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WHY is CSI: Miami such a TERRIBLE show?
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Posted by: jk5598224

Not to rehash again... but.

Anybody care to share their thoughts on why this show is SO terrible? I lived 30 years in California (where it is filmed) and now live in Miami/Miami Beach where the show is 'based'.

I am in the middle of watching the episode where the plane crashed and it is so obvious that the brown sand is CA sand, not the whiter version found her in Miami Beach and the clouds were CA foggy clouds, not the same here either.

My thoughts are:

I don't blame the red haired actor as much as I do the writers and the producers or whoever tells the writers to write such BAD story lines.

They really should hire local writers from Miami and move them to California to add a bit more realism to the show. (Good example ,film the filthy disgusting downtown Miami where the government offices and police departments are really based).

I think that the writers, just write about Miami as to what the rest of the USA's impression of Miami is, cubans/colombians/latins, drugs and drugs, night life, hurricanes etc... (not that this isn't true BUT..)

It can not be possible that CSI and CSI: Miami are related, perhaps in name only?

Saludos. :D

Posted by: Mr. Soze

IMO, it can be summed up in two words. David. Caruso.

Posted by: rtype

It's hard to tell whether it's the cast, the direction or the script. It's rather like The Phantom Menace in that way.

Posted by: Cragmyre

It had potential with Kim Delaney (spelling?). I thought the contrast between Delaney and Caruso could have worked, but when she left, it just felt like a bunch of hot shots trying to piece together crimes on instinct.

Even in the spin-off episode of CSI, the Miami crew claimed that they went on instinct and hunches a lot.

I tried to get into the show, but just couldn't. I'll give New York a try when it premieres too.

Posted by: murgatroyd

Well, there's Caruso.

Then there's the problem you already talked about. CSI (the original) was created by a guy who grew up in Vegas. So he knows Vegas.

And CSI: NY will star a guy who is actually living there (part of the reason he took the show is to be able to work close to home while his kids are young).

CSI (the original) is blessed with a good cast, led by Steppenwolf Theatre Company almumnus William Peterson. CSI: NY will be led by Steppenwolf Theatre Company co-founder Gary Sinise.

David Caruso's training? I don't know.

Jan

Posted by: Gregd33

quote:
Originally posted by Mr. Soze
IMO, it can be summed up in two words. David. Caruso.

I was going to type the same thing... I simply cannot stand this guy. I have no idea why that is, though. He just bothers me to the point that I could not watch.

Posted by: ckelly5

I don't mind Caruso. I kinda like the edgy, go for the throat attitude. He thinks the criminals are scum and treats them as such.

I do think that the writing is horrible though. The aforementioned lack of Miami realism is one, and the other is that there is very little character development for this cast (as opposed to LV, and hopefully NY). To me, they just seem like crime solving robots.

I'm giving NY a try, but I don't know if I can ever forgive Sinise for Mission to Mars ;)

Posted by: Richard R1

quote:
Originally posted by Mr. Soze
IMO, it can be summed up in two words. David. Caruso.

I 3rd the motion. I can't stand him, either. He acts like he is constantly looking at a mirror reflection of himself, and likes what he sees.

Posted by: lew

The plane crash was filmed in Delray Beach, FL.

Posted by: justapixel

quote:
Originally posted by Richard R1
He acts like he is constantly looking at a mirror reflection of himself, and likes what he sees.

Best. Description. Ever.

:up: :D

Posted by: jk5598224

quote:
Originally posted by lew
The plane crash was filmed in Delray Beach, FL.

MY BAD.!

Posted by: jk5598224

quote:
Originally posted by rtype
It's hard to tell whether it's the cast, the direction or the script. It's rather like The Phantom Menace in that way.

Sounds like it is just everything... I just don't understand how CSI and CSI: Miami are related, they seem like 3rd distant cousins.

I LOVE CSI, because Vegas is just the backdrop and a small part of the story line. CSI seems to be about the story line and less about the actors.

CSI: Miami is more about the Miami Scene, then the Actors and last the story line.

ALAS, I continue to watch CSI: Miami becuase of my devotion the the CSI concept and will watch CSI: NYC. (Albeit I would have preferred a different city, given the L&O monopoly on the city).

Regards to everybody.

Posted by: rasheed

quote:
Originally posted by jk5598224
I am in the middle of watching the episode where the plane crashed

I don't think CSI: Miami is great, but in the aformentioned episode, I was intrigued by the reference to

Spoiler Alert! (highlight to read)
http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0001443/bio Hedy Lamarr

Rasheed

Posted by: mitchrc

I'm clearly way in the minority, but I actually prefer it to CSI.

