Chris M. wrote:

All I can say is, HERE HERE! They're ridiculous, boring, poorly acted shows with uninteresting and undeveloped characters. If I watch about 15 minutes of one I seriously just want to weep, both out of misery and just to have something else to do.

posted at December 6, 2006 12:27 PM

pileggifan wrote:

If I get what I truly want for Christmas this year, it'll be that:

Every crime show on network TV will be immediately and forever banned from the airways, except Law&Order: Sports Utility Vehicle;

L&O:SVU will feature Det. Elliot Stabler (Chris Meloni) nude in every episode, along with Lee Tergesen, reprising his "Oz" role of Tobias Beecher;

Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) will leave L&O, Beecher will become Stabler's new partner, and Tom Fontana will write every episode;

It will be a violation of federal law to air any other crime procedural/forensics series on TV;

Ditto for medical series. :P

posted at December 6, 2006 05:23 PM

Jonathan wrote:

I have been waiting for the public to realize how bad those shows are for over a decade. Unfortunatly, there are a lot of people in dead end jobs who aren't that smart and don't have lives.

posted at December 6, 2006 05:59 PM

Elizabeth wrote:

Remember all those cheesy 80's shows like Knight Rider, Magnum PI, The A-Team, and Miami Vice? Bad acting, repetitive plots, hokey special effects...

I think we will look back on CSI, Law and Order, and other similar crime shows, and feel the same sort of embarrassment and bewilderment.

posted at December 7, 2006 11:25 AM

Bethany wrote:

If you are equating NCIS, Criminal Minds and L&O with any of the CSIs, you have evidently not watched those shows very often. I used to watch CSI (the original and NY... I don't think anyone on the planet would argue that David Caruso can act or that he does anything for CSI Miami. I know people who watch that show solely to mock his so-called acting.) but you're right--every week it's the same thing, furrowed brows, nerds, and all. NCIS, CM and L&O are not like that. Sure, all but CM use the medical examiner's "office" sometimes, but that makes sense since autopsies are important in figuring things out. Yes, NCIS has a tech lab, but only one nerd works there but she's goth and they don't show us her "cool" machines and her using them for at least 10 minutes out of every show. Add that to being good guys catching bad guys, and there are all your similarities right there. CSI is boring. It always has been. But don't group the smart writing and chemistry of the good crime shows in with it!

posted at December 7, 2006 12:04 PM

PG wrote:

If they are all so bad.... How come so many people watch them? CSI has been one of the top rated shows since its inception, and it is still going strong. These shows will never go away.

Cheers!

posted at December 8, 2006 04:06 AM

Ray wrote:

Although I like CSI Miami alot, you can't rate a show by how many people watch it. I only have to say 'American Idol'. Or, since I'm in the UK, 'The X factor' too. Oh, and then there's 'Friends' and 'Charmed' and........

posted at December 8, 2006 12:29 PM

Rachel wrote:

All I can say is....if you don't like these shows, don't watch them (You can either use that long, skinny device they made called a remote or get up and use the buttons on the TV itself). There are those of us -- like the members of my family, extended and in-laws -- that truly enjoy them. Based on the ratings, I would say that a lot of people must be in the same boat as myself and the rest of my family since the ratings are so high.

posted at December 9, 2006 07:56 PM

Brenda wrote:

It's funny to me that everyone runs down the forensic shows and how bad they are. If they don't watch them then how do they know that. Rachel, I'm with you, if you don't like them don't watch them, but someone must be sneaking a peek if they know all the details of the shows. LOL I LOVE them all and hope they are still on for years. Whiners!!!!

posted at December 10, 2006 04:25 PM

richard wrote:

When the new dictionaries come out, right next to "over-acting" will be a picture of David Caruso. But it's not fair to lump all those shows together. The other CSI's are terrific and L&O will probably be known as one of the best TV shows of all time, in the tradition of Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue.

