CSI Files
Captain
<font size="3">Hello World!</font>
The introduction of CSI: New York (via Miami's second-to-last episode of the season) is almost upon us! I suspect there will be a fair amount of pressure on CSI: New York to distinguish itself from its predecessors, while still following the CSI format. <font color=yellow>Les Moonves</font> has already declared he's certain it will be the most successful show of the upcoming fall season. Just a bit of pressure, eh? So how can CSI: New York stay fresh while being part of a veritable franchise. A few humble suggestions follow:
1. Use the show's setting. New York City isn't like any other city in the world, but it's also a far cry from seedy but bright Las Vegas and glitzy Miami. In this regard, CSI: New York has more direct competition from the four(!) Law & Order series which will be on the air next year. All are set in New York. However, if CSI: New York combines CSI's attention to detail with the gritty setting of the Big Apple, it should manage to distinguish itself from both its parent shows and the competition.
2. Utilize the excellent cast. In <font color=yellow>Gary Sinese</font>, CSI: New York has an excellent lead. He's also pretty different from <font color=yellow>William Petersen</font> and <font color=yellow>David Caruso</font>. Caruso and the writers of CSI: Miami have done an excellent job of distinguishing Horatio Caine, a driven, passionate, caring man from Gil Grissom, the cool, collected if equally driven hero of the first show. Sinese has a harder edge than either of his predecessors, which lends itself well to NYC. Additionally, it will be interesting to see how <font color=yellow>Melinda Kanakaredes</font> will play Stella Bonasera--whether she'll be a gentle foil to Sinise or as hard edged as I expect Mac Taylor will be.
3. Roll out some great stories! While this may seem to be a given, the last few episodes of CSI and CSI: Miami have been a bit run-of-the-mill. CSI has had wannabe vampires and people in animal costumes; Miami had that creepy episodes with the maggots in their victim's head--and she was alive. Creep us out, surprise us, shock us! But please, stay away from those "ripped from the headlines!" stories. L&O has probably trademarked those by now, and besides, they're getting stale.
<font size="3">Trek BBS Today</font>
Below are some of the topics currently being discussed at the Talk CSI Files BBS:
-CSI New York Theme
-The plot thins
-ATTENTION! ATTENTION!
More topics can be found at the Talk CSIFiles BBS!
<font size="3">Poll Results</font>
Below are the results of the most recent TrekToday poll:
<center> <TABLE Width=350 CelLSpacing=0 CellPadding=6 Border=0> <TR> <TD BGCOLOR="#000000"> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> <CENTER><TABLE Width=95\% CellPadding=4> <TR><TD COLSPAN=2> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> <HR SIZE=1> How would you rate 'Dead Ringer'? <HR SIZE=1> </center> </TD> </TR> <TR><TD Width=50\%> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> 9-10</TD><TD Width=50\% VALIGN=TOP> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> /poll/image.gif 60.1\% - (98 Votes)</TD></TR> <TR><TD Width=50\%> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> 7-8</TD><TD Width=50\% VALIGN=TOP> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> /poll/image.gif 22.6\% - (37 Votes)</TD></TR> <TR><TD Width=50\%> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> Wasn't able to see it</TD><TD Width=50\% VALIGN=TOP> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> /poll/image.gif 9.2\% - (15 Votes)</TD></TR> <TR><TD Width=50\%> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> Didn't want to see it</TD><TD Width=50\% VALIGN=TOP> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> /poll/image.gif 3.6\% - (6 Votes)</TD></TR> <TR><TD Width=50\%> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> 5-6</TD><TD Width=50\% VALIGN=TOP> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> /poll/image.gif 3.6\% - (6 Votes)</TD></TR> <TR><TD Width=50\%> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> 3-4</TD><TD Width=50\% VALIGN=TOP> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> /poll/image.gif 0.6\% - (1 Votes)</TD></TR> <TR><TD Width=50\%> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> 1-2</TD><TD Width=50\% VALIGN=TOP> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> /poll/image.gif 0\% - (0 Votes)</TD></TR> <TR><TD COLSPAN=2> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size="2">
<center> Total Votes: 163 </center> <HR SIZE=1> </td> </tr> </table> </TD></TR> </TABLE> </center>
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<font size="3">Today's Television Listings</font>
Tonight, CBS will debut CSI: Miami's "Not Landing" at 10pm eastern time. Here is a TV Guide description of the episode:<ul><blockquote><font color=yellow>A pilot is killed when his single-engine airplane crashes on a crowded beach while trying to make an emergency landing. The investigation reveals that the aircraft was sabotaged and that the dead man was involved in illegal drugs.</font></blockquote>[/list]
Thursday night at 9pm eastern time, CBS will air the new CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode "Turning of the Screws". Here is how TV Guide describes the episode:<ul><blockquote><font color=yellow>Six people are killed when the cars of a roller coaster fly off of their tracks at an amusement park and land in a parking area. The investigation reveals that it wasn't an accident, but murder. Outside of town, the body of a 13-year-old girl is discovered near a lake and the probe uncovers evidence that she was murdered and her corpse dumped at the site.</font></blockquote>[/list]
<center></center>
The introduction of CSI: New York (via Miami's second-to-last episode of the season) is almost upon us! I suspect there will be a fair amount of pressure on CSI: New York to distinguish itself from its predecessors, while still following the CSI format. <font color=yellow>Les Moonves</font> has already declared he's certain it will be the most successful show of the upcoming fall season. Just a bit of pressure, eh? So how can CSI: New York stay fresh while being part of a veritable franchise. A few humble suggestions follow:
1. Use the show's setting. New York City isn't like any other city in the world, but it's also a far cry from seedy but bright Las Vegas and glitzy Miami. In this regard, CSI: New York has more direct competition from the four(!) Law & Order series which will be on the air next year. All are set in New York. However, if CSI: New York combines CSI's attention to detail with the gritty setting of the Big Apple, it should manage to distinguish itself from both its parent shows and the competition.
