CSI Guide News

William Petersen actor confirms future CSI movie

CSI Guide — 2009-04-21

CSI star William Petersen, best known for playing Gil Grissom in the hit US drama series, has confirmed a film based on the show will be made.

Petersen, an executive producer on CSI, says he understands fans are "a little trepidatious" about a movie version.

But speaking to the Radio Times, he said: "It's about finding the right story, there has got to be a real reason to do it."

Petersen's character has left the series but may return next year.

"I can understand people are a little trepidatious because of the franchise around the world and how well it's doing," he said.

"Usually people leave it till a series has finished - they did that with The X-Files and Sex And The City. But it's about finding the right story.

"There has got to be a real reason to do it. You don't just do it because you want to make money; you do it because there's a story that can't be told on TV and needs to be told from CSI's perspective and the audience wants it.

"And we can't wait for CSI to end or Grissom will be about 90."

CSI is based on a team of Las Vegas forensic scientists who investigate mysterious and unusual deaths.

In the ninth series Petersen left and was replaced by Matrix star Laurence Fishburne as Dr Raymond Langston.

Marg Helgenberger files for divorce

CSI Guide — 2009-03-26

Marg Helgenberger has filed for divorce from her husband, fellow actor and Screen Actors Guild President Alan Rosenberg.

She filed her petition Tuesday in Los Angeles, citing irreconcilable differences.

The couple got married in 1989 and have a son together.

The 50-year-old Helgenberger plays Catherine Willows on CBS' highly rated drama, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." She won a best supporting actress Emmy in 1990 for the series "China Beach."

The 58-year-old Rosenberg was a regular on the TV series "LA Law" and "The Guardian," and received an Emmy nomination for a guest role on "ER." He is the current president of SAG, which remains embroiled in contract negotiations with Hollywood producers over a new contract for actors.

CBS brings CSI and Star Trek to iPhone via new TV App

CSI Guide — 2009-02-27

TV Station CBS brings prime time TV series to your iPhone with their new iPhone App TV.com reports the NY Times. CBS' video site TV.com can now be used with the iPhone and you can for free watch shows and series like the original Star Trek, CSI, 90210 or the Late Show with David Letterman.

CBS also prevents non-US viewers to watch their content like NBC does on Hulu.com. At some point they will learn that there is money to be made also outside of the US. Yesterday we already reported about NexPlayer for the iPhone that allows users to stream Live TV to the iPhone. Koreans have a DMB TV antenna in their phones, Americans get their mobile TV through WiFi and 3G.

The CBS TV.com iPhone App is available now in iTunes.

Set phasers to autopsy: CSI and Battlestar Galactica attempt a mind meld

CSI Guide — 2009-02-27

From Chicago Tribune
David Weddle and Bradley Thompson, who wrote the Feb. 27 episode of "Battlestar Galactica" as well as many other episodes of the Sci Fi show, shared some fun news about the episode of "CSI" they're filming at the moment (both men now write for the CBS show).

With "CSI" executive producer Naren Shankar, Weddle and Thompson penned "A Space Oddity," the April 16 episode of "CSI." It concerns a murder at a sci-fi convention, and frequent "Battlestar" director Michael Nankin is helming it. But the sci-fi connections don't stop there.

Kate Vernon, who plays Ellen Tigh on "Battlestar," will appear in the episode. Ron Moore, executive producer of "Battlestar," will also make a brief appearance, and Weddle promises "other surprise cameos for sci-fi fans."

Shankar, Moore, Weddle and Thompson all have long experience in the world of genre TV. Among the credits on their various resumes: "Farscape," "Roswell," "The Outer Limits" and "The Twilight Zone." They all wrote for "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (which is my favorite "Trek" series), and Shankar and Moore also worked on various other "Trek" projects, including "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

So is it too much to hope for a Leonard Nimoy cameo? Or for Laurence Fishburne to say, "Live long and prosper?"

William Petersen to be honoured on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

CSI Guide — 2009-01-29

At 11:30am on Febraury 3rd 2009, William Petersen is set to become the 2,379th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Leron Gubler, President and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will unveil the star in front of the historic Musso & Frank at 6667 Hollywood Boulevard.

TV Guide Interviews Melinda Clarke

CSI Guide — 2008-11-06

From TV Guide: Since sultry dominatrix Lady Heather first appeared on CSI in 2001, she's been no stranger to peril. She's seen her employees and daughter murdered, and nearly got herself killed by a customer living out his morbid fantasies. Each time, Grissom (William Petersen) has come to her rescue, raising viewers" hopes that the unlikely pair — whose chemistry is strong enough to spark a brush fire — will finally stop dancing around each other and pull out the whips. But when Melinda Clarke returns on November 6, their roles are reversed. Get ready for Heather to save Grissom.

"She's in a good place now where she"s made some changes in her life," Clarke says. "And we won't necessarily see Lady Heather as a dominatrix anymore."

Murders involving S&M bring Grissom back to Heather. "I think he's probably at one of the lowest points in his life — personally and professionally," Clarke says. "He comes to Lady Heather to ask for her help on a case, but she questions whether he"s here for the case or because of himself. She's helping with this murder, but she says, "You don"t need me for this. Why are you really here?"

For Clarke, who'll appear in a three-episode story arc on Eli Stone starting December 9, exploring the relationship between Heather and Grissom for the past seven years has been a dream come true. "Heather, to me, is that woman who's so evolved and so cool in her own skin — she's the female version of him."

