Ever since That Guy With The Beard left “CSI” two years ago, the show has struggled to reclaim its groove — and its audience. Laurence Fishburne’s two-year stint as Dr. Raymond Langston ended this spring after CBS chose not to renew his contract, opting instead to find a new star for its flagship forensic procedural. That star: Ted Danson.

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 [not to mention Justin Bieber -- Ed.]…

The casting of Danson caps off an exhaustive search by CBS to find another star worthy enough to help return some luster to the aging CSI franchise. 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. He received three Emmy nominations for playing Arthur Frobisher. Danson will remain a series regular on Bored to Death. [EW]

Even though I unfairly used the blackface picture from a hundred years ago, I really do enjoy Danson — particularly on “Bored to Death” — and think he’ll be great in the role. Although, to be honest, the show could have filled its missing beard quotient by hiring Robin Williams, who would grow one overnight to play a serious role.

Next week, each of the three variants of “CSI” — “CSI: Miami,” “CSI: New York,” and “CSI: Original Flavor” — will take part in a “triple crossover” episode in which Laurence Fishburne goes around to all three cities because a killer has cast the various limbs of slain hookers across those cities. Probably not the most efficient way to kill hookers, but then I’m not an expert. *knowing wink*

The behind-the-scenes promo video below features Fishburne’s narration and some fabulous overacting from Warming Glow muse David Caruso. There’s also a point where Fishburne puts on Caruso’s sunglasses and instantly looks like Morpheus. Well, Morpheus if Morpheus got fat. Anyway, that’s how the Photoshop happened. I guess I could’ve Voltronned it up with some robot lions, but I didn’t want it to look too busy. I’m an artist, you know.

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“…and over there is the donut station.”

As you probably know, Laurence Fishburne replaced That Guy With The Beard as the star of the original “CSI” franchise this season.  What you probably didn’t know is that CBS is paying him more than FOURTEEN MILLION DOLLARS to do so.  Nikki Finke says:

Fishburne is being paid “north of $14 million” for his CSI gig. And here the world thinks Les Moonves’ CBS Inc is flat broke. His debut on the show, which was also William Petersen’s finale, logged its best ratings since its season premiere, averaging 20.9 million viewers and a 5.8 rating/15 share among adults 18-49, easily winning its hour. Since then, it’s still a Top 5 show.

Excellent call by CBS.  You really need a big star like Fishburne to replace a big star like That Guy With The Beard.  I mean, That Guy With The Beard was in Fear!  He practically MADE Mark Wahlberg and Reese Witherspoon!