The mastermind behind 'CSI' turns the franchise to a new direction with unscripted CBS series (2024)

MARK KENNEDY

·4 min read

NEW YORK (AP) — There have been five “CSI” shows with actors playing forensics experts — “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,”CSI: Miami,” “CSI: New York,” “CSI: Cyber” and “CSI: Vegas.” Now it's time for the real experts to bask in the spotlight.

“The Real CSI: Miami,” premiering on CBS on Wednesday night, is a documentary-style look at the hunt for real criminals told by the officers and lab-coated pros who actually solved the murders.

“'CSI' has that ability to live in different spectrums,” says writer-producer Anthony E. Zuiker, who created the hit franchise. “It made perfect sense to try the unscripted version of the show because the format could still relatively be the same.”

The series uses real 911 calls, actor portrayals, surveillance video, interrogation and bodycam footage, crime scene images, cool graphics and re-creations. There are also interviews with survivors and family members to underline the pain of loss.

“I know what makes ‘CSI’ work and what does not work. And what does not work is when the episodes are emotionally vacant,” says Zuiker. “It’s very important to have the survivors and emotionality. That was one of my No. 1 mandates to have.”

The technicians and officers explain their thinking on motives and clues and return to key crime scenes. So if a detective went scuba diving for a vital clue, we see him back in the water describing how he found it.

“You have to make sure it still feels like a ‘CSI,’ but you also don’t have the ability to get extra creative in the writing because you have to stick to the bona fide facts of the case,” says Zuiker. “That was the challenge.”

One of the first episodes revisits the 2015 gunshot murders of couple Tara Rosado and Carlos Ortiz in the Florida Keys. Their bodies were found in a bedroom, with signs of a struggle but no gun was recovered. “That tells me there was someone else in the room. And that’s when the hunt for the killer began,” says investigator Mary’s Martinez.

Viewers watch as authorities eye an ex-husband before the discovery of an old gun in a canal leads scuba teams to find a submerged iPhone nearby that reveals the reason for the murders might have been a fight between friends over a bale of cocaine.

Another episode examines the 2018 murder of rapper XXXTentacion, gunned down outside a motorsports store. Authorities investigate whether it was the result of a rap beef or a simple robbery. Smartphone GPS and metadata, surveillance video and the discovery of a live cartridge help finger the suspects.

“A lot of what I had to do with the producers of the show was to give them the confidence that the forensics was not boring and that the forensics drove the narrative,” Zuiker says.

In many ways, “The Real CSI: Miami” is a nod to the forensic sciences that sparked the birth of “CSI.” Zuiker was inspired after watching an episode of “New Detectives” on the Discovery Channel about a cheerleader killed by an obsessed photographer.

Detectives in that case found the dead woman's hair follicles in the suspect's car, determined the body had been redressed and that she was wearing no makeup, undermining the killer's alibi that she was doing a photoshoot.

“I think when those three particular pieces of evidence were explained to me as a novice in forensics, I realized that the body was a perfect specimen to solve crime,” Zuiker says. “That’s how ‘CSI’ was born.”

Zuiker was 28 when he realized he had a potential show on his hands. Now he is 55 with a hit, Emmy Award-winning franchise that rivals the “Law & Order” universe and is broadcast in 171 countries and multiple languages. "Did I think we’d get past 13 episodes? No. Did I believe we had something special? Yes,” he says.

“CSI” has indeed proved a durable property, going from the desert of Las Vegas to the waters of Miami and into the urban jungle of New York and even online.

“This is a particular franchise that can live and be malleable in scripted, unscripted and docu-series, movie formats, gaming formats,” he says. “I think, for me, personally, this ‘Real CSI: Miami’ is a tremendous pivot in the right direction to keep the entire franchise healthy.”

Zuiker is an active producer, always looking for storylines for his shows. He was inspired to write an episode of “CSI: Vegas” after learning about a metal drum washing up with a body inside and another show by discovering that someone made micro-crochet koalas on Etsy. He thought little koalas might be an interesting "cry for help'' by a fictional killer to leave at crime scenes.

“I was always hoped that ‘CSI’ would be a crime deterrent. I sit back as the creator of the franchise and have to chuckle to myself every morning when I read crime stories about the colossal mistakes that people are making when they commit a crime, as if the show never existed. If they just took the time to watch my show, they probably would think twice about it.”

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Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits

The mastermind behind 'CSI' turns the franchise to a new direction with unscripted CBS series (2024)

FAQs

The mastermind behind 'CSI' turns the franchise to a new direction with unscripted CBS series? ›

“'CSI' has that ability to live in different spectrums,” says writer-producer Anthony E. Zuiker, who created the hit franchise. “It made perfect sense to try the unscripted version of the show because the format could still relatively be the same.”

