Jorja stays at CSI read about it HERE
It's been two years since Jorja Fox left the grimy Las Vegas crime scenes of 'CSI' for sun, surf and soul searching. But now she's set to return as Sara Sidle for a much anticipated five-episode arc on the series' 10th season (premiering Sept. 24 on CBS). There's wild speculation around the circumstances of her visit -- Is another CSI in danger? Are Sara and Grissom still together? -- and AOL TV grilled her mercilessly for the juicy details.
In our exclusive interview, Fox, phoning from a hammock on the shores of Santa Monica, was thrilled to dish -- about, among other things, if she'll ever return to 'CSI' full time, her reaction to some of George Eads' less flattering comments and her outrageous guest spot on 'Drop Dead Diva' as a (gasp!) housewife. -- By Sandy Deane
Why exactly does Sara come back to Vegas?
Well, we're hoping to reveal a lot of that in the premiere, so I really can't talk too much about it. I think that within the context of the story that 'CSI' had a rough year last year. They lost a close friend and a co-worker [in Warrick], and then the character of Grissom decides to go off into the blue yonder. They had two new members of their team, and it was just sort of a hard year for those characters. I think it's true that Grissom and Sara have kept in touch with those guys, and Sara comes back to see if she can help out.
Can you tell us if Sara and Grissom are still together?
I cannot. That's going to have to be a surprise.
In a poll we ran, 14 percent of the people said that they think something happened to Grissom and that Sara needs the CSI's help.
You know what I love? I love that folks care enough to talk about why Sara's actually returning. Even all along with the Sara-Grissom storyline, there's been a lot of people that really hate it. They hate the storyline, they wish it would go away. But, for me, I like to think it's a compliment that people still care enough to hate it.
Did you seek to return to the show or did the show contact you?
When I left the show two years ago ... the last thing I said to Carol Mendelsohn, the showrunner of 'CSI,' was "I'd love to visit!" [laughs]. Last year I was there for four shows -- under very sad circumstances for the most part. Gary Dourdan had decided that he was leaving the show ... We all miss him very much and we'll continue to do so. And then I knew, sort of in the back of my head that William Petersen was on his way out and that there was a good chance I would be involved in his exit. So this time around it came as a complete and utter surprise; I had no idea that they'd be calling, and I was thrilled. I'm having a blast.
Is it just five episodes or is there any chance you're going to hang on for much longer?
What we had set up when I came back was that I would visit for five shows, so that's kind of what we're doing right now. I think everybody's sort of taking things day by day ... I would have to say the premiere episode is truly thrilling and anybody who is a fan will not be disappointed by the season premiere. It blew me away, I read the first page and I was like "Oh, my gosh, they've done it again."
So you're not closing the door on a permanent return to 'CSI'?
No. I would absolutely never close the door on that, but I do think that now it's set up as a visit.
Have you watched 'CSI' since you left?
Yeah, and I caught up a bunch. It's sort of more intermittently than I had in the past. I really thought this season was amazing last year. I loved Laurence Fishburne; I loved Lauren Lee Smith. Everybody sort of had a pretty big hurdle to try and overcome last year, and I thought they did a spectacular job with it.
We interviewed George Eads just a few months ago and ... [he said] "it's nice to be here at the end of the day without any divas or attitude." So just curious: What's your relationship with George? And why would he go around calling you a diva?
Well, is there any accident that I'm doing 'Drop Dead Diva'? Right? [Laughs] I'm looking at their cast, and it's a lot of, you know -- diva, first of all, is a compliment, I think, in certain circles ... So there's a compliment in there. I think George didn't quite mean what he said ... Looking back on it, I think he's mentioned it to me more than once that it wasn't sort of what he meant to say, which happens to George a lot.
Wait, did you guys talk about this?
Well, the only thing I would say to you about it in regards to George is that it absolutely takes one to know one [laughs]. And he's my brother, and I would walk across fire for him any day. But it takes one to know one.
Did you ever have doubts that the show could sustain its quality after 10 years?
Oh, yeah. Many times. After almost every season I would think [that] -- because it really does get harder. I think the bulk of that stress and pressure falls on the writers' room. But as I mentioned, that when I read the first page of the first episode of season 10, I was like "OK, they're on it! Game on!" They blew me away. And I had had that thought when I was looking at coming back. I was like, "Wow, has this ship sailed?" You know, just it's sort of inevitable, not because of anybody's lack of talent ... I just heard on NPR that 'Law & Order' is starting its 20th season, and that's amazing! And that show is as fresh as it's ever been ... The fans tune in loyally to something that they know they already love; they're not necessarily looking for something too crazily different. But that's certainly a marker for the 'CSI' guys to chase.
