New CBS Forensic Shows Get Leads

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation network CBS recently cast the lead roles in two forensic drama pilots for the 2003-2004 season.

Matthew Modine will play the lead in the drama Expert Witness, about three forensic psychologists, according to the Futon Critic. Predominantly a film actor, Modine's numerous credits include Short Cuts, Full Metal Jacket, Memphis Belle and the television movie And The Band Played On, for which he won an Emmy nomination.

Sasha Alexander has been confirmed to play the second psychologist, while Enrico Colantoni is in negotiations for the third key role. Alexander, a regular on the short-lived Presidio Med, guest starred as Robin Childs in CSI's "Alter Boys", while Colantoni is best known for the sitcom Just Shoot Me. Veteran actress Anna Deavere Smith (The West Wing, The American President), will have a recurring role on the series.

Expert Witness will be executive produced by Hart Hanson (Judging Amy) and Keith Ablow, a real-life forensic psychologist who is often called to tesify in court cases, hence the series's title. John McNaughton, who has directed episodes of CSI's lead-out show, Without a Trace, Push Nevada and Homicide: Life on the Street, will helm the pilot episode.

Kathryn Morris (Minority Report) has secured the lead role in CBS's other new take on the forensic crime scene, formerly known as Cold Cases. The now-untitled project comes from uber-producer Jerry Bruckheimer, executive producer of both CSI and CSI: Miami, and centres around a female homicide detective, Lily Rush (Morris), who heads up the cold cases unit in Philadelphia.

The male lead will be played by The Musketeer star Justin Chambers, with Mel Winkler (Devil in a Blue Dress, Doc Hollywood) set to appear as a veteran homicide detective. Other regular roles will be filled by John Finn, most recently seen in Catch Me If You Can, and Jeremy Ratchford, who played Tommy Sconzo in CSI's "Primum Non Nocere".

Former ER and NYPD Blue scribe Meredith Stiehm created the series, which will be executive produced by Bruckheimer and Jonathan Littman, who currently serves as executive producer on CSI, CSI: Miami and Without a Trace.

While CBS has already greenlit both these pilots, only a handful of pilots ordered each year ever make it to series. However, the current CSI-spurred forensic science craze should ensure that at least one of these projects will become a regular fixture in the 2003-2004 season.

The original casting news can be found in the Futon Critic's Newswire section.

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