My husband told me he heard that LF is already causing problems on the set.

crazyovrcsi wrote: I read the CSI magazine and it said that they are not replacing Peterson with Fishburne. He is coming on as a level 1 CSI and Catherine with be the head CSI. At least that is what the Official CSI mag said about bringing him in on ep. 10.

lilyrose777 wrote: It's True CSI - Will not be the Same without WP - There is just a Chemistry With that Cast!! It's just really going to be hard!! But I really like LB and I am going to Continue to Watch and See what he Brings to the Table.

serieadicta wrote:

lilyrose777 wrote: I - 's True CSI - Will not be the Same without WP - There is just a Chemistry With that Cast!! It's just really going to be hard!! But I really like LB and I am going to Continue to Watch and See what he Brings to the Table.

I'm totally agree with you! It 'll be hard to watch the show without Grissom but we have Nick, Greg,Cath and the others. we have to suport the show more than ever! Otherwise, it will be canceled. And I want CSI will be remember as one of the most important show with high audience.

bcuzeyecan wrote: IMHO: Any true fan of the show will appreciate the variety. Yes WP is leaving and Yes it is of his OWN accord (this has been stressed by several of you, but seems to escape those who want to blame CBS for him leaving. Let us also remember that WP had a hand in selecting LF to come on the show (he is one of the Exec Prod and has major input as to what goes on the show). I agree with all the true CSI fans ( have been watching since it first came on and don't plan on stopping because of changes in the cast). We have all been without WP before when he went on his sabaticle (actually to participate in a broadway play) and I am quite sure that those of you who say you will stop watching when he leaves, watched those same episodes that he wasn't in. I hated to see Sara and Warrick go, but that is life. Change is a part of life. None of the characters will ever be replaced. To all who doubt ask yourselves this ? Can anyone TRULY replace you and what you bring to your chosen profession?

vd50382 wrote: A few actors/actresses who I think would be a great fit for the show as a CSI co-supervisor with Marg (Catherine Willows) are Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis, Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, Robin Williams, Dan Aykroyd, Danny Glover, Glenn Close, Sharon Stone, and Meryl Streep. Fishburne should be in the CSI Miami show with Horatio Caine.

lkwcbs wrote: As for Ridley - let's replace her asap - she just does not have the power or punch ofWarrick. Let's get a stronger charger in there to give the show a fighting chance tosucceed without Grissom.

gil_mcgruff wrote: Laurence Fishburne joins CSI on the 10th episode of this season. How do you think he will fit in?

scotishirony wrote: I will miss Grissom/Petersen he is the back bone of the team, The Petersen side of it he is a great actor I might not watch the show with Fishborn at the helm it won't be the same. Grissom, Nick Greg, Catherine, and all the oringinal cast are like a big family I lremember through the years watching them all grow close to one another.Once you break that family montage it will never be the same....

Anonymous wrote: Laurence Fishbourne is not going to kill CSI, I think that people are putting too much stock into the actors and not enough into the writers and directors of this show, it is they who made this show as great as it is. Not that William Peterson is not a phenominal actor, and the show will suffer without him, but to say that the entire show will be ruined from him leaving is to say that all of the people who are staying mean absolutely nothing. Not only is this not fair, but completely wrong.

serieadicta wrote: Hello! I´m a new member. I like CSI and i think that the show won´t be the same without Grissom. He is unique. I don´n know if LF is good enough to replase Grissom but I will watch the show anyway. CSI is great and I hope that it continues that way.

luvladyhethr wrote: I rented the movie 21 last weekend. I know, what's this got to do with CSI? But I got my first good look at Laurence Fishburne. Prior to 21 , the last thing I saw him in was Bad Company and that had to have been like 14 or 15 years ago. Definitely dark, and borderline creepy. But the guy can act! It's going to be an adjustment because everything I've seen him in he's played the bad guy. Now he has to play someone on the law's side. Going to be interesting.

luvladyhethr wrote: grandiva77You can get your point across without telling people to get lives . And you can disagree with people without insulting them .lilyrose777Thanks. I'll check out Akeela and the bee!sara2beDon't hold back! Tell us what you really think of Riley. Just kidding. Nothin' but love!

grandiva77 wrote: [b] Some you ppl need lives. I mean really...you are carrying on about a tv show in which none of the actors know you from a hole in the wall. Get a grip. There are far more important issues in this world.

annie8488 wrote: Too bad Jeff Goldblum was already taken by Law and Order.

