Lauren Lee Smith (5/08 CSI)
Coming Soon 5/16/08: Lauren Lee Smith | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Lauren Lee Smith Joining CSI
Source: CBS May 16, 2008
Lauren Lee Smith is joining the cast of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" next season as a series regular. She will play CSI Bryce Adams, a smart, flirtatious, and witty non-conformist who entered law enforcement to rebel against her judgmental psychiatrist father. She has always been fascinated by the perverse underbelly of society and cannot be shocked or intimidated. She will be hired onto Grissom's night shift team. Lauren Lee Smith was first discovered out of Vancouver, Canada when she was cast into Showtime's "The L-Word." Lauren then went on co-star in Art School Confidential opposite Max Minghella, and received critical praise and attention from her performance in the independent film Lie with Me. Lauren also co-starred opposite Casey Affleck and Zach Braff in The Last Kiss, and Pathology opposite Michael Weston and Milo Ventimiglia. She will also soon be seen in the horror film Trick 'r Treat, as well as a lead role opposite Ashley Judd in the film Helen.
© Coming Soon
Excerpt from Entertainment Weekly 7/15/08: Lauren Lee Smith
Exclusive: 'CSI' Boss Outlines Season of Change
By Michael Ausiello on Jul 15, 2008 at 6:42AM
Previously-announced addition Lauren Lee Smith (The L Word) joins the cast in the third episode as new CSI Riley Adams. “She will come in to ostensibly replace Sara Sidle,” says Mendelsohn. “She has a very distinct personality… a very wry sense of humor. She doesn’t take herself too seriously.” Adds Shankar: “This is a person who, unlike the rest of our gang, has not had Grissom as a mentor. So there’s a very different relationship between Riley and Grissom.”
© Entertainment Weekly
Excerpt from E! Online8: Lauren Lee Smith
CSI Losing Its Main Man
by Natalie Finn Tue., Jul. 15, 2008 5:30 PM PDT
In addition to Dourdan's brief appearance in September's season premiere, Fox will have a multiepisode arc brimming with romantic possibility, The L Word's Lauren Lee Smith and as-yet-unnamed manly type will be joining the team as new CSIs, the Miniature Killer will show her face again, and The Exorcist helmer William Friedkin will direct the series' 200th episode this spring.
© E!
Excerpt from After Ellen 7/21/08: Lauren Lee Smith
TCA Diary, July 21: The lesbianish weekend update
by Malinda Lo | July 21, 2008
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."
© After Ellen
TV Guide 8/25/08: Lauren Lee Smith
CSI's New Discovery: Lauren Lee Smith's Sassy Scientist Shakes up the Lab's Chemistry
by Carita Rizzo
The mood in the Las Vegas crime lab has been anything but cheerful lately, with Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox) burning out and Warrick Brown (Gary Dourdan) being shot. But when Riley Adams joins the team on October 23, "somber" is not a word anyone would use to describe her. "Obviously the show has had a few losses, but Riley has no idea what's going on," says Lauren Lee Smith, who's been cast as the lab's new criminalist. "She doesn't really care much about what's just happened. She's like, 'Whatever, I'm here. Let's work.' "
The 28-year-old Canadian actress is no stranger to show business, starring on series like Mutant X and The L Word, but Smith says she wasn't as confident as her character when it came to entering the CSI lab. "I was very nervous," she admits. "It's daunting because everyone knows each other so well. I mean, they've been doing this since 2000!"
But her doubts soon melted away. "They're such a family. Day 1, Billy Peterson came up to me and gave me a giant hug."
It's not all hugs and kisses between Riley and Peterson's Grissom, however. She doesn't necesarrily accept her new boss as the Yoda of crime scene investigation. "For the first time in our group, we have somebody who wasn't mentored by Grissom, so she has a very different relationship with him," executive producer Naren Shankar says. "She's a little smart -- the way the others were with him in the first couple of seasons. There wasn't that deference and automatic acceptance of 'Oh, it's Grissom saying so, so it's gotta be real.' "
But who is Riley Adams? Turns out that's a mystery fit for the CSIs to solve. "She has a past that nobody really knows about," Smith says. "She likes to stretch the truth and give everybody false information, so no one knows what her story is." Still, Smith is convinced her character isn't malicious, and expects to eventually find out the logic behind her white lies. And aside from her air of mystery, Riley's also "fun, spunky, and sassy," Smith adds. "I hope the character will bring a little bit of fresh energy and a lighter feel [to the show]."
Despite her character's eagerness to let loose, though, don't expect her to be a catalyst for some intra-lab romance. "[CSI] is never about looking around to see who's going to jump into bed with somebody else," Shankar says. "But is Riley a girl who has a libido? Absolutely -- and you're going to definitely get a sense that this is a girl who likes to have a good time."
© TV Guide
Entertainment Tonight 10/7/08: Lauren Lee Smith | YouTube
Meet CSI's Hot New Crime Investigator
America's top drama, "CSI," is coming back with a vengeance. The hit show might be losing main man William Petersen, but it is picking up a very sultry new addition. The lovely Lauren Lee Smith will be joining the CSI family in its 9th season, premiering this week! "Everyone has just been so, so wonderful," Lauren tells ET of her new cast and crew mates. "I really was apprehensive at first."
The statuesque actress may seem like a fresh face, but she has been around Hollywood for quite a while. She was on the "L Word" and "The Dead Zone," and most recently co-starred in the horror thriller 'Pathology' with "Heroes" star Milo Ventimiglia. Stay tuned, because Lauren will not be mixing things up in the lab until the third episode, but the investigations start up again Thursday Oct. 9 on CBS.
....
