CSI - all three shows - is just a juggernaut that seemingly won't be
stopped. Sure, the ratings go up and down, but it's still a powerful TV
force to be reckoned with, and it's still doing better than all of the
Law &
Order shows and other spin-off shows. All three CSI shows are still in the
top 20 each week, and CSI is usually still the #1 or #2 show.
Why is CSI so intriguing, no matter which actors are in the show, or
which locale? The number reason is writing. The show gives constantly
good stories, interesting characters, and enough action to satisfy anyone.
All CSI shows have interesting scientific facts where we learn something
about fingerprint analysis, or how a body rots, or how a bullet goes through
the body, or some other gory detail. Even if you're not into that
stuff so much, it is still a very exciting show.
Educational doesn't always translate to top ratings, but in this case it
does.
Not that all of the police and scientific work in CSI is real or uses
real-life science. Not all crime labs are good, thorough, well-funded, and
catch the murderer the way they do in the CSI shows. That's true of
most cop shows, though. In real life, it takes more than 45 minutes to
catch the bad guy, if they even do. In real life, they don't have
enough money, so DNA analysis and other CSI-related technologies are
backlogged for months, or sometimes years.
Some of the "science" used in the show is not as accurate as what is
readily available for most crime labs, and some of it is so cutting edge
that it's practically science fiction. But that's ok. No one
really cares about how accurate the show is. They just want to be
entertained, and the CSI shows do a good job of that.
Besides the writing and the fun science stuff, they do a very good job
choosing the actors and writing good characters for them. I may be one
of those few people that likes all three shows, and I prefer CSI NY to CSI
Miami. The original CSI is still my favorite, even with the actors
coming and going so much recently. For one thing, I love Las Vegas,
and I love the grim sense of humor that is often imparted into the stores.
I always loved William Peterson in his role. The CSI's in that one seem more
like scientists than cops. In the other two shows, they seem more like cops
(especially CSI: Miami). I also loved George Eads, who plays Nick, before
CSI even started (he starred in one of my favorite primetime soaps,
"Savannah"). I sure wish he would grow his hair back, though. I don't much
like the jarhead look he's sporting now.
It seems to me that the success of CSI Miami lies partly in how much you
like David Caruso. I liked him a lot in NYPD Blue, but his character is very
different in CSI: Miami. I just don't like how they have him skirting the
rules, crossing the line, shooting people so often as he does. I don't like
bad cops in real life, so I have trouble with them in TV sometimes, too.
If it weren't Caruso, though, it would be more difficult to take if they had
someone less sympathetic. I like all of the other actors, even though they
seem to change them a lot on that show. I am loving the addition of Eddie
Cibrian. He has always been one of my favorites since I saw him years ago on
Young & the Restless. The actor who plays Wolf is another one who needs to
let his hair grow back! What is it with these guys?
I love CSI: NY partly because of Gary Sinise, who I have loved ever since
Forrest Gump. He is gorgeous and what a great actor. I know it sounds
shallow, but, yes, I am one of those people who watches a show because I
like the cute actor on it. The rest of the cast is great on that one,
too, and it has such a wonderful New York quality about it. Melinda
Kanakaredes is awesome (another daytime soap vet!), too. I wonder if Mac and
Stella will ever hook up? I would love to see that, although I'm fine with
their brother-and-sister vibe as well.
I still love these shows and watch them every week. I hope you do, too!
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