Matrix fans who are also into CSI found themselves short of ecstatic the night that Laurence Fishburne debuted on CSI. According to the statistics of that nightâs airing of the very popular show, the ratings of the show went up to numbers that are so far the highest for this season. It seems, however, that the high ratings cannot be totally attributed to Fishburneâs first appearance. According to The Live Feed, other television networks showed repeats on the same hour that night. Naturally, viewers would choose to watch something new over something that they have already seen.
The report on The Live Feed provides the numbers:
“CSI” was seen by 20.6 million viewers and earned a 5.7 preliminary rating among adults 18-49. Lead-in “Survivor” (13.2 million, 4.1) was up slightly from last week. Moreover, 10 p.m.’s “Eleventh Hour” (13.4 million, 3.8) enjoyed its best performance ever — and marked the first time the freshman series has won its hour.
For those who have been following CSI, it is a well known fact that William Petersen is central to the show. The fact that he is leaving has been worrying a lot of people â both on the production side and the viewer side. Will Laurence Fishburne be a suitable replacement for the longstanding Petersen? Will his character be able to sustain the momentum that the show has gathered through time?
These questions â and more â will only be answered when the departure is made final in the next few episodes. CSI fans, what do you think?