Lauren Lee Smith: The character I play is Riley Adams, and she's this young, very saucy, sarcastic, sassy -- all the 'S' words -- girl. And she's thrown into the mix. The CSIs are understaffed at this point, and she's just sort of thrown into the mix. There's not a lot of time for formalities and 'getting to know you' and all of that. She's sort of thrown in last minute. And she has a very wry dark sense of humor, which I think is really fun, and I think this is something that that we haven't seen on CSI yet, a character like this. It's interesting because the first time that I meet Grissom, it's basically, he's just looking for me. He knows I'm the new girl, he's like, "You, come on, we've got to go. We've got to get to work." And through work, during our first introduction scene, I think he sort of catches on that I'm kind of quirky in a way. So, you know, he always does these wonderful little looks, these little sort of, you know, he watches with such intensity, but it's also very comedic in a way.
Everyone has just been so, so wonderful, and I really did, I was a little bit apprehensive at first, you know, coming into something where these people have been working together for nine years. And everyone from day one had said what a family atmosphere everyone creates, cast, crew, everyone. And it's just such a lovely group of people. And I have been so welcomed by everyone, it's just been really, really lovely. I was going to Vegas with Allen, one of the writers, to do a ride along. And we were at the airport, and he was like, "You know, this time next year, it's probably going to be a different story." And I'm like, "What are you talking about?" He's like, "Well, you know, the whole cast, when they go to the airport or whatever, you know, everyone gets recognized." And that was really the first time that I ever thought about it, and I was like, "Oh, wow. That's interesting. Yeah, we'll see." I don't know, I'm pretty naive when it comes to that. I don't really think about that, I just, you know, day to day. I come to work, I'm really lucky and excited to be here. Gosh, you know, people start noticing me, or whatever, I guess I'll have to take it from there. We'll see.
© Entertainment Tonight
USA Today 10/9/08: Lauren Lee Smith
Another new face joins 'CSI'
By Bill Keveney, USA TODAY
As a criminalist arriving in CSI's third episode (Oct. 23), Riley Adams sounds as puzzling as some of the crimes she is asked to solve. "When asked a question, it's not that unusual for her to have a different story every time," says Lauren Lee Smith (The L Word), the hit series' newest cast regular. "It takes a little while for them to figure out who this Riley character is."
Some basic facts are available: Riley is a former St. Louis police officer who became a crime scene investigator. She comes in as a second-level CSI to the understaffed Las Vegas unit, which is still shaken by the shooting of one of its own. "She's a little bit of a sassy, sarcastic kind of spunky, spirited girl," Smith says. She's spunky - or perhaps foolhardy - enough to take on supervisor Gil Grissom (William Petersen). "She butts heads a little bit with Grissom. (But) it's done in a very respectful way."
Riley's most-defined relationship so far is with fellow investigator Greg Sanders (Eric Szmanda). They "have this very brother-sister banter. They're poking fun at each other all the time."
Smith, 28, says she was apprehensive as a newcomer on an established hit, but "everyone was so welcoming." The Vancouver, B.C., native also is appreciative of the show's technical advisers, who are helping her learn to look and act like a real investigator. "They're there every step of the way, showing you what everything looks like and how to do it, even down to how to hold your camera and your flashlight. You want to look as professional as possible," she says. Does she ever mess up? Yes. "They have come in and said, 'Un-unh. No, no, no.' "
© USA Today
Excerpt from Today.com 10/27/08: Lauren Lee Smith
Death becomes art on ‘CSI’: Victims are found posed as statues, and a new investigator joins the team
CSIs to the rescue: The team did manage to track down and save the boy by locating a warehouse that had been used to store burlap (fibers had been found on all the bodies). The boy was already posed and in the chamber, but new CSI, Riley Adams, managed to revive him. Fresh blood: The daughter of two psychiatrists, Riley Adams is a level two CSI who has veneers on a couple of her teeth, can spot pharmaceutical-grade marijuana on sight and has a wry sense of humor that will hopefully fit in well on the team.
© Today
CSI Magazine 11/08: Lauren Lee Smith, posted by Kaylyne on CSI Files
Lauren Lee Smith: Meet the Newest Member of Grissom's Team...Riley Adams.
Words: Bryan Cairns
Throughout her career, Lauren Lee Smith certainly hasn't played it safe. Long before CSI, the Canadian actress was decked out in black leather as the telepath Emma on Mutant X, then embraced her inner lesbian for The L Word, starred in the sexually risque Lie With Me, demonstrated a dark side in the recent feature film Pathology, and is currently awaiting the release of the horror anthology, Trick 'r Treat. Based on this evidence, it should be no surprise to anyone that Smith's latest gig as rookie Riley Adams on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is yet another intriguing polar opposite to her previous projects. "This is something I've never done before," explains the extremely upbeat Smith. "The last few years, I've worked on a lot of independent films, so I was pleasantly surprised a network television show wanted to have me in the first place. It was just really exciting to come onto a well established show, be a part of something so well loved, and to step into a whole new world that I haven't had the opportunity to experience until now. The L Word was on Showtime and a bit edgier, so it's not quite the same, and with Mutant X, I just felt like I was such a baby. That was my first real job, so it was sort of just a flash."
With names such as Battlestar Galactica's Katie Sackhoff rumored to have been vying for the coveted role of Riley Adams, surely the audition for one of television's most top-rated series was an arduous affair? "This is going to sound really horrible, but it wasn't at all," says Smith. "There is a long and short answer. I did a pilot for CBS in April, and that was an experience in itself. I had to jump through a thousand hoops as far as network testing goes. That was difficult and it didn't get picked up. Then the day it didn't, I hear they were interested in me for the new character on CSI. It just happened and I kind of felt guilty. I did sit down with the showrunners, producers, and writers, because they hadn't seen me in person. They had only seen my demo reel and the recent work I had done, so we had a meet and greet to see if we meshed."
Obviously, Smith impressed the heck out of them, but they weren't about to make her CSI introduction an easy one. In fact, Riley joins the team under some tough circumstances due to Sara's sudden departure and Warrick's tragic murder in season eight. "When Riley arrives, she doesn't really know what the hell is going on," reveals Smith. "Riley has been brought to Vegas [to be a part of this] team and she is crazy about her job. That's what she's there to do, so she doesn't really take much notice of the drama that is surrounding the CSIs right now. When we first meet Riley, she tells it like it is. She has a wicked sense of humor, is kind of a smart ass, and sassy. She throws people off guard by being so abrupt with the other CSIs, who don't know what to expect. We are playing with this idea that she tells one person some of her background and then turns around to spin a completely different tale to someone else. No one really has a sense of who exactly this girl is or where she comes from right now."
