As CSI Files previously reported, Raquel Welch will play the matriarch of the Navarro clan in an upcoming episode. She is the grandmother of “Miami Taunter” suspect Esteban Navarro (Kuno Becker), but the extent of her role in the storyline remains to be seen. “All the roads of murder lead to her,” Executive Producer Marc Dube told TV Line. Whether Welch’s character is involved remains a “mystery”, but things will get complicated when the Navarros enlist the services of a high-profile law firm. The team gets separated in the season finale, and members will be reassigned. “We’ll see where the chips fall,” Dube revealed, but fans will have to wait until the new season to find out whether Horatio and the CSIs are reunited.

Co-executive producers Barry O’Brien and Marc Dube wrote “Happy Birthday”, which finds the team racing to save a pregnant woman and her baby after the mother is severely beaten and left for dead. The case is especially significant for Horatio Caine (David Caruso), whose wife Marisol Delko-Caine (Alana De La Garza) would have celebrated her birthday on the same day if she were alive. “Horatio really dedicates himself to finding the perpetrators,” O’Brien told TV Guide. “In that quest, he finds echoes of his relationship with Marisol, and it becomes very thematic for him to make this right.”

This personal storyline is a far cry from how Miami celebrated the 100 episode milestone. “There was a lot of hype surrounding Episode 100 way back when. I remember we all thought, we’ve got to do something big: spectacle, spectacle, spectacle!” Dube explained. “Turns out at Episode 200, it’s not about spectacle so much as just doing what we do well: tell a good mystery and tug at some heartstrings along the way.”

The episode is also personal for Emily Procter, the actress who plays Calleigh Duquesne. Procter is pregnant in real life with her first child, and the series has been forced to hide her behind furniture so her belly won’t be visible on camera. During “Happy Birthday”, Calleigh sits by the victim’s bedside while she fights for her life and the life of her unborn child. “The number of scenes we’ve been able to put her in lately has been limited because she’s late in her pregnancy,” Dube said. “So we wanted to give her an emotional investment, and we thought if we have her bedside with someone who’s, in a sense, going through what she’s going through in real life, we can really bring the best out of her.”

Making it to 200 episodes is “a staggering achievement,” O’Brien said, “and we felt just very grateful. [The episode] is an absolute love letter to our audience. We’ve come a great distance together. You reward an audience every time you go deeper into character, and I that’s what we love to do.”

The full interview is available on TVGuide.com.

The relationship between Calleigh Duquesne (Emily Procter) and Eric Delko (Adam Rodriguez) seems to have stalled out, and Miami co-executive producer Marc Dube said the pair will stay apart for now. “Delko having to do things behind his colleagues’ back kind of threw a wrench into the works as far as their relationship goes,” Dube told TV Guide. “There’s been a bit of an agreed backing-off on both sides. It’s something that will be revisited, but right now it’s more of a brother-sister relationship. They love each other very much. Will it spike again? Probably, but they’re taking a little break from the intensity.”

Meanwhile, Dr Sheldon Hawkes (Hill Harper) is getting a long-awaited love interest later this season on New York. The sexy nurse is an old friend of Sheldon’s, and she finds herself in a heap of trouble after she gets fired for telling patients that her employer was giving them contaminated medicine—she gets kidnapped by a professional hitman! As CSI Files previously reported, the suave killer will be played by R&B singer Ne-Yo.

Source: Mega Buzz

Thanks to Shane from TalkCSI for the help!

CSI Files previously reported that singing sensation Justin Bieber would appear in the season eleven premiere of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. According to executive producer Carol Mendelsohn, Bieber’s character is part of “a group who believe that our country has been co-opted by profiteers.” The singer-turned-actor will be back in February to reprise his role.

Meanwhile, Marg Helgenberger has said this will be her final year playing Catherine Willows on the crime drama. Mendelsohn is making plans for the character, but she’s hoping Helgenberger will change her mind. “It’s a transitional year for Catherine,” Mendelsohn explained to EW. “It could be a way to end things for her—or to begin things.” CSI will premiere on Thursday, September 23 at 9:00pm ET/PT.

