Charlotte, NC

Well, it’s now official: Two of America’s top sleuths will be leaving us … but two more are waiting in the wings, ready to take their place!

As we’ll see over the next few weeks, Gil Grissom, head honcho of CSI — the most-watched of the franchise — will be re-evaluating his role as Chief of Forensics and headin’ into the sunset. Taking his place will be a character (to be introduced on an episode shortly) played by stage-and-movie superstar Lawrence Fishburne. Now, you’ve seen him in many films — and, if you were really lucky, you caught his amazing performance as the late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.
But didja know that this humble actor really became noticed as a bit-part actor on the TV series M*A*S*H?? He’s come a long way … and, no doubt, his new role will carry him even further.

Over at Law & Order: Criminal Intent — which is now shown on USA Network rather than NBC (it wasn’t on CBS, as I earlier gaffed. Sorry … geez … the price I’ve gotta pay for bein’ human … lol)– Chris Noth (Det. Mike Logan) departed from the new episodes with this week’s installment (Chris’ character has left “to experience life beyond the badge”). Replacing him will be the star of “Jurassic Park”, Jeff Goldblum.
Now, while neither Fishburne’s nor Goldblum’s character has been given a name yet, Fishburne has some big shoes to fill (after all, Bill Peterson has been in the Grissom role for eight years!) while Goldblum will be trading episodes with Vince D’nofrio (Det. Bobby Goren). Still, they’re gonna add a refreshing style and look to the roles, and we’re lookin’ forward to it …

Now, what does WBTV have to do with all this? Well, Channel 3 is the CBS affiliate in the Queen City, and the lion’s share of local Thursday night Neilsens belongs to them. And, since Jerry Bruckheimer’s top show is bound to score heavily on the night that Grissom leaves, they can look at some serious ad revenue as well as viewers!
Of course, L&O:CI is gonna be on USA, so that’s up for the cable companies’ profits in both categories.
Either way, the shows are secure — especially with Fishburne and Goldblum on the case!