Understandably, the remaining crime investigators are still grieving and in no mood to embrace any new blood. "They are a little wary of this girl, of who she is, and how capable she is," confirms Smith. "At the same time, they are understaffed so they do need her. Riley knows there is no time for formalities or chit-chat - it's just time to work. Gradually, we see Catherine coming around, but Riley has to prove herself."
In addition, Riley is arguably an odd choice considering she is the only CSI who has not been mentored by Grissom. "It's interesting because we are beginning to see Riley and Grissom butt heads a little, but there is still a certain amount of respect. Riley is not afraid to speak her mind," reports Smith. "If she believes in something, she shows a lot of conviction for it and isn't willing to back down until she's been proven wrong. Grissom understands that and respects it because Riley does it in a way that is somewhat humorous. It's an interesting dynamic and she does push his buttons a little to see how far she can take it."
Already, Riley has accompanied all of her teammates to various crime scenes, which means Smith has been exposed to some truly gory sights... "I really dig all that. I find it fascinating," offers Smith. "The more bizarre the better. I got to do my ride-along and go to the crime lab - I eat all that up. I had been to the LA county morgue for the movie Pathology so I didn't have to pleasure of going back. All of that stuff is so fascinating and one of the reasons I love this job so much is that, as an actor, I am allowed to explore these strange worlds and find out all of this information. I love the gross stuff. I have lots of brothers!" [Laughs]
Smith's siblings couldn't prepare her for all the procedural lingo, though. "Everything was going pretty smoothly for me, and then yesterday, it was like I drank a bowl of stupid," she laughs. "Eric [Szmanda] and I were doing my first walk and talk and I felt so bad. It was a Steadicam shot, too - our operator was following us, and those cameras are heavy. It seemed like every time I got it right, Eric didn't, or if he got it, I messed it up. I think we did it 25 times, so it was pretty embarrassing. Other than that, it's been okay, as long as I give myself enough time to know exactly what it is I'm saying."
That tongue-twisting jargon isn't the only incident that could potentially sneak its way into a blooper reel... "The first day I was coming on to do my scene, I had butterflies in my stomach and the first assistant director was like, "Everyone, this is Lauren. Lauren, meet everyone," recalls Smith. "I'm wearing heels and I totally wiped out! That was typical of me, though, because I am very clumsy. In the lab, there are all these glass doors and once a month, someone runs into it. I'm sure I am up soon."
From the sounds of it, one aspect Smith didn't need to fake was Riley's new kid at the lab jitters. After all, CSI is one of the most popular television series on the planet and her first primetime gig. "I was definitely apprehensive and nervous," notes Smith. "I am a fan of CSI, as is my whole family and the rest of the world. I have to say I was immediately put at ease on a personal level by everybody. The entire cast is lovely. They are such a family at this point that they really welcomed me with open arms. It's been a really easy transition and such a pleasure to come to work."
Nonetheless, relocating to Los Angeles from her native Canada initially re-enforced those nerves.
"It was a bit of a culture shock, but I'm getting into it now," says Smith. "We had a hiatus for about a month, so I spent some time going, 'Okay, I'm living in LA now and that's different. I've got a dog. I could get used to this.' Previously, a lot of my work had been filmed in Canada. It's great because my family have lived in LA on and off since I was 14-years-old so I do have a few good family friends in the area. I talk to my mom and it's cold and pouring with rain in Vancouver. I'm like, 'Oh really? It's hot here and I'm going to the beach."
To date, Smith has only filmed a handful of episodes, but she is absolutely giddy over being on CSI and the direction they are heading with her character. "I've really enjoyed the humorous moments that the writers put in and what we are allowed to bring to our characters," offers Smith. "They are very open to our own ideas and little character quirks, so that has been great. As for the character's arc, butting heads with Grissom, and being the girl who is the opposite of cerebral coming in and instinctively letting her guts lead her, is interesting, but it can also get her in a lot of trouble."
With her role in Pathology and now CSI, it appears Smith was destined to mess around in the world of forensics. "God, what's not to like?" enthuses Smith. "Forensics just fascinate me. I had no idea half of the technology that is available existed and what it is able to do. We have these wonderful technical advisors on set who are always open to us asking questions about how everything works. These are people who were actual CSIs and they talk about how much it's changed in a short time. It's insane how it's evolved, even in the last 10 years.
"And every single tiny aspect of it, what human beings are capable of, and the technology, is mind boggling," she continues. "To be quite honest, it's interesting that these people, especially the pathologists, can go in there and see these horrific things and not feel fazed at all. It's the same with the CSIs. They are able to look at it and say, 'Okay, these are horrible events and I can't change them, so the only thing I can do is figure out the how.' That whole mentality is fascinating. On a personal level, I couldn't do that at all."
© CSI Magazine
Excerpt from WDEF 11/10/08: Lauren Lee Smith
Lauren Lee Smith and Megalyn Echikunwoke Interview
Joe Legg: Well, Lauren, what's it like joining a popular show mid-stream like CSI, when there's already an established rhythm there, and you're just trying to tune in to it?
Lauren: You know, it's just a little bit overwhelming, I'm not gonna lie. I had been a huge fan of the show beforehand, so it was definitely very daunting. Fortunately, I didn't have all that much time beforehand to let my nerves get the better of me I was cast, and then basically, I had to start shooting a couple of weeks after that.
© WDEF
TV Guide 11/13/08: Lauren Lee Smith
Why Does the New CSI Like Pushing Grissom's Buttons?
Nov 13, 2008 01:30 AM ET by Matt Mitovich
What is the deal with the new kid on the CSI block? TVGuide.com invited new cast member Lauren Lee Smith (The L Word, Mutant X) to shed some light on the thus-far very murky life of Riley. (CSI airs Thursdays at 9 pm/ET, on CBS.)