Last week I checked my Tivo and 1 day there were 23 episodes of L&O on various stations out of 24 hours. Life is good!

posted at December 11, 2006 01:19 AM

Sarah K. wrote:

DITTO! I am so sick of crime dramas!!! I haven't watched but maybe 1 or 2 episodes in the last few years...and that was only because nothing else was on. PLEASE! Make them go away...bring back a better variety of good quality shows!

posted at December 11, 2006 07:33 AM

MALDCLXVI wrote:

Disappear nah, paired down? Definitely! The 3 CSI's and 3 L&O's should be paired down to one rotating 90min show NY Vegas and Miami /SVU L&O CI each in turn. They need to get the writing/directing talent from the earlier seasons of CSI:Miami back. They need to trim some characters (Sidel) and lastly they need to beat the glib angle headed delivery of David Caruso out of him with the edge of a well swung Cricket bat. He's like Fred from the old Beretta TV show, pasty white and cockeyed.

posted at December 11, 2006 03:49 PM

ToasterPoodle wrote:

Oh how I hope that all the CSI's just go away. bad acting and stories since DAY ONE!

posted at December 11, 2006 06:45 PM

Voyager wrote:

OK, I agree that there are way too many crime shows on (and I will add when will they FINALLY pull the plug on the ER life support??). BUT all you wise minds:
What do you have up YOUR sleeves to Replace these with??? New Comedy isn't breaking out in huge waves and I think some who are still on the air are from so-so to still hanging-on. Do we want another run at the 90210 & Melrose Place gang? More Big Budget Game Shows like Howie, Regis and Shatner?? Another run at the 20/20, Primetime, Nightline news magazines, Entertainment Tonight clones?

What? And I don't mean a single series or show...you gotta fill up 6 to 8 hour Prime Time slots. I'm all for something new!

Maybe BBC can have the "Monday Morning Quarterbacks" to setup what they think would be the best sort of line-up AND one the public will want. (Leave out what's on Cable Channels--This is strictly Network TV). Go For It! :)

Voyager

posted at December 11, 2006 09:17 PM

Garee wrote:

Well, they DO tend to have similar, if not flat-out the same storylines (a few-weeks ago, for example, CSI had a nun crucified, the following Monday, Justice had a boy crucified), but they work! I don't watch the spin-off CSI's (only the original here!), because I agree w/ the stars of the original: they aren't necessary!!! (and how could you POSSIBLY suggest cutting Jorja Fox's "Sara Sidle"!?! One of the ONLY non-believers on television, gorgeous, and a fab actor.
I agree w/ you on the fact that David Caruso is WAY too-much, hence why I don't watch Miami, but most of the bad-acting on these shows comes from the guest-stars (look at most of this season[so-far]'s victims/criminals on Law & Order - it makes me cherish the first-seasons that much more, but the core is good, so I still watch.
Though, you'll ger your wish! NBC, for example, isn't going to have many scripted (i.e. good) shows next-season, opting for the cheaper game and reality shows - we've seen what NBC does w/ these, are you happy now? **sobs**
P.S. This season of ER is bitchin', what are YOU watching?

posted at December 12, 2006 07:14 AM

Susan wrote:

I like CSI sort of, but enough is enough. Too many shows that are the same type. Even though the hospital shows, ER, Grey's Anatomy and House, are about hospital settings, at least the characters are all different, the stories are all different. With the CSIs, they're just about all the same.

posted at December 12, 2006 07:24 AM

Becca wrote:

So David Caruso is bad, what I can't believe is that everyone is okay with Vincent D'Onofrio on Criminal Intent. He and his washed out wuss of a partner are ridiculous. That Kathryn Erbe acts like she's D'Onofrio's biggest fan and cannot have an intelligent thought for herself. Meanwhile he does pull things like the above mentioned shoelace stunt...there's no way he knows any of the random stuff I'm supposed to believe he does and he's such a weasel about it. I hate his character and his beaten partner as well. I love the original L&O and SVU but CI is HORRBILE! I'd love it if they junked it altogether.

posted at December 12, 2006 02:22 PM

La Tanja wrote:

I love the CSI and the L&O's (even tho they come on at the same time) My favorite is L&O CI - how does D'Onofrio know EVERYTHING??? It's just fun watching him be the detective, crime lab tech, therapist, judge and jury. Kathryn Erb, should be embarassed for her characters lack of life. Are we sure shes not just a cardboard cutout for decoration?