What's next for you?
I was excited to go back to work. I had taken really almost a year off, and I thought about maybe even changing careers ... And having the time off and traveling, I realized I love what I do ... I'd love to do some theater; I'd love to do some film; I will continue to do TV if they will have me. I'm really excited about 'Drop Dead Diva' on Sun., Aug. 16. That was a 180-degree departure for me, and kind of scary.
What made you sign on?
I love Lifetime; I'm a fan. Josh Berman is the exec producer of the show, and he and I had worked together for five years on 'CSI' ... When I got the script, I was like, "How are they going to pull this off? This story is just so not based in reality." But then Josh also sent me the pilot episode, and the minute I saw it I was like, "Oh, my Gosh! They pulled this off!" And Brooke [Elliott] is incredible.
What were the other things you were thinking about doing if you were to leave acting?
That's almost embarrassing. I've had a very naive passion for politics my whole life, and I thought maybe -- you know, on a small, local level, or a state level, a city level -- that that might be something that I'd want to do. I could get into a gazillion different areas of environmentalism and really pursue that as an occupation because that's something that I'm really passionate about.
ilovegsr & PiperGrissom emailed David Rambo
We decided to email our friend, David Rambo to wish him well, (it's almost tradition now) for the upcoming season and to let him know how excited/concerned and curious CSI/GSR fans are with the upcoming Premire...knowing about the GSR marriage, the possible storyline, etc..
Here is his reply.
Hi, Keri & Gina,
Thanks very much for your message. It's good to hear that Season 10 is already being discussed -- weeks before our premiere!
I'm not sure if your message contains an actual question for me to answer. I really can't comment on episodes that have not been aired. However, I can confirm a few things. Riley has left the lab, and her departure forces the remaining teamto take a hard look at itself. The title of the premiere episode is "A Family Affair", which sets a theme for the rest of the season. The Langston wardrobe chatter was not prompted by a press release. A comment was made in response to a question at the Television Critics Association conference, then quoted out of context to absurdity. Every actor goes through a wardrobe meeting before we start filming a new season, allowing us to keep their looks up to date.
It has been fantastic having Jorja back with us and being able to write for her again.
Please let me know what you think of the premiere -- and Sara's return -- after the premiere has aired. Your loyalty and continuing interest mean a lot to all of us.
Sincerely yours,
David Rambo
Promo-ish: (Embedding was disabled :/ )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpiyq5EA5SA
Edited Photos from Grissaratalk on google groups. You CAN see a ring!!!!
Take a closer look.......
SEASON TEN PROMOS
New Photo of Jorja on set. Thanks to Dustin Lee Abraham
PETERSEN SET FOR CSI RETURN?
Former CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION star WILLIAM PETERSEN is set to return to his role on the hit TV drama
, according to U.S. reports.
Series regular Petersen, who played forensics expert Gil Grissom, announced his departure from the longrunning show last July (08) and sparked wide speculation about who would take over from him.
Laurence Fishburne subsequently landed a part in the series last year (08), but producers are reportedly wooing their former star back for a cameo in an effort to boost slipping ratings.
A source tells the National Enquirer, "The bottom line is that CSI just hasn't been the same without Grissom. He's the show's heart and soul. When Grissom left at the end of the ninth season... a lot of longtime viewers went with him.
"There was a brief ratings bump when Laurence Fishburne joined the cast at the beginning of last season, but the numbers have gone downhill ever since."
Last October (08) Petersen admitted he wasn't finished with the TV drama - and hinted at plans to reprise his role on the big screen.
He said, "I'd love to see us make a CSI film... That's the reason Grissom isn't going to die of a brain tumour. It would be good if we did it (the film) right. The whole world is interested in the show... (but) you have to make sure it's not just an extended episode."
Article source:
http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/petersen-set-for-csi-return_1112324
Nina Tassler, the entertainment president of CBS, got a laugh Monday at the Television Critics Association press tour when she said that Laurence Fishburne's character, Raymond Langston, would get a "wardrobe makeover."
