'CSI: Miami' Spins Off On Its Own - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TJ · 03-04-2003, 12:11 AM

http://tv.zap2it.com/news/tvnewsdaily.html?30385

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - With the success of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" it shouldn't have surprised the show's producers that CBS President Les Moonves wanted another "CSI" to plug into the network's primetime schedule. What surprised them was his specific request.

"Leslie told us he wanted a clone," recalls Executive Producer Ann Donahue. "We knew we couldn't do a clone, because everything has its own beauty."

On Saturday (March 1), members of the cast and crew of "CSI: Miami" gathered at the Museum of Television and Radio's annual William S. Paley Festival to discuss their wildly successful new drama and to explain why it most certainly is not a clone.

"CSI: Miami" sticks to the basic format of the original, which is something akin to an Encyclopedia Brown mystery with a higher body count and cooler gadgets. Since "Miami" premiered last fall in a crossover with "CSI," the newer show has endeavored to set itself apart.

The choice of cities informed the producers’ every decision in giving "CSI: Miami" a voice distinct from its Las Vegas predecessor. While the show was still in pre-production, Co-Executive Producer Danny Cannon remembers driving through Miami talking to the other producers back in Los Angeles and throwing out story possibilities for every landmark he passed.

"The environment helped us a lot. The speeds ... the rhythms ... the lights," says Cannon.

"Vegas is broader, just weirder. I don't think you'll see a dominatrix on 'CSI Miami,'" promises Carol Mendelsohn, another of the show's executive producers.

As much as the city has shaped the show's visual style, Miami’s impact on the organic development of the characters has been even more provocative. Early in their research, producers were surprised and pleased to learn that in Miami, the CSI investigators are all cops.

"I think the difference is that street detectives... have the luxury to wear their heart on their sleeve," explains David Caruso, who plays the heroically named Horatio Caine. "" This is a show about intelligence ... the challenge is letting the emotions seep through."

This marks a major shift from the science geeks who work the scene in Vegas. On the original " CSI" most of the action takes place inside, mirrored by the characters’ lack of outside lives.

On " CSI: Miami," the investigators work in orange-tinted Miami sunshine, have the power to arrest suspects on the spot and are beginning to show hints of expanded emotional range.

Mendelsohn emphasizes that while the cops on " CSI: Miami" may have lives, the show won't become a soap opera, stating that the main thrust of the program is still to " follow the mystery ... to learn about them through their interactions in the lab."

" The power of these people's lives is that they deal with an overwhelming amount of sadness," adds Caruso.

As the pilot was developed, Horatio Caine evolved into more of a cop than a scientist, which helped the producers when they discovered that " NYPD Blue" alum Caruso was available.

" Yes. I was very available, winging in to fit the CSI people into my schedule," jokes Caruso, who admits that he was " Miami typecasting, lots of sunblock."

In a more casual moment, Caruso comments, " Why did I come back to television? It beats being unemployed."

Other cast members, including Emily Procter, Khandi Alexander, Rory Cochrane and Adam Rodriguez were attracted by the enthusiasm of the producers and their commitment to well-researched and intriguing plots.

" It's the only group of writers who look like they're going home to do homework, with the books under their arms," says Executive Producer Jonathan Littman.

Donahue insists, " You can master anything in a week if you have to and then we forget it."

" Yeah," quips Mendelsohn, " We don't even know what DNA is."

The overlapping producers provide a series of checks and balances to make sure that " CSI: Miami" doesn't copycat its Thursday night sibling. Still, the producers decline to play favorites.

" It's like if you have two children, you just want the neighbors to like your kids," says Donahue. " We're hoping for 20 years each."

03-04-2003, 12:11 AM	#1
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,676	'CSI: Miami' Spins Off On Its Own http://tv.zap2it.com/news/tvnewsdaily.html?30385 LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - With the success of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" it shouldn't have surprised the show's producers that CBS President Les Moonves wanted another "CSI" to plug into the network's primetime schedule. What surprised them was his specific request. "Leslie told us he wanted a clone," recalls Executive Producer Ann Donahue. "We knew we couldn't do a clone, because everything has its own beauty." On Saturday (March 1), members of the cast and crew of "CSI: Miami" gathered at the Museum of Television and Radio's annual William S. Paley Festival to discuss their wildly successful new drama and to explain why it most certainly is not a clone. "CSI: Miami" sticks to the basic format of the original, which is something akin to an Encyclopedia Brown mystery with a higher body count and cooler gadgets. Since "Miami" premiered last fall in a crossover with "CSI," the newer show has endeavored to set itself apart. The choice of cities informed the producers’ every decision in giving "CSI: Miami" a voice distinct from its Las Vegas predecessor. While the show was still in pre-production, Co-Executive Producer Danny Cannon remembers driving through Miami talking to the other producers back in Los Angeles and throwing out story possibilities for every landmark he passed. "The environment helped us a lot. The speeds ... the rhythms ... the lights," says Cannon. "Vegas is broader, just weirder. I don't think you'll see a dominatrix on 'CSI Miami,'" promises Carol Mendelsohn, another of the show's executive producers. As much as the city has shaped the show's visual style, Miami’s impact on the organic development of the characters has been even more provocative. Early in their research, producers were surprised and pleased to learn that in Miami, the CSI investigators are all cops. "I think the difference is that street detectives... have the luxury to wear their heart on their sleeve," explains David Caruso, who plays the heroically named Horatio Caine. "" This is a show about intelligence ... the challenge is letting the emotions seep through." This marks a major shift from the science geeks who work the scene in Vegas. On the original " CSI" most of the action takes place inside, mirrored by the characters’ lack of outside lives. On " CSI: Miami," the investigators work in orange-tinted Miami sunshine, have the power to arrest suspects on the spot and are beginning to show hints of expanded emotional range. Mendelsohn emphasizes that while the cops on " CSI: Miami" may have lives, the show won't become a soap opera, stating that the main thrust of the program is still to " follow the mystery ... to learn about them through their interactions in the lab." " The power of these people's lives is that they deal with an overwhelming amount of sadness," adds Caruso. As the pilot was developed, Horatio Caine evolved into more of a cop than a scientist, which helped the producers when they discovered that " NYPD Blue" alum Caruso was available. " Yes. I was very available, winging in to fit the CSI people into my schedule," jokes Caruso, who admits that he was " Miami typecasting, lots of sunblock." In a more casual moment, Caruso comments, " Why did I come back to television? It beats being unemployed." Other cast members, including Emily Procter, Khandi Alexander, Rory Cochrane and Adam Rodriguez were attracted by the enthusiasm of the producers and their commitment to well-researched and intriguing plots. " It's the only group of writers who look like they're going home to do homework, with the books under their arms," says Executive Producer Jonathan Littman. Donahue insists, " You can master anything in a week if you have to and then we forget it." " Yeah," quips Mendelsohn, " We don't even know what DNA is." The overlapping producers provide a series of checks and balances to make sure that " CSI: Miami" doesn't copycat its Thursday night sibling. Still, the producers decline to play favorites. " It's like if you have two children, you just want the neighbors to like your kids," says Donahue. " We're hoping for 20 years each."