Over on CSI: New York, the premiere of season seven will show what happened after the screen went black and a gun went off at the end of the season six finale. “No one on our team died,” executive producer Pam Veasey revealed. In addition to resolving the cliffhanger, New York fans will see how the series handles the departure of Melina Kanakaredes (Stella Bonasera). Veasey had already written six episodes featuring Stella before the actress announced she was leaving, and the writing team had to work hard to introduce new leading lady Sela Ward (Jo Danville). “It was tough, but at the same time, that kind of surprise does wonderful things [creatively],” Veasey said.

Veasey described Jo as “a very confident, professional Southern woman who kicks her shoes off Friday night and spends time with her family.” The newest member of the team will jump right into the thick of things as the CSIs work on new cases featuring the webcam site Chatroulette and Battlestar Galactica’s Edward James Olmos as a former gang leader. CSI: NY will premiere in its new timeslot on Friday, September 24 at 9:00pm ET/PT.

CSI: Miami will be the last member of the franchise to debut new episodes. At the end of last season, most of the team was unconscious on the floor of the lab. “All of our CSIs are in an extremely vulnerable position,” explained executive producer Barry O’Brien, “and—how do we survive this?—one of them may not survive.” Executive producer Marc Dube teased, “Anyone keeps an eye on contract negotiations may get some sense [of what happens].” As CSI Files previously reported, CBS opted not to pick up Eddie Cibrian’s (Jesse Cardoza) contract after season eight.

Cibrian might be gone, but Adam Rodriguez (Eric Delko) will be back full time during season nine—just in time to deal with some old enemies. A prison break puts one of Miami’s most notorious villains back on the street. “It’s going to serve as a season-long arc for us,” O’Brien said. “Some of these former nemeses of Delko and Horatio [Caine, David Caruso] are going to emerge and pose a tangible threat.” Miami will premiere in its new Sunday night timeslot on October 3 at 10:00pm ET/PT.

Source: The Fall TV Preview issue of Entertainment Weekly, which is on newsstands now. Thanks to Shane from TalkCSI for the info!

Executive producer Marc Dube told Entertainment Weekly that Eric and Calleigh “will spend some time assessing their relationship.” He added, “It could go either way…but Delko’s return is about getting back to being a CSI. He missed it.”

Behind the scenes, things are developing naturally in the writers room. “You may see that relationship evolve in a way that surprises even us, the writers,” explained executive producer Barry O’Brien. “We’re kind of letting it grow right now on its own.”

Source: Ask Ausiello

In the eighth season finale, the Miami team receives clues from a murderer on a killing spree.

Synopsis:

The CSIs are surprised when they all receive letters without postmarks and open them to find puzzle pieces made out of plastic transparencies, which they assemble to reveal a depiction of a woman in the crosshairs of a rifle. Jesse discovers an address in the corner of the picture and the team races there, only to find they’re too late: Janice Potter is lying dead in her kitchen, shot in front of her small daughter. Calleigh finds the woman’s purse, filled with paychecks made out to Janice Garber from Dade University. Janice’s distraught husband, Craig, a divorce lawyer, fears that one of his client’s ex-spouses is responsible. He’s surprised to hear about the paychecks, claiming that his wife didn’t work. Jesse and Walter discover the murder weapon: a rifle positioned and controlled by WiFi. Delko returns to work at the lab full time and accompanies Horatio to question Melissa Walls, a grad student doing research at Dade University who employed Janice. Melissa hired Janice to administer electric shocks to students answering questions incorrectly, but it was actually Janice that Melissa was studying. Melissa thinks evil is human nature, and tells the CSIs she’s moving on to a more prestigious post to continue her studies. Craig Potter comes to the lab with an envelope from his mailbox addressed to the CSIs. Ryan finds an augmented reality tag on it, which leads him and Natalia to a website that shows a swimming pool turning red with blood. They are able to identify the location as the faculty pool at Dade University. Ryan and Delko rush to the scene only to discover the body of Professor Neal Brusatti in the water.

