Justin Bieber on 'CSI?' We'll admit that when we think of Justin Bieber, our next thought isn't usually "grisly murders and explosions."

The young heartthrob is known more for his floppy hair and his ability to turn crowds of young girls into a sobbing, screaming mass. But tonight on 'CSI' (Thu., 9PM ET on CBS), the 16-year-old singer made his network TV dramatic acting debut -- on a crime series known for its violence and gritty realism. Would "The Bieb" be able to make the transition to the world of serious acting?

[Warning: Spoiler alert.]


Tonight's season premiere picked up right where the last episode left off -- with Ray Langston (Laurence Fishburne) clinging to life after being attacked by serial killer Nate Haskell (Bill Irwin). Next, the 'CSI' team attends a funeral for a dead officer ... which is when a bomb goes off. At first, the team assumes that Haskell is behind the explosion. But then they uncover a series of clues that leads them to troubled teenager Jason McCann ... played by none other than young Mr. Bieber.

McCann's brother Alex is the main suspect in the bombing. But Jason is linked to the explosion as well. He's mixed up with a radical political organization, and he also purchased a toy plane that was used in the bombing. Is the teen an innocent bystander or a participant in murder?

To his credit, Bieber doesn't play his role in a "cute" or "cuddly" style. Rather, he goes for "rebellious" and even "angry." His character is brought in for an interrogation by Nick Stokes (George Eads), and shows flashes of disdain during questioning. "Where's your gun, your vest, your badge? You off work or something?" he says in a sarcastic tone. "[You] represent the authority," he tells Stokes. "Everything I hate. Just like you probably hate me."

His character's anger may represent an even deeper problem. Eventually, Jason's brother Alex is tracked down and is killed by the cops -- which should bring an end to the bombing. But then, there's another explosion in an abandoned building. Alex is dead, so he couldn't have done it. Could Jason be the vengeful bomber?

The episode ends with Bieber's character in jail, staring out from behind the bars with an evil glare. It's certainly a far cry from his usual bubbly persona.

What did you think of Justin Bieber's network acting debut? Did you find him convincing as a troubled teen?

Remember: If you liked his performance, his character's story isn't over yet -- he'll be back on the show in February 2011. So good or bad, there's more Bieber on the way.