SantaClaus76 wrote: First, I like to say how I am amaze how most of you have been respectful to each other during this discussion. I've been on other forums and these discussions normally turn nasty. I am sorry that so many of you are leaving the show. I am actually going to give this show another chance. I have never liked this show, but I am going to start watching it because Laurence Fishbourne has joined the cast. I respectfully disagree that Laurence Fishbourne will not fit in ensemble cast. If you take note of his filmography and stage credits which spands over three decades: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm000
0401/ or http://www.answers.com/topic/l
aurence-f - shburne or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L
aurence_F - shburne.If you look at his achievements and all the movies he has starred in, you will see that he has done well in ensemble cast. He doesn't have to be the lead. I think this may be the case where mainstream people only know an actor for his big budget movies. I hope some of you stay, so I can have the joy of chatting with you.

sara2be wrote: hey guys check out the new video..its behind the scene with LF and making of the episode..ohh i like it alot it looks really good...btw he has a gap between his teeth just like our jorja fox...oh wait he is the male african american version of Jorja fox...its sooo coool...im excited notice in the end he says "he is gay bring anything on" what does that mean is he really gay..or gay as happy? (no offense) it dosent matter just curiousbtw...notice there is no brunetts as leading lady role just two blondes running around as a burnett..im pissed i know the lab rats are burnetts but come on why not a csi..burnetts needs the spotlight too

annasophia78 wrote:

sara2be wrote: hey guys check out the new video..its behind the scene with LF and making of the episode..ohh i like it alot it looks really good...btw he has a gap between his teeth just like our jorja fox...oh wait he is the male african american version of Jorja fox...its sooo coool...im excited notice in the end he says "he is gay bring anything on" what does that mean is he really gay..or gay as happy? (no offense) it dosent matter just curiousbtw...notice there is no brunetts as leading lady role just two blondes running around as a burnett..im pissed i know the lab rats are burnetts but come on why not a csi..burnetts needs the spotlight too

I think he says he is "game", as in he is ready for anything they throw at him...

I have to say that troygeorge is really hung up on GSR. Even in a thread that is all about the new guy on CSI, he has to throw something in about GSR. Please don't take this the wrong way, but get over it already. There are only going to be three more episodes in which there is even a possibility that GSR would be mentioned. Surely, you can manage that long.

dyneemo wrote: Yep, missblingg, your intelligence level is dripping out again. Maybe you should get a drool rag and then that would really helpAt any rate, you are comical. I love it when a complete ignoramus comes on the board and parades their IQ around. It's so cute when they try to act all big and smart....Ah...don't worry. You'll meet the Wizard some day and he'll give you your brain

"I'm sawwy, sooooo sawwy. Pwease accept my apowogy..." A tip for future viewing: Fiction TV is nothing but a commercial medium to sell products and make money for the corporate structure. It's called commercialism! Oh yes, simple minds call it "entertainment" Pwetty pweese get a wife, it's never too wate!

Dear Pickles, is that the object of your affection (other than PPI) or are you just brain dead?

luvladyhethr wrote: We can disagree with each other and still be respectful guys and girls. Grow up.

sara2be wrote: i say we should have an open mind see it then judge..if fishburn does not deliver..then we can judge where we stand as fans..i mean we will still have cath,greg,nick..and rest of the cast..so who knows how csi will be after grissiom only time will tell

luvladyhethr wrote: Catherine Willows, Riley Adams, Calleigh Duquesne, Wendy Simms...............all these beautiful women. Nick and Greg would be in heaven!

grgds22 wrote: I think that Laurence Fishburne is a fantastic actor. He has PRESENCE and after watching "19 down", I have a feeling he will fit in. I'm also curious about the fact he's coming on as level 1 CSI. How will the writers handle it? And as other posters have already said, Riley Adams should join Calleigh in Miami so we won't have to see her anymore!

professorboh wrote: Like everything else they've done since Dead Doll they've managed to mess this up. A MD who is also a university professor and best-selling author is going to give it up to become a CSI 1??? Gimme a break.Fishburne's character looks interesting. If they were to keep around as a consultant then there could be interesting conflicts between him and the other intellectual, Grissom, on how to handle cases. It'd be similar to the old butting heads that Grissom and Catherine used to do.

dyneemo wrote:

professorboh wrote: Like everything else they've done since Dead Doll they've managed to mess this up. A MD who is also a university professor and best-selling author is going to give it up to become a CSI 1??? Gimme a break.Fishburne's character looks interesting. If they were to keep around as a consultant then there could be interesting conflicts between him and the other intellectual, Grissom, on how to handle cases. It'd be similar to the old butting heads that Grissom and Catherine used to do.

