ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT – MARG SAYS GOOBYE TO CSI (TRANSCRIPT OF VIDEO INTERVIEW)
December 7, 2011
Marg: Well, it’s been very emotional, and I’m going to try to get through this. Because, you know, it’s people that I’ve been with for twelve years, close to twelve years, and many of them… Well, most of the cast actually and a lot of the crew, Carol Mendelsohn, and, you know, it’s been a fifth of my life, so.. And it’s been quite a ride. (Marg starts to cry) I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to get so emotional.
(Marg takes a moment to compose herself)
This is kind of what it’s been like the last couple of weeks and I guess it will be that way for the next two weeks.
As awesome as this journey has been and an incredible environment that I’ve, you know, I feel so loved and so comfortable. That’s the hardest. I always knew that was always going to be the hardest part. Just how can I leave this? How can I leave such a wonderful… I mean, I don’t ever think of it as a job, you know. It’s so much more than a job. That’s why I think it has such an impact on me. I don’t know if anybody’s mentioned it. I know they’ve certainly said, ‘Well, you know, if in the future, if there’s an opportunity, if we write a great script, would you be willing to come back?’ and so on. And I said, ‘Of course.’ You know I would be. I mean nothing definite or anything. And it’s got to be written and a lot of things have to happen between now and then. But yeah, I’m certainly open to it.
Jorja: I like to think that I know Marg very well. And she’s one of the toughest, most stoic people — forget about woman or ladies — I mean one of the most stoic people I’ve ever met. And these moments where she’s kind of overcome are once in a blue moon. Probably the last time I ever saw that happen her dog died, probably six years ago. She’s got nerves of steel. So yeah, it’s really overwhelming. I lovingly call this job the ‘Hotel California’. There’s a line in the song that says that “You can check out anytime you like but you can never leave.” I’ve made that joke to her several times in the last couple of weeks. I’m like, ‘You’ll be back, don’t worry. You’re always a part of the team. You’re always part of the family.’ And I think that, I mean, I believe in my heart I think it makes it easier to say goodbye to her right now because I believe in my heart she will be back at some point, some time. Obviously that will be Marg’s decision and that will be the writers’ decision. And, you know, fate will prevail.
George: I know all of these interviews and all the stuff we’re all supposed to say how wonderful she is, but she really is. I’m not just doing it because I’m supposed to or because, you know, it’s respectful to her. I mean, she really is not only a great actress, but a great person. And if you’re stuck on the set for fourteen, sometime more than fourteen hours, to be around somebody that’s just ultra cool and such a sweet person that’s just disarming and respectful…And she just has that professional attitude and personality that I would like to have, you know. That I will take from when I leave, whenever that day comes, when I leave. But just a great person.
Ted: Eleven and a half years.
Nancy O’Dell: Did you try and get her to stay at all?
Ted: Yes, every other day I’d make some joke about her staying. But I totally get it. Eleven years, eleven and a half years, is a long time. And part of you must want to go stretch your stuff elsewhere, you know, see what else is going on.
Ted: (referring to a clip being shown) This is Marg– Catherine, Marg’s character — discovering that there will be life after CSI Las Vegas and that she’s going to move on and do something else. And in the meantime she almost gets killed. It’s a great…it’s a three parter, basically a two parter where Marg… Yeah, Marg kind of falls in love and almost gets killed. I shouldn’t give any stuff away. It’s a great episode for her.