Though merely an episode of a television series, its significance was far from warranting professional film critics to pen reviews. Yet in 2001, as the internet was poised for explosive growth, many netizens had already spontaneously formed social circles. Among these, of course, were small communities of film and TV enthusiasts. They often gathered on IMDb discussion boards, earnestly rating the performances in TV shows and movies and engaging in lively debates. As one of CBS's flagship crime dramas with high viewership, CSI naturally drew considerable attention.
After this episode aired, the discussion board immediately saw a surge in posts, far exceeding the usual volume. Most viewers gave the new episode an excellent 8 out of 10, but the focus of discussion remained firmly on Vanita Kasson and her portrayer, Jennifer Jefferson.
'I think CSI 201 is a truly outstanding episode, upholding the series' consistent excellence with authentic technical details and solid reasoning. Yet, under Vanita's performance, the plot feels overly thin, completely overshadowed by Jennifer Jefferson's acting. Half an hour after the broadcast ended, when I revisited the plot, all I could think of was Vanita's breathtaking performance and my eagerness to rewatch every minute she appeared. The plot left no impression whatsoever, reduced to mere backdrop for Vanita's beauty. From a viewing perspective, casting Jennifer Jefferson was the right choice—she utterly illuminated the entire episode. Yet in terms of final impact, the producers made a misstep. Vanessa's beauty and acting are both big-screen caliber. If I saw her starring in a major production this year, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised. Casting her as a supporting role in a TV series is like cramming a colossus into a tiny box, throwing the entire episode off balance.
This is currently the second-highest-ranked post, with likes and dislikes roughly split down the middle. Many loyal CSI fans have grown weary of Vanita's newfound fanaticism, listing numerous standoff scenes to prove other actors held their own effortlessly alongside her, while criticizing Jennifer Jefferson's performance as overly exaggerated and rough. Others defend the episode's plot as well-crafted, flawless, and memorable.
Despite this reasoned debate, it remains second-ranked. The top post is brutally simple: its title and content consist of just one sentence: "Who the hell is Jennifer Jefferson? Has anyone heard of her?"
In the replies, some users pointed out that IMDb had no entry for her, and the newly created actor page was user-generated, established just moments ago. Others claimed they'd called the network, which also had no knowledge of Jennifer Jefferson or her prior work. According to them, guest roles of this caliber are typically handled by the production team.
Since the production team's phone number isn't publicly accessible, fans could only console each other, trusting time would reveal the answer. On Jennifer's actor page, a handful of early loyal fans were already leaving messages for each other, analyzing her future prospects and reassuring one another that they would definitely see her perform again. They even posted the CSI rerun schedule, allowing new fans who missed recording the performance to seize the opportunity and watch it repeatedly in the future.
As for the CSI crew, from George Eads (who plays Nick) to producer Richard Lewis, several calls came in inquiring about Vanita Kasson's background—and, of course, her contact information. —In Hollywood, young people seeking fame are a dime a dozen. But for major talent agencies and casting departments, this doesn't mean they sit back waiting for opportunities to come knocking. True talent remains rare. If Vanita had only beauty, she wouldn't have received so many calls. If she had only acting skills, the buzz might not have been this intense. The key factor? She commands a presence.
"This girl seems to carry her own spotlight," agent Greg Blanche said excitedly over the phone to Lynch—Dave's friend—"We absolutely must sign her. Within five years, I'm confident I can elevate her to leading lady status in major productions. Lynch, don't be shy—find her number and give it to me. By the way, I think you should invite her back for another cameo. Oh, but we can discuss that after she signs with me."
This wasn't the first such call, nor was Lynch the first crew member to be pestered. In fact, the sheer volume of calls the crew received tonight was enough to make them feel like the whole world was searching for Jennifer Jefferson.
But the responses were all variations on the same theme: "She's already signed. Didn't you know?"
Lynch added, "By your CAA colleague, Cesare Viglieri. I thought you knew—Vigieri made an exception to watch her perform on set that day. I'm not kidding; Margot and Joja (the two CSI leads) were jealous enough to go crazy."