Posted by: dansee

quote:
Originally posted by Mr. Soze
IMO, it can be summed up in two words. David. Caruso.

He delivers lines with overblown sincerity, but he looks like the Notre Dame mascot: The incongruous juxtaposition of the two makes it impossible for me to watch and keep a straight face.

Honest to God, I tune in just for those moments when Caruso screws himself up and gives the big "pronouncements" ("Ladies and Gentlemen, we no longer have a young banker in a simple boating accident. This. . .is murder by propeller." ) It cracks me up every time. I see future drinking games being built on those moments.

I swear, every week he becomes more like a 'Saturday Night Live' parody of himself. It's friggin' hilarious.

Posted by: SoldOnTiVo

quote:
Originally posted by ckelly5
I'm giving NY a try, but I don't know if I can ever forgive Sinise for Mission to Mars ;)

Well, he did do Appolo 13. 'should count for something. :)

Posted by: Nightfall

quote:
Originally posted by mitchrc
I'm clearly way in the minority, but I actually prefer it to CSI.

I can't say I like CSI Miami over CSI, but they are both quality shows I enjoy watching. :)

Posted by: cpalma

I 4th/5th/6th...whatever we're up to...it's David Caruso.

The only thing worse than having to watch Caruso was having to watch him with Kim Delaney!!

It does seem that the cast is more brooding than the cast of CSI-LV. It seems like they are all mad all the time. All except Callie. I think she should have been given the lead in the first place. Who says you need a man lead detective anyway??? First Petersen, then Caruso, now Sinise?

I also can't stand the coroner. I mean I like her, I'm just creeped out sometimes the way she talks to the dead people..."I'll help you baby..." Ewwww.

Posted by: jlb

I don't really watch Miami anymore....catching other things in the slot, like The Restaurant. But I will definitely give the spinoff NY episode and then the series a try.....I like both Gary Sinise and Melina Kanakaredis (sp?)....

Posted by: rtype

Does anyone else think CSI Miami and CSI New York may canabalize each other's markets? I know there are quite a few fans who will watch all 3 shows, but I worry that NY won't be as successful because Miami already exists and then at the same time hope that NY may be good and successful and help kill off Miami.

Posted by: DeDondeEs

I am looking forward to CSI NY. I used to like the Las Vegas one. However as someone who lives in Vegas, it is obvious that very little of the show is filmed here anymore. So I guess for that biased reason, the show loses some credibility with me. It cracks me up when they show them trudging around some foggy, densely wooded area that is supposedly in Las Vegas. I wonder how much money they save filming in CA vs here? It can't be that much.

Posted by: Fofer

quote:
Originally posted by SoldOnTiVo
Well, he did do Appolo 13. 'should count for something. :)

What about Forrest Gump? :D

Posted by: spartanstew

quote:
Originally posted by dansee

Honest to God, I tune in just for those moments when Caruso screws himself up and gives the big "pronouncements" ("Ladies and Gentlemen, we no longer have a young banker in a simple boating accident. This. . .is murder by propeller." ) It cracks me up every time. I see future drinking games being built on those moments.

Don't forget, after uttering these lines he has to dramatically put his sunglasses on.

quote:
Originally posted by cpalma
I also can't stand the coroner. I mean I like her, I'm just creeped out sometimes the way she talks to the dead people..."I'll help you baby..." Ewwww.

This bugs the crap out of me too.

Even for those reasons, I still like and watch the show. I watch it mainly to see how the things are solved and such. I can get past the bad dialogue and acting if the stories are clever and keep me guessing (which they usually do) as to how they'll solve it.

Stew

Posted by: AJRitz

It's David Caruso. He's awful. The rest of the folks involved with NYPD Blue should be sending him generous Christmas gifts for the rest of his natural born life, as his leaving is a significant reason that the show has run for so long. With him, they're lucky to last the 5 seasons to get into syndication. Without him, NYPD Blue is a near-legendary cop show.

Posted by: HTH

I find your presupposition that it is terrible as an irrefutable premise disturb-- OW! My wrist!

Posted by: mykebass

Why does he talk in that way? What a horrible, horrible actor.

Posted by: Buster

David Caruso is awful. And I agree that the coroner is bad too...ugh! I keep going back and forth wondering though whether this show would be any better with better actors, or if the terrible writing dooms the show. I mean, somebody has to be writing David Caruso's cheesy lines.

