According to Variety, the annual Monte Carlo TV Festival begins on Sunday in Monaco. And just like in years past, two fo the CSI series will compete for the title of most-watched TV drama, worldwide.

[Photo: Newscom]

This year, CSI: Vegas, CSI: Miami & House MD will go head to head for the title. The nominations were chosen by the Producers’ Guld of America and one of them will bring home the title this year. I’ll keep you posted.

The fest has had to develop a new identity since it abandoned its market in 2001. CEO David Tomatis said Tuesday that it now serves as a networking event for producers and talent; a platform for international productions in its six competitive sections; and an opportunity for some 350 invited journos, mostly from Europe, to meet U.S. talent.

As a fan of all three of the CSI series, I see it as a 2 out of 3 chance of winning. Those are great odds!!

[Photo: newscom.com]

That’s right! According to TV Guide, there’s a CSI movie in the works! And even better news is that William Petersen will return to play Gil Grissom in it. Here’s a quote from William about the movie:

“Yes, there will be a movie,” Petersen told Britain’s Radio Times. Although he is sure fans might be “a little trepidatious,” Petersen promises the move to the big screen will not be done haphazardly.

“Usually people leave it till a series has finished —they did that with The X-Files and Sex and the City,” Petersen said. “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,” Petersen said. “And we can’t wait for CSI to end or Grissom will be about 90.”

So there you have it, Grissom fans and CSI: Vegas fans! This is truly cause for celebration!

Here are some photos of William Petersen, who plyed CSI: Vegas’ Gil Grissom for over 8 seasons. He and his wife were photographed when they attended the International Digital Emmys at MIPTV. MIPTV is the world’s largest audiovisual entertainment trade show and was held in Cannes.

I think it’s cool that he seems to have stopped coloring his hair as I’m sure he was told to do for the character. He looks terrific no matter what. But I’m sure he’s having fun now that the long production days are behind him. I’m happy for him, even though I miss him on the show.

[Photo: Pacific Coast News]

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Everyone join with me in sending birthday wishes to CSI: Vegas star William Petersen. Today is his 56th birthday.

[Photo: image newscom.com]

…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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On Tuesday, William Petersen, aka Gil Grissom was honored with his own star on the Walk of Fame. For those of you who want to see it, it’s located in front of Musso’s & Franks Restaurant in Los Angeles.

And nearly all of his fellow CSI: Vegas co-stars were there to celebrate the occasion with him. I don’t see Lauren Lee Smith, Wallace Langham, Paul Guilfoyle or Gary Dourdan, But Robert David Hall, David Berman, Liz Vassey, George Eads, Jorja Fox, Eric Szmanda, Marg Helgenberger and Archie Kao all were there.

Here are some cute photos of them at the event, including one where Petersen dusted the star for fingerprints! LOL!

[Photo: newscom.com]

[Photo: newscom.com]

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Here’s a sneak peek at one of the touching scenes from tonight’s episode of CSI: Vegas. If this is any indication of how emotional it’s going to be, get the tissues ready!

In this scene, Grissom explains a bit to Nick about forensic astronomy (very cool concept!) and then Nick tells him how he values all the things he’s learned from Grissom. It’s a great scene where they both seem to get emotional, but just like macho guys often do, they try to pretend it doesn’t.

CBS just relased this little clip of William Petersen talking about what it’s like to leave the show after 8 and a half years. He says that all the things Grissom is going to go through on screen tonight are the same things he’s going through in real life. Grissom is leaving the people and the job he’s grown to love, and so is Petersen. It really seems to be bitter sweet for him. And it make me wonder why he’s leaving the show if he loves it so much…

Tonight is Grissom’s last episode as a regular CSI: Vegas cast member. If you are like me, you’ll need to have a box of tissues handy for the show. (I’m such a sap!)

[Photo: Bauer-Griffin]

TV Guide just published an interesting article about some of the ways that CSI: Vegas will change without William Petersen in front of the camera. Of course, executive director Carol Mendelsohn has promised that William Petersen will still appear, in a future episode.

“Grissom will come back in an organic way, to visit or be on a case with the people that are his family,” she said.

Joked Laurence Fishburne: “Billy said he would be back to make sure I didn’t burn the joint down.”

We also learn that Fishburne’s character on the show was previously supposed to have a genetic anomaly that is common among serial killers, but that plan has changed:

“Very early research on the character had indicated that there was a syndrome that was sort of more prevalent in serial killers,” ececutive producer Naren Shankar said. “That turned out not to be the case.”

That’s a shame, actually. I would have enjoyed seeing such a great actor as Fishburne take on such a personal delimma on the show…

It’s also been announced that singer Taylor Swift will be a guest star on a future episode. She’s never acted before, so it’ll be intersting to see how she does in this new arena. According to reports, she’ll play the teenage daughter of parents who own a hotel.

And here’s the 8th and the 9th season so far for Grissom. I know he’s leaving the show next week, but now I’m getting sad about it. What are your thoughts about William Petersen leaving CSI? Which of Grissom’s storylines have been the most meaningful for you? Leave a comment and let us know!

Grissom & Nick (George Eads) discover the car that Sara (Jorja Fox) was trapped under in the hot Las Vegas desert.
[Photo: Bill Inoshita/CBS ©2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.]

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