Birthday Wishes

NOTE: I suck!  I was away from my computer on Thursday and completely forgot to send out these birthday wishes for a PTR fave!  So, these are a bit belated.

Cold Case's Kathryn Morris celebrated a birthday 1/28.

Happy (Belated) Birthday Kathryn!!

Your Friends at PTR

(photo courtesy Kathryn Morris UK)

DID YOU KNOW? Kathryn reportedly just signed on to co-star alongside Denise Richards in the black comedy Mother's Little Helper.  Look for it to come out sometime late this year.

Morris Meets the 'Terminator'

PTR Fave Kathryn Morris attended Thursday night's Terminator Salvation premiere in Los Angeles. Here are a few photos of the Cold Case star from the event (HUGE thanks to RichE for providing the beautiful photos):


Cold Case just wrapped its 6th season this past Sunday. To help make sure that the finale was a season finale and not a series finale, sign the petition and join the email campaign to save Cold Case.

Morris on the 'Case' for Fashion

Cold Case star and PTR Fave Kathryn Morris attended the C.H.I.P.S Spring Luncheon and Fall Fashion Show honoring Alberta Ferretti. The outing was held in Beverly Hills yesterday (May 6th). Here are a couple photos courtesy of RichE, LII (at Look Again) & Colleen (at KathrynMorrisFan.com):

More photos of Kathryn at the event from RichE at Superior Pictures Forum.

Be sure to catch Kathryn this Sunday in the conclusion of the 2-part Cold Case season finale on CBS. To catch up on part 1, visit PTR's write up. And to help make sure that this Sunday's finale is a season finale and not a series finale, sign the petition and join the email campaign to save Cold Case.

EDITED: Added additional photo contributors (LII @Look Again and Colleen @KathrynMorrisFan.com). h/t RichE

'Case' Going Cold?

By LillyKat
PTR Senior Staff Writer

Die-hard Cold Case viewers should prepare themselves: there is a very real possibility the show will not be renewed for a seventh season.

And really, I can't say I'm all that surprised.

I have long lamented here at PTR the show is not what it once was, has slipped into predictable procedural mediocrity and is showing its age. Given the new, fresh and far more intriguing dramas that are abundantly popping up on cable these days, Cold Case seems like a relic. Even editor-in-chief TVFan is watching and/or reviewing out of loyalty these days, NOT because the show is doing anything spectacular.

And while the show does seem somewhat reinvigorated this season, and thus, may still be pulling in respectable ratings, the show costs a freakin' fortune to produce. Not to mention series lead Kathryn Morris pulls down almost $200k an episode nowadays (a raise she got last year in the strike-shortened fifth season).

Deserving? Yes.

In times like these, not good thing.

Let me put it this way: if Mark Burnett can give Les Moonves another Survivor, or something that is faster-cheaper-more-popular, he'll take it over trying to justify keeping a costly procedural that isn't doing anything for anyone outside of their die-hard audience. Les has a history of not being afraid to cancel shows. That is a hard pill to swallow, but that is the reality of NETWORK television these days.

Thank goodness for cable.

So, in reading this article by the scooper of the century Micahel Ausiello, I can't say I'm all that surprised that Cold Case is potentially - emphasizing potentially - facing cancellation.

The good news is this frees Morris to go on to bigger and better things that utilize her talent far more extensively than what has been on display in these last few seasons.

THAT, as far as we're concerned, is not a bad thing.

Cold Case airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on CBS.

Morris Feels the Love Everyday

By LillyKat
PTR Senior Staff Writer

So a box of chocolate and a nice dinner just isn't that big of a deal for Cold Case star (and PTR Fave) Kathryn Morris come Valentine's Day.

But give her a Supercross motorcycle competition, and you're in business.

Kathryn recently spoke to syndicated Hollywood Exclusive columnists Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith on all-things love, Valentine's Day, her very busy Hotplate production company, and a reinvigorated sense of excitement about being on Cold Case.


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From Creators.com
Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Morris Talks Love, Motorcycles, Producing and 'Cold Case'

"Cold Case" heroine Kathryn Morris expects to spend Valentine's Day with her guy, producer/director David Barrett, at a Supercross competition. It's a sport to which she was introduced by Barrett, who was a professional motocross racer as a teen.

However, Morris doesn't care that much how they observe Cupid's special day. The way she sees it, "When you really love someone, every day is Valentine's Day. For some couples a box of candy and dinner at a nice restaurant might do the trick, but my philosophy is that if you really care about a person, everything, big and small, adds up to a lot of love."

