Watching CSI

Well folks, it looks that the weekend long closed door negotiations are not working and the strike is set to begin tomorrow. Primetime shows probably have or can squeeze a month’s worth of episodes out the scripts they already have on hand.

Let’s take the original as an example. We know that Jorja Fox’s last episode is done and set to air next week. That will be the 7th episode of the season. From what I’m hearing, they probably can or have eeked out at least four more episodes. That will give us 11 episodes for the season. After November sweeps, they usually run some reruns so we are probably going to see new episodes for the first couple of weeks in January.

There are some rumors around that shows have stockpiled scripts. Marg Helgenberger has squashed that suggestion.

“You read about this stockpiling of scripts, but in TV you don’t have enough manpower or hours in the day to stockpile.,” Marg said. “You’d have to have three staffs working 24/7 to make that happen; that’s not how it works.”

It doesn’t sound nearly as bad IF they can resolve the issues in two months time. Still it will take some time to get back on track.

At issues is profit sharing for new media like Itunes. The industry big wigs want to take a wait and see attitude with revenue but writer’s say they’ve been screwed out of revenue like that before. Think DVDs. At least 25 percent of the people I know, catch their favorite CSI on Innertube at least a few times during the season. I tend to watch in real time while recording but things happen and technology fails. The commercials aren’t nearly as plentiful online but CBS is making money from it…..

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Looks like we can look forward to having Mac Taylor around through the 2010-2011 season.

Studio previously had an option that locked Sinise to “CSI: NY” though spring 2010. In exchange for adding another year to that option, CBS Par has bumped up Sinise’s salary to around $5 million per year. That put his per-episode fee in the low-$200,000s range.

Melina Kanakaredes is currently renegotiating her contract, but no deal has been made.

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The campaign to keep Jorja Fox on board has escalated to a mind blowing level. In less than a week’s time, Jorja Fox fans have banded together and hired a plane to fly a banner over the CSI offices at Universal City. Yesterday, at 10 a.m PST a banner with blue lettering and pink hearts which read “Keep Jorja Fox on CBS” graced a clear California sky.

Another flyover is set for Thursday at the same time. In addition to the flyover, fans have sent more than 3,200 letters from 37 countries, including Australia, the Netherlands and Japan. Many of letters contain dollars, or currency equivalent, to “help” CBS give Jorja a raise.

Jorja Fox has struck a passionate chord with women around the world. Mel, a mother two currently residing in Canada, sees Jorja as a role model for all women.

“Why am I Jorja Fox fan? The reason is simple. She doesn’t try to convert into society’s idea of beauty and perfection. And this in turn makes her more beautiful. She didn’t set out to be a role model and is humble about it.”

Aimee, a single mom from Missouri, shares a similar sentiment.

“I would really hate to see Sara leave the show. She is an intelligent, driven, successful, beautiful woman and an excellent role model for women. She proves that a woman can be strong and smart, yet still be feminine and desireable. Sara proves that it’s COOL to be a geek and it would a tragedy for the show and the fans to lose such a gifted actress”

Reports that Jorja is leaving the show permanently have not been confirmed by the network or Jorja.

Video and of the flyover after the jump.

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Congrats to the happy couple. CSI cast members lseem to like getting married in Italy. You’ll remember that William Petersen married his Italian American wife Gina Cirone married in Petrignano, Italy a few years back. Check out the details:

Desperate Housewives actor Dougray Scott and actress Claire Forlani wed in a private civil ceremony in Italy on Friday, PEOPLE has learned.

“They’re both very excited,” a source says about the newlyweds.

Forlani wore a custom-made strapless gown with a “classic, Old Hollywood feel” by designer Junko Yoshioka for Bonaparte-NY, says the source. She completed her look with a crystal hair pin by Swarovski and Jimmy Choo heels.

The bride’s father, Pierluigi, is Italian and helped his daughter plan the festivities for more than 100 guests. He told Italian newspaper Il Resto del Carlino that, at the reception at the family’s country home in Pievebovigliana, “I will be the official cook of the event.”

The couple met a year and a half ago through a mutual friend. Scott, 41, proposed to Forlani, 35, in Los Angeles in September. “It was very romantic,” Scott, who presented Forlani with a ring he designed, told PEOPLE. “I feel so lucky to have met her. She’s an amazing actress and human being. I’m very happy.”

Scott recently played Teri Hatcher’s love interest on Housewives. Next up for the Scottish actor, who also starred in Mission: Impossible II, is the World War II movie The Cone Gatherer with Emily Watson.

Forlani has a recurring role on CSI: New York. She’s also appeared in films including Mallrats and Meet Joe Black.

