Lovebirds Don and Kelley Skip Screening to Celebrate His Birthday (December 20, 1998)

Don Johnson and Kelley Phleger skipped a screening of the new Sean Penn film HURLYBURLY to be alone. The lovebirds were together for Don's birthday on Tuesday, December 15th.

Kelley was back on the party scene at a Girls Only Christmas bash the next day, according to Pat Steger's "The Scene" column of Wednesday, December 16th.
 

Possible Crossover Between NASH BRIDGES and MARTIAL LAW? (December 20, 1998)

Carlton Cuse is executive producer of both police dramas for CBS. NASH BRIDGES is, of course, based in San Francisco, while MARTIAL LAW is based in Los Angeles. Could there be a possible double episode in the works in which Nash Bridges meets Sammo Law? Perhaps the two characters could meet halfway in central California. Nash could drive south in his 'Cuda, while Sammo drives north in his Cadillac "Da Bomb" and they could both meet up in Bakersfield.
 

Yasmine on the Cover of MAXIM Magazine (December 5, 1998)

There's a luscious photo spread on Yasmine Bleeth in the new December issue of MAXIM magazine. Entitled "Bleethal Weapon: Nash Bridges's Newest Cop Yasmine Roughs Us Up," the article features an inane and drooling interview with Yasmine. The photo spread features Yasmine in various provocative outfits showing lots of leg and cleavage, but no nudity. Quite simply put, Yasmine looks stunning.

MAXIM magazine is part of a new wave of men's lifestyle magazines, and it's easy to see why they chose Yasmine to be on their cover.
 

Fans Give Caitlin Cross Thumbs Down (December 5, 1998)

So far, the introduction of Caitlin Cross hasn't gone over well with fans. E-mail to us has been unfavorable. Here's a sampling of responses:

...I don't like the addition of Yasmine to the cast. She doesn't fit in. She just isn't right for this series and I hope she fades away, soon (back to Baywatch, for instance).

Elissa K.

After losing the great female detective from the first season to a "pretty face" Kelly Hu, we have a too young and unbelivable "watchdog" as a potential love interest.

Please reconsider!! MORE females are needed on Nash, but not one who looks like a standin for his daughter and who acts like a shrew from high school Shakespear.

Itzhak M.

Please tell whomever at CBS that Yasmin Bleeth is no good for the show. I don't enjoy watching a mouthy attitudinal female parking herself on Nash bridges boat police station. Ms Cross, Yasmin Bleeth detracts from the show....I did not enjoy the final scene of Nash Bridges meeting ms mouthy at the restaurant and then give a soft romantic puppy eyed look out the window. Unless Mr. Don Johnson is personally and romantically involved with this woman, GET RID OF HER!!!!!!!

Richard R.

...I do not think that Jasmine "Caitlin" suits the show, or can really act...my husband and I are not comfortable with her. In this last show "swingers", we thought she looked extremely tired and lifeless.

Kathy Lee

It's important to separate out Yasmine the person from the role she plays. Yasmine has accepted a role that has been deliberately set-up as unfavorable and unlikeable. What actress would turn down a regular role in a TV series? It's a great job, fans, just don't go overboard and attack her personally.

As for Caitlin Cross, we're still open as to how her character will play out. Caitlin will definitely become more sympathetic, and we wouldn't be surprised if Caitlin experienced a complete turn around in attitude.
 

More on Yasmine's Appearance on THE TONIGHT SHOW (December 5, 1998)

What was behind Yasmine Bleeth's well-placed appearance on THE TONIGHT SHOW during the November sweeps? In particular, we'd like to focus on what Jay Leno noted of Don Johnson "He's in, like, every shot...he has a lot of close-ups...We need to see more of you."

It's true that Don Johnson dominates the show, so much that it is perhaps at the expense of the other characters. For example, we get a lot of e-mail queries on what happened to Nick. Nick had a heart attack in the cliffhanger last season, and all of a sudden Nick is all right again. The character is treated so peripherally that the recovery of Nick wasn't shown, but made reference to in a few lines of dialogue by Nash. We weren't shown a recovery period (we feel that the fans needed to see a recovery, otherwise the collapse of Nick seems like just a cheap emotional stunt pulled on the viewers).

Similarly, Joe's part has been trimmed way down. Joe burned down his house. What seemed like a rich comedic opportunity was never embellished. Imagine wife Inger's reaction? Or the fact that Joe is forced to moved into Cassidy's house and that Nash is his landlord? We don't see any of this – it's just made reference to in a few lines of dialogue. Again, these seem like cheap stunts pulled to occupy script time. Cassidy's part is all but non-essential, but somehow she remains in the show. A bevy full of talented actresses have left the show – what is going on?

For Jay Leno to suggest that Don Johnson is hogging the show is not out of line. More interesting is the timing of this. NASH BRIDGES executive producer Carlton Cuse is currently holding on to a rollercoaster in his other series MARTIAL LAW. MARTIAL LAW is exhibiting eruptions – a regular cast member has been unceremoniously dumped out of the show, there seems to have been a power struggle with the viewpoint of the show, and Arsenio Hall has been brought into the show in an attempt to emulate the success of Jackie Chan's pairing with Chris Tucker in RUSH HOUR.

Leno's remarks weren't made towards Don Johnson, but a pre-occupied executive producer Carlton Cuse. Don is in thorough control of the smooth running SF location shooting. The feeding frenzy is around LA-based Carlton Cuse – the constantly shifting ground of MARTIAL LAW has got to occupy Cuse's time. Yasmine's well-placed appearance by heavy-duty PR people, Leno's deliberate remarks to suggest Don's hogging the show, and an emboldened Yasmine's reply: "I think so...Don, did you hear that? I'm the money, baby." is a message shot over the bow of a busy Carlton Cuse.