Why is CSI unrealistic? ›

For instance, the show's fictional characters not only investigate ("process") crime scenes, but they also conduct raids, engage in suspect pursuit and arrest, interrogate suspects, and solve cases — which, in real life, falls under the responsibility of detectives and uniformed officers, not CSI personnel.

Who created the CSI franchise? ›

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, American television drama that aired on the CBS network in 2000–15 and was one of the most popular television programs in the United States. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation was created by Anthony E. Zuiker, and Jerry Bruckheimer was among the show's executive producers.

Why did the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation end? ›

One of America's most beloved TV shows in recent years, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, ended its 15-year run on Sunday night with a feature-length special, ironically titled “Immortality.” CSI quickly became America's most-watched show when it debuted in 2000, but like so many former hits, it faded out after years of ...

What is the future of CSI? ›

Crime Scene Investigation Job Outlook

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of forensic science technicians, which includes crime scene investigators, is projected to grow 11 percent from 2021 to 2031, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.

What CSI got wrong? ›

Revealing mistakes

Many times during different episodes you can see people that are supposed to be dead breathing or moving. In later seasons, the same line pattern (which looks like an off-center 5-pointed arch) is consistently used when the CSI's try to search for a fingerprint match in AFIS.

Who is the least liked character on CSI? ›

The actress who plays Sara Sidle in the hit series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation has explained why fans dislike her character so much.

Why did Laurence Fishburne leave CSI? ›

1 Raymond Langston (Laurence Fishburne)

Langston was added to the show in season 9 to fill in the gap left by William Petersen's departure. However, Langston made is final appearance in CSI season 11. This was because Laurence Fishburne wanted to return to making movies after starring in the show for two seasons.

Why did Jorja Fox leave CSI? ›

On October 15, 2007, Fox told Entertainment Weekly that she left CSI, saying that she wanted a break "from the commitment of a weekly television series." Fox requested that the money collected during the "Dollars for Sense" campaign be donated to CASA, an organization dedicated to aiding foster children.

Why did Hodges leave CSI? ›

Hodges's exit from CSI was somewhat controversial for many. In the season 15 episode "Signed, Sealed, Delivered," he was framed for faking evidence and forced to leave the lab. Even though Dave managed to clear his name, he still chose to leave the lab to pursue growth elsewhere.

What is the scariest episode of CSI? ›

The gruesome crime scenes and the eerie voice-over make "Gum Drops" one of the scariest CSI episodes. As the investigation progresses, the CSI team finds the bodies of the two parents and the son, which is a gruesome sight. However, the youngest daughter, Cassie, is still missing.

Why did Elizabeth Shue leave CSI? ›

What's happened to Elisabeth Shue since she was on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation? The star of two Back to the Future sequels took a brief break in 2015 after four years of playing blood-splatter specialist Julie Finlay. She wanted to spend more time with her family. But now she's back in two movies.

Has NCIS Las Vegas been canceled? ›

Along with CSI: Vegas and So Help Me Todd, NCIS spinoff, NCIS: Hawai'i, was also canceled after its third season earlier this year due to finances. Still, many cast members were surprised by CBS' decision to cancel CSI: Vegas.

How close is CSI to real life? ›

CSI on TV is a promotion from Homicide; in the real world, CSI is civilian, and Homicide is commissioned, two completely different classifications. Crime scene analysts, especially in smaller towns, do not have access to the amazing high-tech equipment always available on television shows.

Why is CBS cancelling CSI: Vegas? ›

CSI: Vegas creator Anthony Zuiker has opened up about his show's cancellation. He has explained not only why CBS canceled th show but also why it was a surprise and a huge disappointment for the franchise. According to Zuiker, CSI: Vegas was not profitable.

How realistic is the show CSI? ›

The Reality of CSI on TV. Crime scene investigation shows rarely depict the work of these professionals accurately. Unfortunately, this leads to a lot of myths and misconceptions about careers in crime scene investigation and what they entail.

What is bad about the CSI effect? ›

This effect leads jurors to have unrealistic expectations of forensic tests and possibly cause them to incorrectly weigh the importance of either the absence or presence of forensic evidence.

Why are crime shows so unrealistic? ›

Scheidegger agrees that crime shows are highly dramatized. Namely, she states that the real nature of any criminal case, from the investigation all the way to court hearing, takes much more time than portrayed on TV. “Crimes are not committed, solved, and tried within days or even months,” she says.

What is the CSI effect and why might it set unrealistic expectations for investigators and trials? ›

The “CSI effect” involves the growing expectation that crime scenes will reveal forensic evidence that can be scientifically analyzed through forensic science and technology expertise, such as DNA testing, fingerprint or bitemarks analysis, and which could be supported in court (12).

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