CSI Fanatic » Lauren Lee Smith

CSI: Vegas – One CSI Won’t Be Back in Season 10

Lynn — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:57:45 +0000

I want to go on record by saing that I personally liked the character of Riley Adams. She was a regular CSI on CSI: Vegas for only one season and I don’t think they gave her enough time for the audience to get into her character. I liked her snarky wit and the way she could think fast in a tough situation. But, alas, perhaps I was only one of the few…

But we are told that Riley won’t be a part of season 10 and that Jorja Fox, aka Sara Sidle will be back for at least five episodes. So, I guess this is some good news and some bad news. I guess we can’t have it all… Here’s what executive producer Naren Shankar says about the switch:

Executive producer Naren Shankar confirms to TV Guide Magazine that Lauren Lee Smith will not return as series regular, Riley Adams. “She’s not going to be back for Season 10,” he tells us exclusively. “It was an issue of how we were feeling the ensemble was working. When we brought in the character of Riley, it got lost in the shuffle a little bit because we had lost Warrick, we had lost Sara, and then in the middle of last season Grissom finally left. I think, as a result, the character never quite found its footing in terms of the rest of the gang.”

Riley’s absence will open up a slot for Sara Sidle, who is now ready to return to work after her severe burnout in Season 8. “She shows up because the team is understaffed,” says Shankar. “The undersheriff reaches out for a recommendation and Sara says, ‘I think that person might be me.’” [Source: TV Guide]

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The CSI: Vegas Stars Have Been Busy!!

Lynn — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:26:29 +0000

[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

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CSI: Vegas Episode 9.16 – “Turn, Turn, Turn” Spoiler & Press Release

Lynn — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 08:25:11 +0000

CSI: Vegas – Episode 9.16 – Turn, Turn, Turn
Air Date: March 5, 2009

It looks like this week, hottie Gearge Eads will be the focus of the case. I think he is terrific and look forward to him being highlighted more in this episode. It’s featuring also guest star Taylor Swift in her acting debut. She’ll play the daughter of the proprietors of a seedy motel. Apparently, the place has been the scene of three murders over a period of only a year…

Spoiler:
The CSI renaissance continues. In addition to the mesmerizing gravitas that comes with every word uttered by Laurence Fishburne, there seems to be something newly energetic happening with the show’s scriptwriting as well.

Country songbird Taylor Swift, with the estimable (and totally freakin’ fine) George Eads, is guesting in an upcoming ep wherein the CSIs look into “three separate murder investigations that all took place at the same establishment over the course of a year.” Taylor plays the teenage daughter of the (Bates?) motel owner. Intriguing, no? (FYI, the Taylor Swift ep airs March 5 at 9 p.m. on CBS.)

It seems that perhaps the show that reinvented the procedural is now reinventing itself…Are you liking the current iteration of CSI? Post in the comments. [Source: EW]

Press Release:
NICK PIECES TOGETHER THREE SEPARATE CASES THAT OCCURRED AT THE SAME MOTEL DURING THE COURSE OF ONE YEAR, ON “CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION,” THURSDAY, MARCH 5

Taylor Swift, The Best-Selling Musical Artist of 2008, Guest Stars As Haley Jones

“Turn, Turn, Turn” – When the CSIs are called to a murder scene at a familiar motel, Nick is thrown for a loop as he pieces together three separate murder investigations that all took place at the same establishment over the course of a year, on CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, Thursday, March 5 (9:00-10:01 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Taylor Swift guest stars as Haley Jones, a teenaged girl whose family runs the seedy Vegas motel.

