A new era of CSI:

William Petersen, a Chicago native, has been starring as Gil Grissom on the CBS hit CSI: Crime Scene Investigation since it came on the air as a Friday night fledgling in 2000. Since then, it has climbed to the top tier of television and into the highly competitive Thursday 9/8c timeslot. CSI:'s new brand of crime mystery drama was the launch pad for dozens of other copy cat shows, including spin-offs CSI: Miami and CSI: NY. After 9 seasons, CSI: still remains in the top ten of the Nielsen Ratings, pulling in 17 million viewers per episode, and Grissom has been there every step of the way as a leader and mentor for the criminalists at the LVPD. That era will come to an end this season when William Petersen leaves the show. Until now the main cast was left largely intact. With Jorja Fox (Sarah Sidle) leaving the show last season and Gary Dourdan's character, Warrick Brown, being shot in the last episode, this really feels like a dividing point for CSI:. While CSI: started as a purely story driven show, we have really gotten to know the CSIs throughout the first eight seasons. However, CBS knew this day was coming, so they found a replacement that would both keep old fans happy and catch the interests of new viewers. Academy Award nominee and Emmy winner Lawrence Fischburne will join the cast of CSI: in its ninth episode of the new season. Fishburne brings a dynamic and experienced acting style to one of television's most watched shows. According to the AP, his character is a pathologist who focuses on why people commit acts of violence, and carries a genetic marker that has been linked to serial killers. I think someday people will ask, "What do you like better, William Petersen CSI or Lawrence Fishburne CSI?" It will be like asking Colonel Henry vs. Colonel Potter on M*A*S*H or Dick York vs. Dick Sargent on Bewitched. Petersen and his character Grissom will be sorely missed for the beautiful mind and caring personality he brought to the team, but I am also excited to see what the new era has to bring. CSI: returns Thursdays this fall on CBS October 2nd.

What's On?
A new season of Bones premieres on FOX at 8/7c.