But it sounds like the changes to the character, who joined "CSI" as William Petersen's Gil Grissom was leaving, won't necessarily be on such a superficial level, though his glasses and three-piece suits (see photo) will be seen less frequently.
"Our research and our fans said they really love Fishburne and respect him," Tassler said. "They just wanted to see him sort of more comfortable in his clothes."
Or, more to the point, more comfortable in the lab. The emails and comments I got from "CSI" fans last season frequently noted that there seemed to be some awkwardness or tentativeness to the way the character was fitting in -- or not fitting in -- with the rest of the team.
"The challenge was introducing Fishburne in a way that, as an outsider coming in, he didn’t just sort of insert himself right from the start in an authoritative position, that he earn his way into a place of authority amongst the team. So there was a gradual introduction to the character. He was an outsider, but fans wanted to see him in a more
take-charge capacity. You’re going to see all of that this season," Tassler said.
When I talked to "CSI" executive producer Carol Mendelsohn at Monday's CBS party, she laughed about the idea of the wardrobe makeover; it doesn't sound as though the changes will be all that noticeable in the clothing department. But she did echo the things that Tassler had said that morning.
"One of the things that is part and parcel of the new season is Ray Langston graduating from being that newbie to being a CSI 2," or a higher-level lab tech, Mendelsohn said. When the new season opens, the character has spent his time off "taking every class and seminar he could, to really become the CSI that Grissom saw in him" when the two men first met.
"I don't want to speak for Laurence Fishburne, but I think what attracted him to the show was that he wasn't coming on as just another supervisor, that he was coming in as a newbie and was coming in to learn. We thought that would be a great opportunity for the audience to re experience the fundamentals of forensics. It was always thought that he would graduate very quickly into [being] a more learned CSI," Mendelsohn added.
The new season will have other changes; Lauren Lee Smith has left the show, and Mendelsohn said there is no casting going on at present to replace her character (though it sounded as that could change down the road). Because the lab is understaffed, Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox) will be back to work with her former colleagues for the first five episodes of the season.
And William Petersen, who's currently starring in "Blackbird" at Chicago's Victory Gardens Theater, may return as well.
"We're hoping Grissom will make a return appearance we don't have a date and we don't have a deal, but we talk to Billy all the time and he would love to come back," Mendelsohn said.
She added that she was happy with how the handoff between Petersen and Fishburne had been handled, but she added that Grissom "was ostensibly the most popular character on television. That was going to be a tough transition no matter what."
The most surprising part, she said, was that Petersen's long-planned departure didn't happen earlier.
"Billy was counting down the days when we were still in the first season," Mendelsohn said. "I kept thinking [then], 'Oh my God, he's gonna leave!'"
By the way, there are other changes afoot in the lab (and don't read on if you don't want to see a few spoilers for the new season of "CSI"):
- Both Langston and Nick Stokes (George Eads) will receive promotions from lab chief Catherine Willows (Marg Helgenberger) in the first episode of the season. "The interesting thing is, Catherine's decision to promote Nick, even though it's well deserved, is facilitated by the arrival of Sara Sidle. [Catherine then] sees the world according to Sara Sidle and realizes something about leadership and about the team."
- "The theme of the season is family, and we're going to see our family a little torn asunder because of all these transitions that they've experienced," she said, referring to the Season 9 departures of not only Fox and Petersen but Gary Dourdain, who played Warrick Brown.
- "In Episode 2, the team will come across the offspring of our most celebrated serial killer. He's the son of the very first serial killer that was ever featured on CSI," Mendelsohn said. "His father was a nemesis for Grissom. Do we treat him any differently than we treat any other suspect? Are we prejudiced against him?"
- One last tidbit: "Starting at the end of Episode 1, [the show will have] a very different kind of serial killer for us, we're calling him Dr Jekyll. The crime scene will be a lot smaller than we've ever experienced." Smaller than the Miniature Killer? "Bigger than that," she said with a laugh.
