The Great CSI Crossover That William Petersen Never Would Have Agreed To started last night, as CSI’s Laurence Fishburne went to CSI: Miami to watch David Caruso do his sunglasses-and-murmur thing up real close.
Fishburne’s Ray Langston didn’t show up until almost mid-way through the hour, but by the three-quarter mark, he had already adopted Horatio Caine’s low-volume, no-contractions, pregnant-pause style:
“Horatio, I am not leaving until we solve this thing,” said Langston.
Horatio moved in close, facing Ray sideways, as he does with all human contact. “And that,” he said, taking a pause during which Jay Leno could have delivered an entire monologue, “… is good news.”
The overarching crime case involves a nationwide human-trafficking ring that coerces young women into prostitution and then sometimes kills them. Langston was called in from Las Vegas when a victim from that city turned up in Miami.
Upon greeting Langston, Caine says Ray should say hello to Catherine Willows for him: “Tell her when you see her that I’m sorry about Warrick Brown.”
Jeez, for such a caring cop, Horatio is awfully slow in writing sympathy cards, isn’t he? Didn’t Warrick die about two years ago?
These little attempts to tie the franchises together were strained, but maybe fans of Miami didn’t mind. Me, I watch the original CSI, but Miami has dropped off my radar: Too much orange in every sun-dappled scene, too much moss growing on David Caruso’s dialogue before he delivers it.
What did you think, CSI viewers? Will you be following Fishburne’s Langston as he moves on to CSI: NY tomorrow night?
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i try watching miami every now and again if there isnt anything else on, but caruso’s “acting” just turns me off completely. maybe longtime fans can prove me wrong, but in the brief moments i tolerate watching, horatio never seems to deliver lines and perform an action at the same time.. and not just something complicated, like spontaneous curbside surgery.. but stuff like walking… or moving. its like his brain can only process one thing at a time. like a goldfish or something.
with the exception being the sunglass removal technique. horatio’s go-to to convey anger, sadness, pleasure, regret, vengeance, and likely orgasm.
Spot on assessment Alex!
Crossover story lame at best. Also yet again the CSI doing test to figure out blood splatter and what type of weapon by now wouldn’t someone have recorded their research and turned it into a searchable program online. Or is this just a favorite dramatic timewaster by the writers?
I don’t regularly watch the CSIs, but was pulled into the hype of the cross-over shows. Can somebody explain to me why Horatio kept calling Ray Langston “Dr. Ray”? I get that he’s a doctor and he told Horatio to call him Ray, but, really — “Dr. Ray” just sounds childish. Or mocking. But, as I say, I don’t really watch. Maybe calling him Dr. Ray was in line with Caruso’s character. And maybe not decking him after the first time was in line with Fishburne’s.
totally agree! it made me think he was a dr on sesame street!
Yeah, the “Dr Ray” bugged me too as did the Med Examiner swooning like a groupie… I got sucked in for the crossover, but was instantly reminded why the original is still the best of the bunch! imo
I can’t watch Lawrence Fishburne in this role. I like LF in other things, but he just rubs me the wrong way here.
LF was okay for me in the role….when WP was still on as Grissom…once WP left couldn’t take the show or LF…
In my opinion Caruso should leave, and bring a real actor.
Langston is turning out to be the dullest crime solver ever!
The series has jumped the ‘credibility shark’ for me. To believe that Las Vegas would send Fishburne’s rookie and not quite competent Ray Langston to solve a major crime in lieu of any of the CSI’s with more experience is unbelievable.
Besides, people aren’t tuning in to CSI for Laurence Fishburne – he’s no William Peterson.
Ray was actually promoted at the beginning of the season, he is not a rookie any longer. I agree he isn’t a William Peterson, he has his own style, and while we may miss Peterson I don’t think you should totally disregard him. I enjoy him on the show and think he adds another great character.
I completely agree…if anyone would have gone it would have been Nick or Catherine…CSI started going downhill for me when they pulled out the Grissom/Sara storyline and then went bellyup when WP left…now I’ll watch CSI NY, and maybe CSI if there isn’t anything else on (don’t get me started on CSI: Miami…Caruso’s detective wouldn’t last 10 minutes with a real CSI team down in FL)
Check out this youtube video of endless cheesy Caruso one-liners that lead into the credits. Hilarity.
