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Will 'CSI' Without Grissom Bug Show's Fans?

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By WALT BELCHER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 11, 2008

The most popular drama on television is about to be tested.

Can "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" survive without William Petersen as forensics supervisor Gil Grissom?

And will the fans accept actor Laurence Fishburne as the new guy in the lab?

On tonight's very special episode at 9 on CBS, Grissom announces to his staff that he's going to leave.

"You're going to miss this," says staffer David Phillips (David Berman) over some maggots wiggling on a decaying cadaver.

"There's bugs everywhere, David," Grissom notes. "I'll miss you, though."

In real life, Petersen, who will remain as a "CSI" executive producer, has returned to the stage. He's currently appearing in Conor McPherson's "Dublin Carol" in Chicago.

The case tonight takes Gil into the classroom of Dr. Raymond Langston (Fishburne), a pathologist and college professor whose career may have some dark secrets.

The crime also involves the imprisoned and very creepy serial killer Nathan Haskell (brilliantly played by Bill Irwin).

Fishburne is on screen only about five minutes, but when new episodes resume in January, he will move to the forefront.

This is significant for a couple of reasons: Fishburne is a respected film actor who brings considerable talent to a TV role, and he will be the most high-profile black actor in a network drama.

Granted, it's an ensemble cast, but Fishburne's character will be the most important one.

Although comedies featuring black characters have been successful for decades, historically, lead drama roles have eluded black actors.

Before his sitcom success in the '80s, Bill Cosby was the first black drama co-star in "I Spy" in 1965. Since then, amazingly, there have only been a handful of main character roles.

And most of the series were short-lived, such as "Gabriel's Fire" in 1991, starring James Earl Jones; "New York Undercover" in 1994 co-starring Malik Yoba; and "Gideon's Crossing" in 2000, starring Andre Braugher. In recent years, Taye Diggs had two short-lived series, "Kevin Hill" in 2004 and "Daybreak" in 2006.

Currently breaking this "short-lived" curse is Dennis Haysbert, who co-stars on CBS' "The Unit" after a successful run as a popular character on "24."

There has been some speculation among industry pundits that with Barack Obama in the White House, pop culture will eventually be affected by America's first black president.

The producers of "CSI" say Fishburne was cast because he was the best actor available.

Ultimately, the success or failure of "CSI" may depend on factors other than Fishburne.

The series is still No. 1 in the ratings and draws an average of 21 million viewers every Thursday. But those numbers are down from last season. In its eighth season, "CSI" is at risk of becoming predictable and too familiar. Also, supporting actors Jorja Fox and Gary Dourdan have split.

And because Petersen brought his particular enigmatic personality to the role, the series will be different without him.

TUNE IN TONIGHT

"30 Rock," 9:30 p.m., NBC

On a wacky Christmas episode, Liz (Tina Fey) has got the blues; Jack (Alec Baldwin) flees from his crazy mother (Elaine Stritch) and Jenna (Jane Krakowski) goes diva.

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