But Petersen"s departure from the show later this season may put an end to her regular appearances, at least for now. "It doesn't quite seem right to have Lady Heather there without Grissom," Clarke says. "I think they belong together because they balance each other and it"s fulfilling for the audience and frustrating at the same time. This is an interesting episode because it's all about what's not said. They are true friends, but maybe he's looking for something more from her."

For executive producer Carol Mendelsohn, the Heather-Grissom chemistry has been fascinating to explore. "Lady Heather's knowledge of human behavior has always been an interesting complement to Grissom's encyclopedic knowledge of forensic science," she says. "The two characters feel at ease with each other and share an intimate respect for one another. In a different world — one without Sara Sidle in it — Lady Heather and Grissom might end up together."

So what about Sara (Jorja Fox)? Clarke hesitates to imply that her episode will answer any questions about who will walk into the sunset with Grissom. "Sara and Heather are still very much a part of his life and [the episode] is going to be very moving for the audience in so many ways," she says. "It's definitely an intimate episode."

Does she think the CSI and the dominatrix ultimately belong together? "From my point of view, sure. Why not? Lady Heather's not going anywhere." Clarke pauses. "It's just a matter of what Grissom"s compelled to do." — Carita Rizzo

CSI: New York Reaches Milestone with 100th Episode

CSI Guide — 2008-11-05

On November 1, the production of CSI: New York gathered at Los Angeles’ Edison club to celebrate the series’ 100th episode. In fact, Gary Sinise, Melina Kanakaredes, Eddie Cahill, Carmine Giovinazzo and Anna Belknap were all on hand to celebrate the milestone, which fans will get to see on November 19, when it airs on CBS.

"We've been on the air for a long time, and people still like us," producer Jerry Bruckheimer told Entertainment Tonight. "That's a good thing." "A hundred episodes is a milestone in any television series," Gary Sinise, who first appeared on television with CSI: New York, said. "So I'm glad we made it here. We're looking forward to a hundred more."

See the full story at BuddyTV

CSI helps CBS to ratings win

CSI Guide — 2008-10-10

The return of “CSI” on Thursday lifted CBS over its competitors. According to Nielsen’s estimates, 23 million viewers tuned in to its ninth-season premiere, the largest audience for a prime-time program this fall.

CBS’s “Survivor: Gabon” led the 8 p.m. time slot with 13.3 million viewers, while, at 10, CBS’s new show “Eleventh Hour” tied for first with the debut of ABC’s “Life on Mars,” both drawing 11.6 million. The new ABC show fared better among adults 18 to 49, finishing just behind NBC’s “ER” in that demographic, though “ER” earned just 9.3 million total viewers. ABC ranked second for the night with “Ugly Betty” (8.5 million) and “Grey’s Anatomy” (14.5 million). NBC was third with the debut of its new comedy “Kath & Kim” at 8:30 (7.5 million) and its “Saturday Night Live” prime-time special at 9:30 (10.6 million).

Megalyn Echikunwoke to join CSI:Miami as series regular

CSI Guide — 2008-08-26

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 26 - Megalyn Echikunwoke joins the cast of CSI: MIAMI as a series regular starring as the new medical examiner, Dr. Tara Price. The seventh season of CSI: MIAMI premieres Monday, Sept. 22 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. CSI: MIAMI also stars David Caruso, Emily Procter, Adam Rodriguez, Jonathan Togo, Rex Linn, Eva La Rue and Evan Ellingson.

"Megalyn Echikunwoke is an exciting addition to CSI: MIAMI," says Ann Donahue, one of the series' executive producers. "She brings savvy and humor to her role of Dr. Tara Price, a young medical examiner whose methods are on the cutting edge of technology."

Echikunwoke was most recently seen in the series "The 4400." Her additional television credits include "That '70s Show," "24," "Veronica Mars," "ER," "Supernatural," "Boston Public" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

Laurence Fishburne to join CSI:Crime Scene Investigation

CSI Guide — 2008-08-18

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 18 - Oscar nominee and Emmy and Tony Award winner Laurence Fishburne ("What's Love Got To Do With It," "The Matrix," "Miss Evers' Boys") will join the cast of the CBS Paramount Network Television and Jerry Bruckheimer Television series, CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, on the CBS Television Network. His character will debut in this season's ninth episode.

Fishburne will play a former pathologist who is now working as an itinerant college lecturer, teaching a course in criminalistics. His focus is on understanding criminal behavior, how and why people commit acts of violence - tendencies he disturbingly sees within himself. In the course of a murder investigation, he comes into contact with the CSI team and ultimately joins the Las Vegas Crime Lab as a Level-1 CSI.

"CBS asked us, 'Who's at the top of your dream list?' say CSI executive producers Carol Mendelsohn and Naren Shankar. "Without hesitation, we said Laurence Fishburne. He is a powerful and intense actor, with an incredible range. We had the opportunity to see Mr. Fishburne in 'Thurgood' on Broadway a few weeks ago, and it was a truly profound experience. The actor disappeared and Thurgood Marshall was standing there on the stage. Mr. Fishburne is also a talented writer and director. If you distill CSI down to its essence, it's a collaboration-and we are so looking forward to collaborating with Mr. Fishburne. For all of us at CSI, this is truly a dream."

"I am elated and delighted to be joining the cast of CSI," says Fishburne. "I look forward to a wonderful collaboration with the creative and talented team of such a successful and distinguished show," he added.