CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Difference between revisions
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''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'' (sometimes unofficially referred to as ''CSI: Las Vegas'' when comparing or differentiating the shows in the franchise) is a highly successful TV show (2000-present) about a group of graveyard-shift crime scene investigators in Las Vegas led originally by enigmatic scientist Gil Grissom,then, following his departure, by ex-stripper and single mother Catherine Willows,and now, by quirky scientist D.B. Russell. Initially touted as a show where the evidence was the main character and the actual characters were little more than flat stereotypes with "quirks" added almost as an afterthought, the series has progressed over its ten seasons to make the characters a little more rounded and include more of their personal lives and histories in the storylines. It has also moved on from a fairly straightforward forensics approach to more high-tech approaches that aren't necessarily possible in real life, requiring some degree of suspension of disbelief from the viewer.
[[Follow the Leader|Influenced a great many subsequent programs]]; most directly, it inspired its producer, [[Jerry Bruckheimer]], to try and replicate this success with ''[[Without a Trace]]'' and ''[[Cold Case]]'' (both in the same verse). It also followed in ''[[Law and Order]]'''s 'franchise' footsteps, with ''[[CSI: Miami]]'' (''Yeeeeeeeaaaahh!'') and ''[[CSI: NY]]''. As of the 2008-2009 season, there are over 600 total episodes of ''CSI'', [[CSI: Miami]] (''Yeeeeeeeaaaaahhhh!''), and ''[[CSI: NY]]'', not including books, comic books, and video games related to the franchise. Please note, however, that it is not the oldest of the current crop of forensic shows, a title held by British show ''[[Silent Witness]]'', while ''[[Waking the Dead]]'' aired its pilot a few weeks earlier.
Gil Grissom's frequent one-liners right before the opening credits or an ad break are a well known example of a [[Quip to Black]], although [[CSI: Miami|Horatio Caine's]] versions are perhaps the best known - mostly due to the heaping layer of cheese added to them. Pretty much established the [[Necro Cam]], which it uses as a device to re-enact for the viewers every single gruesome detail that can be extracted from a crime scene, and every theory it spawns.
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* [[Bait And Switch Answer]]: One suspect suffered from a string of incredibly bad luck; after he was caught, he related the incident to one where he got his daughter a puppy, and later backed out of the driveway. The investigator expects him to say he killed the puppy. He replies, [[Crosses the Line Twice|"No, I ran over my daughter. Ten years later, and she still walks funny."]] Another investigator listening in barely stifles her laughter.
* [[Beastly Bloodsports]]: "Lying Down With Dogs", where a wealthy humanitarian was found dead and then found to be involved in dogfighting.
* [[Be as Unhelpful as Possible]]: When a member of
* [[Beeping Computers]]: Not so much used as ''abused''.
* [[Berserk Button]]: In addition to this trope being the motive for crime, Grissom himself states that he absolutely can't stand spouse abusers, drug dealers, and people who hurt children.
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* [[Serious Business]]: Off the top of my head: the [[Furry Fandom]], Scrabble, eating contests, and vampires vs. werewolves [[LARP|LARPing]].
** Robot Rumble!
* [[Sex Is Evil]]: One of the more frequent knocks on ''
** This is a common problem with any [[Crime and Punishment Series]], really, as the only time the characters usually encounter alternative lifestyles is when there's a grisly murder involved.
{{quote|[[Rule 34|Rule 34a]]: There's also a ''CSI'' episode about it - no exceptions.}}
** ''
** Humorously, ex-stripper Catherine seems to be the most squicked out by alternative sexual practices. Grissom, of course, finds it all very fascinating.
* [[Shipper on Deck]]: D.B. seems to ship Morgan/Greg, seeing as how he's called Greg her boyfriend on at least one occasion.
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* [[Take a Third Option]]: In the first season, Warrick and Catherine catch a teenage boy who accidentally ran over a little girl. Warrick gives the remorseful kid his number, and tells him to call if he runs into any problems in juvie. In the next season, the kid witnesses a teenage gangbanger murdering his rival. The DA wants the kid to testify, and threatens to extend his sentence if he refuses. On the other hand, the kid knows if he does that the other inmates will kill him. Instead, he calls Warrick for help. Warrick's investigation finds enough evidence to convict the gangbanger without the kid needing to testify.
* [[Take Five]]
* [[Television Geography]]: The frequent presence of lush greenery and vegetation, and moderately frequent rain, in desert Las Vegas on ''
* [[Themed Aliases]]: In "Living Legend", the killer uses aliases that the names of movie serial killers: Michael Myers, Pamela Voorhess and F. Krueger.
* [[Time-Delayed Death]]: Several examples:
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* [[You Fail Biology Forever]]: Particularly egregious in the shows' portrayal of fingerprints, which are not retrievable from all surfaces (like many textiles), are not left if the actual finger does not make contact, and cannot be made through gloves...
** One CGI montage in "Grave Danger" shows fire ants injecting venom through their ''bites''. Real ants only bite to get hold and then inject venom through their abdomen stings, like bees and wasps.
* [[You Look Familiar]]: Three of the franchise's primary actors (the ones in the opening credits) have appeared on all 3 series (there may have been more with the one time guest stars, a lot have done at least two) Lawrence Fishburne, David Caurso and Carmine Giovinazzo. But only characters Ray Langston and Horatio Caine have been on all 3 series since Carmine's guest appearence on the original ''CSI'' was 2 years before he began playing his ''[[CSI: NY]]'' character. [[Word of God]] says the guest role didn't influence the ''[[CSI: NY]]'' casting.
** Marlee Matlin appeared in a role each in ''CSI'' and ''[[CSI: NY]]''.
** A.J. Buckley, who plays Adam on ''[[CSI: NY]]'', appeared in one episode of the original CSI series beforehand. {{spoiler|He's the killer.}}
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