Originally posted by movieking
Did Fox oversleep too?

"CSI" Kills Back to Life?

by Joal Ryan
Jul 21, 2004, 4:30 PM PT

Are CSI's casualties about to return from the dead?

Jorja Fox, axed last week from TV's top-rated drama, will return to the scene of the crime and rejoin the show, sources tell E! News Live.

Fellow fired costar George Eads will stage a similar comeback--or so he hopes. Speaking to TV critics in Los Angeles Wednesday, Eads called his dismissal "a big misunderstanding," the Associated Press reported.

CBS had no comment Wednesday.

Fox and Eads were bumped off when CBS got out the Louisville Slugger and played hardball with the reputedly pay-hike-seeking actors.

Fox was let go last Wednesday, it was said, because she had not met a CBS-imposed deadline pledging, in writing, to continue to report for work, ongoing contract hassles or no.

The actress was said to be "mystified" by her firing, Variety said, because she believed she'd sent in her letter in time.

E! News Live sources said the Fox matter was ruled a misunderstanding, clearing the way for her return.

Per various reports, Eads was fired last Thursday either for failing to show up for work or failing to show up to work on time.

While CBS interpreted his tardiness as a negotiating tactic, Eads said it was simply a matter of a missed alarm.

"I overslept...I woke up white as a sheet three-and-a-half hours after I was supposed to be on the set," Eads said, per the Associated Press.

The actor, who played hair and fiber expert Nick Stokes on CSI for the past four seasons, said he has "apologized nine ways to Sunday," but he has yet to directly speak to tough-love CBS chieftain Leslie Moonves.

On Sunday, Moonves told TV critics he had no regrets about whacking Eads and Fox.

"There were certain veiled threats about their not showing up, and there comes a point where we all have to look out for the future of the network television business," Moonves said. "This behavior has to stop."

For now, it's production on the Emmy-nominated CSI that has stopped--at least until its forensics team is in order.

Shooting on the show's fifth season was to have begun last week, but with all the spilled blood, cameras never got rolling.

The network formally began the search for Fox and Eads' replacements Tuesday, the New York Post reported, informing talent agencies it was seeking two actors--one male and one female--in their "late 20s to mid 30s" who projected "sex, edgy and intelligent."

Fox and Eads each were earning $100,000 an episode, or $2.2 million for a TV year's worth of work.

Former 24 cast member Reiko Aylesworth, who was reported yesterday to be joining the CSI team, is apparently only signed up for a one-off guest appearance, with the possibility that her character could become recurring. "Her character is a DNA person, so that Eric Szmanda's character can get out in the field," said E! Online's Kristin Veitch. "She is not taking over for Jorja, I repeat, not taking over for Jorja. They're looking for another permanent cast member for that."

Based on this description, Ayelsworth will likely be playing new DNA technician Chandra Moore. In the original draft of the season premiere, Chandra's first day at the Las Vegas crime lab doesn't go all that well, as she attempts to process evidence from three cases at the same time. As the episode is now being rewritten, her storyline could change before the season premiere goes to air

Fox Back on 'CSI,' Eads' Fate Uncertain

Thu Jul 22,10:24 PM ET

By LYNN ELBER, AP Television Writer

LOS ANGELES - Jorja Fox (news), the "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" star who was fired for skipping work in a salary dispute, is returning to the hit CBS drama.


AP Photo



Fox reached an agreement with the network and will be back on the set next week, a source close to the production said Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity.


Co-star George Eads also lost his job when he also failed to report last week for the start of production on the fifth season.


Eads' situation remained unchanged Thursday. But a public apology — in which the actor said he merely overslept and wasn't angling for more money — may have opened the door to talks, the source said.


"It's a big misunderstanding, straight up," Eads told the Television Critics Association on Wednesday. "I want all this to work out. 'CSI' is a part of who I am."


A CBS spokesman declined comment. Calls seeking comment from the actors' publicists were not immediately returned Thursday.


Fox and Eads, who play investigators Sara Sidle and Nick Stokes on the forensics drama set in Las Vegas, were being paid a reported $100,000 each per episode.


CBS chief Leslie Moonves said earlier this week that the firings were fair business decisions. "There comes a point where we feel a contract is a contract," he said.


Deals with Fox and Eads were renegotiated after two years and a raise was offered for this fifth season although there was no contractual obligation to do so, Moonves said.


Other actors in the "CSI" cast, including Marg Helgenberger (news) and William Petersen, were not involved in the dispute. Petersen is also a producer on the series.


A salary holdout last year by another CBS star, Emmy-winning Brad Garrett of "Everybody Loves Raymond" paid off for the actor. But CBS' hard line on the "CSI" actors indicated the network didn't see them as crucial to the ensemble drama.


"CSI" was the top-rated drama last season and the No. 2 show in viewers just behind "American Idol." The show and its spinoffs "CSI: Miami" and the upcoming "CSI: NY" are key elements of CBS' schedule

NEW YORK (AP) -- Actors George Eads and Jorja Fox will both be back on the job next week at "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" after learning a lesson in hardball network politics.

Eads reached an agreement Friday to return to television's most popular drama after he was fired for skipping work in what CBS believed was a contract dispute, CBS entertainment spokesman Chris Ender said.

He rejoins Jorja Fox, who came to her own agreement to come back on Thursday.

A spokeswoman for Eads did not immediately return a call seeking comment on Friday.

The actors portray investigators Sara Sidle and Nick Stokes on the Las Vegas-based forensics drama. Actors in a successful Hollywood production angling for more money is a long-established Hollywood tradition.

But CBS boss Leslie Moonves, who said the actors' deals had already been renegotiated after two seasons, played tough. "There comes a point where we feel a contract is a contract," he said.

In a similar situation last year with "Everybody Loves Raymond" actor Brad Garrett, CBS kept him on the job and gave him more money.

Eads was hired back at his old salary, a reported $100,000 per episode, said an executive close to the production who requested anonymity. Ender would not comment on terms of the deal.

This week, Eads had essentially pleaded for his job by apologizing before a group of reporters. He said that he had overslept on the first day of filming for the new "CSI" season and wasn't trying to apply pressure.

"It's a big misunderstanding, straight up," Eads told the Television Critics Association on Wednesday. "I want all this to work out. 'CSI' is a part of who I am."

Both actors will be back at work next week, Ender said.

"We are thrilled that Jorja and George could work things out with CBS and return to the show," said series creator Jerry Bruckheimer.

Originally posted by LorenzoL
I guess CBS sent out a message to anyone that want to try this ploy for their next contract negotiations. Unfortunately, I don't think that this course of action will have any effect to a main star or ensemble cast.

The network formally began the search for Fox and Eads' replacements Tuesday, the New York Post reported, informing talent agencies it was seeking two actors--one male and one female--in their "late 20s to mid 30s" who projected "sex, edgy and intelligent."