I love it!
csi: miami is a horrible, horrible show. the only reason i suffered through it was because it’s related somehow to the vegas story this week. other than that, i usually avoid it. david caruso over-acts enough for all three series’ actors combined. and the constant split-screens and visual effects are nauseating. keep it simple like vegas. no gimmics or over-the-top sequences necessary. never again, miami. never again.
I do not watch CSI Miami b/c of Caruso. He is awful and I am not sure why he is still on the show. He brings down every scene he is in and makes all the other actors look bad as well. Fire him already!!!!
I love all 3 CSIs. Miami probably being my favorite. I really like all the characters. David Caruso wasn’t always my favorite actor, but I like the character of Horatio. I think he plays the character they way it was meant to be played, while also bringing in some of his own personal self. The character of Horatio is a very caring kind of person. Seriously, who wouldn’t want to work for boss like that.
My wife likes David Caruso because he was kind to Rambo.
Ditto Nina.
I also don’t think people watch Miami for the ‘realism’ of it. I think they watch it for the glitz. I just recently started to watch it, because it was on A&E. I never have watched CBS in my life, so I had no idea it was even on. I have just bought all of the episodes and caught up on the whole thing. I’m not impressed with some of the writing on the show-like how many of the shows open with a guy and a girl on the beach/park/wherever-making out, then find a dead body- but it’s their personalities that captured me. Sure a lot of it is lame, but it’s entertaining, and sometimes even humorous.
I don’t, and have never cared for Caruso, but I like the character he is, even with all his quirks. I just chuckle at him.
Having said that, I have no intention of watching the other CSI’s, as the ones I have seen are too ‘dark’ for me. As in visually.
Most of the time, after all of the ‘players’ have been introduced, I know who the killer was. So it is predictable as well.
I do hope that the writers don’t stray too far from the character’s though, because I don’t think the forensic aspect of the show will hold the attention of the viewer too long. Even though that was the intention of the show, I think this show became more about the personal lives of the characters. That was one big issue I had with this crossover episode this week. They seemed to get away from the characters. And I do miss Delko already. Maybe he’s not that great of an actor, but his personal life was a contrast to all the other characters. And I really likes Speedle too.
Oh well, I will continue to watch it now, since I can follow the past.
I LOVE CSI:MIAMI DC IS A GREAT ACTOR SO R ALL THE OTHERS. I WISH THE ACTOR THAT PLAYED DELKO WAS STILL ON HE IS SOOOOO HOT!!!!
Since Grissom left – I don’t regularly watch CSI, so this really didn’t apeal to me at all. I’ve said it before – Caruso plays Horatio like a surf board with feet, way to stiff.
I’ve never cared for Miami either. The original at least feels like it takes place in a believable world. Miami is so damn sleek and glossy and over-saturated I don’t buy it for a minute, with a lab that looks like something out of a scifi movie and characters who act more like cops than scientists.
If you knew their backdrop you’d know that they are cops first, then CSI’s. According to the writers/directors. And by the way, I live close to Miami, and yes, it is that ‘glossy’ on the waterfront, where they shoot. Of course they don’t shoot in the ‘depressed areas’, but the only show I know that does that is ‘The First 48′.
Yeah but i don’t like it how they show the Miami skyline then try to get away with filming it in los angeles
The only reason I suffered through CSI:Miami was to get the set-up for the New York and Las Vegas shows, and I doubt I’ll ever watch it again. The shooting style is awful, and David Caruso? Why is that man working when so many better actors are doing community theater? And is it just me, or did the girls in this episode smile WAY too much for people working on a horrific crime?
I watched Miami for the first few seasons then it started to annoy me. With NY I only got through the first couple episodes before tuning out, so it will be interesting to see if anything has changed. The only reason I’m watching is because I am a regular Las Vegas watcher and I want to see how everything ties together this week.
I can’t stand David Caruso!! And Laurence Fishburne is just not doing it for me in his role on CSI either!! It was a mistake to do this crossover. In fact, I’ve taken it as an opportunity to not feel bad about taping CSI: NY (which I record every week), and instead record the CMA Awards! Love CSI: NY (especially Danny/Lindsay/Lucy), but I have a feeling that the show will focus mostly on Laurence Fishburne and therefore I won’t be missing much!!! So, thanks for a free Wednesday CBS!! ABC, the CMA Awards show, and I thank you!
