Latest 'CSI' continues franchise's dominance

By Doug Wernert
Daily TV/New Media Editor  On  September 28th, 2004

There’s a simple reason why “CSI” is the most
popular show on television. It takes an intriguing medical
investigation premise, adds some strong, no-nonsense characters and
complements that with some fancy effects to form one compact little
hour of programming.

The formula has worked so well that the franchise is now
receiving its second spin-off. “CSI: New York”
successfully follows in the footsteps of its predecessors and
throws in a big-name actor and a little New York flare to keep the
audience coming back for more.

Gary Senise (“Forrest Gump”) stars as Detective Mack
Taylor, an overworked investigator who, behind his gruff demeanor,
actually has an emotional side. He’s partnered with the usual
strong female counterpart (Melina Kanakaredes,
“Providence”), but it’s clear that Mac, as he is
affectionately known, is the leader of the duo. Mac is the one
aggressively questioning possible suspects and examining the bodies
at the autopsies, conducted by the cool, intelligent Dr. Hawkins
(Hill Harper). Senise portrays his character extremely well,
switching convincingly from being vulnerable and stressed-out to a
determined, unrelenting detective in the blink of an eye.

The investigations, as in the previous two installments of the
franchise, usually revolve around a suspicious death with some kind
of mysterious cause and motive that Mac and company must uncover.
For example, in the pilot episode, two young women are found dead
with severe bruises around their neck. During the autopsy, Hawkins
suggests a loss of blood to the brain as the cause of death. It is
here that the patented “CSI” effects make their mark on
the show. Creative shots of bursting blood vessels, fractured neck
bones and even tattered belt holes are all shown, enhancing the
viewing experience while also providing logical reasoning toward
solving the case.

The New York City setting doesn’t play a huge role in the
show, but a more solid, lingering presence. Famous landmarks are
used to determine where a photograph was shot, and aerial views of
the city are used liberally at the beginning of each episode. Where
“CSI: New York” differs from the rest is in its tone.
The other two “CSI” offerings — taking place in
Las Vegas and Miami — are more flashy and extravagant, while
“New York” has a dark, low-key atmosphere. This is
evident in the touching final scene of the pilot, when Mac hails a
cab to stop at Ground Zero so he can mourn over the loss of his
wife who was killed on Sept. 11.

Despite dominating the prime-time lineup, the “CSI”
name hasn’t gotten old and due to its huge success, CBS
doesn’t look to be stopping the innovative program anytime
soon. Good move.

Rating:  4 out of 5 stars

Printed from www.michigandaily.com on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:00:55 -0500