S-E-X COMES TO CSI
By Roger Hitt
Globe Magazine
March 21, 2005
Two very alive, very hot bodies are set to steam up those cold, sterile labs on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation when two of the sexy scientists start a sizzling workplace romance, say sources.
Fans have been clamoring for forensic experts Catherine Willows (Marg Helgenberger) and Warrick Brown (Gary Dourdan) to fall into bed together after years of flirting. And they’ll get their wish because Emmy-nominated Helgenberger convinced producers of the CBS hit to spice up her role, say sources.
“Catherine needs to explore her sexuality and have some intimacy in her life,” says 46-year-old Helgenberger.
Explains a close show source, “Marg cut her teeth as a soap opera actress and has lots of sexy roles on her resume, and she just feels it’s part of her arsenal as an actress that hasn’t been used on CSI.
She considers it a victory that the sparks between Willows and Brown will soon ignite into flames.”
Dourdan, 38, can barely wait for the scripts to hook up the lab lovers.
“I’d love to see that [sex] scene on the kitchen table,” says Dourdan. “Or maybe on the desk. And then the break room. Not in the morgue, though.”
But some cast members fear adding slap and tickle could lead the show down the soap opera path to disaster. A romantic storyline between Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox) and Gil Grissom (William Petersen) fizzled because Petersen didn’t want the love story to distract viewers from what makes the show special, says a set insider.
“Petersen is a firm believer that the science of the show fascinates viewers and keeps them tuned in and that CSI doesn’t have to stoop to kissing scenes to keep them interested,” says the insider. “I know William and Marg have bumped heads on this issue – but it looks like Marg won this round.”
“William’s noted in the past that the show already makes some concessions to keeping sexy – the women come to work dressed to the nines, and sometimes the hair flows freely when they are working in the lab. You would never see that in real life.”