One of the big questions back at the TCA press tour [1] was what CSI [2] would look like without its leading man, William Petersen, who's leaving this season. Here's our first big clue: Laurence Fishburne is in talks to step in as the new male lead [3].

He'd be getting a pretty meaty role, too. As CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler described it [4], the new guy comes from outside the CSI unit and has a genetic profile comparable to that of a serial killer. He knows about the tendency, though he hasn't actually acted on any killer impulses to date.

Searching for the right actor for the role has apparently been a huge undertaking, with John Malkovich and Kurt Russell also named as top choices — but Malkovich turned down the job [5].

Landing an Oscar nominee and big name like Fishburne would seem like a serious score for CSI — but, if you're not already a viewer, would it draw you in? And, if you are a CSI fan, do you think Fishburne would mesh well with the current cast?

Source [6]