2. Utilize the excellent cast. In <font color=yellow>Gary Sinese</font>, CSI: New York has an excellent lead. He's also pretty different from <font color=yellow>William Petersen</font> and <font color=yellow>David Caruso</font>. Caruso and the writers of CSI: Miami have done an excellent job of distinguishing Horatio Caine, a driven, passionate, caring man from Gil Grissom, the cool, collected if equally driven hero of the first show. Sinese has a harder edge than either of his predecessors, which lends itself well to NYC. Additionally, it will be interesting to see how <font color=yellow>Melinda Kanakaredes</font> will play Stella Bonasera--whether she'll be a gentle foil to Sinise or as hard edged as I expect Mac Taylor will be.
3. Roll out some great stories! While this may seem to be a given, the last few episodes of CSI and CSI: Miami have been a bit run-of-the-mill. CSI has had wannabe vampires and people in animal costumes; Miami had that creepy episodes with the maggots in their victim's head--and she was alive. Creep us out, surprise us, shock us! But please, stay away from those "ripped from the headlines!" stories. L&O has probably trademarked those by now, and besides, they're getting stale.
<font size="3">Trek BBS Today</font>
Below are some of the topics currently being discussed at the Talk CSI Files BBS:
-CSI New York Theme
-The plot thins
-ATTENTION! ATTENTION!
More topics can be found at the Talk CSIFiles BBS!
<font size="3">Poll Results</font>
Below are the results of the most recent TrekToday poll:
<center> <TABLE Width=350 CelLSpacing=0 CellPadding=6 Border=0> <TR> <TD BGCOLOR="#000000"> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> <CENTER><TABLE Width=95\% CellPadding=4> <TR><TD COLSPAN=2> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> <HR SIZE=1> How would you rate 'Dead Ringer'? <HR SIZE=1> </center> </TD> </TR> <TR><TD Width=50\%> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> 9-10</TD><TD Width=50\% VALIGN=TOP> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> /poll/image.gif 60.1\% - (98 Votes)</TD></TR> <TR><TD Width=50\%> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> 7-8</TD><TD Width=50\% VALIGN=TOP> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> /poll/image.gif 22.6\% - (37 Votes)</TD></TR> <TR><TD Width=50\%> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> Wasn't able to see it</TD><TD Width=50\% VALIGN=TOP> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> /poll/image.gif 9.2\% - (15 Votes)</TD></TR> <TR><TD Width=50\%> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> Didn't want to see it</TD><TD Width=50\% VALIGN=TOP> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> /poll/image.gif 3.6\% - (6 Votes)</TD></TR> <TR><TD Width=50\%> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> 5-6</TD><TD Width=50\% VALIGN=TOP> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> /poll/image.gif 3.6\% - (6 Votes)</TD></TR> <TR><TD Width=50\%> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> 3-4</TD><TD Width=50\% VALIGN=TOP> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> /poll/image.gif 0.6\% - (1 Votes)</TD></TR> <TR><TD Width=50\%> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> 1-2</TD><TD Width=50\% VALIGN=TOP> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size=2> /poll/image.gif 0\% - (0 Votes)</TD></TR> <TR><TD COLSPAN=2> <Font Face="Verdana,Arial" Size="2">
<center> Total Votes: 163 </center> <HR SIZE=1> </td> </tr> </table> </TD></TR> </TABLE> </center>
,,
<center></center>
<font size="3">Today's Television Listings</font>
Tonight, CBS will debut CSI: Miami's "Not Landing" at 10pm eastern time. Here is a TV Guide description of the episode:<ul><blockquote><font color=yellow>A pilot is killed when his single-engine airplane crashes on a crowded beach while trying to make an emergency landing. The investigation reveals that the aircraft was sabotaged and that the dead man was involved in illegal drugs.</font></blockquote>[/list]
Thursday night at 9pm eastern time, CBS will air the new CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode "Turning of the Screws". Here is how TV Guide describes the episode:<ul><blockquote><font color=yellow>Six people are killed when the cars of a roller coaster fly off of their tracks at an amusement park and land in a parking area. The investigation reveals that it wasn't an accident, but murder. Outside of town, the body of a 13-year-old girl is discovered near a lake and the probe uncovers evidence that she was murdered and her corpse dumped at the site.</font></blockquote>[/list]
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