Information about Csi Franchise

The term " franchise" is commonly used to describe a number of related American television programs created by Anthony E. Zuiker and originally broadcast on CBS, all of which deal with forensic scientists as they unveil the circumstances behind mysterious and unusual deaths and crimes committed. |

Overview

As the shows are shown in 200 countries with an audience of 2 billion people,^[1] various spin-offs have been developed to cater for the market, including novels, comic books and computer games.

The franchise has had a large cultural impact. It has spawned what has been called the CSI Effect, in which juries often have unreasonable expectations of real-life forensics because of what they have seen on CSI. Equally, the new-found popularity of forensics dramas on television has led to an increase in applications for courses dealing with forensic science or archaeological science — in the United Kingdom applications are up by 30%.^[2] In some ways the franchise may also fill a cultural need:

"We started in 2000 and it was a success, but our ratings really shot up after the September 11 attacks," Zuiker says in a documentary about the CSI phenomenon to be aired at Christmas. "People were rushing to us for their comfort food. There was a sense of justice in CSI – it helped to know that there were people like our characters out there helping to solve crimes. And, of course, 9/11 was the world's largest crime scene."^[2]

Series

There are now three series, the second and third launched with a crossover/pilot episode.

• (2000-present, 8 seasons)
• Location: Las Vegas, Nevada.
• The current cast includes William Petersen as Gil Grissom, Marg Helgenberger as Catherine Willows, Jorja Fox as Sara Sidle, Gary Dourdan as Warrick Brown, George Eads as Nick Stokes, Eric Szmanda as Greg Sanders, Robert David Hall as Al Robbins, Wallace Langham as David Hodges and Paul Guilfoyle as Jim Brass.
• (2002-present, 6 seasons)
• Location: Miami, Florida.
• The current cast includes David Caruso as Horatio Caine, Emily Procter as Calleigh Duquesne, Adam Rodriguez as Eric Delko, Khandi Alexander as Alexx Woods, Jonathan Togo as Ryan Wolfe, Eva LaRue as Natalia Boa Vista and Rex Linn as Frank Tripp.
• CSI Miami first started in the CSI episode "Cross Jurisdictions".
• (2004-present, 4 seasons)
• Location: New York City.
• The current cast includes Gary Sinise as Mac Taylor, Melina Kanakaredes as Stella Bonasera, Carmine Giovinazzo as Danny Messer, Hill Harper as Sheldon Hawkes, Anna Belknap as Lindsay Monroe and Eddie Cahill as Donald Flack, Jr.
• CSI New York first started in the CSI: Miami episode "MIA/NYC NonStop".

Documentaries

Because of the popularity of the CSI franchise in the United Kingdom Channel Five created two documentaries about CSI.

The first one called The Real CSI follows real Crime Scene Investigators as they work on Crime Scenes.

The second documentry entitled True CSI features true tales of how forensic science has helped solve some the world's best known crimes. True CSI had actors re-enacting the crime as well as interviews with people involved in the solving of the crimes themselves. Cases featured included the Sam Sheppard case.

In early 2007, British channel ITV broadcast a special of its flagship documentary Tonight With Trevor Macdonald discussing the ramifications of the "CSI effect", highlighting the effect not only of the franchise but of several other British and American TV police procedurals.

Crossovers

Crossovers are possible between CSI series, as well as with other programs within the same creative stable.

Between series

The baton is passed to the new CSI series via a crossover/pilot and cases have overlapped and personnel have been shared. Such episodes include:

• "Cross Jurisdictions", an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and the pilot of CSI: Miami.
• "MIA/NYC NonStop", an episode of CSI: Miami and the pilot of CSI: NY.
• A two-part story started in CSI: Miami ("Felony Flight", aired November 7, 2005) and concluded in CSI: NY ("Manhattan Manhunt", aired November 9, 2005).