Haven’t watched it yet but it is on the DVR. Going to wait until all the eps are there. My roommate grouses that CSI Vegas has become the “Ray Show” (Love Lawrence and his character does not bother me). Now that I know he’s primary, there will be no end to the grousing. Too bad I can’t watch it at work. I’m not much of a Caruso fan, though I really like Gary Sinse. Will wait and see.
I only watched so I could understand the story on the other two CSI which I watch. I can’t stand the bright oranges and blues they use for the shooting style. I know things are brighter in Miami but the colour and Emily Proctor’s southern accent both drive me nuts.
Emily Proctor’s voice…AMEN!! I used to think I didn’t like her on West Wing because her character was such a Conservative Republican…but after watching her on CSI: Miami I know its just her, her voice, and her lousy acting!!
Her character is/was scary. In the first season, you would see her firing guns as part of the investigation and she always had this creepy smile on her face.
This show was a joke or the most stupid thing I’ve seen on tv in years! The “Dr. Ray”, the sympathy sent to Catherine, the BEAR!! People there are black bears in Florida, but not grizzly bears! Jumping the Shark?? I’d say surviving the bomb in a refrigerator is more likely! Not a fan of Miami for all the reasons listed by everyone else–but no Latinos?? Get real Hollywood!! It’s time to put all the CSIs to bed and enjoy the reruns on Spike.
Yes it’s a joke. I hated it in the beginning, but I understand it now and will watch it occasionally if I want a laugh. Acting this bad, on a major show, must be planned and carefully choreographed.
Ditto! Grissom’s departure left the door open for a totally unrecognisable CSI. If you’ve forgotten, rewatch S2. Are we beginning to understand the reason for Petersen’s disdain for a crossover?
“Dr. Ray” and “Miss Caleigh”? I’m embarrassed for the writers AND the actors.
Don’t be so hard on Caruso – he is told to act that way. I love his character and I do miss Peterson and Warrick died last year. Keep up
Folks, it is a television program, it is not real. If you don’t like it don’t watch. Such strong opinions, get a real life, and use TV shows to just relax…
CSI NY is the only CSI that I have stuck with. Miami went down the tubes when Alex, the coroner left. Vegas lost too many of the likable characters, I can still watch it in small doses. But NY has held onto the characters that I have come to love.
It’s PeterSEN people…
Miami is horrible and Vegas hasn’t been the same since WP left…
I….would rather not. (Dramatically puts sunglasses on)
I am like you, the CSI Miami does not provide the intellectual stimulation that orginal provides.
I enjoyed it. I was hoping that CBS would bring the shows together again. I like seeing all of the teams work together. It was great. Need more of CSI teams working together. It sould be a reunion each year. I will be follwing all of there moves. Thanks CBS
CSI Miami is the only one I watch on a regular basis. I am a forensic tech, and this show is a perfect example of what NOT to do at a crime scene. I just can’t help myself though…there is something about Horatio Caine (the character) that fascinates me. Caruso in person (I have met him a couple of times now) is an egotistical jerk who needs mental help.
Same here, I watch the original CSI. And it was the first time I watched an episode of the Miami branch and I can’t say it’s anywhere as good as the original. That Horatio dude has some serious neck problems and I can’t believe they roped “Morpheus” into doing this crossover.
Er..what are you talking about? Petersen “would never have agreed” to this crossover? Peterson is one of the producers who decided on it. 2ndly, Petersen is the one who decided to take a break which allowed Liev Schreiber and Laurence Fishburne to step in for him. 3rdly for the first two episodes the crossover is a ratings success in the middle of November ’sweeps’. Petersen knows what he’s doing. Get your facts straight.
What in the hell is wrong with all you Caruso and Fishburne haters? These are TV dramas people, not movies striving for academy awards!!! Yes, I miss Petersen too but he had a bunch of corny one liners just like Caruso!!! Who did you think they were going to send? Nick? He’s her 2nd in command!!! You don’t send the top guns from your section! You send the new boot! Do you people serve dinners with that whine? If you don’t like it, don’t watch it! As for me and my house, I will watch EVERY episode of Miami, NY and the original. One more thing. The clown who used the term “jumped the creativity shark” must be an unpublished, jealous hearted, wannabe writer! This is TV folks, not Sundance!!!