In their case, it also adds up to a lot of work. Barrett is not only a producer/director on her CBS series, he's a partner in her Hotplate production company that Morris describes as "my greatest adventure." She and David have had, she says, "tremendous support from CBS and Warner Bros." And, she adds, "For a company that's just a year old, well, we've made progress that some people don't make in a lifetime.

"We're partnering with Warners on four projects, including films that are in development. And there's the 'Crosshairs' series — a cross between Steve McQueen and 'Magnum P.I.' — that CBS has bought, plus 'The Fixer,' a funny hour-long dramedy, about a hired con man, we're doing for Fox. We're talking to two major names now."

Much as Morris loves the production side of the business, she says, "I'll continue to act at least for the next 30 years" — and she'd be happy if quite a few of those years continue to be dominated by "Cold Case." The show, she says, has improved now that her character "has broken out of her shackles. She was kind of on the edge last season with personal problems, but that's now past, and there's new life and excitement in the series."

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Now, we do love Kathryn, but the verdict is still out for us here at PTR as to that sense of "excitement" with CC these days. Nonetheless, we are happy for her that SHE feels that way.

Cold Case airs Sunday nights at 9 p.m. on CBS.

Birthday Wishes

Cold Case's Kathryn Morris celebrates a birthday today.

Happy Birthday Kathryn!!

Your Friends at PTR

(photo courtesy Kathryn Morris Online)

DID YOU KNOW? Kathryn plays a school nurse on the big screen in the upcoming dark comedy Assassination of a High School President.  It's slated to hit theaters late next month.  For more on the film, check out its official Facebook page.

Morris' Hotplate Productions Sells Pilot

By LillyKat
PTR Senior Staff Writer

When you have Jerry Bruckheimer as a mentor, chances are you're going to become a pretty good producer yourself.

Cold Case star (and PTR Fave) Kathryn Morris, who landed a production company deal last year with Warner Brothers, has sold her first series pilot under her Hotplate Productions brand. It's based on Harry Hunsicker's popular Crosshairs novel.

And, just so this doesn't come as a shocker to Cold Case fans who may be apt to think "OMG! She's leaving the show to go produce stuff!!!!" ... relax. Morris has repeatedly mentioned in past interviews that she's interested in delving into other realms besides acting, not abandoning it altogether. She remains steadfastly committed to the CC team, but is nicely on her way spreading her wings into the producing realm.


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From Creators.com
Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

NEW ADVENTURES: Kathryn Morris of "Cold Case" proudly reports that her fledgling Hotplate Productions outfit has sold a series pilot based on Harry Hunsicker's popular "Crosshairs" novel "through Warner Bros. It's a male-driven P.I. show. The main character is a heroic stud, a cool guy that I'm sure would live down the street from Lily Rush," she says, referring to her series character.

The beautiful blond leading lady says she's not planning to act in the prospective show — or any of the projects she's developing — "because of my commitment to 'Cold Case.' But I do have a cameo in a little film that's about to come out — 'Assassination of a High School President.' I play a naughty nurse in that. It was fun."

Knowing all too well the vicissitudes of an acting career — particularly for a woman in her late 30s — Morris has been determined to branch out into producing. She tells us, "I basically had a mentor in Jerry Bruckheimer, teaching me a formula of how to make a good television show from the script through crew, the casting — all the elements. That's why Jerry's shows look like no other in television," including "Cold Case," of course.

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We do love Kathryn, but let's hope it's not too formulaic. Cold Case returns for its sixth season September 28th.

TCAs - Morris at CBS, CW & Showtime Press Tour Stars Party

By LillyKat
PTR Senior Staff Writer

Okay, so we're not covering every aspect of the two-week long TCA Press Tour in Los Angeles.

'Cause everyone else is.

But we're always following our Faves.

Last night, Cold Case star (and PTR Fave) Kathryn Morris attended the CBS, CW & Showtime Press Tour Stars Party at Boulevard 3 in Hollywood.

Production on the sixth season of Cold Case will resume in August.


Photos:
- Jean-Paul Aussenard / WireImage
- Jeffery Mayer / WireImage
- David Livingston / Getty Images
- Chris Pizzello / AP
















Special thanks to PTR's photo wrangler RichE of Look Again, who is always willing to help us corral some of our photos.

'Case's' Morris Draws a Spade

By LillyKat
PTR Senior Staff Writer

We always like to see our PTR Faves out n' about.

