[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

[Photo: newscom.com]

Matt Mitovich at TV Guide sat down to talk to the newest CSI: Vegas star, Laurence Fishburne. He’s such an incredible actor that watching him in this interview, you can definitely see that he’s not like his character, Ray Langston. I do like his respect for the fellow cast members and for actual CSIs. It says a lot about him as a person.

In this clip, he tells about how Langston will begin to show an agressive tendency that we haven’t seen just yet. After they ditched the idea of him having a genetic predisposition to being a serial killer, thank goodness they kept the idea of a darker side to the Langston character. I think it will add quite a lot of interest to the show.

When asked if Fishburne thinks the character could get too dark, he answered, “With CSI, you can never worry about being too dark…. I’m anxious to see where it goes.” Check this out:

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]

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.

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:
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]

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.

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

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]

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!

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.

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

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]

Episode 9.12 - Disarmed & Dangerous
Air Date: January 29, 2009

Here’s a video clip spoiler for tonight’s episode of CSI: Vegas. In it, Willows and Langston are investigating a crime scene with a dismembered FBI agent. Willows tries to help Langston remember that it’s important not to think ahead of the evidence. It’s a grisly crime scene, but the show looks like another great one!!

I know that CSI’s newest cast member, Laurence Fishburne usually plays the tough guys in movies, but I found some photos that not only show he has a softer side, but just may make you like him more than ever.

These photos were taken of him when he went shopping recently in the farmer’s market. He had a gruff look on his face (I half expect him to start explaining The Matrix…), but how mean can a man be when he’s wearing a “Tigger” sweatshirt? That’s right. The front of his sweatshirt says Tigger and the back has a picture of the character (3rd photo).

I love it! And if you’re like me, I love when a man isn’t afraid to show his softer side. Besides, who doesn’t love Tigger?

[Photo: Pacific Coast News]

[Photo: Pacific Coast News]

Read more

[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.

Last night, CSI:Vegas‘ newset cast member, Laurence Fishburne, was one of the presenters at the Golden Globe Awards. He looked very handsome and polished at the event…and who knew how beautiful his wife was? WOW!

[Photo: newscom.com]

[Photo: newscom.com]