TVGuide.com: Tell me about dipping your toe into the world of domination in last week's episode.
Lauren Lee Smith: Yes, that fun! [Laughs] Riley got in there with the rest of them. Maybe she knows a little more about it than she should.
TVGuide.com: Was there anything that made you, the actress, blush?
Smith: I'm not going to lie - they had this giant box that I pulled out from under a bed, and there was stuff in there that I had no idea what it was for. "What? How would you...?" Eric [Szmanda, Greg] and I turned into 12-year-old kids, basically. The crew was slightly amused for the first five minutes, and then was like, "C'mon now."
TVGuide.com: Is there anything juicy for you in this week's episode, which revolves around a Koreatown shooting?
Smith: That was the first time that I got to use a gun, so that was interesting! It's kind of addicting, actually. It is, though, a little strange pointing a gun - even though it's fake - at someone's head. And in this case, at an elderly woman.
TVGuide.com: But she probably drives badly, so....
Smith: That's right. [Laughs] I'm forgiven for that one.
TVGuide.com: What do we know about Riley thus far? She rebelled against her parents, who were both shrinks....
Smith: I don't know if we know if that's the truth yet. All we really know is she's kind of a smart-ass, and she likes to push people's buttons - especially Grissom's. We're going to see that a bit more in upcoming episodes.
TVGuide.com: What's behind her tendency to push his buttons?
Smith: It has a little to do with how she treats any sort of authority figure. She likes to look at things from the other side.
TVGuide.com: She hasn't been brought up to revere Grissom, as some have.
Smith: Right, so she's not really afraid to challenge him. That throws him off.
TVGuide.com: You've been working a lot with Eric Szmanda. Is that pretty much the game plan moving forward?
Smith: They started my character off playing with everyone, but the chemistry between Eric and I is very brother-sister and kind of teasing. I hope they continue with it.
TVGuide.com: But it's not anything that will blossom into sexual tension.
Smith: Oh my god, I really hope not. It's always more interesting when they keep things platonic. There are more ways to go with that than if a romance starts to bloom.
TVGuide.com: I see a lot of fans referring to Riley as "quirky." Are you OK with that?
Smith: What does "quirky" really mean? Sure - it sounds good, I guess. She's just a little bit "off."
TVGuide.com: You have to think that anyone who does this job for a living has to be off.
Smith: You have to. And in order to bring a new character to this show, she has to make a bit of an impression. Otherwise, she's just another girl on the night shift. So "quirky" is all right with me.
TVGuide.com: Are there any big reveals about Riley on the horizon?
Smith: There aren't these big reveals, just bits and pieces of truth... or non-truths. It's up to the audience to decide if she's bulls---ting.
TVGuide.com: On the syndicated series Mutant X, you had the power of mind control. Have there been any recent real-life instances where you could have used that?
Smith: I just got a new car, so that could have helped [with negotiating]! I actually have a weird tendency to say things to people that they were just about to say. I always freak my best friend out with that. So I might have a bit of psychic power. [Laughs]
© TV Guide
CBS 11/15/08: Lauren Lee Smith
CBS Stars: You Ask, They Tell. Lauren Lee Smith
Q: What's it like being the newest addition to the CSI team?
A: I feel very fortunate, really. At the end of the day, I'm very, very lucky. The entire cast and crew, everyone was so welcoming, and made it such an easy transition. And it's so great coming into a show that has already set itself up, and the production quality, everything across the board, everyone there knows exactly what they're doing. And so you come in, it's just a well-oiled machine. And it's really nice to be a part of that, and to just come in and be able to do your work and go home at the end of the day. So it's great. It's really great.
Q: What attracted you to the role of Riley?
A: She is...you know, I really love her sense of humor. She's never at a loss for words, and she always has something witty and wry to say to everyone. So it's really fun, sort of getting to challenge the authority figures as well. Like, to come on and butt heads a little bit with Grissom, she does things her own way. And it's really fun, each episode, to get the new script and to see what the writers have done. And I think they've created a really interesting character that we really haven't seen on CSI yet. So it's good to be a part of that.
Q: What's it like working with this phenomenal cast and crew?
A: Oh, it's just, all across the board...my first day, my very first scene, Billy Peterson came up to me and just gave me a huge hug and said, "Welcome, we're so happy to have you joining our team." And the whole crew has been just...it's been such a lovely experience, and every single one of the cast members at some point has, they've all come up and welcomed me in their own way. And I'm very grateful to all of them for that. And also just sitting back and getting to watch all of them work. I mean, they all know what they're doing so well a this point. And it's great to learn from them as well.
Q: What do you think is the secret to the success of the show?
A: I think part of it is, again, the production quality of the show is so high. So it always looks phenomenal. I think the writers do such an incredible job of, week to week, bringing the stories to life. And they're never at a loss for outdoing each other and getting creative, and at the same time, keeping a sense of reality. We have the technical advisors there every step of the way, making sure that what we're doing is as truthful as it can be for television. And I think it's a very well put together formula, basically. And I think that's sort of why the show is, and continues to be, so successful.
© CBS
Excerpt from CSI Files 12/31/08: Lauren Lee Smith
David Rambo Interview
By Kristine Huntley Posted at December 31, 2008 - 11:59 PM GMT
We're starting to give Lauren Lee Smith (Riley Adams) more of a role. Riley is able to do more, to express herself more. She and Langston work a case together and it's not all candy and roses between them. Riley's a tough love girl, which I like about her.
....
CSI Files: Are there sparks flying between Riley and Greg, or do they just like working together?
Rambo: I think they really like working together. As writers we like putting them together because they're fun to see together. There was almost a brother/sister aspect to Greg and Sara; it's a lot more vibrant I think with Greg and Riley. If you're asking me if there's a romance, I don't know if there is or isn't to be honest. We haven't gone there yet. We've had other fish to fry.
