TVGuide.com: Since Petersen remains an executive producer, did he come in and watch the filming? Did he seem like he was itching to get back in front of the camera?
Friedkin: He came down for two or three days, yeah. We're very close friends. I'm just crazy about him. I sort of discovered him, and we've stayed very close over the years and I'm not at all surprised by his success. He's one of the hardest working actors I know and when you consider that he left [CSI] at the very top to go back to Chicago to do plays — you know, his dedication to his craft is, to me, unprecedented. I've met a lot of people who started in theater and say they're going to do that and then they never do because the money's so good. You know what the money is on a television series [after] nine years? I imagine he could've eked it out for several more years. They love him in that role.
I think he'll do a few [more episodes] as he said he would. I think if they can craft some special stories for him... I think Jorja [Fox] will as well. But it was really a pleasure to work with the other guys. I love working with Marg [Helgenberger] and Paul [Guilfoyle] and George [Eads], Eric [Szmanda]. Liz Vassey I think is underused on that show. I think she's wonderful. I'll tell you, I've been on feature films where the actors aren't as prepared as they are on that show.
But I am still waiting to finally see the episode.