Especially when they've been on hiatus for a while. What can we say, we miss them.

Sporting what has become the newly infamous Lilly Rush ponytail, Cold Case's (and resident PTR Fave) Kathryn Morris was out n' about this week attending a dinner for designer Kate Spade.


Photos: S. Keenan / WireImage

Morris Helps Celebrate TV Moms

By LillyKat
PTR Senior Staff Writer

It's all about the moms this week.

With the fifth season of Cold Case now wrapped up and heading into its summer hiatus, PTR Fave Kathryn Morris was out n' about this week as she attended The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Mother’s Day Salute to TV Moms. The event was held at the Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre in North Hollywood on May 6th.

Meredith Baxter was also in attendance. We remember her as Ellen Rush - Lilly's ever-so problematic mom. But how about Marion Ross - Mrs. Cunningham from Happy Days? Awesome.

(Can I just say that this is a totally cute event? I guess I'm just a sucker for mom stuff - 'cause hey, I love my mom and Mother's Day is this weekend, folks).

Go TV moms.

Photos: Mathew Imaging / WireImage

Morris Talks to the Movieguy

With so many PTR Faves earning their very own posts lately, I'm almost inclined to declare this PTR Faves Week. Unfortunately, there's no way to know if this influx of publicity will continue throughout the week in order to sustain it. This time its Kathryn Morris's turn. Sometime back when she was doing the press junket for Resurrecting the Champ, she stopped by Chuck the Movieguy's chair and reminisced about her early days in the acting world and shared some insider info on her role as Joyce, which in my opinion is some of her best work (and don't tell Lilly Rush, but I just LOVED her character in this film). Since Champ is now out on DVD, I thought I'd share this recently posted video of her down-to-earth interview with Chuck the Movieguy.


You can see more of Chuck the Movieguy's interviews, including one with fellow PTR Fave Kristen Bell, at You Tube.

Morris Celebrates Getting Back on the 'Case'

By LillyKat
PTR Staff Writer

Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to work we go.

Cold Case star (and PTR fave) Kathryn Morris happily returned to work last week as the series resumed production after 22 weeks off - a result of the strike by the Writers Guild of America (WGA).

"We all got held back from talking to each other for so long. Then the gates were open, and people were like, 'I love you!'" Morris says with a laugh. "It was like a great family reunion, a celebration. We're getting back to doing what everyone came out to Hollywood to do in the first place."

PTR readers will recall that things weren't quite so rosy for Team CC when they broke off due to the strike; Morris feared her crew would be torn apart. Thankfully, that hasn't happened, and everyone has gotten back to work just at the right time.

"People had personal things occur in their lives where if the strike had gone on any longer, there would have been very serious financial damage," Morris says.

Morris spoke to syndicated columnists Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel on the family-like reunion as Team CC returned to work to crank it up for a slate of five new episodes, which will begin airing March 30th.

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Return to Work "A Celebration" for Kathryn Morris and "Cold Case" Team

By Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith
Mar 6, 2008

"Cold Case" star Kathryn Morris reports that with the series having returned to production last week, "everyone is under the gun -- the writers, the cast, the crew – but it's an excitement everyone welcomes." Exemplifying the experiences of many actors and others whose lives were disrupted by the 22-week-long Writers Guild of America strike, she says.

"We all got held back from talking to each other for so long. Then the gates were open, and people were like, 'I love you!'" she says with a laugh. "It was like a great family reunion, a celebration. We're getting back to doing what everyone came out to Hollywood to do in the first place."

The show returns to the air with five new episodes, beginning March 30 with a story involving the murder of a deaf teenage boy. To make airdate deadlines, "We're doing a set of double-up episodes -- shooting four in the time we normally would do three. We can do it -- our crew is amazing," adds the actress.

When "Cold Case" was shuttered last fall due to the strike, Morris feared that the crew of the 5-year-old series would be broken up. But now she tells us, "Fortunately, we were able to maintain the core. Merri Howard, our incredible line producer, was like a mother hen and kept in contact with all the department heads of the crew."

Morris notes, "People had personal things occur in their lives where if the strike had gone on any longer, there would have been very serious financial damage. However, people also had more time to spend with their kids, with a dying parent -- to attend to family matters in this window of time. So there was some good in it."

Morris herself went on an international promotional trip for "Cold Case." "That was a nice journey and fun. And I got to spend time with my family and do normal things."


