1. CSI
CRIME TELEVISION CASE STUDY I

2. • CSI – started on CBS in 2000. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer –
hugely successful in Hollywood (e.g. Pirates of the Caribbean
series) and on TV (Cold Case, Without a Trace). Popular
worldwide – has become a franchise with two other shows so
far. 2010 – approx. 78.3 million viewers worldwide.

4. • Forensic evidence is highlighted by the use of CGI in hyper-
real colours blended with actual live action footage, often
shot in extreme close-up. The show establishes a sense of
verisimilitude, so the audience never question the logic
behind what we see and the explanations and conclusions
made by the CSI team.

6. • Representation – little character development;
dialogue is used to advance the story by and
large. Ensemble cast, but little opportunity to
engage emotionally with specific characters. In
the past, the cast has been racially diverse (e.g.
lead character Ray Langston and CSI Greg), less
so now apart from the lab technicians; strong
female characters, like Catherine Willows, single
mother, ex-dancer who trained to be a forensic
scientist and succeed in what is clearly a male
world. Varied age group – 20s-60s – appeal to a
wide age range. Current lead actor, Ted Danson,
in early 60s. Dr Robbins is disabled, drawing on
the fact that the actor that plays the part has
prosthetic legs.

8. • Victim – however, often stereotypically young
sexually attractive female
• Authority depicted as a force for good, although
there is some conflict between different branches
of the law and within the organisation, which is
common to many series.
• Forensic science as a profession is glamourised;
actual CSIs don’t interrogate suspects or turn up at
the arrests packing guns.
• High production values give it a modern feel –
show highlights forensic evidence and the
importance of the way it’s interpreted.

10. • Narrative devices – use of red herrings e.g. the psychic
in Stalker. Suspects are often portrayed negatively in
order to tease the audience. A recent episode had an
Arab prince accused of using and women, but he
wasn’t the murderer and at the end, he paid $1 million
to the victim’s family.
• Language/form – conventional narrative hook at the
start – murder or discovery of body – investigation
after the title – similar to other shows (Wallander (UK);
X-Files etc). Murderer not revealed
• Sometimes two stories per episode dealt with by
different teams - often not linked. The investigations
set up possible scenarios – shown in hypothetical
flashback – and the potential criminals can lie, so this is
an example of unreliable narration.

11. • Audience – one of the most popular shows in the
world, crossing cultural divides. Rewards –
working out who the killer is; getting to know the
crew as the dynamics of the large cast develop
over time. The appeal of a sexy, brash show with
high production values and a contemporary feel
and CGI effects.
• The series has been heavily criticized—almost
since its debut—by police and district attorneys,
who feel CSI portrays an inaccurate image of how
police solve crimes, and by the Parents Television
Council, who note the level and gratuitousness of
graphic violence, images and sexual content seen
on the show.

12. • Has been an inspiration to young people – want to take up
forensic science – and there has been an increase in
courses implemented at university, colleges and even
schools. There are CSI sites endorsed by CBS but the result
of a collaboration between a number of scientific and
technological institutions cashing in on the show’s
popularity.

13. • There have been many official tie-ins to help
promote the show and capitalise on its
success – comic books (including a Manga
version featuring a group of young interns in
the CSI lab), games, books, mobile/iPod
games, video games. The show is constantly
repeated (in the UK on Channel 5 and its
spinoffs; in the USA on CBS, Spike TV and USA
Network) and can be bought on DVD and
BluRay.