CSI You Can Really Get Your Teeth Into It..... (C.S.I (Las Vegas))

Member Name: mythdata

Product:	C.S.I (Las Vegas)
Date:	12/09/08 (203 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great storylines, 24 episodes per series.

Disadvantages: None.

Csi (crime scene investigation) Las Vegas has become one of the most popular American television shows in the UK over the past eight years, It started its first series in June 2001within the UK and screened on October 2000 in the USA, it has become so successful that it has gone on to do a total of nine series altogether.

When this first screened on Channel 5 I have to say that I didn't really warm to it at first, It was only because my husband was in protest and demanded the television that I gave in and decided to give it a try, Since that day I have never looked back and I cannot believe that I nearly missed out on years of this superb crime drama.

ABOUT CSI LAS VEGAS

CSI Las Vegas is brought to us by the Jerry Bruckheimer productions, many my know jerry Bruckheimer as he has also produced many successful films including The Pirates of the Caribbean 1,2 & 3, and gone in 60 seconds.

I think this could be why CSI has become so successful as it does not need to worry about staffing costs and budgets, unlike many of these crime cop type shows that just don't pull it off. With Bruckheimer's muti- million pound, company money is not an object hence why this show has such good stunts and visual effects that will take thousands to create for the screen.

As CSI Crime Scene Investigation is based in Las Vegas the majority of the episodes are filmed in Las Vegas and the desert. When the CSI Miami hit the screens CSI Las Vegas actors and Miami Actors all did and episode together to pilot the first show of the Miami Series.

The basic concept of CSI is solving murders, it is based around five main actors who work night shift for forensics at the Las Vegas crime lab. Every episode shows at least two different homicides for the team so solve, us as the audience will see the team process the crime scene, examine the body and then put all of the evidence together to secure a conviction.

As we a currently heading into the ninth series CSI has changed a lot since the original first series, the thing I like most is that all of the original cast members were still in the series we have just finished. Usually this doesn't happen and the cast drop out of their contracts after a few series, so it is really nice that they have kept the cast together for the full eight seasons so far.

As CSI went through the seasons it only got better and they also introduced new characters, such as Greg Sanders he swapped being the goofy nerd in the lab to become one of the investigators, therefore making them into a team of six.

When we got into season six I felt that the producers had overdone it as they started to investigate four cases in one episode, as there are only six main investigators I found that they didn't have the same rapor and banter with each other and it was all work work work. This is why I like CSI the characters bounce off of each other and they had a giggle so we got to see what each character was like on a personal level as well, by adding four cases they crammed too much into an hour therefore we lost what made the show so great. Thankfully they must have realised what they had done and it returned to normal half way through series 6.

OTHER INFORMATION

Over the last eight years CSI has had over twenty one directors and twenty six writers, so these numbers in itself show you how successful this programme has become over the years.

After CSI became so massive they also introduced CSI Miami, personally I feel that CSI Miami has much better and more extravagant visual effects but it is not as inviting as the original CSI Las Vegas. Then two years after the release of CSI Las Vegas they did a CSI New York.

Every season up until season four has twenty three episodes, and seasons five through to seven have twenty three episodes. I have to say I was really disappointed with season eight as this only consisted of eighteen episodes, this was down to the American writer's strike which also affected series like, CSI Miami, CSI New York, Dexter, Bones, and Prison Break.

QUENTIN TARANTINO EPISODE

At the end of series five we all had a special treat and got an extra two hours on top of the normal season, with the help of Quentin Tarantino series five ended with a spectacular bang.

Nick Stokes one of the investigators is kidnapped and buried alive while the rest of the team fight to save his life, sifting through hard evident and past cases all the team can do is watch via web cam as their friend struggles to breath.

I have to say I actually cried as I watched this fantastic finale to season five, as I had been with these people for five seasons I found it heart wrenching.

THE TEAM

William Petersen - Gill Grissom is the head supervisor of CSI night shift and has extensive knowledge on bugs, how they live, die, reproduce you name it he knows it. His character is very dedicated to the job so everything is taken very seriously, although he can have some very dry humorous moments.

Marg Helgenberger - Catherine Willows is second in command and has earned her way to be where she is today, she is a single mother to Lindsey and also daughter to one of Las Vegas's original casino gangsters. She has such a shady past I don't understand how she even got the job in the first place.

George Eads - Nick Stokes is a level three CSI, he is the cheeky but loveable character that keeps you watching, well me keeps me watching anyway.

Jorja Fox - Sarah Sidle is a very head strong CSI, who was brought in to replace Holly Gibbs another CSI who died at a crime scene in the first Pilot episodes. Sarah has not social life and lives for her job.

Gary Dourdan - Warrick Brown is also CSI three and the sidekick of Nick, He too has battled to get where he is today, he has overcome a gambling and drug addiction.

Eric Szmanda - Greg Sanders has been on the show since the first series, he worked in the lab. As the seasons when on he then took a job as a crime scene investigator, I have to say that Greg is my favourite he actually makes me cry with laughter. One episode I will always remember is when he stuck a rubber glove on his head and the glove snapped back in his face, I am sure this was an accident but they filmed at anyway, I had to laugh but Greg was in pain you could tell by his face poor bloke.

Other cast members include Paul Guilfoyle as Jim brass, Robert David Hall as Dr Al Robbins, David Berman as David Phillips, Wallace Langham as David Hodges and Archie Kao as Archie Johnson.

MY VIEWS

I can see why this has become so popular over the years and I do hope that they don't ever try to change it like they did in season six, I think they tried to take it that bit further and failed miserably.

This is usually aired on channel when the seasons start, so I am just waiting for series nine to start so I can get engrossed for another twenty four weeks. Sky also play reruns of CSI on a daily basis so if you have never watched it them I suggest you give it a try.

Some of the storylines a very believable and some are a little strange, but they always have you guessing right up until the end, it is only on the odd occasion that I have identified the correct killer half way through an episode.

If this sounds like something that would interest you then check out sky for repeats or you can even get the DVD box sets for as little as 15.00 each.

Summary: Great crime series that will keep you on the egde of the sofa.