Ted Danson Replaces Laurence Fishburne on CSI

After 9 years leading the show CSI, William Petersen decided to leave the show.  The casting directors replaced him with Laurence Fishburne who was with the show for 3 years and decided to end his run as Dr. Richard Langston, this past season.  Now CSI will continue and this time with Ted Danson.

Emmy Winning Actor,Ted Danson most famous for Cheers will take over the lead role.  According to Entertainment Weekly:

Danson will play the CSI supervisor for the grave shift after

heading the crime lab in Portland. He comes to the team as they are still grappling with the professional and personal fallout from last season’s take-down of serial killer, Nate Haskell.

EW learned that offers went out to actors like Tony Shaloub, Robin Williams and John Lithgow before the studio landed on Danson, who’s been enjoying a career resurgence thanks to a critically-acclaimed run on Damages.

CSI brought a whole new world of crime and cop drama to TV and has had success with two spin offs.  CSI: Miami and CSI: NY.

The CSI franchises have been successes because of the great casting.  CSI: Miami, hired David Caruso in their lead role.  Then CSI: NY, followed suit in their show, but this time hired Gary Sinise who is best know for his movie roles.

So I think CSI did great in casting Ted Danson in the lead role.  He will bring a very new audience to the show.  I'll be honest with you.  I have never liked the original CSI.  My favorite is CSI: NY and I will watch CSI: Miami but I never wanted to watch the original.  Now that Ted Danson will be joining the show, I just might watch it now.