© CSI Files
Excerpt from TV Guide 1/14/09: Lauren Lee Smith
Mega Buzz on Lost, Battlestar, 24, CSI and More!
Matt Mitovich, Mickey O'Connor & Tim Molloy
Why is Lauren Lee Smith getting so little face time in the latest CSI episodes? - Norman
TIM: She'll get more, and soon. The lovely Canadian told us on the set this week that we'll soon see why her character, Riley Adams, "seems to have a chip on her shoulder." Apparently someone close to Riley was a victim of a crime, and she hasn't quite worked through her feelings - except by pouring them into her work.
© TV Guide
Excerpt from CSI Fanatic 2/11/09: Lauren Lee Smith | Celebrity Photo 2/10/09
CSI Celebrates 200 Episodes With a Crime Scene…
by Lynn on February 11th, 2009
…a crime scene-decorated cake, that is! ;-) Check out these fun photos of the cast & crew of CSI: Vegas when they celebrated their 200th episode yesterday on the lot at Universal Studios.
....
Check out the photo with Laurence Fishburne, William Petersen, Marg Helgenberger, Paul Guilfoyle, Liz Vassey, George Eads, Eric Szmana, Lauren Lee Smith, Archie Kao, David Berman & Robert David Hall.
She Knows.com 2/11/09: Lauren Lee Smith
The cast and crew of CSI celebrate their 200th episode
February 11th, 2009 by jodypag
The cast and crew of CSI celebrate their 200th episode with a cake-cutting and apple cider toast at the CSI stages at Universal Studios in Universal City, CA.
We Love Soaps 2/11/09: Lauren Lee Smith
CSI's Soap Star Cast Celebrates 200 Episodes
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 Posted by Roger Newcomb (We Love Soaps)
The cast and crew of CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION gathered at Universal Studios yesterday to celebrate the taping of their 200th episode. A number of cast members got their start on soaps including the two current leads. In attendance were George Eads (ex-Nick, SAVANNAH), William Peterson, Laurence Fishburne (ex-Josh, ONE LIFE TO LIVE), Marg Helgenberger (ex-Siobhan, RYAN'S HOPE), Robert David Hall, David Berman, Paul Guilfoyle, Eric Szmanda, Jon Wellner, Liz Vassey (ex-Emily, ALL MY CHILDREN) and Lauren Lee Smith (ex-Lara, THE L WORD).
© We Love Soaps
Excerpt from Media Blvd 2/19/09: Lauren Lee Smith
A Visit to the set of 'CSI'
Created on Thursday, 19 February 2009 16:31 By Christina Radish
MediaBlvd Magazine> For the producers, what has this last year been like?
Carol Mendelsohn> It’s been a year with a lot of change for us....We also said hello, this season, to CSI Riley Adams, played by Lauren Lee Smith, and that was as seamless a beginning and as joyful a transition as we’ve ever had. We just love Lauren.
....
MediaBlvd> For the actors, one of the joys of the show has been seeing a different side of your characters, based on who you’re teamed up with on an investigation. With the new additions to the show, can you talk a little bit about different parts of your character that we might see more of?
....
Carol> We’ve created some new dynamic duos. Riley Adams and Greg Sanders have a lot of energy and chemistry. I’m not saying it’s anything other than plutonic, but I love to watch them work together. And, I have to say that the scenes our esteemed coroner and Riley Adams have are quite simpatico.
© Media Blvd
The North Bay Nugget, Zap 2 It 3/12/09: Lauren Lee Smith
Checking in with Lauren Lee Smith
Posted By JAY BOBBIN, © ZAP2IT
One of television's newest CSIs admits she's still learning her way around the lab. Much attention greeted Laurence Fishburne's recent debut on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," but another newcomer preceded him on CBS' enduring Thursday hit. Earlier in the show's current season (its ninth), Lauren Lee Smith arrived as Riley Adams, the edgy daughter of psychiatrists she feels a need to prove herself to -- but she also must keep proving herself to her colleagues in solving Las Vegas forensic cases. "I feel like the luckiest girl in the world," the Vancouver native says of being sought out by the "CSI" producers. I usually have to jump through thousands of hoops to get a job, but last April, I shot a pilot for CBS that didn't get picked up. As I was mending my broken heart from that, I got a call from my manager, who asked if I'd be interested in joining the cast of 'CSI.'
No surprise, it didn't take long for "The L Word" and "Mutant X" alum Smith to respond. Actually, she first asked, "Which one?" since spinoffs "CSI: Miami" and "CSI: NY" also continue. Once she knew, "I went in and sat down with the show runners and the head writers, and we hit it off immediately."
In fact, the show's staff ended up incorporating Smith's personality into the character from the outset. "They had a pretty clear idea of who they wanted Riley to be," the actress reflects, "but they wanted to know about me. I spoke with them again a few days later, and they said, 'Listen, we'd really like to infuse a bit of you into this.' I was pretty blown away by the whole thing."
- - -
Birthplace: Vancouver, Canada. Current residence: Los Angeles. Birthdate: June 19, 1980. Martial status: Single.
Other television credits: "Intelligence," "Blade: TheSeries," "The L Word," "The Dead Zone," "The Twilight Zone," "Mutant X," "Christy: Choices of the Heart," "2gether," "Dark Angel," "Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction," "Dragon Boys," "The Survivors Club," "I Want to Marry Ryan Banks," "The Wedding Dress."
Movie credits: "Pathology," "Trick'rTreat," "An American Carol," Late Fragment," Helen," "Normal," "One Way," "Art School Confidential," "The Last Kiss," "Lie With Me," "Get Carter."
