CSI: Vegas – What Do We Know About Fishburne’s Character?

Kristin at E! Online posted several cool facts to give us a clue into the new CSI character that will be played by Laurence Fishburne. Up until now, all we’ve known was that he would be a pseudo-replacement for Gil Grissom and that he has a genetic peculiarity that may pre-dispose him to be a serial killer….

But according to Kristin, the new character is so far, nameless. The cast, crew and writers are simply calling the character “The Professor”. Hmmm…so many good Gilligan’s Island references…you fill in your own.

Here’s what Fishburne has to say about joining the cast:

“Do not mistake my presence for the event,” he said. “The event is CSI the show. Everyone brings their unique talents to the show, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

Apparently, the character began his career as a research pathologist, but was forced out of that field for some reason and now just makes the lecture circuit. We meet him when he is teaching a course in criminalistics and he joins an investigation with the team. We also learn now that both The Professor and Grissom will work a couple of cases together in episodes 9 and 10, with Grissom leaving after episode 10.

Fishburne’s first appearnace on the show won’t be until December 11 (or perhaps in early 2009), but he’ll start filming on September 17 or 18.

Interestingly, Willows & Stokes will actually lead the team that The Professor joins. Now that seems like a cool thing to see. A very polished acting veteran like Fishburne playing third banana to the current team.

I don’t know about you, but I am so excited to see the new character. With all of the cast exits, it will be good for the show to have some exciting new blood. (No pun intended…) And with Laurence Fishburne’s acting credentials, who better to fill that role? Come on, season 9!!!!