‘CSI’ shooting at Golden Nugget

All roads lead back to Vegas.

Just ask the folks at CBS' "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," which returns for its 12th-season opener, "73 Seconds."

Today's production headquarters: downtown's Golden Nugget, with scenes planned on the casino floor and in the hotel's Rush Tower.

Cast members making the Vegas trek: original regulars Marg Helgenberger and George Eads, along with returning regular Jorja Fox and newcomer Ted Danson, who takes over as "CSI's" crime lab supervisor following Laurence Fishburne's departure.

"CSI" veteran Alex Smight -- who's worked on the series as both director and editor -- directs from a script by Gavin Harris ("Cold Case").

Other planned background locations for today's "CSI" shoot: the Fremont Street Experience, plus Strip-adjacent sites on Tropicana and Hacienda avenues.

The episode is scheduled to air Sept. 21, when "CSI" moves to a new night and time slot -- 10 p.m. Wednesdays.

Created by former Las Vegan Anthony Zuiker, "CSI" continues its reign as the world's most-watched TV show, with more than 73 million viewers in 68 countries, according to the Monte Carlo TV Festival, which last month awarded the show an International Television Audience Award.

"Millionaire" search: Las Vegas scores another repeat visit this week as "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" prepares to audition prospective 10th-season contestants Friday at the Gold Coast.

Las Vegas is one of six cities chosen as audition sites; producers already have visited Chicago, Harrisburg, Pa., and Charlotte, N.C., with Washington, D.C., and Tampa, Fla., also on the itinerary.

At the Gold Coast on Friday, two sessions will be held in the Nevada Ballroom: the first from 7 to 11 a.m., the second from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. No preregistration is required, and U.S. residents at least 18 years old may line up to audition anytime during the sessions. (No one will be admitted in line before 6 a.m., however.)

At the audition, wannabe "Millionaires" will take a timed, multiple-choice test; those who pass the written test will be interviewed by one of the show's producers. More information, including eligibility requirements, is available online at www.millionairetv.com.

Sports report: The Mtn., more formally known as the MountainWest Sports Network, goes live Tuesday for a two-hour special from Red Rock Resort, in conjunction with the Mountain West conference's Football Media Day.

In previous years, The Mtn. featured edited coverage of the event, but "the technology has evolved" to make a live telecast possible, says spokesman Hayne Ellis. That in turn "gives all the fans the chance to hear from the coach and student athletes" representing the conference's eight members. (UNLV coach Bobby Hauck, along with team members Anthony Vidal and Quinton Pointer, are scheduled to appear at 5 p.m.)

Also on the sports beat, Britain's ITV News wraps up its weeklong coverage of British boxer Amir Khan's title-defense bout at Mandalay Bay on Saturday.

In addition to the boxing stories, however, reporter Chris Hall planned to give viewers "a taste of Vegas while tying it into the fight week excitement," he notes. "There's just something about this town that's perfect for boxing, and the Brits know it."

Musical notes: Ex-98 Degrees singer Jeff Timmons -- singing host of the Rio's Chippendales show through Labor Day -- is expected to shoot a music video for his "IT Factor" single at the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign.

Dream Vision Studios, meanwhile, hosts the band Five Finger Death Punch, which is using the studio's curved cyclorama wall and green screen for a two-day video shoot expected to conclude today.

Carol Cling's Shooting Stars column appears
Mondays. Contact her at (702) 383-0272 or ccling@reviewjournal. com.