SERIES REGULARS:
Dr. Raymond Langston…… Laurence Fishburne
Catherine Willows………….. Marg Helgenberger
Nick Stokes………………………….. George Eads
Captain Jim Brass………………….. Paul Guilfoyle
Greg Sanders………………………… Eric Szmanda
Dr. Robbins……………………. Robert David Hall
David Phillips……………………….. David Berman
Hodges………………………….. Wallace Langham
Wendy Simms…………………………… Liz Vassey
Riley Adams……………………. Lauren Lee Smith

RECURRING CAST:
Archie Johnson………………………… Archie Kao

GUEST CAST:
Haley Jones……………………………. Taylor Swift
Det. Vartann……………………………. Alex Carter
Mandy Webster……………….. Sheeri Rappaport
Henry Andrews……………………….. Jon Wellner
Larry Mitchell……………………….. Larry Mitchell
Bree Lindale……………….. Alessandra Torresani
Wiry Man…………………………… Stephen Heath
Mark Jones………………………… Geoffrey Blake
Nicole Jones………………………………. Lisa Darr
Zack Fenish………………………….. Colton James
Gavin Fenish……………………….. John D’Aquino
Dave Henkel……………………… Michael Trevino
Dale Durney……………………………… Kirk Bovill
Mrs. Leigh Lindale……………. Suzanne Friedline
Old Man……………………………….. Dave Florek
Frank Carrow………………………. Fredric Lehne
Tanya Carrow……………………….. Miriam Drew

WRITTEN BY: Tom Mularz
DIRECTED BY: Richard J. Lewis [Source: CBS]

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CSI: Vegas – What’s Up With Riley?

Lynn — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 08:18:13 +0000

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]

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CSI: Vegas Episode 9.15 – “Kill Me If You Can” Press Release

Lynn — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 08:03:03 +0000

Episode 9.15 – Kill Me If You Can
Air Date: February 26, 2009

These are always interesting episodes, when they start with what seems to be three different cases, but later realize they are all connected. As far as I can tell, no show anywhere does this as well as CSI: Vegas. The team heads to separate crime scenes and ends up having to put their heads together to solve them all. I’m really looking forward to this one.

Press Release:
THE CSI TEAM WORKS THREE SEPARATE CASES IN ONE NIGHT THAT FORENSICS REVEALS SHARE A COMMON LINK, ON “CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION,” THURSDAY, FEB. 26

John Schneider (”Dukes of Hazzard,” “Smallville”)

And Michael Weston (”House”) Guest Stars

“Kill Me If You Can” – The CSIs are called to three different crime scenes in one night that are seemingly unrelated, but each case’s forensic evidence reveals a common link, on CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, Thursday, Feb. 26 (9:00-10:01 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

RECURRING CAST:
Archie Johnson………………………… Archie Kao

GUEST CAST:
Mickey Ross………………………. John Schneider
Ryan/Tripp/Carsten…………….. Michael Weston
Det. Vartann……………………………. Alex Carter
Mandy Webster……………….. Sheeri Rappaport
Det. Cavaliere………………………….. Jose Zuniga
Darcy Farrell………………………… Wendy Glenn
Jena Mackin………………………. Allison McAtee
Jeffrey Luvan…………………… William Lee Scott
Gareth Morton……………………… Tom O’Keefe
Motel Maid……………………. Yolanda Snowball
Pool Guy……………………………………. J.R. Nutt
Dr. Paul Anton……………………… John Aylward
Hilda Morton……………………….. Diane Salinger

TELEPLAY BY: Allen MacDonald
STORY BY: Bradley Thompson and David Weddle [Source: CBS]

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CSI: Vegas Episode 9.14 – “Miscarriage Of Justice” Press Release

Lynn — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 08:36:58 +0000

Episode 9.14 – Miscarriage Of Justice
Air Date: February 19. 2009

Personally, I am a huge fan of Laurence Fishburne and have been for years. So it probably comes as no surprise to you that I like the fact that the Langston character is getting to be a part of every episode of CSI: Vegas these days. Fishburne is perfect for the part he’s playing and brings his own touch to the show. It looks like he’ll be pretty busy in this episode where new evidence causes the team to head back to the lab to reopen a case. I love it!

