Uncovering CSI Las Vegas, Miami and New York

Back in 2000 when CBS Productions and Jerry Bruckheimer created CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (also known as CSI: Las Vegas), they probably didn't predict that the series would take off to such a degree, or that two spin-off series would be created from the original.

The original Las Vegas series is still running some 12 years later, and has just been renewed for its 13^th season.

All three shows have highlighted appearances from a number of celebrities over the years, and given a few of their careers a much needed boost, including the likes of: Nelly Furdardo, Sean Young and Taylor Swift.

Close to 74 million viewers watched CSI in 2009 alone, and it was named the most watched show in the world for the 5^th time in 2012.

• There was almost a CSI: Toronto created
• The Who sing the theme songs in all 3 show introductions
• Marg Helgenberger, Jorja Fox and George Eads all appeared on the same show, ER in different episodes before joining CSI
• Gil Grissom and Catherine Willows are loosely based on real-life LVMPD criminalists Daniel Holstein and Yolanda McCrery
• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation was the highest rated new show in 2000-2001

The original of the 3 CSI TV shows, CSI: Las Vegas revolves around a group of highly skilled police forensic evidence investigation experts, as they work together on the field and in their state-of-the-art lab, complete with all the latest gadgets of modern technology to try to solve crimes in and around Las Vegas.

MAIN CHARACTERS

William Peterson played the lead role of Gil Grissom, the show's protagonist up until Season 9. Extremely articulate and not an easy character to figure out, viewers were delighted by the budding romance that developed between himself and another CSI - Sara Sidel (played by Jorja Fox).

Gil left the show at the end of Season 9, and was replaced by Lawrence Fishburne (from The Matrix fame), playing Dr. Raymond Langston - a qualified Medical Doctor and CSI Level 2 who specialized in Forensic Pathology. Langston left the show at the end of Season 11 after a dramatic finale that left viewers questioning his true character.

Catherine Willows (who left the series during Season 12), and Nick Stokes - played by Marg Helgenberger and George Eades are two firm viewer favourites. Catherine often referred to Nick as "Nicky" in the show, and although at times it seemed as though these two would hit it off (the show had originally written a scene with them making out in a parking lot, but this was later canned), Catherine's interests lay in fellow CSI, Warrick Brown (played by Gary Dourdan). After a brief flirtation between the two, Warrick got married and was suddenly killed off the show soon thereafter.

Elizabeth Shue and Ted Danson teamed up from Season 12 to head up the CSI Las Vegas department in place of Catherine and Langstone.

Probably the most popular of the CSI trilogy series, CSI: Miami centres around a group of efficient and charismatic Crime Scene Investigators of the Miami-Dade in Florida.

Created in 2002, just two short years after CSI: Las Vegas was launched, the show was cancelled after its 10^th season this year - the first of the trilogy to be canned.

Most of the scenes in CSI: Miami weren't filmed in Florida at all, and were filmed on location in Long Beach and Santa Monica in California.

MAIN CHARACTERS

Horatio Caine played by David Caruso, with his dark sunglasses and cheesy one-liners is one of the main reasons for the popularity of this show.

Horatio comes across as a no-nonsense Lieutenant, but underneath his hard exterior there are brief moments where viewers are treated to his more gentler approaches, and his revengeful side when he takes on child molesters and abusers.

His fellow CSI team members, Calleigh Duquesne and Eric Delko (played by Emily Procter and Adam Rodriguez) slowly become his confidants and this team work together to try and solve some of Miami's most gruesome and hideous crimes.

Natalia Boa Vista and Ryan Wolfe played by Eva La Rue and Jonathan Togo complete the CSI Miami team of investigators.

• Andy Garcia and Ray Liotta were both offered the lead role
• The only one of the CSI shows not to win an Emmy
• Many of the tests that take seconds in the show often take days or even weeks in real life
• Hill Harper and Anna Belknap had previously worked together in The Handler
• While filming on location, an actual dead body was found in the same apartment building, a few floors down
• Horses like Officer Blue are given names to honor fallen officers

The last of the CSI trilogy, CSI:NY was created and aired in 2004. Set in downtown New York City, this group of NYPD forensic scientists along with the help of the police officers track down some of the city's most calculating criminals and attempt to uncover horrendous and suspicious acts of violence and other crimes in and around the city.

Only a few of the scenes are shot within New York itself, with the majority of scenes being shot in Los Angeles, California.

MAIN CHARACTERS

The NYC Crime Lab is head up by Detective Mac Taylor, played by Gary Sinise. Mac is another lead character who doesn't show much emotion, except on rare occasions or when he is talking about his wife, Clare who died in the 9/11 attacks.

He works together with the aide of Detective Stella Bonasera, played by Melina Kanakaredes until she leaves the show at the end of Season 6 and is replaced by Sela Ward - filling the role of Detective Jo Danville.

Love finds Detectives Danny Messer and Lindsay Monroe, who didn't particularly like each other at the start of the show, but end up falling in love, getting married and having a daughter, Lucy Messer together.

Detective Don Flack played by Eddie Cahill and Detective Doctor Sheldon Hawkes played by Hill Harper complete the team of New York CSI team.

Melanie Chisnall is a freelance writer from Cape Town, South Africa.

A self confessed CSI series addict, she is currently enjoying catching up on CSI: New York from Season 1. Her favourite CSI character of all time is Catherine from CSI: Las Vegas.