The CSI's are great because its just fun watching how science can solve all the mysteries of the universe (NERDS RULE!!). David Caruso is so bad, and he's gotten worse. Compare early years on A&E to the current season. No matter how bad the shows are, its a real treat to watch, Khandi Alexander and Hill Harper - no matter how bad the script.

posted at December 13, 2006 11:52 AM

Brianna wrote:

I have to agree with the author. Network TV sucks. It's composed of: "witty" cartoon shows that get tired with every repeat (Simpsons should have been off the air a decade ago, and ever since Family Guy re-signed, it's just not funny), crime-drama-slash-medical-mystery, reality TV shows where men get to show how big their members are, and lastly, and certainly least, the game shows where people are selected to win up to $100,000!!! (only $60,000 or so after taxes). What I have to say is: get new shows. Every episode of CSI is predictable, they solve it. They even attempt to make the show cohesive by adding "clever" subplots with cast members getting it on. I was hooked on such shows, but then one day I realized how one-dimensional they all are. All of the CSIs are the same, just a different cast, different city. All of the Medical dramas are the same, with a tweak in character conflicts. Whatever happened to originality or series finales once the show has had its last hurrah? At least Seinfeld and FRIENDS quit when they could tell their show was getting outlandish and stale. Maybe Dick Wolf and Jerry Bruckheimer should do the same.

posted at December 13, 2006 12:18 PM

katie wrote:

I have to say this about Kathryn Erbe. I find her amazing. SHe's the only actress working on television today who isn't over-acting or mugging her way through every episode. She never does that throaty, "I'm a woman in a man's job" warble, and i've never seen her pout for effect. She's created a character who we get to understand is pained, without having it forced down our throats. She doesn't wear it on her sleeve. I watch the forensics shows because at the end of the day, I want the TV to do all the work. I'm that American. And shut up. So are you.

posted at December 13, 2006 01:29 PM

Rita wrote:

I use to love the original CSI, but I haven't watched this season. I have enough stomach problems without adding the Sara and Gil aspect to it. Get rid of Sara and the show would be much better.

I just want them to keep Bones, Standoff, and Numb3rs. Those three shows aren't at all like the CSIs and L&Os though Bones gets close, and needs the writers to remember they work at a museum not at the FBI. Give me back the old bodies, please. Standoff is about people, the bad and the good and saving lives. Numb3rs gives a new twist to solving crime with math. How many people knew math had such great applications to crime? Lol, not me.

posted at December 14, 2006 05:17 PM

LadyFenix wrote:

I have to agree with the majority of you - on both sides. I do watch the CSI's - well, only the Miami one, actually, b/c after they yanked NYPD Blue, I went into viewer mourning (yes, I'm kidding) and refuse to watch anything set in NYC. Seriously, though, at least Blue had realistic plots, realistic solutions, and characters that didn't absolutely HAVE to deliver 'The Line' before the first set of commercials (AKA the inimitable Caruso with lines like 'Yes, Frank, but that's what happens when worlds collide....' Oy. Granted, after the first 3,472 times, he, and others like him, become tedious. The only good thing I can think of about the CSIs is that at least they're educational, in some way - I mean, I had no idea what 'luminol' was, or that even one in a hundred of the gadgets,techniques, etc, that they use even existed, and I do read newsmagazines,(NO Cosmo or Glamour or People for this kid.) I also didn't know how strong my stomach was....:-)
Anyway, I miss Blue. Badly. And I miss ER. Yes, I know it's still technically 'on,' but they seem to have forgotten something for the past few years...something that prompts me to either change channels or do a crossword after the first 15 min. or so, when I realize, that, once again, all hope for a 'good' episode is lost: It's supposed to happen IN THE ER. Right? Which, silly, silly me, would seem to involve the presence of PATIENTS? And what's up with Abby? For the few minutes I do spend on it, she doesn't usually DO any medicine, just ambles around discussing her own personal problems and those of the other characters. Her arrival,in fact, seems to have coincided with whatever chronic disease the show is currently dying that slooooooooowwwwwwwwww death from. It's just a badly-written Chicago-based 'Dallas' at this point - and what a shame. Thank GAWD for House! And HBO, and SHOtime.

