TVSquad

I'd say its probably because thats how alot of people around the world percieve the United States. Same reason Baywatch became so popular, as it was based in a similiar setting (although a completely different show).

Reply

I only watch Miami. In fact, I can't stand NY. I used to watch the original, but its just gotten boring for me. What I find most engaging about Miami are the ongoing storylines as opposed to the seemingly self-contained episodes of the other 2. (Yes, I know all three have spanning story arcs, but I feel in the other two they take huge backseat to the who-done-it-this-week of the others.)

anyway, I also love how horrible David Caruso's one-liners are. I used to hate him so much, but now I just can't get enough of it.

Reply

the ongoing stories was what hooked me on Miami initially as well but over time I've gotten less enthralled with the show and have stopped watching. I watch CSI: NY on occasion now because I probably like all of their characters best out of all the shows but they seem to never really present anything about them outside of the self-contained stories of each episode.

I gave up on CSI the original first.

I don't know, I guess I'm a sucker for procedurals more in-line with Law & Order (or Crossing Jordan) than CSI. Which is probably why I like Bones much more than all the CSIs combined.

Reply

Miami was one of tose shows that I would Tivo, but would keep watching other recorded shows ahead of it and then finally watch it if I had absolutely nothing else to do. Despite the way they have Caruso act so cheesy (He is a decent actor from other works I have seen him in), the continuing subplot has had me hooked. I really started to like this show after they killed off Speedle. It made the show more interesting to have Delco butt heads with his co worker than to have one he has gotten along with for years.

I had High hopes for CSI NY, especially when I heard Gary Sinise was starring in it, but it failed to hook me. I still love the original, but for now, I love Miami.

Reply

I'm bored with the CSI's and the SVU's, they are all plot-driven, great for a few seasons but eventually the story become repetitive leaving only the dull characters.

Thankfully 24, Criminal Minds and Numb3rs didn't make that mistake.

Reply

Hey Ryan, I think you've got to put yourself in the shoes of Non-North-Americans.

I think Edgar makes a great point with the Baywatch analogy. When I was growing up in Asia, the English language channels would often show only North American shows that were relatively easy to understand without needing a perfect grasp of the dialogue. (Miami Vice was huge in Hong Kong back in the day) I think that for people whose first language is not english, a brightly-lit & flashy show like Baywatch or CSI Miami is much easier to understand then the other CSIs or a similar show.

Also, the gratuitous shots of beautiful people certainly help. Miami is definetly the sexiest of the three shows (even factoring in the scene-chewing Caruso).

Finally, I think that Mondays are a relatively slower day in the North American T.V. schedule (except now Prison Break/24 are on!). Here, CSI Vegas still gets way more love especially because it's on THE night for hit shows. Alternatively, CSI Miami is presumably syndicated to run in other countries so they would get more exposure overseas.

So, combining my many theories, you may have your answer as to why CSI Miami is the "biggest" show on earth.

Reply

6 "I think that for people whose first language is not english, a brightly-lit & flashy show like Baywatch or CSI Miami is much easier to understand then the other CSIs or a similar show."

haha they are easily amused by the pretty flashy colors?

Overseas tv-viewers often live in big crowded cities in poor conditions and miserable weather, and they are invariably drawn to the fantasy world of tv, to them the ultimate of which is the palm-trees-sun-and-bikini lifestyle displayed on Baywatch or CSI Miami.

Reply

Yeah, we overseas people all want to be American and live in Miami. Living in our crowded cities in squalor and perpetually bad weather is hell, CSI Miami is all that stops us from killing ourselves. God Bless America.

Reply

The original show parcels out character development so frugally and carefully that we got to know the characters achingly slowly. The New York show has no back story at all. It's idea of character development is to call the character Montana. In truth I'd be hard pressed to recall their names and the show has already proven you can slide out a character and slide in two new ones without any hassle at all. Miami, on the other hand, is rich with characters. I suspect a great deal of its popularity is due to the simple fact that we know who the people are.

Reply

I LOVE Emily-- so I TRIED to watch-- but Caruso's character just made it unwatchable for me. I'm always amazed at how well it does in the ratings. If only I had a Nielson box.

Reply

CSI Miami has a much better cast and stronger storylines. I watch them all, I agree with the comments that the original has gotten boring and CSI NY runs a second to Miami. I love Sinese and Caruso.

