Monday, July 19, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

SHOOTING STARS: 'CSI' visit delayed as network officials make changes

Jorja Fox George Eads

It's the kind of case you'd see on "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." (Or, perhaps, the show that follows it on CBS' Thursday night schedule: "Without a Trace.")

To be specific: "CSI's" disappearance from this week's Las Vegas location schedule.

Until last Thursday, TV's top-rated drama was scheduled to shoot this week at a variety of downtown locations, from the Fremont Street Experience to a Main Street motel.

But, on Thursday, as production started on the show's fifth season, heads rolled at "CSI" when network officials fired regulars George Eads and Jorja Fox (who played investigators Nick Stokes and Sara Sidle, respectively), citing breach of contract.

A salary dispute reportedly touched off the firings. CBS had no official comment, but the show business bible Daily Variety reported that the two actors were axed after seeking raises.

Ironically, Thursday was the day "CSI" received four Emmy nominations, including one for outstanding drama series. (Another Vegas-connected series, Showtime's "Penn & Teller: Bullshit!" scored two Emmy nominations, including one for outstanding reality program.)

Thursday was also the day when word hit Las Vegas than the show wouldn't be making this week's planned Vegas location trek.

Late Thursday afternoon, network officials informed the Metropolitan Police Department's special events detail that "CSI" wouldn't be shooting in Las Vegas this week as planned.

That meant Las Vegas police had to notify officers scheduled to work the "CSI" shoot -- six to eight per filming site -- regarding the cancellation.

"With filming, they're always like that," according to one officer who asked not to be quoted by name. "You never know until they actually get here whether they're really going to do what they say they're going to do."

Local casting director Ray Favero also got the call Thursday that six Las Vegas-based actors being considered for roles during "CSI's" upcoming visit wouldn't be working this week after all.

Network officials also canceled an extras casting call scheduled Saturday morning at CBS Television City inside the MGM Grand.

As for when "CSI" might reschedule its Vegas trip, "they told me that they were going to come back in a month or so, but it was very iffy," notes Nancy Hancock, Clark County film administrator.

"They were nebulous about definite start dates," adds another source close to the production. "This was supposed to be for the season opener. They said they might use the same storyline later."

Like NBC's "Las Vegas," which is returning for its second season, "CSI" is set in Las Vegas but films primarily in Southern California, making a few annual location trips here to capture local color.

Two other set-in-Vegas shows, CBS' "Dr. Vegas" and NBC's animated "Father of the Pride," join the prime-time lineup this fall.

Despite "CSI's" disappearing act, a few other projects are expected to film in town this week.

A documentary titled "Demolition Dynasty," for National Geographic Television, will focus on the rise and fall -- via implosion -- of a variety of casinos, exploring Vegas' constantly evolving skyline.

Among the anticipated locations: The Venetian (built on the site of the legendary Sands), Bellagio (where the equally legendary Dunes once stood) and the Aladdin, which replaced the casino's previously imploded incarnation of the same name.

Las Vegas-based Vision Dynamics Entertainment, meanwhile, continues production on its independent feature "The Indie-Pendant," moving to the roof of the Greek Isles casino for the movie's opening scene: a hostage standoff complete with make-believe gunplay.

And local infomercial maven Ben Kalb concludes a new production this week, this one touting a personal sauna belt.

In addition to work at two local residences this week, Kalb reports, the four-day Las Vegas shoot included locations at Action Sound Stage and Destination Laguna Spa, along with two days of filming in Las Vegas. Infomercial veterans Jordan Adams and Lynda Elkin host.