A MURDER AT CIRQUE DU SOLEIL EMBROILS THE CSI TEAM IN THE BACKSTAGE WORKINGS OF THE FAMED LAS VEGAS SHOW, ON PART ONE OF THE TWO PART SEVENTH SEASON PREMIERE OF "CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION," THURSDAY, SEPT. 21 ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

Grammy Award-Winning Recording Artist John Mayer Guest Stars, Performing Two Songs From His New Album, Continuum

Danny Bonaduce ("The Partridge Family") Also Guest Stars

"Built To Kill, Part One" -- When an aspiring dancer is murdered backstage during Cirque du Soleil's KA show, the CSIs investigate what goes on behind-the-scenes to uncover the truth, on part one of the two part seventh season premiere of CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, Thursday, Sept. 21 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Kenneth Fink directed the episode from a story by Sarah Goldfinger and a teleplay by David Rambo and Naren Shankar, one of the series' executive producers.

Grammy Award-winning recording artist John Mayer makes a cameo appearance, performing two new songs from his third studio album, Continuum. Mayer performs his current single, "Waiting on the World to Change," as well as "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room," for Catherine and Nick at a nightclub.

Danny Bonaduce ("The Partridge Family") also guest stars as an ex-rocker who ends up a murder victim.

The CSIs investigate first-hand the behind-the-scenes action of Cirque du Soleil in order to determine what may have contributed to the young dancer's untimely death. Meanwhile, after Catherine and Nick visit a nightclub where John Mayer is performing, Catherine finds herself in jeopardy and must act as her own CSI in order to determine who may be targeting her and her family. Also, Grissom is perplexed after receiving an uncanny miniature replica of the crime scene he is investigating.

CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, the Emmy Award-nominated Number One scripted series on television, is a fast-paced drama about a team of forensic investigators trained to solve crimes by examining the evidence. They are on the case 24/7, scouring the scene, collecting the irrefutable evidence and finding the missing pieces that will solve the mystery. Gil Grissom, grave-shift supervisor, heads the team of investigators at the crime lab in Las Vegas. The team includes Catherine Willows, a hard-working single parent with a checkered past and a controversial father; Warrick Brown, a top analyst with insider knowledge of the gambling world; Nick Stokes, a true-blue stand-up guy who empathizes with victims via his own experiences; Sara Sidle, a dedicated and inquisitive investigator who has more than a professional interest in Grissom; and Greg Sanders, the wacky tech analyst turned field investigator. The CSI team members also work closely with Capt. Jim Brass, the former chief, now assigned to Homicide, and Dr. Albert Robbins, the ever-professional medical examiner. They are also supported by David Hodges, a lab technician with a specialty in trace and foreign-substance analysis, and Sofia Curtis, whose frustration with lab politics has led her to return to the police force.

CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION is produced by CBS Productions and Alliance Atlantis Communications, in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Television. Jerry Bruckheimer, Carol Mendelsohn, Ann Donahue, Anthony Zuiker, Jonathan Littman, William Petersen, Cynthia Chvatal and Naren Shankar are the executive producers.

SERIES REGULARS:

Gil Grissom: William Petersen
Catherine Willows: Marg Helgenberger
Warrick Brown: Gary Dourdan
Nick Stokes: George Eads
Captain Jim Brass: Paul Guilfoyle
Sara Sidle: Jorja Fox
Greg Sanders: Eric Szmanda
Dr. Robbins: Robert David Hall
David Phillips: David Berman
Sofia Curtis: Louise Lombard
Hodges: Wallace Langham

GUEST STARS:

Himself: John Mayer
Izzy: Danny Bonaduce
David Phillips: David Berman
Sheriff Burdick: Nick Searcy
Sam Braun: Scott Wilson
Joe Hirschoff: Kevin Rahm
Arnie Clifton: Joe Reegan
Bartender: Michael Milhoan
Party Girl: Arielle Vandenberg
DJ: Yusuf Gatewood
Robert O'Brien: Edward C. Hayes
Cirque Manager: Mark Ivanir

RATING: To Be Announced