‘Sopranos’ returning to HBO in 2006

“The Sopranos” won’t sing again until 2006.

HBO chairman Chris Albrecht told TV critics at their annual press tour that the hit series’ final 10 episodes “will be well worth waiting for,” despite the lag of more than a year and a half.

“People complain that TV does the same formula all the time,” he said, “and now people seem to be upset that we aren’t following the formula we’re supposed to be following.”

Albrecht compared “Sopranos” anticipation with the lengthy wait for new Harry Potter books that fans eagerly scoop up whenever they’re finally published.

And he raised hopes for more than 10 final-season episodes, saying there’s a chance of getting more hours from series creator David Chase.

Fox back on ‘CSI,’ Eads waiting

Jorja Fox, one of the two “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” stars who were fired for skipping work in a salary dispute, is returning to the hit CBS drama.

Fox reached an agreement with the network and will be back on the set next week, a source close to the production said.

Co-star George Eads also lost his job when he also failed to report last week for the start of production on the fifth season. He called it “a big misunderstanding,” saying he had simply overslept.

CBS chief Leslie Moonves said Fox and Eades had been offered raises for next season, though the network had no contractual obligation to do so.