‘Warrick Brown’ might be a hot shot forensic scientist in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, but Gary Dourdan, the actor who plays ‘Warrick Brown’ is in trouble with the law. “Dourdan was busted in Palm Springs [April 28] on suspicion of possessing heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and prescription drugs,” reported TMZ, which actually broke the news.

Meanwhile, follow-up reports from Reuters said that Dourdan was found sleeping in his car that is parked on the wrong side of the road. The arresting officer found substances thought to be cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and prescription drugs along with drug-taking paraphernalia in the actor’s car. Dourdan was released on bail for $5,000 after a five-hour stay in jail.

No matter how one looks at it, a drug arrest is bad. Yet, with reports of Dourdan’s contract expiring next month (May) and plans of Dourdan exiting the show, once again it is hard not to suspect that this is a publicity stunt.

As Americans, the freedom of the press is very dear to us and we hold it close to our chest. But, repeatedly, it has been proven that the press can be manipulated for one’s gain while keeping the sanctity of journalistic freedom.

Is our society so jaded that for someone to be noticed, it has to be a scandal? It seems that the 18th century adage – your name appears on the newspaper only three times – when you were born, when you get married and when you die – no longer applies. To keep the infamous ’15 minutes of fame’ going, one has to be a bad boy or a bad girl and be part of a scandal or at least a scandalette!

[IMADGE MEKKER]