Wednesday, August 13, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

COLUMN: Norm!

'C.S.I.' star's trailer becomes site of investigation during police hunt

William Petersen, who stars in "C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation," found out Tuesday that his trailer had been cordoned off Monday by Henderson police. COURTESY OF CBS

In a twist fit for Hollywood, the on-location site of the CBS hit series "C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation" became a crime scene investigation this week.

Henderson police, thinking they had found the trailer of the man wanted for kidnapping a doctor Monday, used crime scene tape to cordon off the trailer of "C.S.I." star William Petersen while searching for a former officer who later was killed by police.

"The suspect was believed to have been staying in a trailer that was in the area, so they taped it off," Henderson police spokesman Keith Paul said. It was taped for about an hour until they figured out the trailer had nothing to do with the suspect, Dave Freeman.

An ex-Las Vegas officer with a troubled past, Freeman was shot fatally when he pointed a handgun at officers, police said. He had kidnapped Henderson physician Sheldon Mike and was confronted by police at a Walgreens drive-through at 9305 S. Eastern Ave.

Police did not enter Petersen's trailer, which was parked at Green Valley Ranch, near the shooting. Filming was going on at the Boardwalk, a Strip casino with a fake roller coaster. He was not in any scenes Tuesday, and his trailer remained at Green Valley Ranch.

Petersen did not learn about the incident until Tuesday. "He was just amazed," said Kim Houser-Amaral, locations manager. When police isolated his trailer, "People thought, 'What did he do last night?' "

Petersen plays the character Gil Grissom, who is modeled after Las Vegas crime scene investigator Daniel Holstein, a 20-year police veteran in Las Vegas.

Hold up

A crime caper set in Las Vegas that was to be produced by Madonna's husband, Guy Ritchie, has been put on hold.

The New York Post reported Tuesday that Ritchie had "Revolver" rewritten, at Sony's request, to remove so many references to kabbalah, the form of Jewish mysticism embraced by Ritchie and Madonna.

Madonna is so obsessed with the religion that she reportedly demands "kabbalah water" in all her hotel rooms, the Post said.

"It made Sony very uncomfortable," one Hollywood source told Page Six, the Post's gossip column.

The film, based on Ritchie's original screenplay, was to be shot in Las Vegas. Several locations were scouted earlier this year, casino sources have said.

The plot has to do with a gambling phenom who has a game with a crime boss-casino owner who is supposed to win. But insults fly, and the good guy, Jake Green, ends up on a hit list.

The Scene and Heard

When Cirque du Soleil's "Zumanity" makes its much-anticipated debut Thursday at New York-New York, it will represent "the capstone on what has been a major reinvention" of the property, said Felix Rappaport, president and chief operating officer. "My mission when I came here three years ago was to reinvent the property, and I think we've done that with Rita Rudner, Coyote Ugly, ESPNZone and Nine Fine Irishmen." Coyote Ugly has become "per square foot the most successful bar in the U.S.," he said.

Sightings

Steve Harwell of Smash Mouth, dining Monday at Piero's with tall gal pal. Also at Piero's Monday: Wayne Newton, doing a midnight shoot for a Travel Channel piece. ..."C.S.I." cast members George Eads, who plays investigator Nick Stokes, and Paul Guilfoyle, who plays Capt. Jim Brass, and director Richard Lewis, dining Monday at Sushi Sake in Green Valley Ranch and later at a cabana. ... Clint Holmes, joining The Scintas at the Rio on Monday night to sing a jazzy rendition of "How Sweet It Is." ... Also in the audience: the Fab Four, the Hilton's headlining tribute group. ... Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, a longtime supporter of the Utah Shakespearean Festival, bringing in a group from Washington to see the plays in Cedar City.

The Punch Line

"I have more money than God, but not as much as Oprah." -- Roseanne Barr, quoted in Us Weekly.

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com.COURTESY OF CBS

William Petersen, who stars in "C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation," found out Tuesday that his trailer had been cordoned off Monday by Henderson police.