New Star of ‘CSI’ Is… Ted Danson?

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.