© North Bay Nugget
Boston Herald 3/12/09 | Canada.com 4/09
Crime’ recruit: Newest ‘CSI’ investigator takes center stage
By Amy Amatangelo Thursday, March 12, 2009
Viewers finally might learn something about “CSI’s” newest investigator. In Thursday night’s episode (at 9 on WBZ, Ch. 4), Riley Adams (Lauren Lee Smith) is taken hostage while investigating a crime scene. The plot may provide more insight into her character, which has been left deliberately vague. “They’ve played with this whole idea of her being mysterious and always telling a different story about her background, which I like and which keeps the character very open,” Smith said during an interview on the show’s set in Los Angeles. “Every episode I get, I’m like, ‘Oh, this is what they’re doing with her.’ It keeps it more interesting for me personally not to know too much in advance.”
One day last April, Smith learned that her CBS pilot wasn’t picked up. That afternoon, she got a call informing her the “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” producers wanted to meet with her. The next week, she was on the set. “I’m very lucky,” the Vancouver, British Columbia, native said. “I don’t know how it all came about. I sort of blinked and suddenly I’m here and living in L.A. on the No. 1 TV show. I just feel very, very blessed.”
Smith, who had a recurring role in “The L Word,” still isn’t sure why the producers were interested in her. “I’ve been doing this for over 15 years,” she said. “I’ve worked my butt off. I’ve done a lot of crap, but I’ve done a lot of good stuff that I’m very proud of. So, hopefully they recognized that good stuff and that’s why they asked me to be a part of the show.”
“CSI” has lost three major stars in the past year (William Petersen, Jorja Fox and Gary Dourdan), but Smith says the turnover hasn’t affected the mood on the set. “This is the first opportunity that I’ve had to work on a network television series that is wildly popular. It definitely opened up my eyes. It’s amazing to have that sense of stability. I’ve never had that before. It’s very nice,” she said. “Just getting to work with this group of people, I had no idea it could be this good. I really didn’t. Everyone is so humble and grateful for their jobs, still after nine seasons. I think that’s a good way to come to work.”
Her brothers are equally excited about her new job. “They’ve all been huge fans of the show,” she said. “So I’m getting bombarded every time I go home. ‘Can you get George Eads’ autograph for me?’ ”
© Boston Herald
Excerpt from Philippine Daily Inquirer 3/27/09: Lauren Lee Smith
Hear it from ‘CSI Las Vegas’ cast
By Pam Pastor Philippine Daily Inquirer
Lauren Lee Smith (Riley Adams)
No, she’s no Sara Sidle replacement. You’ve seen her on “L-Word,” now you’ll see her on “CSI.” The first thing Laureen Lee Smith wants “CSI” fans to know is that she will not replace Jorja Fox, who played Sara Sidle. “That would put way too much pressure on me,” she said.
How hard was it to walk onto a set as a newcomer?
“It was very daunting coming into something so established. First few days, I was very, very nervous, but everyone made it so easy.”
Can you tell us about your character?
“Riley comes into the show when they’re understaffed. They need a CSI out in the field. She’s CSI Level 2 - a cop, from St. Louis. She has a bit of an issue with authority figures. She likes to push people’s buttons.”
How much research did you do to prepare?
“It was crazy. I had about a week. They flew me to Vegas and had me do a ride-along with actual CSIs. They had me go to the crime lab in Los Angeles.”
How did you end up with a job on the biggest show in the world?
“I think they had seen a demo tape of mine from some films and some past television stuff that I’d done. I flew in from Vancouver and we just talked about the character. It sounded like an amazing opportunity. I got very lucky.”
In a show that kind of deals with death and darkness, how hard is it to let go of that at the end of the day when you’re going home?
“It’s pretty weird. But for the most part, you just have to let it go. It’s part of the job, and you have to sort of put your brain in a different place. Some days are easier than others. It helps that everyone has a really wicked sense of humor.”
What has been your worst moment so far?
“Watching the autopsies are pretty gross. I know everything is fake. I know it’s plastic and I know it’s fake blood and I know it’s not real brains, but for some reason, when they’re, like, squishing stuff, it’s pretty gross. Especially when it’s right after lunch.”
© Philippine Inquirer
Excerpt from Buddy TV 4/7/09: Lauren Lee Smith
CSI: The 200th Birthday Spectacular Review
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
I have a whole new appreciation for Riley after “No Way Out” because any lady who takes pistol-whipping like that deserves hats off. I truly am looking forward to seeing Adams’ character in depth, and Lauren Lee Smith is a talented individual. I’m pretty sure she will soon become a favorite, and give the girl a break; it can’t be easy following in the footsteps of Jorja Fox.
© Buddy TV
Canada.com 4/28/09: Lauren Lee Smith
Scene of the crime: Canadian Lauren Lee Smith steals the part on CSI
By Alex Strachan, April 28, 2009
BURBANK, Calif. - Lauren Lee Smith doesn't quite know how it happened, but now that it has, she's on cloud nine. On this early spring morning, she was taking a moment to relax on Stage 25 of Universal Studios between scenes on CSI, where she plays new hire crime- scene investigator Riley Adams. Opportunities like this - being drop-kicked unexpectedly into the main cast of TV's most-watched procedural drama - happen once in a lifetime for a professional actor, if at all. And that actor had better be prepared when it does. The Vancouver-born actress had moved to Los Angeles, like so many struggling performers before her, hoping to land in a pilot episode for a new series.
A year ago, almost to the day, Smith landed a part in a pilot episode for a new CBS series, one of the 35 new comedies and dramas that are made every spring for that fall's TV season. CBS decided not to pick up the pilot, however. Her new series was dead. Smith was just another out-of-work actor, wondering where the next job would come from. ``I was heartbroken, the day it didn't get picked up,'' Smith said. That very same day, she recalled, ``a few hours later,'' she got a phone call telling her she was being considered for CSI.
Someone at CBS - Smith still doesn't know who - spotted her performance in a failed TV pilot, and decided she would be a perfect fit for CSI. One week later, she was in CSI's fold. ``Very, very lucky,'' Smith said, shaking her head at the suddenness of it. ``I still don't know how it quite all came about.''
She bristled at the suggestion she's an overnight success, though. ``I've been doing this for more than 15 years,'' she said. ``I've worked my butt off. I've done a lot of crap, and I've done a lot of material I feel really proud of. I think they recognized that when they thought I could be a part of this.''