Professor-I also was wondering why this prestigious person would give up what would be a higher salary, notoriety and professional background to become a Level I CSI; doesn't make sense. I guess maybe he is ready to do something to "make a difference" and help "catch the bad guy"; maybe like Gil he is ready to pursue his true love: crime solving. I could see him as a consultant; someone to challenge and meet Grissom's thought processes in a way that no one else can. But, he is not destined for that position. But, interesting that you brought up the whole leaving his career thought because I have been pondering that myself

Valhalla-1 wrote: If it's not broke , don't fix it ! You did the same to criminal minds . It will be my last time watching CSI

als096 wrote: anyone know if there is a new episode airing this week?

Archie_um wrote: He'll be joining a broken team. He can't be the one to hold them together. Grissom is the final link to their past together, and without him, despite Fishburne, they won't have a future.

judikay wrote:

Archie_um wrote: He'll be joining a broken team. He can't be the one to hold them together. Grissom is the final link to their past together, and without him, despite Fishburne, they won't have a future.

I quite agree.And, he is the "missing Linc" of the 1970's TV show "The Mod Squad"....Sorry, but that is how I remember him as an actor....

MVPObserver1 wrote: Laurence Fishburne isn't supposed to be anyone else but himself and bring his great acting talent to he show. I was surprised and elated when they announced his coming and it has been a long time coming. I was disappointed to see that he made a big mistake on the second episode, when he went to the prison to talk with the serial killer while the CSI crew used scientific research to find the house where the victim, bodies and killer was located. He was cut out of the end, until he returned to the crime scene. Please do not malign Mr. Fishburne's character anymore. I have been watching Mr. Fishburne since School Days, and he is one of our most prominent Afro-American actors. He is worthy to be king! I hope you can successfully entertwine his abilities as an M.D. on the show into the leadership and respect of the CSI crew. I hope you expand his character to include a positive social life and family, and put him first on the introduction of characters. I believe that this is his first television series and as such, if you do not give him the proper respect, I hope he resigns like Warrick did. Get some new writers and fire at least one that is maligning the Afro-American actors. Mr. Fishburne takes his place among such greats as Morgan Freeman, James Earl Jones and Samuel L. Jackson. I know he will do a great acting job and many of his fans (before CSI) are eagerly awaiting his full participation in the leadership of the show.

LabratTechi wrote: I'm kind of torn between liking him and disliking him. I like him because he's a breath of fresh air, he has a doctor approach to him (example was near the end of tonight's episode), and because he's a semi-replacement for the black role.

gil_mcgruff wrote: Laurence Fishburne joins CSI on the 9th episode of this season. How do you think he will fit in?

ladk50 wrote: You know the show would totally rock if they got rid of the woman that has taken Sara's place and replace her with ABBY SCIUTO from NCIS! I think that would rock! I feel with her uplifting character she could make a dark day be bright for anyone!

norge0209 wrote: he can never replace grissom. i think this move will make the show worse.

norge0209 wrote: yeah, i know he's not "replacing" grissom, but he is filling the spot left by a departing character, and it was an unwise choice.

srimbael wrote: I love Fishburne in this role!! I wasn't sure about him in the beginning because I've only seen him in roles that were dark. But now I think he is perfect! He is portraying a man who is avidly interested in what he is doing and in what is happening around him. His character is smart, compassionate, curious, diplomatic, and is not afraid to show his ignorance. I stopped watching CSI long ago, but I decided to watch again to see whether LF brought now interest to the show. I'm glad I did! Now I watch it every week. Thank you, LB!

sweetbleu88 wrote: I totally agree NB! I thought it was a nice touch too and I thought it was great that they didn't make it so that he was replacing Griss...that would have been too much pressure. I found his struggles and little mistakes to be very realistic and refreshing to see! Love your avie btw!

norge0209 wrote: yeah, i know he's not "replacing" grissom, but he is filling the spot left by a departing character, and it was an unwise choice.

