‘CSI’ adds Fishburne to the team

Laurence Fishburne, the Oscar-nominated actor, will join the cast of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” in its ninth season, the network announced Monday. His character will first appear in the ninth episode of the season.

It will be the first regular prime-time TV series role for Fishburne, who is best known for his numerous film roles, including “Boyz N the Hood,” “Apocalypse Now,” “What”s Love Got to Do With It” and “The Matrix” franchise. He was most recently seen in “Thurgood,” a one-man show about Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, which won him a Tony Award nomination for best actor in a drama.

Fishburne, whose only regular TV series experience was as Cowboy Curtis on “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” said he will be coming to “CSI” with a fresh eye. The details of his new character are still being worked out.

“To be perfectly frank, I felt a little stupid and embarrassed that I hadn’t watched the show,” said Fishburne, who has since caught up. “But the episodes to me were engaging and wonderful, dark and moody.”

The original version of “CSI” continues to be CBS’ most-watched show.