Reply

Ryan,

I think we might have been separated at birth. We seem to think a lot a like. I totally agree with you about CSI:Miami. I do avoid it at all costs. Can't stand it, but you will find me on thursdays watching the original, or dvring it. Also, I don't care for CSI:NY, can't stand the lady that was on Providence. I think because the character she played on Prividence was such a weak woman when it came to her relationships.

Erica

Reply

Dear Lord how I hate "CSI:Miami." For a while, I watched it in a kind of stunned horror, the way one watches a traffic accident in progress (or, to give another televisual example, "7th Heaven"--*shudder*), but I had to stop. TWoP once referred to David Caruso as "the place where good lines go to die." And then the killed off the only character I enjoyed, and it was over for me.

I never watched "NYPD Blue" when Caruso was on it, so I have no idea if he was as limited an actor then as he is now (he never really varies the intonation on any sentence he speaks--they all follow the same tonal pattern); I'm really curious how he became a big enough star to think he could make it on the big screen.

Besides tiring of the sucking wound that is Caruso's Horatio, though, I also wearied of the contempt with which every potential suspect was treated, even after he or she was cleared. No apologies. Nothing. That may be how it's done in Miami, but it doesn't do much for my viewing.

The biggest problem, though, was the problem with the entire CSI franchise--are we *really* supposed to believe that the lab geeks are out roughing up perps, and interviewing and/or arresting suspects? Seriously? It's just ludicrous!

Reply

i too am fascinated by how bad caruso's one liners are - my husband and i look at each other and laugh every single time he says his incredibly cheesy line right before the opening credits and we roll our eyes whenever he speaks to someone without looking anywhere in their general direction - but having said that, we watch religiously - what can i say, it's like a bad train wreck - we just can't look away

Reply

CSI: Miami works a lot better when you realise that the character of Horatio Caine is mentally ill. He believes that there are cameras filming everything he does which is why he stands at such weird angles with his hands on his hips all the time and puts his sunglasses on in an overly dramatic way. He also makes statements that are clearly designed with opening credits in mind. What we don't see is that when he delivers one of his usual one-liners is that as we cut to the credits the other characters are standing around looking at each other wondering why he just said that and walked away without finishing his job.

Reply

I think the way CSI Miami plays on Plasma TV gives it an edge over the OTHER two CSI'S. Indeed, since that nick guy with the stupid hair cut made the show a joke. Either way, its time to move on beyond the CSI'S and need newer and better crime shows. At this point its just milking the cash cow.

Reply

Ok here is the opinion of someone living in Asia.

CSI Miami is the most popular CSI here for many reasons:

1) Its not as gory as LV.
2) The scenery is the best of the three shows.
3) Caruso holds more weight than Peterson or Sinise.
4) NY looks too much like most Asian cities like Hong Kong, so the location isnt that exciting.
5) LV rarely have cases in the actual casino's or the strip where people who watch the show want to see more of.
6) Hot chicks in Miami - just like Baywatch like someone mentioned above.
7) Crimes arent as convuluted as LV trying to out-trick the viewer and not as typical as NY.
8) Best The Who song of the 3 (ok I'm reaching there)
9) Many excellent Horatio Caine impersonations done here...acting so wooden and predictable that he is easy to make fun of, BUT most viewers enjoy because he does always seem to be the same character and its a procedural show not a character-driven show.
10) C'mon, its Miami - why do you think Magnum P.I. lasted so long - we like good detective shows with beautiful scenery.

Reply

I completely agree that it is the WORST of the CSIs. Not only that, every time I watch it I want to do bodily harm to David Caruso. Does anyone need to be THAT suspenseful?! I mean it's almost like a SNL skit where everyone around him is normal but he keeps saying really dramatic stuff like "Don' go to far" and "Life is tough" and everyone ignores him. I'm actually commenting because I was hoping someone out there might know how to contact the writers. I know it's a stretch but someone has GOT to stop the madness!!! I think the show may ACTUALLY be pretty good if they just got rid of "Horatio."

Reply

csi Miami is hot because David Caruso is perfect for the part. The show is a blast and I am so glad that it's a Miami story. The best city in the world amd the most gorgeous.

Reply

This is still a great show, or it wouldn't be at the top of the list! And The fact that David Caruso walked away from a #1 show over 10yrs ago is pointless, let it go!! I among many other viewers still watch CSI, and I'm sure, just like every other show out there, it too will wind up in TV heaven just like all the others.

Reply