In the case of Dourdan, an insider at the show insists that he and CSI execs "mutually agreed" to part ways for "creative reasons." However, a CBS mole claims the 41-year-old actor was essentially fired, adding that producers are trying to be "as supportive and protective" of him as possible by portraying the departure as mutual. That same mole wasn't willing to share the specific reason for Dourdan's ouster, except to say that it involves an "ongoing problem personal to Dourdan." [...]

Over at SVU, the situation surrounding Neal has become equally suspicious. On Tuesday, a show spokesperson confirmed to me exclusively that the actress would be vacating her role as ADA Casey Novak in what appeared to be a mutual decision. However, shortly after I posted that story, a show insider says an emotional Neal gathered the crew together on the set and informed them that she had just been fired.

Of course, more definite clues could arise once we get a better look at how the show's writers choose to dispatch their series regulars. We're reminded of a similarly acrimonious parting of Prison Break's Sarah Wayne Callies, whose gruesome demise involved the discovery of her character Sara's decapitated head in a box. Should we tune in to the season finale of CSI to find Marg Helgenberger running a black light over Dourdan's battered, limp body to get a better look at the tell-tale semen stains left after his fatal gang-raping, we'll know producers were not entirely broken up about the actor's departure.

• Exclusive: Were Dourdan and Neal (Gulp) Fired [TVGuide.com]

· The possible cancellation of the Law & Order "mothership" will just leave more room on NBC's schedule for promising spin-offs, like L&O: TV Production Unit. (Note: Some please send Gabrielle Carteris some money, right away.)
· Good news, peeps! The new Spidey-flick is like, totally off the hizzook! Sweetness!
· McConaughey in an Unsolved Mysteries reenactment? Yeah, that's something we might be interested in.
· Hey, if some of those firefighters Tom Cruise is trying to help just happen to become Scientologists after their sauna-and-vitamins quality time, well, whoopsies! He wasn't proselytizing! Swear!

Are you ready for the first fictionalized version of the Anna Nicole Smith story on TV? It's coming this May. [...]

[T]he whole demented saga will be filmed shortly for "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." The "Criminal Intent" version of Anna Nicole's life and death will feature Kristy Swanson, the actress who played Buffy the Vampire Slayer in the movie (before Sarah Michelle Gellar did the TV series). Howard K. Stern, they say, could be played by none other than Jon Lovitz. The "CI" writers have excised Larry Birkhead from their story...A combined character based loosely on Anna Nicole's mother and sister is also being contemplated.

Friedman feels the noted B-movie actress and Homewrecker On Ice is an inspired choice to play Anna Nicole, as both bottle-blonde former Playboy models have reputations as polarizing gossip targets. Regardless of how well she channels Smith's clown-faced babbling, however, we think Jon Lovitz's showy turn as her clingy Svengali threatens to ultimately upstage her, particularly in the thrilling courtroom climax when he confesses to murdering the woman he so convincingly professed to love, but that secretly all along, "I was merely acting!"

• Kristy Swanson, Original Buffy the Vampire Slayer, to Play Anna Nicole Smith on 'Law & Order' [Fox411]

LAW & ORDER "Murder Book" Exec. Producers: Dick Wolf, Nicholas Wootton, Matthew Penn, Peter Jankowski Director: Gus Makris Casting Director: Suzanne Ryan Casting Associate: Claire Traeger Shooting dates: 1/30 - 2/8

[J.D. TYNER] male, Caucasian, 33-37, "former baseball star & persona non grata since his murder acquittal." Although found not guilty, most people believe Tyner murdered his wife. He has a "legendary temper" and a reputation of being arrogant and hotheaded. Now he's a pariah - living a secluded and low-key life. Recently he's tried to cash in on his infamy by writing a book on how he would have done it, had he wanted to murder his wife. He claims the book was only to provide money for his daughter's trust fund and for charity. His publisher, Serena Darby, backs out of the deal at the last minute and then is found murdered outside of her apartment. Suspects come and go but McCoy has his sights set on Tyner. McCoy lost the first round against Tyner when he got away with murdering his wife...he does not want to loose round two. Tyner is brought to trial. LEAD

We probably shouldn't be so dismissive of the L & O team's efforts, which were apparently channeled into the story's execution, rather than its selection: they did go through the trouble of making O.J. white, giving him a fresh set of initials and a new sport (which provides for the exciting possibility of much more grisly, Louisville Slugger-assisted bludgeoning deaths), and adding the element of the Judith Regan revenge killing. Once that lunch arrived, their creative batteries were clearly recharged.

• Previously: Defamer Casting: Finding Adrienne Shelly's Murderer [Defamer]

Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007, 10:22 AM Pacific
Addendum to 1/8 2:49 PM
LAW & ORDER "Melting Pot" (LA release)
Episodic
UNIVERSAL NETWORKS TELEVISION
NBC EPISODIC
Episode "Melting Pot"
SEASON 17
DRAFT: 1/8/07

Exec. Producers: Dick Wolf, Nicholas Wootton, Matthew Penn, Peter Jankowski
Director: Jean DeSegonzac
Casting Director: Suzanne Ryan
Casting Associate: Claire Traeger
Shooting dates: 1/18 - 1/29/07

SEEKING:
[JULIO CONTRERAS] male, 19-24, Hispanic, illegal immigrant. Speaks English w/accent. He has been working as a day laborer/construction worker in this country for almost two years. He sends money back home to his family in So. America - he is the sole breadwinner for his mother and siblings. He is suspected of murdering Erin Garrett after they argued about his construction
crew turning off the electricity in her building. He admits to the argument and pushing her. She fell, hit her head, and was knocked unconscious. Julio swears he did not hang her. He is brought to trial. LEAD

We don't know if they've gotten around to filling the role of the victim yet, but it shouldn't be too hard for the L&O casting office to find an "Adrienne Shelly type"; according to IMDb, she was on the show back in 2000, so maybe they've still got a headshot on file that they can send out to agencies to help them pull together this sure-to-be-classy hourlong tribute to their onetime dayplayer.

• Adrienne Shelly [Wikipedia]