Source: National Ledger

'Cold Case' Down Under

PTR fave Kathryn Morris was in Sydney, Australia this week to promote her hit crime drama Cold Case. Here are a couple of photos of her arriving at Bondi Icebergs at Bondi Beach (2/12/08) from Splash News:
Inside, she caught up with two of the stars of NBC's Chuck - Zachary Levi and Yvonne Strahovski (PHOTO: The Daily Telegraph)
As part of her tour, she stopped by 2Day's popular Kyle and Jackie O radio show where she did a HILARIOUS interview. In the short piece, she discussed what it was like to work on her Cold Case set with the boys of Oceans 11 shooting hoops right outside her trailer, the reason she wants to hit the Ugg factory while she's in Australia, and what has her so excited about the end of the 3-month long writers strike.


She also paid a visit to Nova 969's Merrick, Rosso and Kate Ritchie show (radio interview) where she had the opportunity to drive one of the DJ's cars on the other side of the road (a considerable feat since, as we learn in this interview, she took her drivers test twice when she was 16).

You can listen to the hysterical 3-part interview (and see more pictures) at Nova 969's site.

PTR Staff Writer LillyKat also found this article, which reports that she was able to finally secure those Uggs via a local shoe store (PHOTO: James Elsby):

Next up for Kathryn -- a return to the set of her hit CBS drama. The last pre-strike completed episode airs this Sunday (check out LillyKat's preview) and new (post-strike) episodes are slated to begin March 30th.

UPDATE: CBS just renewed Cold Case for a sixth season. It was one of 11 lucky shows to get an early pick-up for next season. [SOURCE]

Birthday Wishes

Cold Case's Kathryn Morris celebrates a birthday today.

Happy Birthday Kathryn!!

Your Friends at PTR

DID YOU KNOW? Kathryn's latest project, Assassination of a High School President, premiered this past week at the Sundance Film Festival. The film, about the popular girl teaming up with a sophomore newspaper reporter to investigate a case of stolen SAT exams, finds Kathryn taking a comic turn as a spacey school nurse. It stars Bruce Willis, Mischa Barton, and Reece Thompson. Look for it in theaters this August.

Kathryn Morris Makes a 'Case' for Locks of Love

By LillyKat
PTR Staff Writer

In the spirit of the holiday season, leave it to PTR Fave Kathryn Morris to inspire us with a little love.

Locks of Love, that is.

Back in November, Morris lended her support to an event for Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss.

"A few months ago, I met this young lady named Moriah," says Morris. "She had this long glorious hair, and I said, ‘Your hair is so beautiful.’ And she said, ‘I’m growing it out. I’m donating my hair to Locks of Love for the fourth time.’ I was so inspired by this girl that I really wanted to know more about the organization."

Morris continues to be inspired by the young girls and children who get involved to donate their hair for more than just cancer victims.

"They’re finding that the hair is not just used for cancer victims," says Morris. "It’s also used for people who have alopecia. And, when young girls know they can donate their healthy hair [to other children and adults], it’s a real gift. It’s a small thing they can do, and they [can] bond together in kind of a sorority of hair - I’ve been very inspired by that."

You can watch video of Kathryn at the event over at ET Online.

(Thanks kindly to the good folks at the Look Again Forum for the heads-up).

'Case' Star Hits the Track for Charity

Cold Case may have taken this past Sunday off, but series star Kathryn Morris was busy kicking off a holiday toy drive at Pole Position Raceway in Corona, California. The effervescent actress was joined by fellow CBS stars Alex O'Loughlin (Moonlight) and Skeet Ulrich (Jericho) as well as NASCAR driver Stanton Barrett (Morris dates Barrett's brother David) yesterday (Dec. 2nd). The celebrity racing charity event put Morris and other attendees behind the wheel as they raced for a good cause. The race track is accepting toy donations from now until December 24th, and all of the toys will go to neighboring communities. Please visit Pole Position Raceway's site for more information. Here are a couple more photos from yesterday's event (as usual, thanks to the wonderful folks at Look Again for the heads up).

Morris poses with Moonlight star Alex O'Loughlin

Morris rounds a corner during the charity racing event at Pole Position Raceway

Cold Case will return this Sunday on CBS. In the new episode, Lilly and the gang investigate the 1945 murder of a man who moved his family to Philly after their release from a Japanese-American internment camp during WWII.