TVGuide Talks to Jorja about Drop Dead Diva and CSI
For CSI fans, it was like hitting the jackpot when news broke that Jorja Fox will be rejoining the lab pack as Sara Sidle for at least 5 episodes next season-but what will viewers think when they see Grissom's main squeeze in a orange jumpsuit and cuffs for a guest stint on Drop Dead Diva? "I hope you are going to be rooting for me", says Fox, who describes her character as "a suburban housewife who's in deep hot water", Fox tells TV Guide, she "loved" being on the other side of the judicial system for a change: "It was really fun to play somebody in prison, it was a complete departure for me, as was the suburban housewife--I hope I pulled that off"! And as for heading back to Las Vegas? She's staying mum on what it means for her character and Gil, but hints that there are answers about her return to be found in the season premiere Sept. 24. "I think all I can really say [pause] is the team had a rough year. There has been a lot going on and Sara comes back mostly just to see if she can help out for a while, because she loves those guys and she misses them" Right back atcha!
BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG SPOILER!!http://jorjafox.net/2009/08/02/the-fox-is-back/I know it's hit the world already and some folks are thinking 'That spoiler can't be true.' They read the news and thought that the mystery source was a hoax. I'm here to verify that the source this spoiler comes from is indeed reliable.
Grissom and Sara are indeed married.The Fox Is Back: New season 10 pictures:
Read the article below Less that a year after reuniting in the jungle with leading man
William Petersen,
Jorja Fox is heading back to CSI this fall -- alone. But don't take Fox's five-episode to mean that
Sara and
Grissom's happily-ever-after was a bust. "They're absolutely together," insists executive producer, Naren Shankar, who nonetheless says Sara will drop hints at trouble in paradise. "We're talking about a couple of very independent individuals who have decided to share their life together. The first few months of that for any couple are a weird adjustment." So, if it's not a breakup, what does prompt Sara to revisit the Vegas strip? Shankar and fellow executive producer Carol Mendelsohn maintain it was not a mandate from CBS to stem last season's rating slide. That said, the pair concede that the back-to-back-to-back departures of Fox, Gary Dourdan and Petersen, combined with the arrivals of Laurence Fisburne and Lauren Lee Smith, took a toll. "The family had disintegrated a little bit," Shankar says. "We had people off in their own bubbles, and we want to restore that family [feeling]. And Jorja's helping with that." Adds Mendelsohn: "Sara comes in and brings everyone together. And she helps Catherine understand that as he [new] leader, she needs to make the team cohesive and really fire on all cylinders again." Might she get an in-person assist from Petersen? "You never know when Grissom will show up on CSI," teases Mendelsohn. "The theme of [season 10] is family. And he certainly is a big part of the family -- a big part of the family." I'll that that as a yes.
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New news from
SpoilerTV (July 27th 2009)
When CSI returns for its 10th season, the lab will once again be short staffed. 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.’”
Jorja Fox returns for at least five episodes, which will address what has been going on with Sara and Grissom and why she is able to work again as a CSI. Shankar doesn’t yet know if Sara is in Vegas to stay, but adds that we’ll see plenty of her while she is there. “We’re going to spotlight her for the episodes that she’ll be in,” he promises.
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Exclusive! Jorja Fox Speaks on Her CSI Return
by Megan Walsh-Boyle July 27, 2009 02:55 PM EST
It's official: Lauren Lee Smith is out on
CSI, and
Jorja Fox is back in! The prodigal star spoke exclusively to
TVGuideMagazine.com about her return for at least five episodes.
So what prompted your return to CSI?Right around March, I felt really rested and was itching to work—I was ready and going to meetings and auditioning. When I was in Atlanta [filming a guest shot on Lifetime's
Drop Dead Diva], I got the call about
CSI—it was completely out of the blue! I never thought I’d be going back to work with people that I knew, I thought I’d be starting new things. That was a surprise, so I’m going back to work and it’s with the same people who I’ve worked with for eight years in the past. [Laughs] I was thrilled! For me it was a huge compliment!
When do you begin filming?I was there all week—they started shooting July 20. I think I’m about knee-deep back in the water. It has just been a ball and a half. I think
CSI’s premiere episode is one of the best that I’ve ever read. It’s a pleasant surprise. You think, "They’re starting Season 10—how is it going to be as good as it was last year or four years ago?" And they blew me away.
Do you know yet what brings Sara back to Vegas?I think all I can really say is [pause] the team has had a rough year—there has been a lot going on—and so Sara comes back mostly just to see if she can help for a while, because she loves those guys and she misses them.
And if Sara is back in the lab, where does that leave Gil? Ah! That will hopefully be a reveal in the premiere. They’ve prevented me from discussing Grissom at all. [Laughs]
It’s got to be the burning question for fans of the show… Thank you. We hope we’ve picked the right stuff to be a surprise.
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