When Eric Szmanda audtioned for a guest role as Greg Sanders in the CSI pilot, he couldn't yet know the show was going to turn into the biggest hit on TV. A year later, when he was promoted to regular cast member, there was no avoiding the show's success.

"By that point it had become so successfully, it was basically like holding onto a flying rocket," Szmanda told Kevin Williamson at the Calgary Sun.

This season, it turned out to be a three-stage rocket, when Szmanda's promotion to full cast member was followed by his character getting a promotion to field investigator. "It was a very long process. [...] But I was patient and the writers followed through with it. I just finally finished shooting the episode where I pass and [officially become a field agent.]"

With his character spending more time out on the field, Szmanda is also interacting more with CSI star William Peterson (Gil Grissom) - something Szmanda doesn't mind at all. "Billy is a great guy. We're both from the Midwest, from Chicago, and we've had that from the start. There was an immediate bond. He's always present and available to five advice. And he's also someone who you can go to if you're having an issue on the show ..."

Szmanda talked to the Calgary Sun as part of his promotional tour for the CSI board game, for which he also appeared on CBS's Early Show (story) and in New York talked with high school forensic science students. But the Calgary Sun is the first publication to feature information on whether Szmanda actually played the board game himself. "I'm trying to figure out how the game's played. It's definitely no Yatzy," Szmanda said. "You definitely have to invest some time and energy into it. It's like watching our show."

The full Calgary Sun article can be found by following this link. Meanwhile, if you'd like to read even more from Szmanda, you might also be interested in the interview that CSI Files' own Kristine Huntley conducted with Szmanda two weeks ago.

Discuss this news item at Talk CSI!
 Add CSI Files RSS feed to your news reader or My Yahoo!
Also a Desperate Housewives fan? Then visit GetDesperate.com!