I really think it would have made more sense to bring in, if not an unknown, at least a lesser-known actor to be hired as a CSI 1 and work him into the cast gradually. As it is, since L. Fishburne is such a BIG STAR, he's being given most of the air time and has been put ahead of our regular cast in the credits. At least, they finally moved that Riley person more into the background. And, as far as I'm concerned, they could move her to Podunk, Iowa which would still be too close to LV for me.

I really like Laurence Fishburne as an actor. I like the natural, almost throwaway performances he has done, starting with his first 2 or 3 years as a teenager in the Philippines, and as goofy, cheerful Cowboy Curtis. That will probably anger other fans, but I happen to like his cheerful characters. They seem genuine and real to me. I think he is a really smart man.

I saw a few parts of the LF episodes, and I thought the writers tried to recreate a new character that was as close as possible to the original WP Grissom character, if he happened to just join now as a regular csi. It is as if a different character entered the drama. I see a complete break from the character of the college professor and I don't believe the change. And they are trying to give him quirky manual dexterity...Grissom made the models and did disections, and the LF character announces that he sculpts orchids. I laughed out loud. Who thought that one up? Even if William Pettersen thought of it, I'm sorry, it is stupid. I had to go back and check who sculpts orchids to make sure I remembered, and I could not even find what I thought i remembered. There is an artist who makes extremely realistic paper thin carvings of natural wood, but they are just hyperealistic, they don't amount to an idea as a whole, they just show skill. Someone might make sculptures of orchids in a super real glossy way much like the style of Jeff Koons, but it would be a condescending kind of representational art, blowing the concept of a real thing of beauty out of ordinary reality recreating it as an austere technical synthesis. And some people do cut metal welded sculptures for the garden or an oxidized frieze on a wall of a 50's ranch house. But nobody would sincerely sculpt orchids today. It does not make him quirky or interesting; it diminishes his persona. And the way he announced it seemed so arch and pointed. heavyhanded.

I think they are scrambling to find their way, Getting guest stars who are popular with the younger demographic( i.e. Taylor Swift) they need to keep their first place advertising dollars if(as) the older female audience bales. NO network wants to lose top ratings. not just in this economy, not ever.

LF is not there to be a lead, exactly, he is there to be the biggest villain. He seeks to understand why he kills, and that has led him to the life path he has followed this far. There is nothing conceptually profound about carving orchids on their own, he does it to create his own trophies of each kill. To symbolize the connection between creation and feminity, and the long erotic association of sex and death, he uses parts of each victim to create a different kind of trophy. Much like the beloved serial killer in our collective memory of serial killers in entertainment, Buffalo Bill, LF covets the skin of women. But not just any skin. Just as Georgia O'Keefe shocked society at one time for painting flowers as though they were vulvas, LF sees himself as an artist of a different sort. Unlike the philosophical belief of some who have posited that women cannnot create great works of art because they create babies, he somehow believes himself to be a nurturing artist-woman and envies a woman's natural creative purpose. He seeks to create an ultimate artistic transformation for himself by crafting unique merkin-masks out of the vulvas of his victims. He also makes them look like orchids, whose purpose is to attract insects for reproduction. The bulgy shape of the orchid allows him to fabricate masks that cover his own anatomy. Imagine the poster for silence of the lambs and then imagine LF with a lady slipper pasted over his groin.

He seeks to become a woman because of the same old, trite backstory. He has to nurture himself since he didn't get a mother's love. Or, like Ceasar, he was never born of woman but arrived via C-section, (it was just the ides of march) and never moved through labial lips, and after being so deeply dissappointed with our world and society, he seeks to crawl back in.

Hey, its just an idea.

The number of CSI viewers was off by a million or two because those viewers were watching the ER series' finale which was on at a special time (directly opposite CSI) vs. its usual time slot. ER doesn't normally pull in those kinds of numbers.

ALL about LF.

Whats up with all the NEW back ground?

The intrigue is all but gone with L.F. in the game.

Morgan Freeman would have been a better fit than L.F.

Don't attempt to put a outsider as a leader over the team, promote from within.