Other shows

There are a family of police procedural programs on CBS (some produced by Jerry Bruckheimer) which could be crossed over with CSI or set in the same fictional universe. Currently the crossovers include:

• Cold Case and - episode "Cold Reveal" (aired May 2, 2007) featured Detective Scotty Valens from Cold Case, which is also produced by Jerry Bruckheimer.^[3]
• Without A Trace and CSI (both are also produced by Jerry Bruckheimer) will have a crossover episode, "Who and What," airing on November 1, 2007. The first hour will be on CSI and the second part will be on Without A Trace.

Soundtrack

The title songs are all performed by The Who:

• "Who Are You" for CSI.
• "Won't Get Fooled Again" for CSI: Miami.
• "Baba O'Riley" for CSI: NY.

Spin-offs

Comics

Main article: CSI (comic book)

There have been a number of comic books based on all three series, published by IDW Publishing. Writers include Max Allan Collins.

Computer games

Main article: CSI (video games)

The CSI Franchise has spawned a number of computer games, with four currently available and another due for release in 2007.

Exhibition

Main article:

Chicago’s Museum of Science & Industry opened an exhibit in CSI's honor on May 25, 2007 called: "CSI: The Experience".^[4]

Novels

Main article: CSI (novels)

Various novelizations have appeared based on the series. Authors include Max Allan Collins (), Donn Cortez () and Stuart M. Kaminsky ().

Toys

A range of toys have been developed. These include:

• "CSI: Forensics Lab"
• "CSI: DNA Laboratory"
• "CSI: Forensic Facial"

However, they have been the source of some controversy. The Parents Television Council, who have complained about CSI in general, have released a statement specifically aimed at the toys:^[5]

In an e-mail to supporters on Tuesday, PTC said this kind of content is entirely inappropriate for children to be exposed to "because the CSI franchise often displays graphic images, including close-ups of corpses with gunshot wounds and other bloody injuries."


...


"The PTC doesn't think the recreation of blood, guts and gore should be under a child's Christmas tree this year," PTC concluded. "This so-called 'toy' is a blatant attempt to market CSI and its adult-oriented content directly to children."


Urging its members to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, PTC said CBS parent company Viacom needs to hear from parents who are concerned about the "graphic scenes of blood, violence, and sex" in their product. They are also asking their supporters to contact Target and Toys 'R' Us.

In popular culture

There are numerous references to CSI including:

• "Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife", an episode of The Simpsons in which Homer gives an outline of his perception of a typical CSI: Miami plot "There's this guy that got killed; I think it was in Miami, so CSI: Miami investigated, then a family said how much they love the Olive Garden; then I fell asleep. When I woke up, Letterman was talking to Alias."^[6]

• On the 2003 episode of South Park Lil' Crime Stoppers, the boys give a theory to who might have stolen a woman's pie that's, without justification, very violent and complicated. This theory includes a husband dismembering his wife in a bathtub and getting rid of the torso by throwing it into a lake, all this is shown in a way similar to that of CSI's crime reenactments. In shock the woman screams "Oh my God, what kind of television have you guys been watching?!"
• On February 22, 2006, Dan Piraro spoofed CSI on his comic strip Bizarro by making CSI:OZ.
• In the pilot episode of the UK sci-fi show Torchwood (a spin-off from Doctor Who), "Everything Changes", PC Gwen Cooper and her partner Andy discuss whether the mysterious Torchwood team are DNA experts with Andy saying how he would like to see a CSI: Cardiff, where the investigators would measure the velocity of a flying kebab.
• A segment on Sesame Street goes by the name of RSI: Rhyme Scene Investigation.

• In NCIS, another CBS police procedural, there are two references to CSI:

*In the pilot episode Yankee White, an airport security guard asks Special Agent Tony DiNozzo if NCIS is "anything like CSI"; DiNozzo's curt reply is "only if you're dyslexic". It is unclear whether this is a reference to or to crime scene investigators in general. Actor Gerald McCullouch, who plays ballistics expert Bobby Dawson on CSI, also appears in the episode as an FBI agent.

