CSI: Miami follows the same super-successful formula as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Fortunately, this instantly popular spin-off established its own unique identity from the start. Like Gil Grissom's motley crew, the Dade County criminalists of CSI: Miami solve murders using forensic science. Unlike the Vegas crew, however, they're cops with the power to arrest, their coroner talks to dead people, and almost everybody speaks Spanish. Sometimes their crime scene is a swamp, sometimes a resort hotel. Either way, the skies are always sunny, the gators always biting.... Real-life Florida resident David Caruso--playing Lt Horatio Caine, the head honcho--is joined by Khandi Alexander (NewsRadio) as coroner Alexx Woods, Emily Procter (The West Wing) as ballistics expert Calleigh Duquesne, Adam Rodriguez (Roswell) as underwater recovery expert Eric Delko, and featured player Rory Cochrane (Dazed and Confused) as Tim "Speed" Speedle--though Cochrane wouldn't become a full-fledged cast member until the 12th episode ("Entrance Wound"). Kim Delaney (Caruso's former NYPD Blue cast mate) features in the first few episodes, but left after the tenth, reportedly due to a lack of chemistry with Caruso. Just as CSI has made the most of its location with stories about showgirls and casino owners, so has CSI: Miami exploited its surroundings for all they're worth. Like its parent show, CSI: Miami quickly became a US ratings powerhouse and was followed by CSI: New York in 2004. --Kathleen C. Fennessy [show more]
There is no doubt that the original CSI is one of the best shows on television and therefore when I found out that they had sanctioned the go-ahead for a spin off in Miami, well I was excited to say the least. And then........I watched the first episode of CSI Miami. I started to watch the show all excited and curious as to how the writers were going to create a whole new atmosphere and build new relationships and characters. Quite honestly they didn't! David Caruso, who plays the senior CSI and main character, seems to be one of the most self absorbed actors in modern times, and seems to be so without any real credentials. Prior to CSI Miami Caruso is probably best known for his role as John Kelly, the first partner of Andy Sipowicz (Denis Franz) in the first season of NYPD Blue. The fact that Caruso seems to pause and then slowly removes his sunglasses after EVERYTIME he is asked a question has just become infuriating for me to watch. I think the personality of Gilbert Grissom is what makes CSI Las Vegas so entertaining. For example all the drama seems to come from the whole cast at different times throughout each season in CSI Las Vegas and therefore this seems to keep the original series as watchable as you don't know who will be the main topic of each episode. This is where CSI Miami fails. Horatio Cain (David Caruso) comes across so arrogant that I just don't care about him and I therefore don't care what happens to him.
Another reason that CSI Miami fails is how unrealistic the characters are. It is not just how amazingly pretty they all seem to be or how they all seem to be around the same age. Instead it seems to be that keeping the crime scene free from contamination is not a top priority in CSI Miami. Whereas in the original CSI its Dr Al Robbins (Robert David Hall) who carries out the autopsy and studies the body before the body can be moved and is all dressed in the appropriate clothing. In CSI Miami its Dr Alexx Woods (Khandi Alexander), when she turns up she never wears any protective clothing, she is caked in make-up, her hair is everywhere and she is always running her hands through it while standing over the body!!! It is small things like this that ruin the whole show in my eyes and with the annoying Horatio Cain all I can say is avoid CSI Miami at all costs. Instead try other crime shows like Law & Order (original only), Criminal Minds and The Wire.
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