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Articles: CASTING CALL

Posted by admin on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 01:12 AM

"CSI" producers are moving fast to replace two fired stars, CBS boss Les Moonves said yesterday, promising that the show will go on — on schedule, even if short-handed.
Actors Jorja Fox and George Eads, who played investigators Sara Sidle and Nick Stokes, were suddenly dumped by "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" when they didn't show up for work last week because of a salary dispute. Moonves said production of "CSI" will be shut down this week, but the remaining cast and crew members will still be able to make the targeted debut date of Sept. 23. "We haven't recast 'CSI' yet. We are looking at certain people; we're talking to certain people," said Moonves. Moonves says he has no second thoughts about the abrupt firing of two of the show's most recognizable characters. He said scripts are being rewritten because of the sackings, and hinted that supporting players could take greater roles. CBS's lack of patience with Fox and Eads stands in stark contrast to the successful holdout last year by "Everybody Loves Raymond" supporting actor Brad Garrett. Moonves wouldn't say why Garrett received more consideration — other than the obvious fact that the Emmy-winning Garrett plays a more crucial role in his hit sitcom. "There comes a point where we feel a contract is a contract. . . and we all have to look out for the future of the network television business. It's no secret four of the six television networks lost money last year." The fired actors' reps could not be immediately reached for comment yesterday. Fox and Eads were in the fifth year of their seven-year deals, and allegedly looking for raises. Moonves said Fox and Eads already had their contracts redone after two years, and that another hike was on the table.

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