*In the episode One Shot, One Kill, DiNozzo and Caitlin Todd are collecting evidence in a toy shop (a sniper's bullet had punched through the wall from the neighbouring USMC recruitment office); the shop clerk observes that "That's not how they do it on CSI", much to Tony's annoyance. This is patently a reference to the CSI TV show, dispelling theories that the two shows might exist in the same fictional universe.

• On 2005 Hallmark Cards released a controversial card where they made fun of the Kansas capital Topeka while spoofing CSI. The card implies that Topeka is a city where people die of boredom. Many Topekans where rather offended by this implications.^[7]
• The flash cartoon Weebl and Bob have their own version of CSI called CSI: PIE AMI^[8]
• CSI was parodied on the Lenny Henry show under the name ForenSIC: UK, with Henry playing a Grissom parody by the name of Dagger. The parody also used a CSI-like opening and The Who's 'Who Are You?' as its theme.
• Weird Al Yankovic refers to a "CSI: Boise" in his parody of Eminem's song "Lose Yourself", called "Couch Potato.

Further reading

As well as fictional books based on the franchise there have also been a number of guides published:

• "CSI" Companion (by Mike Flaherty and Corinne Marrinan, 302 pages, Pocket Books, September 2004, ISBN 0743467418)
• Ultimate "CSI": Crime Scene Investigation (by Corinne Marrinan and Steve Parker, 144 pages, Dorling Kindersley, October 2006, ISBN 1405316721)
• Investigating "CSI" (by Donn Cortez, 240 pages, Smart Pop series, BenBella Books, December 2006, ISBN 1932100938)

Literary & Other Precedents

See the Brother Cadfael novels and short stories written by the late Edith Pargeter under the name "Ellis Peters" and their television adaptations starring Sir Derek Jacobi and the Kay Scarpetta novels written by Patricia Cornwell.

See also the Canadian TV series Wojeck, the American TV series Quincy, ME starring Jack Klugman, and the Canadian TV series Da Vinci's Inquest.

References

•  • [ e] CSI franchise
Creators:	Anthony E. Zuiker Carol Mendelsohn Ann Donahue Jerry Bruckheimer
CSI Universe:	CSI Effect Novels Comics Video games

•  • [ e]
:	Gil Grissom Catherine Willows Nick Stokes Sara Sidle Warrick Brown Jim Brass Al Robbins Greg Sanders Sofia CurtisHolly Gribbs
Cast:	William Petersen Marg Helgenberger George Eads Jorja Fox Gary Dourdan Paul Guilfoyle Robert David Hall Eric Szmanda Louise Lombard
External links:	CSI:Crime Scene Investigation official website
Crossover(s):	Cross Jurisdictions
Spin-off games:

•  • [ e]
:	Horatio Caine Calleigh Duquesne Eric Delko Tim Speedle Frank Tripp Natalia Boa Vista Ryan Wolfe Alexx Woods Maxine Valera
Cast:	David Caruso Emily Procter Adam Rodriguez Rory Cochrane Rex Linn Eva LaRue Jonathan Togo Khandi Alexander Boti Ann Bliss
External links:	CSI: Miami official website
Crossover(s):	Cross Jurisdictions MIA/NYC NonStop Felony Flight
Spin-off games:

•  • [ e]
• • •
:	Mac Taylor Stella Bonasera Danny Messer Sheldon Hawkes Donald Flack, Jr. Lindsay Monroe Adam Ross Sid Hammerback Peyton Driscoll Aiden Burn
Cast:	Gary Sinise Melina Kanakaredes Carmine Giovinazzo Hill Harper Eddie Cahill Anna Belknap A.J. Buckley Robert Joy Claire Forlani Vanessa Ferlito
External links:	CSI: NY official website
Crossover(s):	MIA/NYC NonStop Manhattan Manhunt Cold Reveal