Source: People

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Janet Charlton has a little diddy about William Petersen’s health kick

CSI’s sexy detective William Petersen admits that summer hiatus has always been a problem when it comes to gaining weight. He usually returns to work a size bigger and THAT creates problems. Not this year. He invested in a home gym and hired a personal trainer to work him over twice a week and police his diet. Petersen says that the older he gets the harder it is to lose weight, so he’s determined not to pack on the pounds this summer. We love that he shops at Pavilions in Hancock park. Presumably that French bread is for his wife Gina Cirone.

I’m not sure how new this picture is. It looks like his hair has been colored and Billy doesn’t dye his hair during the off season. Also the last time it was this dark was Season 6 AND he shaved the beard because of Gina. Why would he grow it back so quickly?

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Eva Los Angeles Premiere of LionsGate’s “Happily N’Ever After” Hosted by the Hot Moms Club

There’s a a nifty interview with Eva La Rue (did I just ryhme?) over at American Fitness. She chats about eating correctly and finding time to work out despite her busy schedule. In addition to her CSI role Eva hosts E!’s Modern Girl’s Guide to Life and is a single parent to 4 year-old Kayla.

“I signed myself up for Pilates and yoga classes. I needed to get back into a regimented workout,” admits LaRue, who also takes walks in the neighborhood with Kaya and their dog Bingo. Although exercise class isn’t always possible, a couple of days a week she tosses in lunges, squats and isolated movements for her hips. “These moves are my constant no matter what other routine I’m doing, and I always do something for my arms like bicep curls,” she says.

She also has a sweet tooth. Ah a woman after my own heart

“I am a chocolate chip cookie and brownie fiend,” she says with a laugh. “I can go without cakes, ice cream or other desserts but life is simply not worth living without a chocolate chip cookie every now and then.”

Check out the rest of her interview here.
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Eva LaRue makes an entrance at the Alma Awards

Eva La Rue Eva LaRue CSI Miami ALMA Awards

In case you missed it William Petersen and Jorja Fox made the cover of TV Guide. Here’s the cover and a snippet of an interview with executive producer Naren Shankar.

Scan Courtesy of Jorja Fox Online

CSI’s executive producer Naren Shankar thought that ending the season with Sara in peril was a good way to reveal her relationship with Gil Grissom (William Petersen). “We felt we had to reveal it [in the finale (”Living Doll”)], so what better way to do it than in a moment of real crisis for Grissom?” Shankar told TV Guide. The show’s writers felt that making Sara’s situation different from that of the other victims of the Miniature Crime Scene Killer (MCSK) would be a good move. “We also wanted to leave her alone in the desert in that terrible position because we were going for something different.” They wanted to make her difficult to find, and Shankar said that the fans will probably see the MCSK again

Source CSI Files

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The big big kahuna is getting an award folks. Hopefully Sara supporters won’t picket the location. Hmmmm now there’s an idea. Anywho congratulations Carol.

Carol Mendelsohn, Executive Producer and Showrunner of the number-one scripted drama series on television CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and Co-Creator/Executive Producer, CSI: Miami and CSI: NY, is to receive the Award of Excellence at the 28th edition of the Banff World Television Festival, which takes place at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, in Alberta, June 10-13, 2007.

The Award of Excellence acknowledges exceptional achievement through a body of work over an extended period of time. The award will be presented to Mendelsohn by Chair of the Banff Television Festival Foundation and SVP, Corporate Communication, Bell Globemedia, Mary Powers, at the awards luncheon on Sunday, June 11.

Mendelsohn has been the Show Runner/Executive Producer on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation since the pilot episode. Last fall, the show began its seventh season as the number-one scripted drama series on television. She is also a Co-Creator/Executive Producer of CSI: Miami and CSI: NY.

Mendelsohn began her career writing for Stephen Cannell on the drama series Stingray and Wiseguy. She was promoted to producer on Tour of Duty and later Gabriel’s Fire. She earned her Executive Producer stripes during a five-year stint on Melrose Place.

As a producer, she has been nominated for multiple Emmys; WGA Awards; Golden Globes; Producers Guild Awards and the prestigious Edgar Allen Poe Award. She is also a three-time People’s Choice Award winner.

“Carol’s hugely successful career has earned her international recognition and admiration,” says Jennifer Harkness, Executive Director, BWTVF. “We are delighted to have the opportunity to acknowledge this with the Award of Excellence and to provide delegates with access to the thought processes of one of most powerful women in Hollywood.”

Mendelsohn will also be speaking before delegates in one of BWTVF’s Master Class sessions on Tuesday June 12, where she answer questions about her experiences in the broadcast industry and her involvement with the development and production of TV’s most popularseries.

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Adam Rodriquez was voted the 4th most eligible bachelor by Extra viewers. Looks like Adam likes a curvy lady. Sweet!

#4: Adam Rodriguez

The right amount of Miami heat landed “CSI: Miami’s” Adam Rodriquez at number four, and he’s looking for the whole package in a girl.

“I love a great smile,” he said. “But there’s butt, boobs, brains, all that stuff.”

