It's been a few days since my last TCA Diary, so I've got a lot to get through. In the interests of brevity (and so that you don't also feel like you've been trapped at this press conference as long as I have!) I'm only going to give you the highlights. They are: Lucy Liu, Lauren Lee Smith, Elizabeth Reaser, Toni Collette.

Although Cashmere Mafia has bitten the dust, Lucy Liu hasn't entirely gotten the shaft. "I got a call from Steve McPherson [ABC's entertainment president] saying that Cashmere Mafia was most likely not going to come back and that he still wanted to work with me and keep me in the family," she said. "And I told him that I was a huge fan of Dirty Sexy Money."

Liu then sat down with Dirty Sexy Money's producers and brainstormed about her character, who was created to fit in with some of the story lines the producers had been discussing. She'll be playing Nola Lyons, described in ABC's press materials as "whip-smart, overachieving and very fashionable." When asked whether her character will be romantically paired with anyone, Liu answered: "I hope so. I think I'll be romantically paired maybe with all — everyone that's up here, including the women."

Lucy Liu

Photo credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

We always appreciate a shout-out, Lucy.

In other news, former soup chef Lauren Lee Smith has traded in her apron for a microscope (and various other scientific instruments) as the newest crime scene investigator on CSI. CBS' president of entertainment, Nina Tassler, said that "this new character is also going to give to the other supporting characters and Marg [Helgenberger] an opportunity to sort of show parts of their character, show parts of their personality, that the audiences perhaps haven't seen ever before or at least in a while." … continue reading

The beginning of the headline did not sit well with me: “CSI Replaces Jorja Fox.”

Excuse me? Replace Jorja Fox? Try replacing the sun in the morning sky, or the oxygen in the air we breathe, or Dana in Alice's bed.

OK, thinking about Dana in Alice's bed made me feel better. And the CSI producers must've been thinking along those same lines when they cast the newest forensic female, because starting next season, CSI will star none other than our favorite "soup" chef, Lauren Lee Smith.

Smith joins the cast next season as Bryce Adams, described as a “smart, flirtatious and witty nonconformist who is hired as a CSI on the night-shift team led by Grissom (William Peterson).” Just in case you’re behind on CSI casting news, this is the part that almost went to BSG’s Katee Sackhoff, who still can’t believe she didn’t get it.

Smith's character, Bryce, went into law enforcement as a way to rebel against her father, a “judgmental psychiatrist” (isn’t that redundant?) According to CBS, “she has always been fascinated by the perverse underbelly of society and cannot be shocked or intimidated.” Perverse underbelly of society? I need to watch CSI more often. … continue reading

If you're anything like me, you have little interest in watching boys run around trying to escape from other boys and the prisons they build. That's not to say I don't like Prison Break. It's not horrible, but there's just way too much testosterone. Plus, the show is starting to look a little bit like a lost puppy during this third season.

The drooping ratings and recycled story lines do not, however, dampen my enthusiasm for the the recent news that the folks in charge of Prison Break are planning a spin-off. Now, normally I'm not a big spin-off girl, unless you're talking Star Trek. But, in this case, I think I'll make an exception. Why? Because this spin-off is all about the girls.

You heard me correctly. Think of your love for the Charlie's Angels "women in prison" episode.

Now think of your love for Bad Girls.

Now imagine something a lot less campy than Sabrina and the gang and more American than Nikki and Helen. That's what Fox is cooking up for its Prison Break spin-off. Attention shoppers! Your women-in-prison fantasies are now available on aisle 6. … continue reading