The Franchise Tries To Sweep The Competition

By Rachel
November 3, 2008 - 8:09 PM

November sweeps started last Thursday, but CBS still has plenty in store for the coming weeks.

This week's episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, "Leave Out All the Rest", will feature the return of Lady Heather (Melinda Clarke). On November 20, Natalie Davis (Jessica Collins), the Miniature Serial Killer, will be back as Gil Grissom (William Petersen) testifies in court about her competency in "Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda". Joshua Malina (The West Wing) will guest star in the episode.

The November 10 episode of CSI: Miami, "Cheating Death", will guest star Lucy Lawless (Xena Warrior Princess) in an episode about the death of a man found stabbed and handcuffed in his hotel room. The episode will also find the team dealing with a potential rift caused by a prank. On November 17, Miami will air its 150th episode. The team must locate a missing baby that has been kidnapped by a murderer. Teri Polo (Meet the Parents) guest stars in the episode.

The 100th episode of CSI: New York airs November 19. Two victims named Mac Taylor turn up, and the team must track down the killer before another Mac Taylor dies--perhaps their own leader (Gary Sinise). The episode will have several big guest stars: Rumer Willis (Army Wives), Scott Wolf (Everwood), American Idol's Chris Daughtry, rapper Nelly (who first appeared in "Turbulence"), NFL legend Marshall Faulk and Julia Ormond (First Knight).

New York's lead-in, Criminal Minds, will delve into Dr Spencer Reid's (Matthew Gray Gubler) past on the November 5 episode. The November 12 episode will also tie in to Dr Reid's past and will feature his mother, played by Jane Lynch. The episode airing before CSI: NY on November 19 forces the team to solve a case backwards when a serial killer turns himself in--but his victims are still alive. Jason Alexander (Seinfeld), Ali Landry (Eve) and Nicholas Brendon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) will all guest star in the episode. CSI's lead-out, freshman series Eleventh Hour, will also feature a special guest star during sweeps: Oded Fehr (Sleeper Cell) will appear in the November 6 episode, which finds Dr Jacob Hood (Rufus Sewell) trying to contain an outbreak of a deadly, aggressive virus.