also at NYPD Blue. Despite the turnover in the cast, the show still kept on going. David Caruso, Jimmy Smits, Rick Schroeder and Mark-Paul Gosselaar all played a lead role on there at one point or other and the show stayed strong all the way through. Some of this was thanks to Dennis Franz, Gordon Clapp and James McDaniel who headlined the show for much of the entire run.
A promotion for Catherine, a rise in rank for Warrick and Nick, an increase in duties for Sara and Greg, and a new rookie in the field, and it could all work very nicely. Or even without a new rookie, you could expand the roles of Wendy Simms and Dave Hodges, and make Jesse Menken a more frequently recurring role like Hodges is now (and a love interest for Nick-O!
) and the show could move on.
Would Grissom's absence be felt? Yes.
Would the character of the show change? A little.
Would the show fail? No. The concept and other actors/characters are strong enough to absorb this loss and go forward.