The original CSI series has a habit of setting episodes in the worlds of various subcultures — they’ve had cases about furries, vampires and the BDSM scene. Surprisingly, it’s taken until the ninth season for them to get around to solving a crime at a science fiction convention.

Tune in tonight to CBS at 9 PM EST for the episode "A Space Oddity," where two of the lab rats, Hodges and Wendy, go to blow off steam at a convention for a fictional show called, "Astro Quest" (that bears a striking resemblance to a Certain Program about a 5-Year Mission) and find their work following them when a murder takes place.

This episode is going to be a field day for TV SF fans — behind the scenes, it’s a Star Trek/Battlestar Galactica reunion party (with quite a few other series represented).  If you’re a credits reader, you may recall that CSI executive producer Naren Shankar worked on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine (as well as other shows such as Farscape).  The CSI episode is written by David Weddle and Bradley Thompson, who wrote for DS9 and most recently, BSG. The episode will be directed by Michael Nankin, who has also worked extensively on BSG. Joshua Cox will play the star of the fictional  "Astro Quest" show (TV SF fans will remember he played the bridge officer on Babylon 5).

Keep your eyes open for cameos by BSG (and former Star Trek) producer Ronald D. Moore, as well as BSG stars Kate Vernon (Ellen Tigh) and Grace Park (Cylon "Skin Job" Model 8 — I’ll leave it to the reader to keep track of how many names she went by). There may be other cameo appearances too, so get that freeze-frame button ready.

Finally, in the category of "Hey, it’s That Guy!" Arne Starr will show up as an artist guest at the convention, which we understand will be quite a stretch for him.

Spring is in the air… and lots of actors are finding work.

Frost/Nixon’s Michael Sheen has joined the cast of The Twilight Saga: New Moon. The now-filming sequel has added Sheen as Aro, the head vampire of the Italian Volturi vampire clan. Summit Entertainment will release the eagerly awaited adaptation of the Stephenie Meyer best-seller on November 20.

Elisabeth Shue takes a detour from her usual dramatic fare to appear in Alexandre Aja’s remake of Piranha 3D. The actress will play "Sheriff Julie Forester, a take-charge authority figure in the community of Lake Victoria" according to Moviehole, and the mother of one of the lead characters. Look for this in March 2010

While we weren’t looking, the cast for the revamp of V has filled out with some very familiar names which improve our hopes for the ABC pilot.  The formal network announcement will be May 19 but we’re crossing our fingers.  The proposed series, based on Kenneth Johnson’s original concepts, now features Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost), Morena Baccarin (Firefly), Joel Gretsch (The 4400), Morris Chestnut (Ladder 49), Alan Tudyk (Firefly), Scott Wolf (Party of Five) David Richmond-Peck (The Day The Earth Stood Still), Laura Vandervoort (Smallville), Lourdes Benedicto (The Nine), and Christopher Shyer (The Day).

Finally, the seaons finale for Smallville will guest star Impulse (Kyle Gallner) and Black Canary (Alaina Huffman).
 

Last Tuesday, Warner Bros. Animation unveiled its new cartoon billboard (the first new one in 15 years) at an event hosted by Mario Lopez on the Warner Bros. Studios lot.

This is actually a pretty big deal in Hollywood politics, and signals just how important the stable of DC characters are to Warner Bros. and their future.

The event was well attended. From left to right: Sam Register (Executive Vice President, Creative Affairs, Warner Bros. Animation), Warner Bros. Television President Peter Roth, “Teen Titans” producer Glen Murakami, “Batman: The Brave and the Bold” producer James Tucker, Julie Newmar (Catwoman from original “Batman” TV series), legendary animation producer Bruce Timm, Diedrich Bader (voice of Batman in “Batman: The Brave and the Bold”) and voice director Andrea Romano.

Jonah Keel has more information over at Collider, including interviews.