'CSI' Celebrates 200 Episodes With Friedkin

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    Acclaimed director <font color=yellow>William Friedkin</font> (<A class="link" HREF="http://www.csifiles.com/episodes/csi/season8/cockroaches.shtml">"Cockroaches"</a>) returns to direct the milestone 200th episode of <I>CSI: Crime Scene Investigation</I>, <A class="link" HREF="http://www.csifiles.com/episodes/csi/season9/mascara.shtml">"Mascara"</a>, which features Lucha Libre wrestling.<p>Lucha Libre, which means "free wrestling", is a form of professional wrestling with its roots in Mexico. Lucha Libre performers, or <I>luchadores</I>, wear colorful masks. "It's a fascinating underground world," Friedkin told <A class="link" HREF="http://www.tvguide.com/">TV Guide</a>. "I'd like to say that very little is known about it, but if you'll go on the Internet you'll see 2.5 million hits or more on various Lucha Libre sites."<p>"Large parts of it are underground in the Spanish-speaking world, throughout South America and other Latin American countries, and then in Mexico and up here it's sort of underground," the director continued. "But a lot of people are aware of it and it's huge in the Hispanic neighborhoods here in Los Angeles. I went to some of the bouts that are in underground arenas and you'll see whole families there on a Sunday evening. They're not watching television, they're not going out to dinner, they're watching Lucha Libre."<p>"Mascara" includes more than just masked wrestling. "I was able to mix it in with ... sort of Cuban voodoo," Friedkin explained. "And there's a Cuban video scene that's very authentic. Cuban voodoo and Lucha Libre are kind of the undercurrent of the show. You don't see it every day on television."<p>Friedkin said working on television is anything but constricting. "<I>CSI</I> is a wonderful working environment," he shared. "First of all, they get 10 days to shoot basically 43 minutes. That's a lot of time. They have 10 days of preparation. They constantly rework the script and they're constantly trying to do something that's as good as it can be. They have a great crew." Friedkin added, "And when I come in, I'm encouraged to make it my own for that period. So I don't pay that much attention to what they've done in the way that they've lit the set or the way that they've mixed the soundtrack. I have a lot of freedom within the confines of what the show is and who's on it."<p>The director also enjoyed working with the show's stars. "<font color=yellow>Laurence Fishburne</font>'s (Dr Raymond Langston) just a great actor. He's just fantastic," Friedkin explained. He also said it was "really a pleasure" to work with the other actors on the show. "I love working with <font color=yellow>Marg</font> [<font color=yellow>Helgenberger</font> (Catherine Willows)] and <font color=yellow>Paul</font> [<font color=yellow>Guilfoyle</font> (Jim Brass)] and <font color=yellow>George</font> [<font color=yellow>Eads</font> (Nick Stokes)], <font color=yellow>Eric</font> [<font color=yellow>Szmanda</font> (Greg Sanders)]," Friedkin said. "<font color=yellow>Liz Vassey</font> (Wendy Simms) I think is underused on that show. I think she's wonderful. I'll tell you, I've been on feature films where the actors aren't as prepared as they are on that show."<P>The original interview is from <A class="link" HREF="http://www.tvguide.com/News/William-Friedkins-CSI-1004630.aspx">TV Guide</a>. Extra information about Lucha Libre was found at <A class="link" HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucha_libre">Wikipedia</a>. "Mascara" airs April 2 on CBS.<center></center>
     

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