Dr. Loman determines Brusatti drowned, and Horatio concludes the murder weapon was the automatic pool cover, which was deployed while Brusatti was in the pool, trapping him. Horatio unrolls the cover and finds a Fleur de Lis spray painted on top of it. Professors Stephen Madsen and Bob Starling tell the CSIs that Janice accused Melissa of doctoring the results of her study—Janice didn’t want to shock the students. Stephen reveals Melissa was kicked out of the program—and that she blamed him, Bob and Neal for ruining her career. Horatio calls Melissa, who defends her actions, saying all the greats have cheated, and reminding Horatio he has no hard evidence against her. The professors are placed under protective watch, and Natalia accompanies Stephen to his apartment while he showers, but when Walter calls saying he’s discovered the Fleur de Lis is the logo for a men’s cologne, she runs to interrupt Stephen—only to see him burst into flames when he sprays the cologne on himself. She saves his life, and Delko discovers potassium in the doctored cologne that combusted when it hit the water on Stephen’s body. Horatio notes that Melissa Walls was on the guest list for a departmental party Stephen hosted recently, while Delko discovers a quote on the back of the cologne bottle from a paper Bob Starling wrote. Bob tells the CSIs he last saw Melissa the day before after she was dropped from the program. Though Bob assures the team he will be safe giving a lecture to a crowded room full of students in the afternoon, Horatio sends Tripp with him.

Melissa turns up at the station, telling Delko and Horatio they can only hold her for forty-eight hours… and that locking her down won’t prevent any murders already set in motion. She hands over her day planner as an alibi. Walter determines the Fleur de Lis was spray painted at 1:30pm—a time Melissa doesn’t appear to have an alibi for. But when Delko and Horatio question her, she turns over proof that she was at a Pilates class. Delko accuses her of misleading them, and Melissa claims she was testing a new theory. When Calleigh discovers Bob Starling was denied tenure by a committee that included both Neal Brusatti and Stephen Madsen, the CSIs’ suspicion shifts to Bob. The suspicions are confirmed when they match stamps in his possession to the ones on the letters sent to them by the killer. Horatio and Tripp arrest Bob, but back at the lab the CSIs start coughing and collapsing. When Delko arrives back at the lab, he finds everyone unconscious on the floor. He races to find Calleigh passed out as well and desperately tries to revive her….

Analysis:

Talk about a great cliffhanger! CSI: Miami ends the season with more than half of its team down: Calleigh, Ryan, Natalia, Jesse and Walter have all collapsed to the ground at the end of the episode, and the situation definitely appears dire. When Delko finds Calleigh, he implores her to “breathe!” suggesting that whatever was released in the lab might be fatal. There’s little chance the show would do away with five leads in one fell swoop, but should we be concerned about someone not surviving? There’s a good chance when the show returns in September that the only permanently dispatched team member will be a secondary character, like the poor girl who brings the mail to the CSIs, or maybe one of the secondary lab characters (though neither Dave Benton nor Michael Travers appears in this episode). Regardless, the situation looks grim enough at the end of the episode that we’re certainly worried about the five CSIs in jeopardy.

It’s also a great whodunit: while Starling has been pegged as the killer thanks to the stamp match, I’m still not entirely sure Melissa is innocent. Why did she show up to the precinct to turn herself in after maintaining that the CSIs had no hard evidence on her? Sure, she claimed it was to test her new theory about investigators following their initial hunches, but is it possible she paid a visit to the police station to drop some sort of pathogen off in the lab? Of course, it’s entirely possible Starling sent something deadly in one of his packages—after all, his studies involved human reactions to pandemics, so it’s entirely possible he’s created his own microcosmic study of the phenomenon in the lab. Both Kristen Hager and Roger Bart are unsettlingly sinister in their roles; Hager in particular does a great job of getting across Melissa’s sociopathic tendencies without making her a cookie cutter villain. That Melissa is evil seems pretty clear, but is she involved in Starling’s nefarious deeds… or perhaps even pulling the strings?

