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FlashForward, Grey's Anatomy, The Mentalist and CSI: Which show didn't the future look bright for last night? 

First, let's run down what the answer isn't.

• It's not FlashForward, even if the all-new Lost was asked to lead off ABC's Thursday against CBS' Survivor: Samoa and Fox's Bones. In the most impressive launch of the week, FlashForward won the 8 p.m. hour with 12.4 million viewers, per preliminary Nielsen estimates.

• It's not Grey's Anatomy, even if the financially strapped Seattle Grace itself is downsizing. The show's two-hour, season-six premiere ruled the night with 16.8 million gathering for Dr. O'Malley's memorial.

• And nope, it's not The Mentalist, even if last season's freshman hit fell flat in its sophomore premiere—not to mention its new night and time—with a big, but disappointing 14.3 million. Still, the show may rebound as soon as next week when it goes up against Private Practice, and not Grey's, at 10 p.m.

And that means the answer—and the winner of the cloudiest future—is:

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Marg Helgenberger is ready to cut the legal cord.

The CSI star has filed for divorce from her husband of 19 years, Screen Actors Guild president Alan Rosenberg.

The reason given was irreconcilable differences, according to the short-and-simple petition filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Helgenberger and Rosenberg announced their separation in December, saying they had "decided to take some time apart."

"They love and respect each other and remain committed to their family," a rep for the 50-year-old actress said in a statement at the time.

The duo tied the knot in September 1989 and have an 18-year-old son, Hugh.

Patrick Ecclesine/FOX

Thursday TV's Big Winner, Excluding American Idol: CSI (20.1 million, per Nielsen estimates) was way up over last week, and won't have to hear about how the show can't survive without William Petersen. Until, of course, the next time it's down.

About Idol: It ruled the night in viewers (24.3 million), the 18-49 demo and iPod impersonators.

Thursday TV's Loser: The drama series. Airing after Idol, the fifth-season premiere of Hell's Kitchen (11.1 million) gave Fox more bang for its buck than either Fringe or Lie to Me, delivering a higher 18-49 rating than either of those two post-Idol series.

Let's See You Do It Again Next Week: CSI and Hell's Kitchen both aired opposite a rerun-addled Grey's Anatomy.

Etc.: Smallville (4.2 million) and Supernatural (3.6 million) were up over last week; Private Practice (7.7 million) was down—and cursing that Grey's rerun.

Sonja Flemming/CBS

Thursday TV's Big Wrench in the Works: President George W. Bush. Yes, the farewell address is a tradition for the outgoing commander in chief, but wasn't it President Dwight Eisenhower who warned about the dangers of delivering one on William Petersen's farewell night on CSI?

How Did Bush Mess With CSI Exactly? Because of the Bush speech, the CSI repeat that aired at 8 p.m. bled into the new CSI at 9 p.m., and the new CSI bled into Eleventh Hour at 10 p.m. It took a few hours, but CBS finally sorted out the numbers: Petersen's last CSI (as a regular, that is—Gil Grissom did live, after all) was watched by 24.2 million. The show scored its biggest audience since its season eight premiere in fall 2007, CBS said, and easily won the night in total viewers and adults 18-49.

What About Patrick Swazye's Show? Through no fault of President Bush's, A&E said it wouldn't have estimates on the premiere of The Beast till the afternoon—at the earliest.

Which 9 p.m. Show Lost Out—Grey's Anatomy or The Office? Neither.

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The list of celeb suspects stopping by the CSI franchise just keeps getting longer.

Most recently, we've heard all about Taylor Swift on the set of the Las Vegas-based original, and Sean Combs matching wits with David Caruso on CSI: Miami.

Now, new parents Ashlee Simpson-Wentz and Pete Wentz are slated to make an appearance on CSI: New York, CBS confirms to E! News.

The couple will leave baby Bronx Mowgli at home yet again to play Bonnie and Clyde-like villains. The episode airs March 18.

We just have to ask: Are the similarly omnipresent Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt next?

Sonja Flemming/CBS; John Shearer/Getty Images

Just in case this whole Laurence Fishburne thing doesn't work out, CSI has come up with a Swift way to boost ratings.

Country-pop It girl Taylor Swift will guest star on an upcoming episode of CBS' mega-hit crime show, which bids farewell to longtime star and fan favorite William Petersen on Thursday.

Per the network, the Fearless singer will play the teenage daughter of the managers of a seedy Las Vegas motel, who is going through personal changes that ultimately have tragic consequences—a plot Taylor-made for a country song.

No airdate for Swift's episode has been announced, but in the meantime, here's more news from the world of name-brand casting:

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Marg Helgenberger is no longer the first lady of the Screen Actors Guild.

A rep for the CSI star has confirmed that the actress has split from her husband of nearly two decades, SAG president and fellow thespian Alan Rosenberg.

"After 19 years of marriage, Marg and Alan have decided to take some time apart," her rep said in a statement. "They love and respect each other and remain committed to their family."

No reason was given for the separation.

Rosenberg, 57, and Helgenberger, who turned 50 just two weeks ago, have one child together, 18-year-old son Hugh.

The camera-ready couple tied the knot in September 1989 after meeting as costars on the soap opera Ryan's Hope. The duo reteamed onscreen in recent years, with Rosenberg having guest-starred in multiple episodes of CSI.

Monty Brinton/CBS

What if CSI wasn't CSI?

Last week, the CBS crime show was what it's been for most of this decade: TV's most-watched drama series.

But what if, suddenly,  21 million viewers, as top hit CSI is averaging for the season, became 13 million?

Then a new AOL Television poll will have been right on the money.

In the poll, 37 percent of respondents said they won't watch CSI after William Petersen exits at midseason.

About 41 percent effectively put the series on probation, saying "maybe" they'll keep tuning in, post-Grissom—it all "depends on how good [Petersen sub] Laurence Fishburne is."

Elsewhere, Lipstick Jungle's numbers are in the spin cycle, plus nine other lessons from the latest Nielsen rankings and stats...

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