'CSI' And 'Without A Trace' To Cross Over

CBS will be capitalising on Without A Trace's return to the post-CSI timeslot next season by airing crossover episodes of the two shows.

Nina Tassler, CBS's entertainment president, made the announcement at the annual summer convention of the Television Critics Association, where the television press gathers to learn more about the coming season. She said the crossover episodes will air on the same night, with Without a Trace star Anthony LaPaglia first appearing on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and then an hour later William Petersen (Gil Grissom) guest-starring on Without a Trace to finish the story.

Without a Trace was originally launched in the post-CSI timeslot five years ago, and quickly became one of CBS's biggest hits. Last season, the network moved the show away to Sunday nights alongside Cold Case, and launched the legal drama Shark in the Thursday 10pm timeslot. Now that it's been renewed for a second season, Shark itself will move to Sundays, allowing Trace to head back to Thursdays.

At the TCA press tour, Tassler said little else about the original CSI, but did reveal that CSI: New York will feature an episode next season that will delve into the popular online world of Second Life to solve a mystery. In addition, she confirmed that on CSI: Miami, Horatio Caine will find about a family member he never knew he had -- his own biological son. For more information on the circumstances surrounding that discovery, check out our recent spoiler report of the CSI: Miami premiere.

Much of Tassler's time at the press conference was spent discussing recent controversies involving the cast members of several CBS shows. The most prominent of these was the unexpected walkout of Mandy Patinkin from Criminal Minds, but she was also asked about an incident whereby CSI star Gary Dourdan (Warrick Brown) was filmed as he attacked a cameraman. As the incident had only occurred shortly before that, Tassler refused to comment, saying she first had to get more information.

For a more detailed account of Tassler's TCA appearance, please head over to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

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