William L. Petersen at the 61st Annual Golden Globes. Photo: Newscom.

William L. Petersen will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, next year. The CSI: Vegas star is definitely an icon of the new millenium, with his good looks and dead pan delivery. His work on the epic procedural series has led to a broad appeal, and certainly the right to his place on the world famous sidewalk.

The other recipients represent a motley crue, indeed, including the likes of Robert Downey Jr.; Hugh Jackman; William H. Macy; Cameron Diaz; Tim Burton; Kyra Sedgwick; John Stamos; Kenny “Baby Face” Edmonds; Dave Koz; Harry Shearer of Saturday Night Live, KCRW, and The Simpsons fame; musical artists The Miracles, Rush, Shakira, and, finally, The Village People.

Notably, legendary, 76-year-old chimpanzee actor, Cheeta, was once again left off the list.

The purpose of this 24-hour Blog-a-thon is to bring in support for the Actors’ Fund. You can help by making a donation here.

Episode 8.15 - Two and a Half Deaths
Air Date: 8 May 2008

Loads of fun, this episode was written by the people who bring us Two and a Half Men. It’s also quite funny, and packed with guest stars, including Diedrich Bader (Office Space, Drew Carey Show), Katy Sagal, and even Jon Cryer, Charlie Sheen, and Angus T. Jones. This is also a good example of a couple different shades of meta-fiction –various types of fiction portrayed within a work of fiction, or references to fiction. For the most part, I found the action to be funnier than the dialog.

Annabelle Fundt, a feisty, mean comedic star, is bitching at her show’s creator, and everyone else involved. The next morning, she’s dead on her hotel room floor, with a blow to the head, and a rubber chicken stuffed into her mouth. The team estimates time of death around midnight. The creator tells Brass that the rest of the cast and crew returned to LA, right after rap. Annabelle insisted that he stay behind, because she doesn’t travel at night.

Annabelle’s former driver, then writer, then producer, rushes into the hotel room, and tells the team that he and Annabelle married two days earlier. [Everybody! Suspect time.] Annabelle didn’t like to look at him after sex, so they slept in separate rooms.

Mr. Little: [in the crime lab corridor] Beautiful people doing high tech police work. There might be a series in this.
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This episode of CSI: Vegas was incredible! It’s hard to beat the fun packed into this hour –or 42 minutes. Do you agree?

• Are there not enough lawsuits involving Tasers?
• Why did they change “thiocyanate” to “thiocyte”? I’m mystified by this.
• What did you think about all that green blood? Is that feasible? Did they sufficiently justify the sulfur/drug idea?
• Did you just love the way they inserted (with no explanation) Adam & Jamie from Mythbusters into the lab when they were using Mythbuster-esque test tactics? How fun was that?
• How campy was this episode? Did you love it, as I did?
• Cyanide-sniffers?
• Killer ground squirrels?
• What are your thoughts about Grissom’s explanation of how everything was connected by String Theory? Any physics professors out there? We’d love to hear your opinions!!

Episode 8.15 - The Theory of Everything
Air Date: May 1, 2008

This episode was good CSI fair, with some interesting twists, stupid suspects, and some classic smart talk –both kinds. Grissom and the team investigate a case involving a deer that has been shot with an crossbolt, potentially liquored up, and dressed up for dancing on the town.

Brass: Okay, so you got a DUI, resisting arrest, several new and unique wildlife violations. You’re in a truckload of trouble, Kyle.
Kyle: I… I… I found her like that.
Brass: In a cocktail dress?
Kyle: [laughs] I didn’t put no dress on her. I was taking her to the vet.
Brass: Sure it wasn’t a nightclub?

After Brass and Stokes question Kyle about the deer, and give him a breathalizer test, Kyle bolts out the door and down the corridor. After an officer had already sprayed Kyle –to no avail- with pepper spray, Brass, Stokes, and an officer come out of an elevator. Brass gives the order to “light him up”, and the officer shoots Kyle with his Taser. The charge, though, ignites the suspect, enveloping him in flames, and killing him.
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