CSI - Why, why, why?

Some times when you have a good idea or a good TV show, you can try and replicate the success by making a carbon copy of the original and then throw in a small twist to make it different. There are many examples of this working wonderfully, for example adding peanuts to M&M's to make Peanut M&M's. There are also examples of this working out horribly. CSI leaps to mind.

I'm all for having more intelligent programming on TV. Shows that do not insult the view's knowledge are rare, but beautiful gems. The original CSI is one of those. I like that the show is presenting the scientific aspects of law enforcement to the public at large. I don't like how everything pretty much wraps up in an hour, but hey, I'm willing to live with that as a limitation of the medium of prime time TV.

What I can't live with is the idea that once a show gets half an iota of attention it has to be "spun off". What about CSI is so good that now we have to have Lt. Dan and the girl from "Providence" running around New York solving crimes? Is the Las Vegas setting for the original CSI so dull and drag we have to grab ex-cast members of NYPD Blue and send the to Miami?

So please, take my advice: If you ever have a successful TV show, don't let them spin it off before the original has even ended. Friends don't let friends make crappy knock-offs.



Tags:Entertainment, Reviews