"CSI" Shockers! CBS' Nina Tassler Reveals Details at TCA -- Ed Martin Live from TCA

CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler had a lot to say about the many new series coming to her network in the fall but the top topic during her press conference at the Summer 2008 Television Critics Association tour was the returning drama CSI Crime Scene Investigation still the network39s No 1 showCritics have been buzzing about CSI ever since the news last week that star William Peterson who is also one of its executive producers would be leaving this fall after the first 10 episodes of the series39 10th seasonquotIt is certainly not the last time we39ll see himquot Tassler told TCA members Then she revealed details about what she calls quotthe DVRproof season of CSIquot to come Executive producers Carol Mendelsohn and Naren Shankar she assured critics quotare at the top of their gamequot and have quotan unbelievable season plannedquotThose plans include the resolution of last year39s cliffhanger the violent murder of Warrick Brown the return of Jorja Fox as Sara Sidle for the first three episodes and the addition of two new characters one a CSI played by Lauren Lee Smith the other a doctor who does not join the storyline as a CSI but will indeed become the leader of the unit when Peterson39s Gil Grissom makes his exit later in the fallIn a fascinating bit of backstory this new character will have a genetic profile that commonly occurs in serial killers Tassler teased He knows this about himself but has not shared this information with anyone she added Nor has he ever presented any of the early behaviors of serial killers such as killing animals or setting fires As he learns about being a CSI he39ll also try to learn as much as he can about himselfquotThe new character39s issues will 39inform39 his attitude and his behaviorquot Tassler said but they quotmay not necessarily inform the textquot of the showThe renewed interest in CSI that swept the TCA was just one development in a day that went very well for Tassler in particular and for CBS overall For example the network was applauded at the start of the day for having delivered several pilots to the press well in advance of the tour TCA members burst into applause when reminded of this at the start of CBS39 presentation You could feel the love in the room We critics rarely betray such boisterous expressions of affection but we39re feeling rather pilotdeprived these days That39s because with the exception of Fox which screened an early cut of JJ Abrams39 Fringe on closecircuit here at the Hilton and sent out the new sitcom Do Not Disturb just before the start of the tour the other broadcasters ABC NBC and The CW have yet to provide finished pilots of their new series to the pressIt is kind of odd that one network would be so far out ahead of all the others in this regard And it is still in the lead Tassler told me Friday night that CBS has already completed another round of agency meetings for 2009 program developmentPilotstarved critics were so pleased with CBS they even gave the network a pass for deciding not to have a press conference about the new Jay Mohr comedy Gary Unmarried the pilot for which was one of the batch CBS sent to critics last month Tassler explained that Mohr is busy this week retaking his wedding vows quoton the other side of the world someplacequot Mohr she added had made this plan long ago and had flown many family members there wherever there is to participate There was no word on why the producers of Gary and Mohr39s costars weren39t able to attend TCA and sell their stuffThe whole absenceofpilots thing really hit home on Saturday during sessions for The CW39s 90210 and Privileged two series about wealthy young people Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah the executive producers of 90210 aggravated many reporters in the room when they refused to provide detailed answers to questions about storylines in the pilot which has completed filming but could not be clipped in time for TCA Guys if this were a year like any other year everyone at TCA would have already seen the pilot before your session Producers never want to reveal information about upcoming episodes and storylines but they always go into deep detail about pilots That39s how it39s doneCritics seem to be very interested in three of CBS39 new series The comedy Worst Week which is based on a shortrun British series about a man who can39t do anything right when he gets near his pregnant fiancamp23339s family the procedural crime drama The Mentalist about a crimeunit consultant with extreme skills of observation and the quirky comedydrama The ExList about a single thirtysomething woman who learns from a psychic that one of the many men whom she has dated in her life will become her husband and the two will live happily ever after if she can find him within the next year If she doesn39t find him during that time she39ll be alone forever No pressure

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"CSI" Shockers! CBS' Nina Tassler Reveals Details at TCA -- Ed Martin Live from TCA

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"CSI" Shockers! CBS' Nina Tassler Reveals Details at TCA -- Ed Martin Live from TCA

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