The Insider: Contributed by labib

William Petersen's 'CSI' life of crime to end

labib — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:20:03 GMT

LOS ANGELES - William Petersen is leaving "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," a move that might have fans of his brainy crimebuster Gil Grissom screaming bloody murder. Petersen has agreed to return for occasional guest appearances and will remain a "CSI" executive producer but his run as an original cast member will end this coming season, executive producers Carol Mendelsohn and Naren Shankar said Tuesday. The air date for his final episode, the season's 10th, has yet to be determined but probably will be at the beginning of 2009, the producers said. The series debuted in fall 2000. A number of familiar characters will return in the episodes building up to Grissom's departure, among them his former colleague and flame Sara Sidle, played by Jorja Fox; the Miniature Killer and sexy Lady Heather. "Who better to turn to when you're a scientist in crisis," Mendelsohn said jokingly of Heather (Melinda Clarke). The decision to leave was Petersen's, the producers said, declining further comment. A call to Petersen's publicist was not returned Tuesday. The actor had taken a break during the 2006-07 season to perform in a play, with Liev Schreiber stepping in as a visiting investigator. The long-running show remains key for CBS: "CSI" finished last season as the network's top-rated series, ranking No. 9 among all shows with an average weekly audience of 17 million. Spinoffs "CSI: Miami" and "CSI: New York" ranked 16th and 28th, respectively. "CSI" is ready to deal with Petersen's loss, its producers said. "Shows lucky enough to go this long inevitably have to deal with this kind of change," Shankar told The Associated Press. A new male investigator will join "CSI," a role that has yet to be cast. The producers were mum about specific plot points but said that Grissom will be reappraising his life after years of high-tech forensics investigations with the Las Vegas Police Department and after facing personal turmoil. "We're talking about a man who has suffered a great deal of loss recently... A man thinking about the next phase of his life," Shankar said. It's wrong to characterize it as a mid-life crisis, which summons the image of someone who buys a Porsche as a solution, Shankar and Mendelsohn said; Grissom is confronting far deeper issues. "It's Grissom in transition and Grissom asking 'Who am I?'" Mendelsohn said. Besides, Shankar said, Petersen wouldn't buy a sports car. "Billy would only buy a Prius," the producer said. Shankar and Mendelsohn vowed that cast changes won't change "CSI." "What makes shows go off the rails is they forget who they are. We're a crime-mystery-forensics drama" with a focus on exceptional cases, Shankar said. "Whoever comes in and joins the team after Grissom is going to be a different guy. But the nature of the show and what fans get out of it, that's not going to change," he said. Petersen, in his role as executive producer, viewed "CSI" as a show about the "quiet heroics" of working people, Shankar said. That will remain true, with no new soap-opera twists or "jumping into bed." ___ On the Net: http://www.cbs.com

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Barenaked Ladies singer arrested on drug charges

labib — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:15:33 GMT

FAYETTEVILLE, N.Y. - The singer and guitarist for the band Barenaked Ladies has been arrested on drug charges in upstate New York. Police say Steven Page was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance on Friday in the Syracuse area. Authorities say the arrest occurred at about 2 a.m. after police noticed a suspicious car with its driver's side door left open. They say they found Page and two women in a nearby apartment, along with cocaine and marijuana. Barenaked Ladies' manager Terry McBride confirmed the charge to the Post-Standard of Syracuse but declined to comment further. The singer, released after paying $10,000 bail, is due in court Thursday. Page helped form the band in 1988. The group, know for hits such as "One Week" and "Pinch Me" recently released their debut kids CD "Snacktime."

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Celebrity Style: Halle Berry

labib — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:04:51 GMT

Halle Berry's leather hobo bag looked so familiar; it's the one Gisele Bundchen carried in Versace's colorful Spring ads! The actress hung around scorching LA in an origami-detailed white sundress, red flip-flops, and those famous Tom Ford sunnies that are still going strong in the celebrity world. I love the ethnic effect her stacked bead bracelets provide.

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Smell Like Sexy Shirtless Beckham

labib — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:59:30 GMT

After Victoria and the boys visited SF to watch David unveil his hot new underwear ad, they continued to show their support by cheering him on at a game this weekend. Cruz was adorable wearing a deflated soccer ball as a hat while Romeo looked thrilled to watch his dad play. Unfortunately, across the country one fan and his mom are disappointed after a charity meet and greet with Becks was canceled and they weren't refunded their money. Too bad, though we doubt David had any role in the matter. Shirtless Becks is always a manjoyment moment and soon we will be able to smell like them too. The latest his and her "Signature" scent from the couple is now even more Posh than their last one. Figures.

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Fab Flash: Naomi Campbell Dodges Another Bullet

labib — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:52:04 GMT

Naomi Campbell managed to dodge prison time at her court hearing at West London's Uxbridge Magistrates Court. Campbell was charged with six offenses from her latest spitting hissy fit in April at British Airways after losing a piece of luggage; two of which included assaulting a police officer. Naomi's prosecutor interpreted the model's outburst stating, "Miss Campbell explained . . . the reason why [losing the bag] was so awful for her was that she was contracted to wear a particular Yves Saint Laurent outfit on a US chat show, and it was in the bag which hadn't been loaded." Campbell was sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid community service and $5,420 in fines. This is the second time that Campbell has been ordered to perform community service; the model served a similar sentence last year in New York.

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