• Get rid of Fishburn
• Seriously reduce LF's screen time
• Get the writers back on track with decent writing
• Talk WP into returning

I could not agree with you more. Absolutely not one aspect of the Larry Fishburne show would fly in real life. It is such BS. IAMa scientist, and specialize in the research of the tissues, well long story short, NOTHINGabout the lab or Larry Fishburne would happen in the real world. So I haven't watched in months. Nauseating. So, he is suddenly an expert in all fields of pathology now? Doing his own autopsies? Now there isn't even room for Robert David Hall? Funny, took me YEARSto perfectALLareas of the lab with high proficientcy, and Iam NOdummy either. Wow, all behold the saviour Fishburne. Iam surpsrised that he isn't washing the bathrooms of the lab sothat background extras playing a janitor won't get air time.

Watch what you say, it could happen...LOL. But seriously, I'm sure the almighty Fishburne thinks that would be beneth him. I'm still somewhat expecting the producers and writers to slip LF in to a supervisor or lab director position and hope that no one will notice.

This is not blatant hatred for Laurence Fishburne. If you like him that is your opinion, but you are in the minority. Most of us feel that the producers and writers have practicaly been shoving him down our throats and now after 9 1/2 season they are breaking all the rules they set for the show to be as realistic as a show can be in order to put him in the spot light. There are other cast members who have been with the show since the begining, like Marg Helgenberger, Paul Guilfoyle and George Eads who could have carried the show together without having a "big name star" to come in and take over. William Peterson and Jorja Fox decided to leave for their own personal reasons and they had to do what they felt was best for them personally. Of course I agree with you about Lauren Lee Smith, I too like her and I wish they would give her character a chance to develope, of course she like the original cast has had to take a back seat to Fishburne. Enjoy your stay in Canucklehead Land.

It would be best if his characterdecided to go back to teaching, or they could make it a dramatic ending for the season by having him shot or something... in any case, another season with LF is going to be painful to watch.

Maybe the spin-off of the new NCIS could fill this time slot. Or even the Unit. If they keep this show, please put it on Friday, not Monday-Thursday!!!!

And if the ratings are still okay, I feel that people simple leave the TV...and many do like me, hope that it will be a team again or that LF will take a bullet. LF isn't Grissom or Gibbs.

Sadly...disappointed fan

lol I totally agree with you that was a really funny theory! Plus LFstinks so anything mocking him gets a thumbs up from me!

tink2725 wrote:

I love his acting but I don't like his character on the show. Is he a CSI or work in the morge?Stick to one job and not act like a know it all.

My thoughts exactly.

There are actors that go from television to movies and movies to television, but Fishburne has not shown he can do that with CSI. I think we are seeing a real struggle with the other characters because they realize this. Also makes me think that Eric/Greg might have said something to this effect, thus putting Greg in a corner all season (not on screen).

sarapals wrote:

There are actors that go from television to movies and movies to television, but Fishburne has not shown he can do that with CSI. I think we are seeing a real struggle with the other characters because they realize this.

Wow, you can see that?! I must need new glasses and/or a new TV!

robinjn wrote:

sarapals wrote:

There are actors that go from television to movies and movies to television, but Fishburne has not shown he can do that with CSI. I think we are seeing a real struggle with the other characters because they realize this.

Wow, you can see that?! I must need new glasses and/or a new TV!

andyman1970 wrote:

Because the producers thought they needed a "star" to carry the show without William Peterson. I guess they didn't have confidence in the regular cast.

It is odd that LF gets top billing in the credits and, yet, his character is low man on the totem pole. In fact, the first few episodes saw him being mentored by Nick. Another thing, he was a doctor and a college professor right? How did he become so adept with a gun? Is part of being a CSI, Forensic or whatever labelled jacket he wears on a crime scene, having to learn to shoot a gun? I mean the others carry them. But, still, that's pretty quick learning for a beginning CSI. I don't even remember Grissom using one. Only Horation Caine does lab work, detective work, go on police raids and shoot his gun but that's another story for another message board and we know H doesn't hold a candle to Grissom, either as a CSI or an actor!

grgds22 wrote:

tink2725 wrote:

I love his acting but I don't like his character on the show. Is he a CSI or work in the morge?Stick to one job and not act like a know it all.

My thoughts exactly.

