But there are exceptions. Fox's "House" is a likely model for the Danson-era "CSI" makeover. The show is still structurally an episodic procedural -- each episode focuses on a new patient, afflicted with a mysterious, multistage illness that might be, but probably isn’t, lupus -- but each episode is a veritable showcase for the sad features, romantic potential and convincing American accent of its star. And though Hugh Laurie has yet to snag a best actor Emmy, the show adapts and evolves along with his performance in a way that few network shows, especially genre shows, are able to do.

While Laurie's cranky savant on "House" is a clear analogue to Danson's new work on "CSI," this formula has also worked for recent Emmy-laureate Julianna Margulies' network prestige drama, "The Good Wife." The hybrid serial has become the gold standard for network drama, and it's proven to be an extremely wise mid- to late-career move for Laurie and Margulies. With "CSI," Danson is in a position to get the same kind of notice without the hassle of trying to sell a new series.

Of course, "CSI" is not already a showcase for central talent. Both Laurie and Margulies are surrounded by incredibly talented supporting casts, from Robert Sean Leonard on "House" to the court reporters on "The Good Wife" who do more valuable character work than most of Danson's cohort in the CSI unit.

“You were a pretty big deal: What went wrong?”

Those are words of dialogue from Monday’s eighth-season premiere of “House,” spoken by a prison doctor to inmate Gregory House, M.D.

But those same words could have been uttered by any longtime viewer of TV’s squirreliest drama, which has redone itself more times than a Real Housewife while driving away formerly adoring critics and viewers alike.

There were all the cast members leaving, then coming back, the game-show competition, the unsuccessful attempts to replace Jennifer Morrison (Olivia Wilde, Amber Tamblyn) and, most disastrously, last season’s pointless if inevitable romance between House and Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein, who later left rather than accept a salary cut) and its absurd denouement, which has landed House in prison as Season 8 opens.

So why do people keep giving “House” the time of day? House, of course. Hugh Laurie continues to bring power and self-destructive intensity to the show’s soul center. Compared to the boxes his writers have put him in, jail looks easy.

In jail, at least, they’ve given him a lot of scenery to chew. Monday’s season premiere combines the savage social portrait of “Oz” with a psychological study of House’s character, or what remains of it, after all these years.

As long as you don’t ask too many pesky questions like, “Seriously, why is House in a creepy New Jersey prison?” it may be one of the best (and last, I predict) rides this wobbly star vehicle gives its fans before the wheels come off completely.