Press Release:
WHILE LANGSTON TESTIFIES AT THE TRIAL OF A RESPECTED CONGRESSMAN, NEW EVIDENCE COMES TO LIGHT THAT THROWS THE CASE INTO JEOPARDY, ON “CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION,” THURSDAY, FEB. 19

“Miscarriage of Justice” – While Langston testifies in the trial of a respected Congressman, new evidence sends the CSIs back to the lab to reopen the investigation, on CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, Thursday, Feb. 19 (9:00-10:01 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

GUEST CAST:
Henry Andrews……………………….. Jon Wellner
A.D.A. Hardt………………………. Kathleen York
Mrs. Griffin……………………… Melinda McGraw
Defense Attorney Whitten……….. Miguel Ferrer
Congressman Griffin………………. David Starzyk
Judge Himmel…………… Vanessa Bell Calloway
Dominic Humphreys………………… Steve Kazee
Amber Jones………………….. Elizabeth Chomko
Tommy Ruby…………………… Clayne Crawford
Officer…………………………….. Tomiko Martinez
Matty Moore……………………… Christa B. Allen
Melissa Humphreys………………… Amy Stewart
Officer Mitchell…………………….. Larry Mitchell
Dr. Stewart……………………………. Rick Worthy
Reporter #1……………………. Natasha M. Dixon
Reporter #2…………………….. Josie Di Vincenzo

WRITTEN BY: Richard Catalani and Jacqueline Hoyt
DIRECTED BY: Louis Milito [Source: CBS]

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CSI: Vegas Episode 9.13 ‘Deep Fried and Minty Fresh’ Preview & Press Release

Lynn — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 22:40:19 +0000

Episode 9.13 – Deep Fried and Minty Fresh
Air Date: February 12, 2009

What does fried chicken oil and toothpaste have to do with the Las Vegas Crime Lab? I guess we’ll just have to watch CSI: Vegas on Thursday to find out!

In this spoiler clip, we see a fast food restaurant that gets its drums of used cooking oil stolen, a guy who is making ethanol in his garage, a New Age type of girl and some crazy autopsy findings. Yep. It looks like a really good episode coming up on CSI!

[video source]

Press Release:
THE CSI TEAM FACES A FORENSICS NIGHTMARE WHEN A DEATH AT A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT LEAVES THE EVIDENCE COVERED IN COOKING OIL, ON “CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION,” THURSDAY, FEB. 12

“Deep Fried and Minty Fresh” – Langston and Nick are called to investigate a murder at a fast food restaurant and have quite a task ahead of them when they discover that much of the evidence is coated in cooking oil, on CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, Thursday, Feb. 12 (9:00-10:01 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

GUEST CAST:
Archie Johnson………………………… Archie Kao
Det. Vartann……………………………. Alex Carter
Mandy Webster……………….. Sheeri Rappaport
Henry Andrews……………………….. Jon Wellner
Liz Martin/Rosa Gonzles……………………. Danielle Alonso
Max Stanton………………………. Drew Tyler Bell
Robert “Bob” Graham…………………. Pat Asanti
Kiwi Long………………………………. Megan Hilty
Scott Tucker……………………… Dameon Clarke
Paramedic………………………. Jeffrey D. Stevens
Melinda Tucker……………………. Hollie Stenson
Marge………………………………….. Patricia Forte
Jackson…………………………………….. Nik Tyler
Jemma……………………………… Allison Scagliotti
Gary Comstock……………………… Marc Joseph
Silver…………………………… Alexandra Krosney
Timothy Rand…………………………….. John Ales

WRITTEN BY: Corinne Marrinan and Sarah Goldfinger
DIRECTED BY: Alec Smight [Source: CBS]

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William Petersen Honored With a Star on the Walk of Fame

Lynn — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 04:09:26 +0000

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]

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CSI: Vegas – Episode 9.12 “Disarmed and Dangerous” Press Release

Lynn — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:19:49 +0000

CSI: Vegas – Episode 9.12 – Disarmed and Dangerous
Air Date: January 29, 2009

The CSIs always get especially serious when they are on the trail of a cop-killer. And an FBI agent is the same as a cop in most people’s eyes. This one could get pretty intense! Sounds great!

