Ted Danson Joins the ‘CSI’ Cast

Ted Danson at the Step Brothers Premiere
Ted Danson at the ‘Step Brothers’ Premiere (Photo © Richard Chavez)

CBS just announced Ted Danson (best known for his role as retired baseball played/bar owner Sam Malone in Cheers) has signed on to the cast of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as a series regular. The show will have its 12th season premiere on Wednesday, September 21 (10:00-11:00pm ET/PT) with Danson introduced as the new CSI Supervisor on the grave shift.

According to CBS, Danson’s character worked at a crime lab in Portland and comes to the team as they are still grappling with the professional and personal fallout from last season’s take-down of serial killer Nate Haskell.

“You can create a new character on the page, but until the perfect actor comes along and breathes life into it, it’s just words,” said executive producer Carol Mendelsohn. “We’re very excited Ted Danson came along.”

“From the moment we all started talking about the role, it was clear he couldn’t be more perfect,” said executive producer Don McGill. “Intelligence, wit, warmth, depth of character, and emotion, he brings it all. And now he’ll have to bring latex gloves, too.”

In addition to his new job on CSI, Danson will continue to be part of the cast of HBO’s Bored to Death. And he’ll be seen on the big screen in early 2012 starring in Everybody Loves Whales with Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski (The Office).