The psychological aspect of the mystery makes it a real nail-biter, and I found myself on the edge of my seat throughout the episode. Coming after an intense episode arc that culminated in the take-down of a longstanding recurring character, the new mystery in the finale could have easily been a letdown, but the inventive and involving storyline keeps things moving quickly—and hooks the audience in. Miami has had a particularly strong season, with the introduction of three new characters and storylines that feel fresh and interesting. The show has moved away from its previous emphasis on gang and drug violence, which was getting repetitive to the point of dullness. The murders and perpetrators have been far more memorable this year, and creatively, Miami has definitely been on its game this year. The show has always done cliffhangers well, and this season’s ender definitely continues that trend.

The episode also welcomes Delko back to the CSI fold; after being shot last year, Delko made a decision to leave the lab. He didn’t stay away for long, coming back first as a forensics specialist for a defense attorney and then performing a similar function for the State’s Attorney. But the death of Rebecca Nevins sends him back to CSI. Does Delko’s return spell doom for one of the five fallen CSIs? Three characters—Jesse, Walter and Dr. Loman—were introduced last year, and based on this recent interview with Co-Executive Producers (and finale scribes) Barry O’Brien and Marc Dube, there are plans for each of the characters in season nine. Does that mean Calleigh, Ryan and Natalia are in danger? I can’t see Miami‘s leading lady being killed off—and it’s as impossible to imagine the show without Emily Procter as it is to picture it without David Caruso. But what about Ryan and Natalia? Both are important parts of the show, but in the past few seasons Ryan hasn’t had as much to do as in earlier years, and Natalia has been noticeably absent from a handful of episodes this year. I hope both survive whatever pathogen has been released in the lab.

I’d be particularly heartbroken not to see Ryan and Walter’s hilarious bantering—these two have a jokingly adversarial relationship that makes for plenty of laughs. The episode opens with Walter eager for the arrival of the day’s mail, excited to find registration info for a seminar that he’s looking forward to. “How many nerd clubs are you a member of?” Ryan asks teasingly. Per usual, Walter has a retort ready: “Do you want to get beat up?” Ryan just smiles, knowing Walter wouldn’t make good on the joking threat. Their rapport is particularly endearing, and has given us insight in Walter’s character, as well as giving the witty Ryan someone to spar with.

I’d hate to see Natalia go, either—despite being absent from a number of episodes this season, she’s had some great development this year. She faced her hearing problems with fortitude, and when she realized Delko was investigating his former co-workers for State’s Attorney Rebecca Nevins, she not only stood up to him and voiced her concerns, but spoke to him as a friend, telling him that being a snitch—even one with good intentions—can lead to tension. I also quite enjoyed Natalia’s very apparent attraction to the handsome Stephen Madsen, played by the charming Esai Morales. I loved the bold, slightly flirtatious way Natalia told him to call her by her first name. Whether all of the CSIs survive or not, Miami has definitely ended a superior season on a suspenseful note.

The CSI: Miami co-executive producers preview the end of the show’s eighth season and look ahead to its ninth. Spoilers inside!

CSI: Miami has had a whirlwind year, with the introduction of three new characters and the return of Adam Rodriguez‘s Eric Delko. As the show rushes towards a big cliffhanger finale, Co-Executive Producers Marc Dube and Barry O’Brien offer a preview of what’s to come in the final episodes of season eight, as well as a glimpse of season nine, which promises the return of a reviled nemesis and a love interest for one of the characters! Spoilers ahead…

CSI Files: The last four episodes of the season sound pretty action-packed. Can you preview them?

