Yes, CSI fans will see different clothes on Laurence Fishburne’s Ray Langston this fall. No, the character’s change of style isn’t a stunt to jack up ratings. ”It was taken out of context,” says executive producer Naren Shankar of comments made by CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler on Monday.
“This is Lawrence Fishburne we’re talking about,” Shankar told EW. “It’s not like we’re sitting him down in a chair and giving him a makeover. It’s really about who this character is now. When he came on board, he was a newbie, he was still very much the professor holding onto that kind of life. At the end of the season he shoots somebody, and it has a pretty profound effect on how he views himself in this world.
“When the new season starts, Langston has really thrown himself into being a CSI, so his look changes to reflect that,” Shankar continues. “He really embraces what it is to be a criminalist. He’s wearing the forensic jackets to the scene. That’s all it is.”
At Monday’s Television Critics Tour session in Pasadena, Tassler responded to a question about Fishburne’s lack of popularity with fans and whether the network will attempt to stave off CSI’s ratings slide this season. She said Fishburne will have ”a little bit of a wardrobe makeover” and that “our research and our fans said they love Fishburne and respect him…they just wanted to see him sort of more comfortable in his clothes.”
In one of the spellings, you misspelled Laurence’s name. Otherwise, interesting read!
They say the clothes make the man but he will never be like Gil Grissom ever there is nobody in the world who can replace Billy Petersen nobody
CSI Jacket… no CSI Jacket; Sara returning; it doesn’t make any difference. The ratings will still be going down the tubes! They might as well END the show after this season. Petersen’s not coming back to SAVE THE SHOW!!
He’s very famous, very rich and doesn’t need this show anymore, he’s done… and everyone might as well acknowledge this fact.
Get off the sinking ship, okay?
CSI was the #1 scripted drama and finished #4 in the Nielsen ratings for the season. In fact, in Season 8 it finished at #5, so technically Season 9 was better!
And Petersen is one of the producers. No way is he “done” with the show. I miss him alot – but, I still watch the show and liked Fishburne just fine too.
Fishburne can leave on the next bus out of LV and I won’t miss him a minute! Check out all the CSI fansites and you will read the same thing–he is not liked, too much screen time last season, shoved down our throats–you get the picture! So, Naren, check out what fans are REALLY saying–a change of clothes will not help Fishburne’s popularity, or lack of.
Yawn….. clothes, people… blah, blah, blah ….
CSI is going through major issues which sounds like a show that is showing its age. Hopefully Season 10 won’t be as hectic as last season.
I was very sorry to read (elsewhere) that the character of Riley will be written off when Sara comes back. I believe it said something like the character kind of got lost in the shuffle. Actually, my friend & I often commented that we LOVED the way the character was being slowly introduced and not shoved down our throats. I ended up very intrigued by her & looked forward to learning more – but, so what, I guess. I think “fans” of this show forgot what it was at the beginning – a procedural with cool characters, yes, but characters we barely knew anything about. IMO, fans have forgotten how to let the show evolve the way it always has – in its own good time. What is the hurry? Give it time. I’m not so sure anyone would have really been happier to have Ray show up as the boss either – no one wanted Gil to leave, period. Hope the show doesn’t try anything too drastic just because people are having trouble with change.
While Fishburne is a great actor, the character doesn’t fill Gil’s shoes. I kept getting the impression the network was kissing Fishburne’s behind via the scripts: His character is a newbie, yet he’s instantly working in the field, making huge mistakes, and the other characters are still trying to be his friend. It wouldn’t happen with any other newbie (played by a less prestigious actor). As talented as he is I’m afraid Fishburne — and the execs who hired him — killed CSI.
I love Fishburne. He’s a terrific, naturalistic actor, and he’s very sexy in a Charles Bronson-ish, ugly-sexy way. He’s the only reason I watch CSI. (Not that I didn’t love William Petersen, but the show has been on forever and is getting rather tired.)