CSI Files
Captain
Since the recent launch of CSI: New York, the franchise's third outing, there have been naysayers, parodies and cautionary words from critics (<A class="link" HREF=http://www.csifiles.com/news/230904_03.shtml>story</a>). Yesterday, Variety's <font color=yellow>Brian Lowry</font> confessed he was completely baffled as to how the shows managed to continue thriving.
Lowry contended that CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and its two spinoffs are far too similar, "varying only the exteriors and Who songs -- whether the bodies are found outside a casino, adjacent to the Everglades or within spitting distance of the Statue of Liberty." He contrasted this with NBC's Law & Order, which he said "subtly differentiates between its offshoots."
In the article, the author postulated a variety of ideas he thought may explain the runaway success of the ratings juggernaut that is CSI... ranging from a consumer need to see good triumph over evil, to post-September 11th reactionary behaviour. He also quoted UCLA professor and author <font color=yellow>Mark Seltzer</font> as saying that "The best alibi for viewing spectacles of violence is that it's infotainment."
The article also found time to take pot shots at the recent firing of <font color=yellow>George Eads</font> (Nick Stokes) and <font color=yellow>Jorja Fox</font> (Sara Sidle) (reported here) and even series creator <font color=yellow>Anthony Zuiker</font>. Lowry also criticised the show's use of the September 11th tragedy as a plot point (in the case of Mac Taylor's wife), despite citing it as a potential scapegoat on which to pin what he believes to be the inexplicable success of the "CSI phenomenon". Despite this, he was forced to acknowledge the 72 million viewers that CSI shows drew in first-run slots during premiere week.
The feeling here is contrasted highly with other parts of the media – for example, an article in the <A class="link" HREF=http://www.silive.com/advance/>Staten Island Advance</a>, which goes so far as to complement the show set in its home city of New York by reminding viewers that despite "much of the actual show [being] shot in Los Angeles, [you] certainly couldn't tell." Author <font color=yellow>Daniel Chiu</font> writes: "All in all, CSI: NY is a great new show for the fall. The performances from Sinise and Kanakaredes are convincing and enjoyable to watch."
To read the full Staten Island Advance article, see the . You can read the full Variety article at <A class="link" HREF=http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/variety/20041003/va_tv_ne/pondering_the_unsolved_mystery_of__csi_1>Yahoo News.<center></center>
Lowry contended that CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and its two spinoffs are far too similar, "varying only the exteriors and Who songs -- whether the bodies are found outside a casino, adjacent to the Everglades or within spitting distance of the Statue of Liberty." He contrasted this with NBC's Law & Order, which he said "subtly differentiates between its offshoots."
In the article, the author postulated a variety of ideas he thought may explain the runaway success of the ratings juggernaut that is CSI... ranging from a consumer need to see good triumph over evil, to post-September 11th reactionary behaviour. He also quoted UCLA professor and author <font color=yellow>Mark Seltzer</font> as saying that "The best alibi for viewing spectacles of violence is that it's infotainment."
The article also found time to take pot shots at the recent firing of <font color=yellow>George Eads</font> (Nick Stokes) and <font color=yellow>Jorja Fox</font> (Sara Sidle) (reported here) and even series creator <font color=yellow>Anthony Zuiker</font>. Lowry also criticised the show's use of the September 11th tragedy as a plot point (in the case of Mac Taylor's wife), despite citing it as a potential scapegoat on which to pin what he believes to be the inexplicable success of the "CSI phenomenon". Despite this, he was forced to acknowledge the 72 million viewers that CSI shows drew in first-run slots during premiere week.
The feeling here is contrasted highly with other parts of the media – for example, an article in the <A class="link" HREF=http://www.silive.com/advance/>Staten Island Advance</a>, which goes so far as to complement the show set in its home city of New York by reminding viewers that despite "much of the actual show [being] shot in Los Angeles, [you] certainly couldn't tell." Author <font color=yellow>Daniel Chiu</font> writes: "All in all, CSI: NY is a great new show for the fall. The performances from Sinise and Kanakaredes are convincing and enjoyable to watch."
To read the full Staten Island Advance article, see the . You can read the full Variety article at <A class="link" HREF=http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/variety/20041003/va_tv_ne/pondering_the_unsolved_mystery_of__csi_1>Yahoo News.<center></center>