Fired "CSI" actress back on show
David
"CSI" Kills Back to Life?
by Joal Ryan
Are CSI's casualties about to return from the dead?
Jorja Fox, axed last week from TV's top-rated drama, will return to
the scene of the crime and rejoin the show, sources tell E! News Live.
Fellow fired costar George Eads will stage a similar comeback--or so
he hopes. Speaking to TV critics in Los Angeles Wednesday, Eads called
his dismissal "a big misunderstanding."
CBS had no comment Wednesday.
Fox and Eads were bumped off when CBS got out the Louisville Slugger
and played hardball with the reputedly pay-hike-seeking actors.
Fox was let go last Wednesday, it was said, because she had not met a
CBS-imposed deadline pledging, in writing, to continue to report for
work, ongoing contract hassles or no.
The actress was said to be "mystified" by her firing, Variety said,
because she believed she'd sent in her letter in time.
E! News Live sources said the Fox matter was ruled a misunderstanding,
clearing the way for her return.
Per various reports, Eads was fired last Thursday either for failing
to show up for work or failing to show up to work on time.
While CBS interpreted his tardiness as a negotiating tactic, Eads said
it was simply a matter of a missed alarm.
"I overslept...I woke up white as a sheet three-and-a-half hours after
I was supposed to be on the set," Eads said during a promotional
appearance for the TNT biopic Evel Knievel, in which he stars.
The actor, who played hair and fiber expert Nick Stokes on CSI for the
past four seasons, said he has "apologized nine ways to Sunday," but
he has yet to directly speak to tough-love CBS chieftain Leslie
Moonves.
On Sunday, Moonves told TV critics he had no regrets about whacking
Eads and Fox.
"There were certain veiled threats about their not showing up, and
there comes a point where we all have to look out for the future of
the network television business," Moonves said. "This behavior has to
stop."
For now, it's production on the Emmy-nominated CSI that has
stopped--at least until its forensics team is in order.
Shooting on the show's fifth season was to have begun last week, but
with all the spilled blood, cameras never got rolling.
The network formally began the search for Fox and Eads' replacements
Tuesday, the New York Post reported, informing talent agencies it was
seeking two actors--one male and one female--in their "late 20s to mid
30s" who projected "sexy, edgy and intelligent."
Fox and Eads each were earning $100,000 an episode, or $2.2 million
for a TV year's worth of work.
Meanwhile, in what could prove a bad omen for Eads' return, cast
member Eric Szmanda has been given a raise, according to Daily
Variety. No word on how much Szmanda will be making, but he will have
a higher profile next season, as his character, DNA geek Greg Sanders,
will spend less time in the lab and join the team in the field for
more forensic fun.
Finally, CSI faithful aren't waiting for CBS to make a decision.
Several fans have banded together for the "I Support Jorga and George"
online petition (www.petitionspot.com/petitions/supportjandg). The
site has collected more than 8,000 signatures in support of bringing
back the actors.
"CSI is no the same without the key cast," writes someone calling
herself Cathryn. Another post, from a Joy Hope, is more to the point:
"Hire [Eads'] CUTE ASS and six pack back!!!"
SoHillsGuy
the scene of the crime and rejoin the show, sources tell E! News Live.
Well, I know I said last week that I saw this coming...
bebop
>CBS had no comment Wednesday.
>
>Fox and Eads were bumped off when CBS got out the Louisville Slugger
>and played hardball with the reputedly pay-hike-seeking actors.
>
>Fox was let go last Wednesday, it was said, because she had not met a
>CBS-imposed deadline pledging, in writing, to continue to report for
>work, ongoing contract hassles or no.
>"There were certain veiled threats about their not showing up, and
>there comes a point where we all have to look out for the future of
>the network television business," Moonves said. "This behavior has to
>stop."
I knew it, it was Les Moonves doctrine of preemption at work.
Mac Breck
news:41003cd4...@news.individual.net...
I'd dearly love to see Moonie get whacked in this fashion.
He's been involved in the demise of some of my favorite
shows. It seems that whenever he gets involved, things turn
to shit.
--
Mac Breck (KoshN) - from the desktop PC
-------------------------------
http://www.scifi.com/babylon5/
http://www.scifi.com/crusade/
http://www.scifi.com/bboard/browse.cgi/1/5/1521 (Brimstone)
sdfasa
moonves could've offered them some special pay raises or bonuses to
stage this whole thing so he could teach the other people a lesson and
prevent actors from holding out for pay raises
PkJ0891
Fox back on 'CSI' table; Eads likely
Thesps back on set when prod'n resumes next week
By JOSEF ADALIAN
CBS has rehired "CSI" star Jorja Fox and is talking to George Eads about a
reprieve as well.
Fox will be back on the set of "CSI" when the show resumes production next
week. The actress was axed last week when CBS execs believed she had failed to
comply with a request to sign a letter stating she had no plans to skip work
while she and several other thesps sought raises.
Thesp, via reps, has said she did return the letter but did so via mail rather
than fax, making the entire incident a misunderstanding. It's unclear if CBS
ever received Fox's form in the mail.
Fox is apparently returning to "CSI" at the same salary of roughly $100,000 per
episode she had been making before she was fired. A rep for Fox didn't respond
to email and telephone requests for comment.
As for Eads, it's too soon to say if he'll be back, but all signs Thursday
afternoon pointed to an amicable resolution.
ollowing Eads' public apology Wednesday in front of TV critics, Eye execs have
begun talking to the actor and his reps about coming back to the show. Eads
said he had reached out personally to Viacom co-prexy/co-chief operating
officer Les Moonves, arguing that he never meant to skip work.
Eads told critics he had seriously overslept but was told to stay home when he
tried to come to work last week.
CBS declined comment.
PKJ