Every character in the show has their pros and cons.....and everybody here has different reasons to keep them, and reasons to get rid of them!
Like most people, I have a mental list of the characters going from faves to not so faves, but getting rid of either of them, will create a void that, in my personal opinion, would be extremely hard to replace...and I don't think I'd want to get rid of either of the characters.
So many people have said Sofia (LL, wonderful actress), and I agree, the character doesn't bring much to the show, BUT, to keep the show as realistic as possible, you need more then one detective (even though Brass is awesome), aiding the CSI's. This helps create a little depth to the show, by opening a second storyline for those main characters that might not be involved otherwise in the main story.
Now, after reading over this thread, I too have to defend my main man, Hodges. Like someone said on an earlier page, you gotta have a character that is like the villain or comic relief, whatever, in the show. That character you just LOVE to HATE! Wallace does indeed play the character well, (he's a brilliant actor in general, personally speaking of course), and breaks up the seriousness of the show, even if its just for a brief moment or two. I absolutely love how he torments Greg, and how Greg returns the favor, just thinking of a few scenes between the two cracks me up.
So in all.......I don't think I could really pick any ONE character to be the "character I could live without", because they all play well off on another and have their own special little quarks about them I love AND hate.
*LOL.......duct tapes Hodges to a random lab table, to avoid any future boots!* that snarky bastard, hmmm, I wonder what character is on top of MY faves list....LOL :lol: