News Bullets

• Crime novelist Max Allan Collins appeared on Chicago's Steve and Johnnie Show to discuss his upcoming books, including "Binding Ties," a new novel based on the original CSI series. The book, which will be released on the 1st of April, will deal with a serial killer, and was described by Collins as one of the best works he's ever written. Thanks go out to Arthur for this!

• A detailed five-page synopsis of CSI: New York's "Tanglewood" is now available on CBS's official CSI: New York site.

• Fox has announced they've ordered a pilot for a new drama series from Laurie McCarthy, a former CSI: Miami co-executive producer and writer of episodes such as "Just One Kiss" and "Slaughterhouse," and Gwendolyn Parker, who worked on CSI: Miami as story editor and wrote episodes such as "Losing Face" and "Breathless." Their show is called Ticket to Ride and deals with 20 people from all walks of life who share a lottery ticket that wins $386 million, according to the Futon Critic.

• And the Futon Critic has word of another Fox project that seems heavily inspired by CSI: a drama show called Brennan, based on the works of novelist-forensic anthropologist Kathy Reichs who solves crimes using evidence supplied by skeletal remains. The main character in the series would solve "the CSI teams can't" using reconstructive artists and bug experts.

• Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Freddie Mitchell claims to the New York Times that he was asked to be in CSI: New York.

• The Coming Soon Page of the official British CSI magazine has been updated with details of what to expect in issue 4, which features both Gil Grissom and Catherine Willows on the cover. The magazine will include articles on gun and firearm tests, a feature on doomsday suicide and murder cults, and a glossary of forensic terms, as well as a DVD containing "Blood Drops" and "Anonymous."

• The US isn't the only place where CSI: New York is being used to challenge the dominance of the Law & Order franchise: in Australia, the Nine Network is considering pitting the latest CSI spin-off against Law & Order: Criminal Intent, which competing channel Ten airs on Sundays at 8:30pm.

• SpikeTV will remain on the air in Canada, a Canadian broadcast regulator ruled, following a complaint that the cable channel should be banned for being too similar to Canadian network MenTV. The ruling means Canadians will be able to continue watching the CSI reruns the channel airs.

• The JFO has posted a new photo of Jorja Fox (Sara Sidle) that appeared in the latest edition of US weekly, as well as a short bio/mini-interview. "I've always wanted to go Cameron Diaz-blonde," the actress confessed to the magazine.

• And Jorja Fox recently sent a thank-you note to Playing With Fire, in response to the Sara Birthday Greeting Campaign that encouraged fans to send a birthday card for Sara Sidle, in order to show the producers how popular the character is. "They were awesome and they meant a lot," Fox wrote in the hand-written note. "Even more after the crazy events over the summer."

• The official web site of Sofia Milos (Yelina Salas) has been updated with two photos of Milos with John Travolta, Nancy Carthwright (Bart Simpson's voice) and James Barbour (Beauty and the Beast) that were taken on the 22nd of January at the 78th annual Forth Harrison event in Clearwater, Florida.

• Andy Smith at the Providence Journal has written an article (free subscription required) on the fascination of the American public with forensics shows.

• And PersonnelToday new survey of 1,500 16- to 24-year-olds has found that 82% of the respondents feel that shows such as CSI have prompted them to consider a career in the fields highlighted in the shows. Particularly popular was forensics, which 62% of the respondents say they were interested by, although journalism also did well, with 50% saying Sex and the City's Carry Bradshaw had made them see the positive sides of the profession.

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