C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation follows the forensics experts of the Las Vegas crime lab in their quest to uncover evidence and solve cases. Season 9 sees Night Shift Supervisor Gil Grissom (William Petersen) exiting halfway through to be replaced by Catherine Willows (Marg Helgenberger) in the top job. Dr Ray Langston (Laurence Fishburne) is tempted away from academia and takes on a CSI level 1 post with the team.

While the cases worked bring little new to chew on, Series 9 manages to remain fresh by tastefully fading out the old guard: William Petersen, as Gil Grissom, starred in 193 episodes since the series started in 2000. Single mom and Night Shift Assistant Supervisor Catherine Willows gets promoted through the ranks, opening up space for a new recruit. Fishburne excels as the university professor getting his hands dirty in the field, moving from a cushy teaching job to what is effectively a low-paid entry-level position. This addition to the cast provides a very interesting new dynamic, and initial amusing fish-out-of-water moments. While his decision to join the team is explained away as a desire to broaden his experience of the criminal mind. It's not the easiest thing to swallow in these credit crunched times but obviously he is independently wealthy enough to be able to afford the pay cut. In any case, where does it say that good television has to be 100% realistic to entertain? And entertain CSI Series 9 does - in spades.