Press Release:
THE CSI TEAM INVESTIGATES THE CASE OF AN UNDERCOVER FBI AGENT WHO IS FOUND BRUTALLY MURDERED, ON “CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION,” THURSDAY, JAN. 29

“Disarmed & Dangerous” – When an FBI agent who was working undercover is found brutally murdered, the CSI team is called in to assist the victim’s partner in finding the killer, on CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, Thursday, Jan. 29 (9:00-10:01 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

SERIES REGULARS:
Catherine Willows………….. Marg Helgenberger
Dr. Raymond Langston…… Laurence Fishburne
Nick Stokes………………………….. George Eads
Captain Jim Brass………………….. Paul Guilfoyle
Greg Sanders………………………… Eric Szmanda
Dr. Robbins……………………. Robert David Hall
David Phillips……………………….. David Berman
Hodges………………………….. Wallace Langham
Wendy Simms…………………………… Liz Vassey
Riley Adams……………………. Lauren Lee Smith

GUEST CAST:
Henry Andrews……………………….. Jon Wellner
Billy Ray Hatford…………………… Kurt Caceres
Stoner Dude…………………………… Vince Vieluf
Miles………………………………….. Frank Whaley
Emma/Amanda………………… Paula Malcomson
Vinnie Mingus…………………….. Matthew Wiese
Howard Velco………………………… Jamie Harris
Fight Doctor……………………………. Ric Sarabia
Rio……………………………. Valentina De Angelis
FBI Agent Paul Briggs………………. Alex Skuby
Randy…………………………….. Keith Szarabajka
Officer Mitchell…………………….. Larry Mitchell
Dispatch Cop………………………. Hallie Lambert
Paula Francis…………………………. Paula Francis

WRITTEN BY: Dustin Lee Abraham and Evan Dunsky
DIRECTED BY: Kenneth Fink [Source: CBS]

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CSI: Vegas – Episode 9.11 “The Grave Shift” Spoiler

Lynn — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 23:08:15 +0000

CSI: Vegas – Episode 9.11 – The Grave Shift
Air Date: January 22, 2009

If you check the list of cast members, there’s a sad omission…William Petersen is no longer listed as a regular, starting with this episode. *sigh* I, for one, will miss him on the show. But on the bright side, I’ve been a fan of Laurence Fishburne for many years, so I’m thrilled that he’s a part of the cast now. I guess that change is always difficult…

Press Release:
DR. LANGSTON FACES HIS FIRST DAY ON THE JOB AS A FULL-FLEDGED CSI, ON “CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION,” THURSDAY, JAN. 22

“The Grave Shift” – The first day on the job for Dr. Langston turns from bad to worse when a simple burglary case quickly overlaps with a complicated arson and homicide case, on CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, Thursday, Jan. 22 (9:00-10:01 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

RECURRING CAST:
Conrad Ecklie………………………….. Marc Vann
Archie Johnson………………………… Archie Kao

GUEST CAST:
Paulla Kingsley……………………. Michelle Clunie
Mr. Jim Hilliard………………….. Darren Burrows
Diane Palento……………………… Amy Hathaway
Officer Akers………………………… Larry Sullivan
Carla Banks………………………….. Victoria Pratt
Richard Palento………………….. Anthony Starke
Alex Palento…………………………….. K’Sun Ray
Josh Barston………………………. Michael Cudlitz
Mrs. Hilliard…………………………….. Lisa Arturo

WRITTEN BY: David Weddle & Bradley Thompson
DIRECTED BY: Richard J. Lewis [Source: CBS]

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