Same could be said for Caruso's character on the Miami show. Well, the multi-tasking not the acting. Caruso is terrible with all those damn movements, etc. Watching Miami is like a car wreck. CSI Vegas is the original and the best but, sadly, the quality is going down with that. To be fair to Fishburne, I think CSI started going down when we had Sara hook up with Grissom, this being the only romance on the show. Miami isridiculous with that soap opera diminishing the essence of what the show is about. Sadly, with Fishburne, CSI is slowly sinking. I'm beginning to think maybe the NY one might look pretty good down the line.

nicksfroend wrote:

I think that makes my point even more,nobody has been watching ER,ratings were down to 5.2 just a few eppisodes ago.the msot was around 7-8 then boom we all get interested....or we just have had enough of the RL hour. Maybe there were those who made a point. Mascara was bad,worse than boring,it was badly directed and written.

robinjn wrote:

The number of CSI viewers was off by a million or two because those viewers were watching the ER series' finale which was on at a special time (directly opposite CSI) vs. its usual time slot. ER doesn't normally pull in those kinds of numbers.

nicksfroend wrote:

I liked the character of Ray Langston until I started to see the change last night. Ray is not a solo guy,CSI is not about solo work,it is about a team we all have come to love , What are you doing? The ratings dropped like a bombshell last night due to the unnecessary exploitation of Lawrence Fishburne.. I refuse to be manipulated. Give us the team or forget it!

Probably why ER did good was because it was the series finale. As is the case with a series finale, many people will watch to see how it endshence the higher ratings. I haven't watched ER since George Clooney (too soap opera now) but I did record the series finale to watch cause I wanted to watch CSI in its normal time. You take any series finale and the ratings go up. Now, as for CSI, please let's not have another spin-off. That is what people are getting tired of, just as we don't need another Law &Order.

Maybe that will have him go bonkers and they write him out next season. In fact, when you come to think about it, maybe his stint on CSI wasn't to be permanent. I mean, it would be silly to have his character continue to be the saving angel for everyone there. Low man on the totem pole but above everyone else like it has been.

Still, even without LF being in it, I think the show is coming to an end anyway. Drastic change in characters and feeling of the show. Imean, I like Nick but I can't see the show keeping the same feeling as before. Maybe Grissom was the show. Sorta like Caruso leaving Miami but that's another story cause it could only be an improvement for that show.

sobrien175 wrote:

cant believe no one on line how and ever this guy cant and wont do it for the csi he doesnt have a strong enough presence as g.

Please don't take this the wrong way but what are you saying? Can't make sense of what you wrote. Are you saying that you don't think LF can ever replace Grissom, that his character can't support the show? As a side note, I was watching part of the movie Thief and there was William Petersen as a bartender being pushed out of the way by James Caan. If you blinked, you would have missed seing the future Grissom.

• the show just wont be as good without grissom. i dont think the new guy can fill that role. but it is interesting to watch as nick tries to fill in for grissom

maria_simone wrote:

Someone wrote something above about William's character in a certain piece not being noticeable. That's your opinion about some bartender role. Grissom is the essence of CSI!

I didn't say anything against William Petersen. I was merely mentioning a bit of trivia relating to him as an actor. How you could see him in the movie "Thief" as a bartender, a very quick scene. Nothing negative so why so defensive?I agree Grissom is the essence of CSI and, and just as important, people like Warrick too. With Fishburne, the show has taken a whole new direction and not necessarily for the better.

dyneemo wrote:

What's the big deal about someone saying that Petersen's role in a movie was "unnoticeable"?? Why is that a bad thing? Before he was on CSI I had no idea he even existed...how many of you did??

Before CSI, we had already worn out certain parts of "To Live and Die in LA"!!! Then he turned up in CSI as an 'old' guy (comparing the two!!), but we still loved him.

I can also say that William Petersen can blend into a crowded sidewalk and pass right by most people who do not recognize him.

dyneemo wrote:

What's the big deal about someone saying that Petersen's role in a movie was "unnoticeable"?? Why is that a bad thing? Before he was on CSI I had no idea he even existed...how many of you did??

Maria_Simone seemed to be bothered by my trivia about Petersen. Don't know why after all there are many known actors who had small "if you blink you miss them" roles. Interesting to see their history. As for Petersen, the only thing I know of him prior to CSI was being the star of "Manhunter" back in '86 and "To Live and Die In LA". If you saw "Silence of the Lambs (and who didn't?)", you should see "Manhunter" unless you saw it. It's the first time Hannibal Lecter is mentioned.