I coulda swore I read the beginnings of a CSI thread for the 1/18 show. I remember it because I didn’t realize it was new this week and thought “well I’ll have to check the recorder.”
I searched back 6 pages in Cafe Society but can’t find it. This was my first week watching CSI “live” (I spent the last 5 weeks catching up on the first 6.5 seasons) and now I can’t read what other people said about it 
Maybe you’re thinking of the thread for the episode two weeks ago, the one I opened ahead of time. Last week was a rerun of "Fannysmackin’ " and this week I was away from the computer so I couldn’t initiate a discussion.
Anyway, the 1/18 episode was the first one of four without Grissom (filmed while William Petersen was in RI doing his play) and instead we got a Catherine-heavy ep that introduced a new CSI, Keppler, played by Liev Shreiber. Upon first viewing I found the episode mildly interesting but not compelling. Like “Hollywood Brass” two seasons ago, it felt less like an episode of “CSI” and more like a pilot for a spinoff. On the other hand it wasn’t actively offensive and perhaps the story will grow on me with subsequent viewings. I will say I was impressed by Ned Beatty’s performance; I saw his name in the opening credits but forgot about it and didn’t recognize him as the creepy dentist until after the show.
As for Keppler, it’s too early to tell but so far I have no reason to dislike him. I do resent the theft of the original characters’ ever-dwindling screentime in favor of “guests” when the absence of one of the leads (Grissom) should have freed up face time for Sara, Warrick, Nick, Greg, Brass, Doc Robbins, and Super Dave.
That’s the problem with loving a show with a title only three letters long. Search engines don’t like it. :mad: If you want to look at some old SDMB threads about “CSI”, try here.