'Case' Star Speaks Out For Her Crew

Cold Case star Kathryn Morris weighed in on the effects of the ongoing writers strike on the hit crima drama's crew members. In a brief interview with the syndicated Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith, she explains why she's standing behind the people behind-the-scenes:

Kathryn Morris: "Cold Case" Bitter Strike Realities Setting In

Publish Post"Cold Case" star Kathryn Morris reveals that the Hollywood writers' strike has made things "very emotional on our set. Writers on a lot of other shows on the Warner Bros. lot tried to pump out a few extra scripts to help the crews get through the holidays. Our writers chose not to do that. It hurt the crew, hurt their feelings," she says. "The electricians, the grips, the costumers, hair and makeup people — all who do not have the luxury of receiving residuals and get paid week to week — are going to have to find work to feed their families. Some of these people will not be coming back to 'Cold Case' at all. This is bound to break up our crew," she goes on heatedly. "This is a crew that just put in over 100 episodes, that puts in 80-hour work weeks and does double episodes to make air dates. We've worked together closely for five years, and we're a tight family. Now, some of them will probably have to find work outside of TV or films." Morris stresses, "As much as I respect and understand what the writers are doing, catching up with the technology, to see this crew getting split up is painful." They'll be working until Friday (Nov. 16), she tells us, and then the set will be shuttered. As for Morris herself, she relates that she'll still have some post-production recording and other work ahead on the series, and then she'll possibly take on another movie assignment. She notes, "There's been more feature activity — films that have locked scripts. I'm going to be available because of the break. Even when we do go back, it's going to take awhile to get some scripts together."


Sobering words. And a HUGELY respectable stance from Kathryn. Even more reason why we need both sides to find a fair resolution ASAP.

Lilly's 100th 'Case' Solved

One hundred cases. One hundred murders solved. One hundred victims finally given the justice they deserve. And all of this in spite of constant whining about Lilly's hair! Last night, Cold Case celebrated 100 episodes doing what this show does best - taking us back in time and leaving no detail unfinished with its window in 1938. The talented folks at CC never disappoint with the look and feel of the older cases. I find myself mesmerized as the story shifts to a different time. Most of us are familiar with Orson Welles's "War of the Worlds" broadcast, but it's always more interesting to get a glimpse into what the actual event may have looked like. I can't imagine the panic that must have gripped this nation on that frightful night 69 years ago. With the advent of instant news via television, the Internet, cell phones, PDAs and even iPods, it's difficult for us to envision a world where a single broadcast could send people into hurried fits of packing and taking to the streets in a chaotic mob scene. BUT, Audrey's murder was more basic than that - it was about love and jealousy, which is as tried and true and current as those aforementioned communication devices we cling to today. She had fallen out of love with her husband and into love with her friend from the taxi dance lounge. The radio broadcast may have been a hoax, but Felton realizing that he didn't have anyone was not. It was a desperate revelation that led to murder, a million conspiracy theories and sightings and a broken, lonely body at the bottom of a forgotten well. It almost seemed unfair that the man responsible was allowed to live out most of his life while his wife lay buried in that cold well for almost 70 years, but karma seemed to have that handled.

Confession time: despite the awesome transportation to another world, this episode fell a little short of my expectations for a 100th episode. I was expecting something bigger, but this could have been any episode from any season. In fact, I was all set to call it a "tie" on the season (neither a win nor a loss), but the last 15 or so minutes saved this one for me. Nick's last-ditch effort with Toni, Stillman dancing with Kat and of course, Lilly interrogating Felton while pretending to be his dead wife saved this one instantly. Cold Case has a sort of charm to it. Even the so-so episodes have moments that put a smile on your face and convince you that they were better than they were. There were certainly enough of them this week to do just that and then you add in the well-done case, and CC comes up on top once again moving it to 7-0 on the season.

In Cold Case-related news, Kathryn Morris attended the premiere of the Vince Vaughn holiday comedy Fred Claus Saturday night in Hollywood with her main man David Barrett (thanks to folks at Look Again for the heads up and photos):
More photos at Getty Images.

Morris Hits the Town

Cold Case star Kathryn Morris was out in Los Angeles Wednesday (10/24) for the 17th Annual Environmental Media Awards honoring Trudie Styler.


And she made an entrance on a Vespa along with her real-life leading man David Barrett, a supervising producer on her hit CBS drama.


Earlier this week, the PTR fave and Barrett were spotted outside Mr. Chow, a popular restaurant in Beverly Hills (photos courtesy Mavrix Online).

You can catch an all-new episode of Cold Case this Sunday on CBS. This week, the CC gang tackle the 1992 case of a 14-year old math genuis whose brother exploited his abilities to count cards and crack safes.