Posted by: BadlyDrawnBoy

I prefer miami over Vegas, I like the tone of the show.

I hate Delko, that character blows chunks and can't act.
Calleigh and Speedle are great.
the coroner is stupid, and she was so so good on newsradio.

and I like Caruso's character better than Grissoms. Gil has this holier than thou attitude, witness his reaction to Catheryn and the Check.

Caruso is just out trying to right too many wrongs, whereas Gil is looking to be above everything. I think he's probably a serial killer in his off days.

Posted by: Azlen

My problem in Miami vs the original is that Miami takes itself way too seriously. Vegas seems to have a sense of humor.

Posted by: BadlyDrawnBoy

Grissom has no sense of humour, maybe the writers do.

Posted by: Oldandslow

quote:
Originally posted by Mr. Soze
IMO, it can be summed up in two words. David. Caruso.

(Hand on hip-leaning backward) "Well, you my friend (pause-pause-now hold it末末末紡re in big trouble!"

He's awful, isn't he? :)

Posted by: sportcork

[.

I am in the middle of watching the episode where the plane crashed and it is so obvious that the brown sand is CA sand, not the whiter version found her in Miami Beach and the clouds were CA foggy clouds, not the same here either.

You need to get out more if your complaining about the color of the sand and the shape of the clouds

Posted by: ckelly5

I almost want to say that Miami parodies itself nowadays. I haven't been watching LV lately (gotta watch something this summer ;)) and I don't know if they do the same, or at least so blatently, but I just wanna hit my head against the wall at the very beginning of every miami, when Caruso says the catch phrase, and then they play the theme!

"This was no ordinary plane crash......
......
*sunglasses*
......
This was MURDER!

*theme song*
EEOOOOOOWWWWWW!!!!

Posted by: Romalin

I prefer CSI Miami. Much better in my opinion.

Posted by: cwoody222

Here's a good article that describes Caruso's poor line-reading job.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editoria...516/1055968.asp

I've noticed lately I watch CSI every weekend (2 days after it airs) but I sometimes have up to 3 Miami's waiting for me to watch. That tells me next season, my Miami season pass might be a goner.

Posted by: BrettStah

I don't know why we watch it any more either. I don't recall disliking Caruso on NYPD Blue, but we can't stand him in this "St. Horatio who does nothing wrong" role. He is apparently flawless in every part of his life. Grissom has the whole anti-social thing going for him, and doesn't really relate to most people well outside of work-related issues. In contrast, St. Horatio is expert at consoling victims, tracking down and single-handily apprehending the bad guys, being a wise father-figure for everyone, surrogate father for his dead brother's children, etc. Can't they give this guy a drinking problem, or something else that's less-than-perfect behavior?

Posted by: philw1776

quote:
Originally posted by BadlyDrawnBoy
I prefer miami over Vegas, I like the tone of the show.

and I like Caruso's character better than Grissoms. Gil has this holier than thou attitude, witness his reaction to Catheryn

Catherine is such a total witch with a B that who could blame him. The Gris character is well written with self depricating foibles while Caruso is such a self aggrandizing prig.

-p (deleted the Miami SP after 3 weeks)

Posted by: magaggie

quote:
Originally posted by BadlyDrawnBoy
I hate Delko, that character blows chunks and can't act. Calleigh and Speedle are great. the coroner is stupid, and she was so so good on newsradio.

Yeah, but isn't that telling? Khandi Alexander was one of the things I really looked forward to on this show, and even though I actually enjoy watching CSI Miami, it does strike me as odd that I don't like her as much in this role as I did in Newsradio.

It seems pretty obvious to me that the writing staff hasn't spent adequate time developing the characters. I don't believe for one second that David Caruso has enough power to force his character to be center stage all the time. The writers have written him that way, and they've written the rest of the characters into the background. I think Horatio is a very interesting character, and they've given quite a bit of insight into his character.

I'd love to see the development of supporting characters moved to the forefront - the scenes I've loved the most were the ones with family - a scene with Alex (coroner) crying while reading a book to her children after working a difficult child death, the scenes where Calleigh has embarassedly had to pick up her drunk father, even the scenes with Horatio constantly stumbling into his brother's messes. I think that's what's lacking in CSI Miami. CSI LV manages to interject those scenes much more seamlessly - we know things about the characters and aren't sure when we were told. It's much more forced on CSI Miami.