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![](http://static.igossip.com/photos_2/july_2011/small_Ted_Danson_danson_csi_cbs.jpg)
Danson, who’s been tearing up cable TV in recent yearsin shows as disparate as Curb Your Enthusiasm, Damages and Bored to Death, brings the show some sparkle and unpredictability, wryness mixed with an unexpected snap–the latter most evident in an eruption at Nick (George Eads)–which will be leading to more reorganization, and cast changes, within the squad Of all Danson’s previous performances, his Russell seems to reach all the way back to the DA he played in 1981’s Body Heat, a serious courtroom opponent who was given to some unexpected tapdancing.
Other than Danson’s arrival, the season premiere was a familiar-ish CSI plot (a combination of shootings and a stabbing all taking place within the same 73 seconds on a Las Vegas tram, with an erotic octopus mixed in for a little kink), and as such, somewhat tired. Another new cast member, Elizabeth Harnois as the hot daughter of the officious head of the daytime CSI squad (she is also, of course, a brilliant investigator), who’d been introduced last season as a guest star, had a couple of set-up scenes for what will become her new job on the force.
Change, on a show like CSI, is not revolutionary. Still, for a series entering its 12th season, Danson’s recruitment may give CSI a much-needed jolt as it prepares to do battle with the similarly shaken-up Law & Order: SVU and ABC’s new Revenge.
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About the Author
Mitch Salem
MITCH SALEM has worked on the business side of the entertainment industry for 20 years, as a senior business affairs executive and attorney for such companies as NBC, ABC, USA, Syfy, Bravo, and BermanBraun Productions, and before that, at the NY law firm of Weil, Gotshal & Manges. During all that, he has more or less constantly been going to the movies and watching TV, and writing about both since the 1980s. His film reviews also currently appear on screened.com and the-burg.com. In addition, he is co-writer of an episode of the television series "Felicity."
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