TCA Update - CBS/CW/Showtime Round-Up and Notable Quotes

Corporate synergy had the three nets sharing two days of presentations.

CBS

-William Petersen's Gil Grissom is leaving the scene. The crime scene, that is. The actor will depart after next season's tenth episode. He will remain an executive producer, however, and CBS entertainment president Nina Tassler promised that Grissom will be back for the sporadic pop in to pick up evidence, talk bugs, and maybe romance fellow occasional returnee Jorja Fox.

-Although Grissom won't technically be "replaced" a new CSI, who will eventually become the head of the unit, will join the show and he's got a weird and potentially intriguing secret. He has, says Tassler, "an interesting genetic profile that in certain sort of medical contexts, they've noticed that many times serial killers have that same genetic profile. And this gentleman knows this about himself and is sort of in this journey and -- and to discover who his true character will ultimately become." (Entertainment Weekly claims the show is pursuing big names like Kurt Russell and Laurence Fishburne for the role.)

-Speaking of serial killers, re-airing sister network Showtime's "Dexter" was a strike solution only. Tassler says it's unlikely that CBS will re-run it again.

-Tassler said no decision has yet been made about picking up the ratings-challenged '70s drama "Swingtown" but that "right now, we're behind the show and we are proud of it."

-Jason Alexander and Luke Perry will be appearing on "Criminal Minds" this season.

They Said

"When I got into acting, I wanted a very specific skill, phone-based comedy." -"Worst Week" star Kyle Bornheimer on how his phone conversations in the pilot echo his disastrous message leaving in recent T-Mobile ads.

"'Because all my friends are going to see it. It will be cool because I'm sick of going to see movies where you die or you're having sex with someone. So please, Dad, do this one.'" -"The Mentalist" star Simon Baker on how his daughter encouraged him to take the part in "The Devil Wears Prada."

"I actually let my vagina write half of the script." "The Ex List" creator Diane Ruggiero responding to a question about the "inordinate" amount of "vagina humor" in the pilot of the Elizabeth Reaser series.

Showtime and CW after the jump...

The CW

-CW entertainment president Dawn Ostroff announced that "Reaper" would return mid-season

-She described a new reality series from "Spider-Man" director Sam Raimi called "13-Fear is Real" as "'The Blair Witch Project' as a reality show."

-Ostroff believes rich white people shows like "Gossip Girl," and the upcoming "90210" reboot and "Privileged" aren't uncommon in tough economic times. She pointed to '80s stalwarts "Dynasty" and "Dallas" as examples. "A lot of times when the country goes through times like these where we're in what is perceived by many people as a recession, having entertainment be escapist entertainment is what our viewers look for."

-There are no plans for another cycle of "Beauty and the Geek."

They Said

"I think every character that an actor plays, you put a lot of yourself into it and the difference between Lucille and Tabitha is, first of all, Lucille liked vodka and Tabitha likes scotch." -Jessica Walter on the difference between the substance abusing grandma she played on "Arrested Development" and the one she will play on "90210."

"It's a cool coffehouse now where a lot of kids hang out, but it's not going to be like the old show where it's like 'Hey, it's Color Me Badd!'" -"90210" executive producer Jeff Judah on the updated Peach Pit.

"I was prepared with a glass of wine, and then I didn't need it." Former "Reba" star JoAnn Garcia on going from her natural blond to redhead for her role on "Privileged."

SHOWTIME

-President Robert Greenblatt announced the cable net has ordered two more seasons of "Weeds."

-Production will start on the Edie Falco dark comedy "Nurse Jackie" this fall and it will start airing in late spring/early summer 2009.

-A third season of "This American Life" has yet to be ordered but when Ira Glass is ready, the network wants it.

-The Steven Spielberg-produced, Diablo Cody-written, Toni Colette-starring multiple personality comedy "The United States of Tara" will premiere in early 2009.

-The network made a deal with the Weinstein brothers to bring 95 of their feature films to the net for their first cable run over the next seven years including Rob Marshall's musical "Nine" and Quentin Tarantino's WWII film "Inglorious Bastards."

-An "L-Word" spin-off is in the works when that show wraps. No title as of yet.

-Ten additional episodes of "Penn & Teller's (Expletive)" have been ordered and a new six part documentary series set in a Colorado gun store, called "Locked and Loaded," has also been ordered.

They Said

"That I was going to look really short." "Dexter" star Michael C. Hall's reaction to the casting of Jimmy Smits as his third season nemesis.

"I would compare it to the fact that Britney Spears sells about a million times more albums
than Tom Waits, and I listen to Tom Waits." "Brotherhood" creator Blake Masters on why the highest-quality shows aren't always the most popular.

"There was 'As long as you're not kissing a black man.'" -"Dexter" himself Michael C. Hall joking about his family's reaction to him playing a serial killer versus gay undertaker David Fisher on "Six Feet Under."