Fishburne Works To Understand Langston

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation‘s new leading man Laurence Fishburne is still figuring out his character, Dr Ray Langston.

Fishburne joined the series last season when William Petersen (Gil Grissom) said goodbye. However, understanding who Ray is will take Fishburne more than a season. “It takes two years to understand a character,” the actor explained. “To build it. The complexities of fitting into him. I’m still trying to figure my character out. But when you step in for someone who left you’re sort of damned if you do, damned if you don’t. I can’t make sense of all the expectations. I have to fit into this but haven’t yet quite decided how to do the character.”

Season nine was rocky for CSI as the show dealt with several major cast changes, and the series plans to address those concerns during season ten. “I read one story saying they were thinking of having me change my wardrobe. No idea what that’s about. I know how to dress. I’m a grown man,” Fishburne said, referring to older reports of how his character would change this season.

Despite the uncertainties the series faced last season, working with the rest of the CSI actors hasn’t been a problem for Fishburne. “Not like there are problems with the cast,” he said. “I get along with people. But, see, I never watched the show before. I don’t watch much TV at all. On my free time, I listen to music. Jazz mostly. I’m a big music fan. I recently saw Diana Krall with the LA Philharmonic, Steely Dan at the Greek Theatre, Grace Jones.”

Fishburne was recently in New York City filming scenes for the CSI: New York portion of the upcoming three-series crossover that will air during November sweeps. “We’ve shot Battery Park, WWII Memorial, Citi Field,” Fishburne shared. “Doing locations here is great. You can’t replicate the Hudson or Statue of Liberty. Can’t replicate the place’s energy. People, different faces, everywhere. Sounds of the city everyplace.”

“The city has ways of assaulting you,” the actor continued. “Its busyness doesn’t stop because you’re making a movie. And everyone now, with his own cellphone ability to take a photo, wants a good picture of you. But I’m there for the cameras shooting me on dollies, not the cameras in their hands. Working on the streets of New York requires a high level of concentration.”