[Photo: Newscom]

[Photo: Newscom]

Well, it’s the hiatus between shooting the seasons of CSI: Vegas and the show’s stars have a lot going on. Even though they are not shooting CSI, they are often still working on other projects.

Also, when Laurence Fishburne was announced as a new cast member for the show, so many of us were incredibly excited because we’ve seen him in many, many movies before and know that he’s a mega-star. If you wonder what else he’s been in, be sure to check him out on IMDb sometime. But the things he has in the works right now are amazing, with a prime-time series too.

Here are all the films that CSI cast members have in the works, I know you’ll want to keep an eye out for them.

Laurence Fishburne:

• Fellini Black & White (in development)
• A Landlord’s Tale (in development)
• Prey (in development)
• The Last Full Measure (2010) (in production) …. Harold Hunter
• 4Chosen (2011) (pre-production) …. Ralph Menar
• Red Soil (2009) (pre-production) …. Officer Francis Tompson
• Armored (2009/I) (completed) …. Baines
  … aka Armoured (Australia)
• Black Water Transit (2009) (completed) …. Jack

Marg Helgenberger:

• Conan: Red Nails (2009) (V) (in production) (voice) …. Princess Tascela

Lauren Lee Smith:

• Can Openers (2009) (TV) (completed) …. Susan
• Anatomy of Hope (2009) (TV) (completed) …. Cynthia Morgan
• Helen (2009) …. Mathilda

Archie Kao:

• The People I’ve Slept With (2009) (post-production) …. Jefferson
• Thunder Geniuses (2009) (post-production) …. Bruce

Gary Dourdan:

• The Magnificent Cooly-T (2009) (completed) …. Dominick

…a crime scene-decorated cake, that is!

Check out these fun photos of the cast & crew of CSI: Vegas when they celebrated their 200th episode yesterday on the lot at Universal Studios. The cake is hilarious! It’s a crime scene, complete with a chalk-body marking, crime scene tape and a magnifying glass. I love it!! It’s absolutely the most appropriate cake for the occasion.

And it looks like everyone except Gary Dourdan & Jorja Fox were there to celebrate too. Check out the photo with Laurence Fishburne, William Petersen, Marg Helgenberger, Paul Guilfoyle, Liz Vassey, George Eads, Eric Szmana, Lauren Lee Smith, Archie Kao, David Berman & Robert David Hall.

[Photo: newscom.com]

[Photo: newscom.com]

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And why haven’t we seen more of the new CSI Riley Adams, aka Lauren Lee Smith? She’s a terrific character and brings some really fun attitude to the show. I’ve been wondering that and now, thank goodness, TV Guide has answered the question.

Spoiler:
Why is Lauren Lee Smith getting so little face time in the latest CSI episodes? — Norman

TIM: She’ll get more, and soon. The lovely Canadian told us on the set this week that we’ll soon see why her character, Riley Adams, “seems to have a chip on her shoulder.” Apparently someone close to Riley was a victim of a crime, and she hasn’t quite worked through her feelings — except by pouring them into her work. [Source: TV Guide]

In this preview clip of CSI: Vegas episode 19 Down, we see Gil Grissom, played by William Petersen, announce that he’ll be leaving the team. What an emotional thing for all of us who have loved the show since the beginning. Grissom has been the epitome of the perfect CSI: leader. It will be hard to see him go…

CSI: Vegas’ newest cast member, Lauren Lee Smith, who plays the feisty Riley Adams was photographed at the recent Screamfest Horror Film Festival Opening Night party held at The Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. I know that her character has received mixed reviews, but I like her.

[Photo: courtesy of newscom.com]

[Photo: courtesy of newscom.com]

Now that we’ve had a chance to see Lauren Lee Smith in action as CSI Riley Adams, we know that she brings a new dynamic to an already established team. She comes to the cast as a fresh face and a whole new, quirky character. Some people say that they don’t like the character, and a lot of us do. But no matter which side of the issue we fall on, I think this interview with Lauren Lee Smith might offer a bit more insight into the character and what she is intended to do as part of the show.

CSI: Vegas - Episode 9.09 - 19 Down
Air Date: December 11, 2008

This is the episode where we get to meet new cast member Laurence Fishburne. His character’s name is Dr. Raymond Langston. And, sadly, it’s the next-to-last episode with William Petersen. If you like spoilers, be sure to click on “Read More”.

(Click on “Read More” for the scoop.)
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Episode 9.07 - Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda
Air Date: November 20, 2008

It looks like a murderer from a decade-old case may be at it again…
(Click on “Read More” for the scoop.)
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A while back, I let you know to expect a new CSI called Riley Adams to join the team. She’s played by Lauren Lee Smith and this is a little teaser clip to give us an idea of what her character will be like. I think she may be a good addition to the team. What do you think?

I know, I’m still trying to digest the news that William Petersen is leaving the cast mid-season. So now I guess it’s important to find out how the writers & producers plan to handle all the big changes to CSI: Vegas’ cast in season 9.

Executive Producer for the show, Carol Mendelsohn, told the plans for the show to Michael Ausiello over at EW.com. Last season, Sara (Jorja Fox) left the show, then the finale saw the brutal shooting of Warrick (Gary Dourdan.) Now with Grissom (William Petersen) leaving, they have a lot of changes in store for us! Here’s the run-down of what we will need to expect in CSI season 9:

• We’ve already been told that Jorja Fox will be back for the season premiere, but now we find out that she will be in several of season 9’s episodes. I’ll report the details to you as they are released.
• Gary Dourdan will be back for the premiere only. According to Mendelsohn, “We’re not saying whether or not Warrick lives or dies, but we will say that the premiere may be the last time our loyal fans see the entire original CSI cast together.”
• Lauren Lee Smith (The L Word) joins the cast in the third episode as new CSI Riley Adams. Carol Mendelsohn: “She has a very distinct personality… a very wry sense of humor. She doesn’t take herself too seriously.” Executive producer Naren Shankar: “This is a person who, unlike the rest of our gang, has not had Grissom as a mentor. So there’s a very different relationship between Riley and Grissom.”
• A new male CSI, a professor of pathology will enter the cast sometime during the season. We don’t know the actor who will play this Grissom replacement yet, but the show has considered the likes of John Malkovich and Laurence Fishburne. This CSI may not be a supervisor like Grissom, but will fill the hole in the cast left by him. The character is said to also have “a very rare genetic abnormality,” whatever that means.
• Liz Vassey (lab rat Wendy) and David Berman (coroner David) will become regulars each week and Hodges (Wallace Langham) will have a more integral part in the cast.
• Somehow, the Miniature Killer will make another appearance and Grissom will be involved with that. (Very cool!)

I’m worried about the future of the show, but know that major cast changes were inevitable at some point. Hopefully, the integrity of the show will remain and we will come to love the new CSI as much as before. But don’t worry, as more information is released, I’ll report it here.

[Photo: © CTV]