Marc Dube: I love the variety of these episodes coming up. Each has a very distinct feel and tone. There’s pulse-pounding action as well as heartwarming performances. From the high speed causeway chase of May 3rd’s “Meltdown” to David Caruso’s gut-wrenching performance in May 10th’s “Mommie Deadest” in which a suburban family is thrown into upheaval by the death of an overbearing mother. In May 17th’s “Time Bomb”, Delko’s investigative probe leads to a desperate cover-up act and the death of a city official. The jeopardy of these final four episodes will force Delko to do some soul searching and eventually return to help his fallen comrades. The finale, airing May 24th, “All Fall Down” reveals the most intelligent pathological killer our CSI’s have ever faced. Our CSIs are trained to solve a murder after it’s happened, but in the finale – each victim’s life depends on our CSIs’ ability to decipher clues that have arrived at the lab like deadly breadcrumbs. That very ability or inability to understand a riddle or solve a puzzle can save a life or seal a fate. Horatio realizes his nemesis is in a different league when he receives a clue that says his entire lab is going down next. “All Fall Down” will, without a doubt, leave you wondering who gets up next season.

CSI Files: Horatio is going to be facing a personal betrayal. How will this affect him?

Barry O’Brien: Yes, Horatio Caine does face a personal betrayal in episode 823 that goes right to his soul as a law enforcement officer. Horatio is the keeper of the flame. He is in a neverending fight for justice — a character with, truly the highest ethical standard as a police officer. The source of this betrayal, the last person you’d expect… let’s just say it rocks Horatio’s faith in his team. Everyone’s integrity is called into question. Everyone’s. And, when the betrayal is revealed, it has a galvanizing effect. The team that remains will be stronger than ever!

CSI Files: Adam Rodriguez is going to be rejoining the show full time next season. Can you hint at how he’ll be reintegrated into the team?

Dube: Eric Delko returns to CSI:Miami in May, but when valuable evidence disappears from the lab and suspicions flare, we begin to realize that Delko is now answering to a different master. When deep-seeded corruption within the department is exposed, Delko is saddled with the unenviable task of investigating Horatio’s team. Nobody’s immune to the in-house finger-pointing. This group has learned to trust each other with their lives, so when Delko presses for the ugly truth, it’s fascinating to watch these very careers, reputations, and friendships pushed to the brink. Not to mention how it strains his promising relationship with Calleigh! Detectives from Horatio’s past surface in the turbulent Miami-Dade witch hunt, culminating in a shocking takedown of a key, enduring member of the CSI:Miami family.

CSI Files: With Adam returning, will another member of the cast not be back next year?

Dube: One never knows. We write these cliffhangers to generate speculation over the summer. All the more reason to check back with us in September.

CSI Files: Ryan is going to land in hot water when he’s suspected of stealing valuable evidence from an evidence locker. Why is Ryan the go-to guy on the show for ethically questionable situations?

Dube: Ryan has often been pegged with much of the wrongdoing over the years. Why? Jonathan Togo plays it well. He’s the every man struggling through every significant life decision like the rest of us. Does he make the right choices? Quite often, no. But those miscalculations create great television and make Ryan Wolfe all the more endearing when he’s finally able to right the wrong.

CSI Files: Rumor has it Walter has a secret! Can you hint at what that is?

O’Brien: Omar Benson Miller has been a fabulous addition to our cast. We knew Omar was a big talent, what we didn’t know is how perfectly those talents would fit into our series. Omar took the character of Walter Simmons from the background right into the forefront of our story telling. Walter definitely has a powerful secret. He has a rich and complex past. The only hint I can give is that when light is shed into Walter’s background, we will understand why he has dedicated his life to police work. We will be delving into all of that from the very first episode of season nine. Look for big things, big story reveals, compelling story arcs from Walter Simmons in season nine and beyond!

CSI Files: Will Natalia’s hearing problems be revisited? What’s coming up for her?

