Questions
Who created CSI and when did it premiere?
Anthony E. Zuiker created the series for CBS, and it premiered on October 6, 2000. It ran for 15 seasons before concluding on September 27, 2015.
Where is CSI set?
The original series is set in Las Vegas, following the city’s crime scene investigation team. Filming, however, mainly took place at Santa Clarita Studios and Universal Studios Hollywood rather than in Las Vegas itself.
What song is used for the opening theme?
The iconic opening theme is "Who Are You" by The Who, written by Pete Townshend with Roger Daltrey on vocals.
Who were the original main cast members?
The original team featured William Petersen as Gil Grissom, Marg Helgenberger as Catherine Willows, Gary Dourdan as Warrick Brown, George Eads as Nick Stokes, Jorja Fox as Sara Sidle, and Paul Guilfoyle as Captain Brass.
How did the show first get made?
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer took notice of Zuiker in the 1990s and developed the concept, but ABC, NBC, and Fox all passed on the spec script. CBS’s head of drama development saw its potential and added it to the 2000 schedule.
What was CSI’s peak in the ratings?
Its third season (2002 to 2003) ranked number one with 26.12 million viewers. By 2009 it had an estimated world audience of more than 73.8 million viewers.
Was CSI really that big internationally?
Reportedly it was named the most watched show in the world for the sixth time in 2016, described as the most watched show for more years than any other series.
What are the CSI spinoffs?
The franchise expanded with CSI: Miami (2002), CSI: NY (2004), and CSI: Cyber (2015), plus the later revival CSI: Vegas (2021).
Which big-name actors joined the cast in later seasons?
Ted Danson joined as crime lab director D.B. Russell for seasons 12 to 15, and Laurence Fishburne played Dr. Raymond Langston for seasons 9 to 11. Elisabeth Shue played blood-spatter specialist Julie Finlay from Russell’s Seattle lab.
What happened to Warrick Brown?
Gary Dourdan’s character Warrick Brown was assassinated by a corrupt policeman in season 9. Grissom departed that same season, in the episode "One to Go."
Did fans ever campaign to save a character?
Yes. Reportedly a grassroots campaign in 2007 raised over $8,000 when Jorja Fox’s departure was rumored, sending items including 192 chocolate-covered insects with the message "CSI Without Sara Bugs Us" and flying a plane banner over Universal Studios. By October 2007, over 20,000 letters had been mailed from 49 countries.
What is the "CSI effect"?
It refers to the show reportedly raising jurors’ and crime victims’ expectations of forensic science, especially DNA testing. A 2006 study called it possibly an urban myth, though later research suggested the shows do influence juror behavior and expectations.
Did CSI influence real crime scene work?
Reportedly in the UK, scenes of crime officers began referring to themselves as CSIs, and some constabularies such as Norfolk renamed their crime scene units "CSI." Recruitment and training programs also saw more applicants.
How many Emmys did CSI win?
The series won six Primetime Emmy Awards out of 39 nominations, along with four People’s Choice Awards and seven International Television Audience Awards for Best Television Drama Series at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival.
How did the series end?
It concluded with a feature-length finale titled "Immortality" that brought back Petersen and Fox, with Grissom and Sara reuniting and sailing off together from the Port of San Diego.