Okay, I'm done. Thanks for listening, everyone. I'll sleep better tonight. Let me know where to send the checks for the therapy session. :-) LOL

posted at December 15, 2006 06:29 PM

Edgeoforever wrote:

@Rita
Agree on not generalizing too much.
I do love Bones - in spite of the Forensic label. I watch it for the actors and characters, the cases are just background in my book.
That being said, I do agree with the premise of the original post - excessive cloning - of ANYTHING is bad. Just as Sci-Fi was going to the dogs with "all Stargate all the time", so is all this "All CSI all the time" bad. Are there no other themes out there?
Mind you, I am all for scripted TV, I wouldn't want a reality show to replace even the mindless clones, but use some imagination, people!
I know the fault lies not with the writers but the CEO who buy the shows. They have to be sold as "A CSI with a twist" or "A new Jerry Bruckmeyer show" in order to even get in the door.
For me, the key to keeping me interesting is originality (good writing also helps, but I won't search the clones for it)

posted at December 16, 2006 05:34 AM

Shelley wrote:

All I have to say is that I totally enjoy watching CSI and NCIS. The rest of them can go away and I wouldn't care. Well maybe Criminal Minds can stay. I agree that there are too many but hey people watch them. Someone must be for them to still be on and be in the top spot. I for one like the new show 'daybreak" but they are taking that one off the air. I hate when they do that because then you are always left wondering what the heck happened. At least they are trying to bring real TV back instead of all the reality shows.

posted at December 16, 2006 04:27 PM

charlotte wrote:

I'd rather CSI,NCIS and LAW AND ORDER, THAN THOSE SORRY SITCOMS(earl, scrubs,class,how i met my wife and anything on FOX). Not to mention way to many game shows on prime time. What do we have 1 writer who shares his idea with every network.(OVERKILL).

posted at December 17, 2006 01:13 PM

Dave wrote:

Are you kidding? Can never have enough fake autopsies.

posted at December 18, 2006 02:58 PM

Cali wrote:

CSI has been one of the top rated programs for years in a row. They enlist professionals that have been in the field. Their show is based on some very interesting information. I hope they keep making this for years to come!!!

posted at December 18, 2006 03:15 PM

ER sucks wrote:

"Well, they DO tend to have similar, if not flat-out the same storylines (a few-weeks ago, for example, CSI had a nun crucified, the following Monday, Justice had a boy crucified)," - Actually no, that is not correct. The crucified woman was NOT a nun, she was the love interest of a priest though. And by the way, "Justice" is not like CSI. It's a rip-off of "Law&Order," wait no, I'm wrong, it's really a rip-off of a Carol Mendelsohn show that was pitched to CBS this past summer. Thanks to Fux and their infinite wisdom, it wasn't picked up because they already stole the idea and made "Justice" out of it (which by the way, is also finished. So I wouldn't be too quick to defend it if I were you.)

It's of no surprise that most of the negative comments come from people who apparently don't even watch ANY of the series that are written about here. "CSI" is Forensic. "NCIS" is a Naval investigation service, NOT Forensics. "Criminal Minds" is about an FBI Behavioral Unit, AGAIN NOT Forensics. "Law&Order" is about Lawyers and Cops, AGAIN NOT Forensics. So the next time you try desperately to cut these shows down, get the facts straight first. At least "CSI" is original, which is more than can be said about "Lost," you know the really poorly done/acted rip-off of "Gilligan's Island" only with a plane. Wow, huge difference. I don't know where you get your taste from, but "ER" always has, does, and always will suck! People lie, Numbers don't.

"Even though the hospital shows, ER, Grey's Anatomy and House, are about hospital settings, at least the characters are all different, the stories are all different." - No, actually they aren't. They're all the same. "ER" was the original, "Grey's Anatomy" is a rip-off of "ER" and "scrubs" combined with even worse actors, and "House" is simply complete trash.