Smith's last substantial part before CSI was a recurring role in the filmed- in-Vancouver The L Word, as sous chef Lara Perkins. She appeared in The L Word for 20 episodes, between 2004-'06. During a three-year acting stint in Toronto, Smith landed a role in the sci- fi series Mutant X, as well as guest appearances in Dead Zone, Blade: The Series and the short-lived remake of The Twilight Zone. Smith had roles in the art-house films Art School Confidential, Lie with Me, The Last Kiss and Pathology - but nothing with the white-hot spotlight or pop- cultural cachet of CSI. ``This is the first time I've had the opportunity to work on a network television series with this kind of popularity. The L Word was wonderful, but that was Showtime and this is a big network series, possibly the biggest. It's definitely opened my eyes.''
Smith's upbringing - her family lived in Europe, Central America, the U.S. and Canada while she was growing up - has enabled her to adapt to new surroundings in a hurry. ``That becomes a big part of who you are - picking up and moving on, when you're young.''
She still finds time for her hobbies - she spends as much of her off-the-job waking hours as possible rollerblading, swimming and horseback riding. Her hometown of Vancouver still has pride-of-place, though, for her favourite hobbies, ice skating and snowboarding. Smith still keeps in close touch with friends and family back home; she was in Vancouver over Christmas, she says, during the two-week break between filming new episodes. During summer hiatus, she hopes to appear in ``some independent film,'' preferably one close to home. ``It's funny,'' Smith said, laughing. ``Going back to my background in Canadian independent films, my brothers in particular are very happy and proud that their sister is in something they feel comfortable watching.''
For now, though, CSI is home. ``It's been incredible getting to work with this group of people,'' Smith said. ``Amazing people, amazing actors, and everyone is so humble. Even after nine seasons, everyone is still realizing how lucky they are to be here, to be a part of this.
``I know everybody always says that about whatever TV show they're on but I had no idea - none - that it could be this good. Every day, I wake up and pinch myself. This is my job; this is my life; and it's pretty cool.''
© Canwest News Service
Excerpt from HK and Cult Film News 7/9/09: Lauren Lee Smith
September Releases From CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment
Thursday, July 9, 2009
CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION: THE NINTH SEASON DVD AND BLU-RAY (US ONLY)
"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" is a fast-paced drama about a passionate team of forensic investigators trained to solve crimes the old-fashioned way--by examining the evidence. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is on the case 24-7, scouring the scene, collecting irrefutable evidence and finding the missing pieces that will solve the mystery.
Actors: William L. Peterson, Marg Helgenberger, Gary Dourdan, Eric Szmanda, Laurence Fishburne, George Eads, Wallace Langham, Lauren Lee Smith, Paul Guilfoyle
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number of discs: 6
Rating: Unrated
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: September 1, 2009
© HK and Cult Film News
TV Guide 7/27/09: Lauren Lee Smith
CSI's Riley Leaves the Lab
by Carita Rizzo July 27, 2009 01:57 PM EST
When CSI returns for its 10th season, the lab will once again be short staffed. Executive producer Naren Shankar confirms to TVGuideMagazine.com that Lauren Lee Smith will not return as series regular, Riley Adams. “She’s not going to be back for Season 10,” he tells us exclusively. “It was an issue of how we were feeling the ensemble was working. When we brought in the character of Riley, it got lost in the shuffle a little bit because we had lost Warrick, we had lost Sara, and then in the middle of last season Grissom finally left. I think, as a result, the character never quite found its footing in terms of the rest of the gang.” Riley’s absence will open up a slot for Sara Sidle, who is now ready to return to work after her severe burnout in Season 8.
© TV Guide
Excerpt from The TV Legion 9/24/09: Lauren Lee Smith
“CSI: The Ninth Season” Blu-ray Review
By Mort Published: September 24, 2009
•Release Date: September 1, 2009
•Publisher: Paramount
•Price: $59.49 on Amazon.com
•Rating: Not Rated
•Run Time: 1,020 minutes
•Special Features: “Crime Scene Initiation” (HD), “Interactive Investigation Mode” (HD), “CSI Mode” (HD), “Rats in Space” (HD), “From Zero to 200 in Nine Seasons” (HD), “Good-bye Grissom” (HD), Deleted Scenes, 2 Commentaries
•Starring: William Petersen, Laurence Fishburne, Marg Helgenberger, George Eads, Robert David Hall, Wallace Langham, Eric Szmanda, Paul Guilfoyle, Lauren Lee Smith
•Genre: Crime Drama
....
“CSI” always has a nice slate of extras on its DVD and Blu-ray releases and “The Ninth Season” isn’t any different. The extras include:
•“Crime Scene Initiation” (HD)-A 15-minute feature about new additions Laurence Fishburne and Lauren Lee Smith and what they added to the series.
© The TV Legion
Excerpt from DVD Verdict 9/25/09: Lauren Lee Smith
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: The Ninth Season Paramount // 2008 // 864 Minutes // Not Rated
Reviewed by Judge Victor Valdivia (Retired) // September 25th, 2009
Riley, on the other hand, doesn't click at all. The combination of some one-dimensional writing and Smith's dull performance makes her one of the most forgettable characters this show has ever seen. She doesn't appear to have any personality or notable distinctions other than the ability to mouth off inappropriately, a trait that is neither clever nor endearing. It's no surprise, then, that Smith was released from her contract only a few weeks after the season ended.
© DVD Verdict
Excerpt from IGN 9/25/09: Lauren Lee Smith
CSI: "Family Affair" Review Sara returns to a team in transition.
by James Chamberlin September 25, 2009
Similarly, the decision to get rid of Riley Adams (Lauren Lee Smith) was wise because she just didn't fit. The producers owned up to this problem during the off season when they announced the split. I do question Riley's exit interview which took several shots at Catherine (Marg Helgenberger) for her poor communication which resulted in a lack of unit cohesion.
