subject: CSI:Crime Scene Investigation 1-8 DVD boxset [print this page] CSI:Crime Scene Investigation 1-8 DVD boxset
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (also known as CSI: Las Vegas) is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. It is filmed primarily at Universal Studios in Universal City, California.
The series follows Las Vegas criminalists as they use physical evidence to solve grisly murders in this unusually graphic drama, which has inspired a host of other cop-show "procedurals". An immediate ratings smash for CBS, the series mixes deduction, gritty subject matter and popular characters. The network quickly capitalized on its hit with spin-offs CSI: Miami and CSI: NY.CSI was renewed for an eleventh season on May 19, 2010.CSI has been recognized as the most popular dramatic series internationally by the Festival de Television de Monte-Carlo, which has awarded it the "International Television Audience Award (Best Television Drama Series)" three times.CSI's worldwide audience was estimated to be over 73.8 million viewers in 2009.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is produced by Jerry Bruckheimer Television and CBS Productions, which became CBS Paramount Television in the fall of 2006. Formerly a co-production with the now-defunct Alliance Atlantis Communications, that company's interest in the series is now owned by investment firm GS Capital Partners, an affiliate of Goldman Sachs.CBS Paramount acquired AAC's international distribution rights to the program. The show currently airs Thursdays at 9 pm ET/PT on CBS.
The series has been heavily criticizedalmost since its debutby police and district attorneys, who feel CSI portrays an inaccurate image of how police solve crimes, and by the Parents Television Council, who note the level and gratuitousness of graphic violence, images and sexual content seen on the show. Nevertheless, CSI became the most-watched show on American television by 2002. The success of the show encouraged CBS to produce a franchise, starting in May 2002 with the spin-off CSI: Miami and then again in 2004 with CSI: NY. The series is now in syndication and reruns are currently broadcast in the US on the Spike and TV Land cable networks.
As of the fall of 2008, CSI commands an average cost of $262,600 for a 30-second commercial, according to an Advertising Age survey of media-buying firms.