"What? Vigieri!" Similar gasps erupted on the other end of countless calls, agents grinding their teeth in frustration. "Him again?!"
They'd all assumed Jennifer didn't have an agent, or wasn't prioritized by her current one. Despite her substantial role and standout performance in this episode, she wasn't listed in the opening credits as a guest star, nor did she receive a "Special Guest" credit at the end. Instead, she appeared straightforwardly in the closing cast roll. If she had an agent, they would have fought for proper recognition, not let things slide like this.
Of course, some casting directors who had spotted Jennifer immediately were all smiles. After hanging up, they turned to contact Vijay, a Hollywood agent who had gained considerable fame in recent years. Getting Vijay's contact information was, of course, no trouble at all.
Gossip spreads fast in the entertainment industry. When Cesare came to see Jenny's performance, the studio crew was neither large nor small, with many key roles absent. But by tonight, nearly everyone on set knew Jenny had been signed by Vijay. And tonight, as phone calls were made, news also swiftly reached those closely connected to Cesare.
Most of Cesare's male clients simply laughed it off or sent him teasing texts congratulating him on discovering another rising star. But many of his female clients, especially actresses with similar profiles to Jenny, weren't so amused. Their first move was to rush online and search for CSI rerun schedules. —Though Jennifer Jefferson was currently a nobody, actresses' paths to fame were shorter than actors'. A competitor's rise could happen in just one or two roles.
"Jennifer Jefferson," murmured a stunning blonde with blue eyes after hanging up. "Another Jennifer."
Her bright red nails tapped the tabletop as her crimson lips slowly curved upward. "What is Cesare trying to prove to me?"
"Jen!" a voice called from outside. "Where are you? We're leaving."
Hollywood's newly crowned super-starlet Jennifer Bell instantly broke into a bright smile, rising to hurry toward the living room. "You should stay a bit longer, dear. The wine isn't finished yet."
Her residence wasn't far from Lilian's, nestled in the heart of Beverly Hills. Viewed from the night sky, the entire building resembled a glowing gem, illuminated inside and out. Many elegantly dressed guests moved through the mansion, and with the hostess's appearance, laughter immediately filled the room once more....
"That's outrageous."
Meanwhile, at Lillian's home, where laughter should have filled the air, the atmosphere was eerily tense. Lillian was furious that Cesare had taken it upon himself to rename Jenny, while Jim, unable to offer a decent excuse, had excused himself early. Left behind was Jenny, the one who should have been the most upset, yet she found herself soothing Lillian's temper instead.
Changing her name without so much as a word wasn't exactly pleasant for Jenny, but it certainly didn't warrant furious rage. Though she'd absorbed Jenny's memories, Chen Zhen's personality remained dominant, and she didn't dwell on a name. Knowing it was Cesare's doing rather than the TV station's negligence made it less bothersome. Lillian, however, was deeply dissatisfied with Cesare's high-handed approach. "I'll call Cesare tomorrow and make him apologize to you."
"I don't think that's necessary," Jenny exclaimed, startled. "Dear, I appreciate your concern, but this is ultimately a professional matter between Vijay and me—"
Cultural customs differed significantly between East and West. In the West, saying "no" directly didn't significantly impact relationships; interpersonal dynamics were relatively straightforward, devoid of the nuanced subtext common elsewhere. Though Lillian meant well in speaking up for her, she didn't take offense at Jenny's refusal. Instead, she explained, "No, this is different. If it were business—like casting decisions—I wouldn't intervene. But this is different. You don't know Cesare. In this matter, I think you've been dragged into his childishness. Bell's departure felt like betrayal to him, so he wants revenge—to prove he can elevate another Jennifer and trample her underfoot. That's his choice, and I won't argue with it. But he can't change your name because of his issues with Bell. That's a huge insult to your character. You shouldn't be his tool for petty revenge."
Oh, Lilian...