Source. Extra TV

CSI CSI Miami Adam Rodriquez CBS Extra TV

Marge Helgenberger sat down with Movies Online for a very detailed interview. She talks about her upcoming roll in Mr. Brooks, a spooky scary thriller that hits theaters June 1. She shares the screen with Kevin Costner, Demi Moore and William Hurt. You can read the rest of the interview HERE.

She talks about the Miniature Killer storyline. They are really towing the party line aren’t they?

Q: Are there any storylines that they are going to continue?

The only ones that will continue because this whole season we did this little miniature serial killer and her signature was to leave behind a miniature of the crime scene which was actually kind of clever and interesting and drew you in. It was a good season actually, it was one of our strongest yet. Anyway, they need to wrap that up because one of the central characters was essentially kidnapped and whether she’s coming back or not, nobody knows. Nobody knows.

Some info about next season-Maybe?

Q: Are you going to have a lead role in the upcoming CSI as you did last season because of William Peterson’s departure during the series

I’m not exactly sure. Everyone’s contract is up this year and it will be interesting what happens after this one. They’ve eluded to the fact that if Billy decides to leave that instead of bringing on another guy to replace him, they’ll bring on someone to do 4 episode arcs like they did with Liev Schreiber this year, which was awesome. I loved working with him; he was funny, smart, great actor and everybody was inspired by that. Also, when you have new energy, it steps up everybody’s game. That I look forward to so anything is possible.

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Hill Harper has a little indy film out on DVD. Just from reading the synopsis I doubt he actually gets the girl. He’s not the lead but the third wheel in a love triangle. I’ll definately be adding this to my Netflix Que. Hill plays a lawyer and he is an actual lawyer. Hehe. I’m easily amused.

Reginald “Cool” Coolidge is a struggling actor, fed up with taking stereotypical African American roles and waiting for his big break in a legitimate production. Until this time comes, he works at his mother’s boyfriend’s gas station to repay him for covering his college tuition. One day at the station, his ex-fiance - and one true love - reappears at the pumps after 3 years of silence. Cool discovers that it is 36 hours until her wedding to a local lawyer. As Cool embarks on last-ditch attempts to win her back, he takes on the biggest “role” of his life while also learning the secret to mastering his craft.

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Gary loves the troops. More Info Here

The parade features Honorary Marshal actor Gary Sinise, (best known for his role as Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump and current star of TV’s “CSI New York”). The Grand Marshals are a contingent of wounded heroes from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Honorary Marshal for WWI is Frank Buckles - one of the last living American veterans of “The Great War.”

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We know that William Petersen’s first love is the theater so he must be tickled pink to be presenting a this year’s Tony’s. Actually I can’t see manly William Petersen being tickled. Anywho he must be happy. Liev Schreiber, who filled in for Petersen while he did a play in Season 7, will also be on hand. Here’s a little blurb:

Presenters for the 61st annual Tony Awards ceremony, to be held on June 10 at Radio City Music Hall, have been announced. The list includes both current Broadway stars and TV stars with a theatrical background. As was the case last year, the live three-hour telecast will apparently not have a celebrity host.

Presenting the Tony Awards to the winners in each of the 25 categories will be Harry Connick, Jr., Claire Danes, Carla Gugino, Neil Patrick Harris, Anne Heche, Marg Helgenberger, Felicity Huffman, Eddie Izzard, Jane Krakowski, Angela Lansbury, Audra McDonald, Bernadette Peters, William Petersen, David Hyde Pierce, Liev Schreiber, Kevin Spacey, John Turturro, Usher, Rainn Wilson, Vanessa Williams, Patrick Wilson and the Jersey Boys (Christian Hoff, Daniel Reichard, J. Robert Spencer and John Lloyd Young). Other presenters may be named later.

Source: Broadway.com

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Liev Schreiber, Natasha Richardson and Phylicia Rashad join members of the American Theatre announce the 2006 Tony Award Nominations at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts on May 16, 2006 in New York City

CSI: The Experience will kick off Friday at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry. The Experience closes in Chicago on September 3. After that it goes on an 8 city tour. More will be added if it does well. The virtual reality coolnees was created by the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History in Texas. Tickets are now on sale HERE.

I know for sure that our favorite coroner Robert David Hall will be there for the opening. Can’t wait to see who else hits the blood splattered carpet.

Update: According to Marg’s Parade Interview they’ll all be there. What fun!

Update: They opened the exhibit with a private party Wednesday night

The exhibit begins with a virtual welcome from Gil Grissom and continues with bit and pieces from the other characters. Check out what you’ll get to do:

* Match shell casings in a firearms lab
* Hear from a forensic pathologist in a realistic autopsy room
* See a victim’s blood tested in the toxicology lab
* Learn about the advances in DNA profiling
* Examine the role human judgment plays with the advancement in technology

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