CSI Files
Captain
No one can accuse <font color=yellow>Hill Harper</font> of being idle. He spent his brief hiatus from CSI: New York shooting a movie and traveling the country to promote his book, Letters to a Young Brother. Harper recently returned to the set of CSI: NY to begin shooting the show's third season, but he's planning on spending his free time this fall continuing his book tour. Harper took some time out of his packed schedule to sit down with CSI Files' <font color=yellow>Kristine Huntley</font> to discuss his many projects.
CSI Files: How is the new season going?
Hill Harper: It's going to be a really, really good season. I think that the writers and the actors are really comfortable and have a really good understanding of everyone's role and what they do best, what their strengths are and how the characters fit with each other. I think everybody understands each other's rhythms. The chemistry has really solidified itself.
CSI Files: What episode are you shooting now?
Harper: We're shooting episode five now. It's called "Oedipus Hex". There are two different story lines. One is a very interesting story line about the Suicide Girls and the other one is Rucker Park. Rucker Park is the streetball capital of the world, where great streetball players play. It's legendary in New York. So two very interesting stories.
CSI Files: Which case is Hawkes on?
Harper: I'm on the Suicide Girls case.
CSI Files: Are you happy with the stories that have been written so far for the season?
Harper: They're interesting, which is the challenge with a show like this where there are so many examples, whether it be the documentary or the real-life versions of these forensics shows or all the CSIs or all of the other shows that are basically CSI spin-offs but they're called something else, like Bones or Crossing Jordan. So to keep the stories interesting, compelling and fresh is a real challenge for the writers, and I think they've been doing a great job this year. I really feel good about the way our show is represented compared to the other shows that are out there.
We've got a huge opportunity to do really well [this season]. We beat Law & Order pretty bad last year and they moved Law & Order, so this season will be the first time that we're not going up against another procedural show. The show that ABC is putting on is supposed to be the perfect combo for Lost, so they're hoping that they can keep all that Lost audience. I don't know much about it--I've heard the pilot is really good--but who knows if the audience will stay. I know that there's a big audience out there that like procedural shows, and not necessarily shows that are serialized. I think that if we can get the people from the Law & Order camp to come over to us, you'll see a real bounce. I think that's what the difference is. We're the third-rated show as far as the CSIs, but none of the other shows have gone up against Law & Order. It will be real interesting to see how the original show does against Grey's Anatomy. It will be interesting to see how our show does against the new competition. I really do like our chances.
I like the shows that we've been doing and they've been very interesting stories but not necessarily going for the super sensational. It's not huge stuff--it's just interesting stories and I think that's really the root of what makes procedurals interesting. More of that rather than huge explosions and cars crashing--none of that stuff. It's really about the characters, it's about the evidence and dealing with that. So I'm excited.
CSI Files: Any changes for Hawkes this year?
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