© IGN
Excerpt from CSI Files 11/17/09: Lauren Lee Smith
Interview: Allen MacDonald
Posted by Kristine Huntley - 17/11/09 at 07:11 am
CSI Files: Is there any official word on the reason why Lauren Lee Smith (Riley Adams) didn’t return for the tenth season?
MacDonald: From what I understand, it was felt Riley never quite gelled with the rest of the team because she was introduced at a pivotal point in CSI’s history - two episodes after Warrick’s (Gary Dourdan) death and seven episodes before Grissom’s departure. As a result, the character got a bit lost in the shuffle, which is not a reflection on Lauren, who is a spectacular actress and was much-loved on the set.
© CSI Files
Excerpts from Suite 101 3/16/11: Lauren Lee Smith
Day 3: Lauren Lee Smith
As opposed to the day before, Lauren had a solo session of Q&A's. She talked about her favorite projects. Lie With Me was her first major film. Also, very dear to her heart is the indie movie she recently had done with Jennifer Beals, A Night for Dying Tigers. Then she changed her focus to another post L Word project, CSI which was intimidating at first, but she found amazing that eight seasons later she was still in. And working with Laurence Fishburne was the biggest job perk.
© Suite 101
Excerpt from CoEd 10/26/14: Lauren Lee Smith
Lauren Lee Smith: See Her Tonight on ‘CSI’ [21 PHOTOS]
October 26, 2014 1:30 pm‚ By JRT
See Her Tonight Lauren Lee Smith on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (10:30 PM EST, CBS)
There are rumors that we’re looking at the final season of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and that’s pretty bad news here at the See Her Tonight column. After all, CSI has given us beauties like Brooke Nevin, Elisabeth Harnois, Anne McDaniels, Cassandra Starr, Catrinel Marlon, Liz Fuller, Susie Abromeit, Luciana Faulhaber, Sandra Vergara, Mindy Robinson, and Heather Ann Davis amongst the bloodshed. And we’ve never even gotten around to Lauren Lee Smith, who hung around CSI‘s ninth season as investigator Riley Adams.
We’re hearing that Lauren Lee Smith brings back her character tonight, as part of a reunion that also see the return of Laurence Fishburne as Raymond Langston. We’re more excited about seeing Lauren Lee Smith. We’ve been looking forward to her in the upcoming Syfy series Ascension, since her stint in the Canadian series The Listener didn’t do her nearly enough justice.
Of course, we’ve been big fans of Lauren Lee Smith every since her daring turn as the nymphomaniac lead in 2006’s Lie With Me-which came along when Lauren was also lounging around in episodes of The L Word. We’re hoping that this is the start of many more American turns by the Canadian actress. Check out these pics, and see why we wouldn’t mind a CSI spinoff about Riley Adams…
© CoEd
Excerpt from Canada.com 3/3/11: Lauren Lee Smith
From CSI to Good Dog: Actress Lauren Lee Smith switches gears to star in new comedy
By Alex Strachan, Postmedia News March 3, 2011
A year ago, Lauren Lee Smith was poring over TV crime scenes in Burbank, California, as forensic investigator Riley Adams in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
....
Smith gleaned a lot from her experience on CSI, where she worked alongside Laurence Fishburne, Marg Helgenberger and George Eads for the better part of a year. The role of Riley Adams had come to her fortuitously; it left just as fortuitously. CSI was undergoing a makeover after the departure of longtime series regular and lead actor William Petersen. Smith's character was relegated to the background, while the producers focused on introducing Fishburne's character as the new lead. "It was a pretty evident case of bad timing," Smith said, with a bright, cheerful laugh. No bitterness there. "There were so many changes going on with that show, with William Petersen and the big launch of Laurence Fishburne's character.
"When I initially sat down with the writers and producers, they had all these wonderful ideas and plans for the character Riley, and it had a wonderful arc. And then somewhere, halfway through the season, it kept getting pushed to the sidelines, because there was so much work to do with the new character, as well as maintaining what CSI has been for the last nine years. So it was pretty evident, to myself even, partway through, that this character wasn't really going anywhere, and I didn't really know what she was contributing." She has no regrets, though: Fishburne, she said, was the very definition of class. The cast and crew on CSI were tight, and remain so. Even so, it was time for a change.
....
The difference in pace between CSI and The Listener has been dramatic, she said. But not in the way one might suppose. The big Hollywood production, one of the most-watched television series in the world, was actually easier to work on and less demanding. "CSI is such a well-oiled machine," Smith said. "They have so many people on that show that I would literally wake up in the morning, have a coffee, go to work and be back home four hours later. I don't think I ever shot a single day longer than eight or 10 hours. It was very quick, very fast-paced. Everyone knew exactly what they were doing. The scripts were completely written; there were no last-minute changes. By the time you got to camera, everyone knew what they were doing.
....
Smith worked throughout the summer in Toronto, after learning she would not be back on CSI.
© Postmedia News
Excerpt from Toronto Sun 3/5/11: Lauren Lee Smith
Smith a 'gorgeous model' on Finkleman show
By BILL HARRIS, Last Updated: March 5, 2011 2:00am
Canadian TV fans have seen plenty of Smith lately on the CTV series The Listener, where she has been playing Michelle McCluskey in the second season. This comes after Smith spent the 2008-09 season playing Riley Adams on the iconic series CSI, which airs on CBS and CTV. "We may joke about it, but it definitely did help to go to L.A. and do some work there, because it really helped my career in Canada," Smith said. "We (Canadians) are a funny bunch that way. But that's fine, as long as I get to work."
Smith's season on CSI was great for her profile, but her role unexpectedly hit a wall, which was frustrating. "William Petersen was leaving, Laurence Fishburne was coming on, and I think the whole idea of my character and what they had planned really got lost in the mix," Smith recalled. "There was a certain point halfway through the season where I went to (the show-runners) and was like, 'Guys, what am I doing here? I don't know how important my character actually is.' It was apparent to me and it was apparent to them. But it all worked out for the best, I think."
© Toronto Sun