If Jenny had initially befriended her partly because Lilian was her quasi-boss, she now genuinely considered her a friend. Lilian truly embodied the product of a good family, a good education, and innate talent—kind, independent, and exceptionally capable. Most importantly, she genuinely believed the world should be beautiful and just.
Such a person was like a little sun, radiating pure positivity, always lavishing care on her friends without reservation. Though she might not be as beautiful as Jenny, Jenny could admit without hesitation that Lilian possessed more charm, more of an angelic quality.
"Darling, it's too late now," she said, slipping an arm around Lilian's shoulder and topping up her glass. "Going to Cesare now probably won't change his mind. It might even make him think I'm trying to drive a wedge between you two, don't you think? He pays me to walk his dog—it's just a way to support me decently, not to make me your friend. What if Cesare forbids us from seeing each other in the future?"
"Who I choose to be friends with is my own business," Lilian retorted instinctively. But when she saw Jenny's expression, she paused, then sighed. "Fine. But who you befriend isn't up to you... I get it. I won't mention it over the phone. But when we get back, I'll voice my opinion. You can't stop me."
Meeting face-to-face offered far fewer avenues for misunderstanding than a phone call. Jenny had no objection to this. "Fine. But it's just a name change. Jenny and Jennifer—aren't they essentially the same? Maybe Cesare intended to provoke Jennifer Bell with my name, but that doesn't hurt me. Maybe Cesare wants the media to start comparing the two Jennifers? That could boost my visibility, couldn't it?"
Lillian pondered this, her expression softening slightly though still sullen. "Alright, but I'm still unhappy about this decision. Cesare shouldn't have done this. It's a matter of principle."
"You're so kind. Really, you're too kind to me." Jenny couldn't help but give her a light hug before raising her glass. "Come on, let's forget all this and celebrate tonight's episode."
Lillian clinked glasses with her, her face breaking into a smile. "You were absolutely brilliant. Trust me, you're going to make it!"
After the earlier drama, the two girls grew closer. At least Jenny had already mentally accepted Lilian as a confidante. After a few sips, they started chatting about everything under the sun. Under the alcohol's influence, Jenny opened up a bit. "Lil, I've always wondered—why are you so nice to me? I mean, I'm young, pretty, and a Vijay artist. He treats me well too—obviously giving me this job and a car as a favor. Usually, when a boyfriend is this nice to another woman, even if he knows there's nothing going on, his girlfriend still feels—"
"Oh." Lilian smiled. "It's nothing. Of course, not every artist at Cesare's is my friend, but I think you're great—professional, dedicated, and genuinely kind. More importantly, we just click. I'm not friends with you because you're a Cesare artist; he's just how we met."
"But those are qualities you only discovered after getting to know me, right?" Jenny was genuinely curious. "Yet you were kind to me from our very first meeting."
"Yes, because I didn't share your concerns," Lillian admitted frankly. "You are beautiful, but Cesare wouldn't have anything with you."
Jenny nodded silently. Lillian laughed. "Oh! Don't get me wrong—it's not that I trust his love for me. I'm not that naive, and our relationship hasn't reached that level. For heaven's sake, this is Hollywood—what love here could withstand every test? The reason I have no worries is that I know Cesare. He wouldn't touch his own artists, nor would he form any personal connections with them—that would be unprofessional. And for Cesare, professionalism is everything."
She sipped her drink and casually dropped a bombshell. "Otherwise, why do you think Jennifer Bell left him?"
So that's why...!
But it made sense. Otherwise, with Cesare's industry connections, Jennifer Bell—who hadn't even solidified her place in the A-list—would have no reason to fall out with him.
No woman is immune to gossip, and Jenny was naturally curious about her future rival. She wanted to dig deeper, but unfortunately, her phone buzzed at that moment. Lillian handed it to Jenny. "So late at night? Who could it be?"
"A good friend." Jenny glanced at the screen, gave Lilian a 'step away' gesture, then walked out to the terrace to take the call. "Hey, Dave!"
"Congratulations, Jenny." Dave's tone had returned to its usual warmth, as if they'd always been just good friends. "Congrats. Lynch just called me—said he's been getting a lot of calls..."