You people are such sensational hypocrites. You rip the CSIs and the Forensic Shows (even though, ya'll are too stupid to realize that they aren't Forensic Shows) for all being the same, yet you're firing off names of shows that have the same problems. The only difference is that the ones that ya'll name aren't original.

posted at December 18, 2006 03:37 PM

Joey wrote:

ok, so you're downing the csi's and l&o's , ncis, and I watch them when I can because I do like them, but my statement is this, it's sad that no one mentioned that the simpsons are still on the air and one of if not the longest running show on tv now

posted at December 19, 2006 07:42 AM

Jiliann wrote:

I like the original CSI but I have to agree ugly, incompetent Sara Sidle (Jorga Fox) should definately go. SHe's just plain doofy looking, kind of like Calista Flockheart, and I don't really care about her character. As for Miami, it's tolerable save Coruso but CSI NY, get rid of it. Gary Senise, the man who's Always in the middle of a bowel movement, is dry, boring and in need of laxative just like every other role he's played. As for L&O. I like SVU but hope Criminal Intent with William SHatner reject Vince D.Oferio disappears. I don't like Criminal minds with it's five year old cast or NCIS with Mark Harmon (Anyone remember the horrible movie, Summer school?)While I think they should be parred down keeping a few wouldn't hurt.

posted at December 19, 2006 09:43 AM

Lmary wrote:

I don't know if any of you people have cable tv but if want a wonderful,fascinating,compelling show about forensics I recommend Showtime's "Dexter". Which is about a serial killer named Dexter Morgan played by the gay guy from "Six Feet Under" who is a froensics expert for the Miami police[sic] that kills the really bad killers who think they 'beat' the system. Well that's what he said in the first episode the show is brilliantly written and I know because it's cable they can go a lot further[except on FX] but still this show would be great on almost any network. Nothing like a very flawed lead character so no stereotypical 'furrowed brows' here or predictable plotlines thank goodness

posted at December 19, 2006 04:25 PM

daphne wrote:

I happen to love all the CSI's and if they are so "Old, Tired, Boring" why are they one of the most top rated shows on television ?

posted at December 21, 2006 02:37 PM

heyyy wrote:

i personally love the forensics. and i disagree Sara Sidle should deffinatly stay. It wouldn't be the same without her the show would die. AS for Maimi davaid Cruso should go and they went overboard when they did CSI NY.

posted at December 31, 2006 04:33 PM

Sandy wrote:

I would say that crime procedural and medical dramas etc... are the last thing on t.v. anyone needs to complain about. Has anyone noticed some of the ridiculously bad shows they air these days? Reality shows are the absolute worst, they will make a show out of anything! VH1 is the worst offender of them all. "The Hogans"? "The Flavor of Love"? "My Fair Brady"? Ugh! They have got to be joking. The only thing more pathetic than these shows is the fact that some people have such sad lives they have nothing better to do than watch that garbage. Unbelievable! Shows like CSI and Criminal Minds etc... require a brain and an imagination to really enjoy them. It's possible that's part of the problem with their critics. There is so little intelligence on t.v. these days, so much ridiculous frivolity, i don't want to imagine how incredibly useless t.v. would be without the few shows left that show some intlligence. I'm all for some good, light-hearted entertainment, who isn't? But there is a point when silly turns into utterly nonsensical pointless drivel that teaches you nothing and isn't even interesting.
I don't care what goes on in Hulk Hogans house, i don't care what nasty group of ho's with bad taste think FlavorFlav is worth fighting for (egads!) and i really can't believe anyone else does either. That, to me, is extremely scary. Almost as scary as the unbelievably small mentality of those people who do tune in for these sad, sad shows. Expand your brains people, it's painless, i promise.

posted at January 2, 2007 02:48 AM

NightHawk wrote:

Myself I still love the CSI shows, even NCIS. Saying that the suppose romance of Gil and Sara is going to make me puke. She is a neurotic(sp) nutcase and needs to be taken off the show. For me CSI Miami has gotten even better, although I don't see how Mr. Wolf has become like the number 1 CSI tech behind Horatio, seems like he just took over and is giving everyone orders. I have always loved everything Gary Sinse has down, he was kind of uptight in the first season but now loosing up. His number 1 CSI I can't stand, could not stand her when she played on the soaps, did not like in that other show she was in where her mom was dead but came back as ghost and really want her gone in CSI NY. The show would be a lot better without her. For all it's faults the CSI's show are still some of the top shows on tv and I do not wish they to leave.

What needs to be gone is every relality(sp)show on tv, ex: Surviver, Apprendice, Wife Swap, The Nanny, The Bachelor, etc....just a waste of space.

posted at January 16, 2007 03:48 PM