September 2, 2005

Amateur detectives, solve this mystery: You're a network exec with multiple crime procedurals and you crave Desperate Housewives' lucrative female demo. What do you do? Get a shot of estrogen. This fall, five CBS crime dramas will introduce female characters played by Rescue Me's Diane Farr (on Numb3rs), Rush Hour 2's Roselyn Sanchez (on Without a Trace), All My Children's Eva LaRue (on CSI: Miami), General Hospital's Sarah Brown (on Cold Case), and Picket Fences' Lauren Holly and The $treet's Cote de Pablo (on NCIS). ''I left [acting] for a while because of my [three preschool-age sons], and I've had so many opportunities all of a sudden, especially in TV, because my age is perfect,'' says Holly, who'll play Mark Harmon's ex-flame/new boss. CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler claims the network has always featured strong women. ''Female audiences respond to shows that involve case-driven stories. That's been consistent over the years.'' Fair enough, but we still think the answer to this mystery lies over on Wisteria Lane.

http://www.ew.com/ew/report/0,6115,1100709_3|105650||0_0_,00.html