'CSI' & Helgenberger Generate Emmy Buzz

Nomination ballots for this year's Emmy Awards will be mailed out next week, and producer Carol Mendelshohn revealed, this could be CSI's year.

"I don't believe our show's voice has ever been stronger," Mendelsohn told the Hollywood Reporter. "But there are so many great shows you have to compete with now. It's an exciting time to be a fan of dramas on TV, but by the same token it makes winning that much tougher."

CSI has been nominated for Best Drama Series three years in a row, but has lost to NBC's The West Wing every time. While the Hollywood Reporter theorized that the Quentin Tarantino directed "Grave Danger" could get CSI the Emmy win, the show has strong competition from new Emmy contenders, such as Lost and Deadwood.

But the Emmy Buzz isn't exclusive to CSI. Marg Helgenberger is also on The Hollywood Reporter's list of possible nominees for the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category. The actress has been twice nominated for her portrayal of Catherine Willows, but has never walked home with a statuette.

Helgenberger won a People's Choice Award for Favorite Female Television Star this year, and shared a statuette with her co-stars at the Screen Actor's Guild Award. Although Helgenberger has never received an Emmy win for her portrayal of Catherine Willows, she walked home with a statuette in 1990 for her role on China Beach.

The Emmy nominations will be announced on July 14th, while the ceremony will take place on September 18th. For an extensive coverage of the nomination process, visit the Hollywood Reporter.

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