Dube: Natalia’s hearing aid indirectly becomes a major component in exposing Delko’s covert investigation, and it winds up being the root of a growing conflict between our CSI’s.

CSI Files: Will Tony Enright be back before the season ends?

O’Brien: Tony Enright, Jesse Cardoza’s nemesis, is in a world of legal hurt. He’s facing murder and conspiracy charges, fighting for his life and his freedom. That fight will tie him up through the end of season eight. But, look for Tony to make bail and regain his freedom early in season nine. He will re-ignite his ongoing and deadly battle with Jesse. This is a dual that will have a decidedly shocking conclusion.

CSI Files: Jesse is convinced Enright killed his wife. Will we find out more about Mrs. Cardoza, and the circumstances surrounding her death?

O’Brien: Yes, we will finally learn the truth about Jesse’s wife’s murder. I can’t reveal the answer to that question without giving away the story. Suffice to say the murderer is not at all who we expect. When the truth about his wife’s murder is revealed, it will truly shock Jesse. It will give the audience an invitation to what’s behind his stoic exterior. Jesse’s struggle to deal with the events that led to his wife’s death will greatly humanize his character. Eddie Cibrian is a highly skilled and disciplined actor. In season nine, we’ll be peeling the onion, so to speak, and learn what’s behind his interpretation of the character. Jesse Cardoza is a man in pain. And we will come to know that pain far more intimately in season nine.

CSI Files: Will we see Kyle Harmon again this season?

Dube: I enjoyed our time with Kyle Harmon this year. He always brings out the best in Horatio. I can’t imagine we’ve seen the last of him. There’s always Season 9.

CSI Files: Will Christian Clemenson‘s quirky coroner be back next season?

O’Brien: It’s with huge pleasure that I tell you that Christian Clemson will be back in every episode of season nine! Christian’s portrayal of the quirky Tom Loman has been a revelation! Forgive the pun, but Christian has brought new life to the autopsy theater! Christian is a real gift to the writers. He can take what appears to be an ordinary line of dialogue and give it nuance, spin and complexity that we writers never imagined! He makes us look good! We will be spending more time getting to know Tom Loman next season. Learnng what’s behind his dedication as a pathologist. Taking a peek at what he does when he’s not working. An extremely quirky hobby or two may be revealed. And, can you say love interest?

CSI Files: Can you tell us about the finale cliffhanger?

O’Brien: I can honestly tell you that the cliffhanger at the end of season eight is, by far, the most shocking, high octane and jaw dropping that I’ve ever seen! All I can tell you as of this writing, is that no one is safe. No one. Every single one of our characters finds themselves in in a life and death struggle for their very survival at the conclusion of season eight. Metaphorically and physically, “they all fall down.” And, not every one will get up. No one is safe. Stay tuned!

As CSI Files previously reported, Zombie will helm the sixteenth episode of Miami‘s eighth season. The episode, tentatively titled “LA”, is scheduled to air on March 1. When a murder is committed in Miami, a voice recording captures the death on tape—and possibly the killer’s voice. However, the evidence becomes inadmissible when it is discovered that Jesse Cardoza (newcomer Eddie Cibrian) planted the recording device. The situation brings up accusations of evidence tampering in a case Jesse worked in Los Angeles, California, sending Horatio Caine (David Caruso) and Eric Delko (Adam Rodriguez) to the City of Angels to uncover the truth and hopefully clear Jesse’s name.

“As writers, we were really pushing to create an interesting backdrop that could lend to Rob Zombie’s visual style,” said co-executive producer Marc Dube. “We thought opening the episode at a macabre party, with Miami attendees all wearing stylized masks (a la Eyes Wide Shut) would be a fun kick-off point for Rob to do what he does best: conveying the cruel and creepy underbelly of humanity.” Zombie added, “I am very excited to be working on a show that has such an intense and unique visual angle on the classic crime drama formula and look forward to putting my own bizarre stamp on the world of CSI: Miami.”