"CSI" Review: Fishburne Brings the Creepy

Any time a major character gets replaced on a show it can be risky…

And when that show is the #1 show on TV, well, risky may be an understatement.

But in the case of “CSI,” I think it’s going to be in good hands.

Within the first 15 minutes of tomorrow night’s episode of “CSI,” Grissom (William Petersen) will announce to his team that he’s leaving CSI.

But before he can walk out the door, he’s confronted with a complex case involving a jailed serial killer. What appears to be two different cases actually turns out to be connected in a surprising way.

And to help make the connection, Grissom secretly joins the class of a well-known criminal pathologist, Dr. Raymond Langston (Laurence Fishburne). Langston is actually conducting live interviews with the serial killer and Grissom is hoping to learn more information through the class.

And if you’re thinking that this episode is creepy, you are absolutely right. I haven’t even told you the half of it…

Let me warn you, though, not to spend too much time trying to figure out how the mystery is going to get solved in the hour, because it doesn’t. The story will actually not be concluded until the show’s next new episode on January 15th, Petersen’s last.

And I don’t think I am giving anything away by telling you that also in that episode, Langston will join the CSI team.

Personally, I think he will make an interesting addition. Although we don’t get that much of a look at him in this episode, he’s already setting off a creepy vibe that will no doubt perplex the CSI team as they deal with the departure of their leader.

Plus, who knows. Maybe a show in its ninth season needs a good shake-up. Even if it is the #1 show on TV…

Laurence Fishburne makes his debut on “CSI” this Thursday, December 11th at 9 p.m. on CBS…

Photo Credit: Sonja Flemming/CBS