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Post by CC Fan on Nov 9, 2004 2:40:59 GMT -5
So how bout that 90 min episode? I thought it was pretty boring. I remember the 90 min CSI episode like 2 seasons ago where Catherines ex dies, and I really liked it. I was interested the entire time. This episode just seemed so stupid and the wave looked so fake I started laughing.
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Post by TVFan on Nov 9, 2004 11:23:13 GMT -5
Honestly, I truly only watch Miami for the laugh factor (although I do like Calliegh and new guy). I expected the episode to be cheesier than it was, but it ended up just being really boring like you said CC Fan. In fact, I fell asleep with like 10 minutes left. The bank robbery story was so unrealistic that I basically just tuned it out. Seriously, moving gold with a tidal wave?
New Guy's story with Alexx and the cemetary was somewhat more interesting, but it was over in like five minutes.
I'm not going to linger on the tidal wave (or rather "tsunami") b/c it was overhyped to heck and back. It was so minor (I think it lasted less than 2 minutes), but yet so unbelievably fake. All I can say, is that it was an obvious ratings/sweeps ploy.
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Post by CC Fan on Nov 9, 2004 18:24:27 GMT -5
And to add, I can always find the humor in this show, because I know they don't take themselves too seriously, but I was just shocked at how bad it was. I really was bored. I don't think I've ever wanted a show to end that bad. I'm not even sure why I watched it, I just figured if I had endured 60 minutes, I might as well go the extra 30.
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Post by Ryebeach on Nov 9, 2004 20:55:32 GMT -5
All I can say, is that it was an obvious ratings/sweeps ploy. It sure was. I was intrigued by the endless promos but CBS sure fooled me. There seemed to be almost NO damage from that Tidal Wave. SOOOO FAKE. However, I thought Horatio was good in this ep. Even though is was totally unbelievable, I loved seeing him race out of that hotel in his Hummer as the hotel was blowing up. And when he raced up in the coast guard boat to catch the bad guy, I was laughing at the absurdity of it all, yet I couldn't help but like that scene. Apparently though, the promos worked for CBS. "CSI: Miami" was the most-watched program of the night by a mile, averaging 22 million viewers and 8.0 rating/20 share in the adults 18-49 demographic from 9:30-11 p.m., according to preliminary estimates from Nielsen Media Research. Source: www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=6765038 |
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Post by Ryebeach on Nov 9, 2004 21:06:00 GMT -5
If you've ever wondered about that poor actor who has to lie on those autopsy tables, while the CSI's poke and prod, the actors may in fact just be a dummy as this article details.
Source:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6445010/
MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. - In the makeup trailer for “CSI: Miami,” the coroner and the murder victim sit side by side.
Vibrantly tinted lipstick and blush are applied to series star Khandi Alexander, who plays Dr. Alexx Woods. In the next chair, actress Megan Boye sits quietly as death is painted onto her face.
Delicately drawn green veins, a cosmetically induced bloodless pallor and autopsy “scars” turned Boye into an eerily believable corpse.
“Hey, everybody dies. I get to practice,” said Boye, nonchalant about her ghostly appearance as well as the morgue examination scene that awaited her later in the day.
The proliferation of “CSI” series, along with other forensic dramas, has created a graveyard full of actors who played dead. “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” which reaches its 100th episode Nov. 18, “CSI: Miami” and newcomer “CSI: New York” do use dummy corpses, but often it’s real people who occupy the autopsy table.
Episodes for the trio of CBS’ hit crime dramas show the discovery of a victim and then flash back to the events surrounding their death. That requires a living actor.
Stiffs with the right stuff are “extremely important. That’s what people tune into, the reality of what we deliver here,” said Scott Shiffman, a “CSI: Miami” producer.
Faking death
It’s the job of makeup department head Cheri Montesanto-Medcalf and her staff to fake death for “CSI: Miami” (10 p.m. EDT Mondays).
For Boye’s character, asphyxiated in the Nov. 29 episode after a sex game goes awry, an ivory-toned base sponged onto face, lips and upper chest is the first step.
The prominent veins and hidden bruising around the mouth that will show up on the autopsy table under blacklight add to the illusion. The victim’s body and face are well-preserved because she was discarded in a peat bog, slowing decomposition.
“They still want her to look beautiful,” Montesanto-Medcalf said of the 23-year-old actress with flowing blond hair — destined to be matted with debris.
Not bad, considering how gruesome it gets for other “CSI” victims. Photos decorating the makeup trailer at Raleigh Studios show one victim, dragged by a bus, with deep and bloody simulated abrasions. An actor transformed into a decomposed corpse is another pinup.
Laverne Munroe, helping transform Boye, created a gunshot on a squeamish actor’s face.
“He said, ‘I’ve got to step out. I’m going to throw up,”’ recalled Munroe. “We were a little surprised. It was just a bullet hole.”
Others are far more relaxed about the process, including one cadaver who recently shared a scene with Alexander and series star David Caruso, who plays Miami police Lt. Horatio Caine.
“It was myself, David and the table between us with the corpse,” Alexander recalled. “And the guy starts snoring, loudly. In the middle of the scene. And David just turns beet red because he’s trying to get through the scene and not laugh.”
Alexander much prefers a real actor to a fake body.
“Because my character speaks to the dead, it gives me something to feed off. A lot of our dummies don’t have faces molded; it’s just a foam body. We don’t get anything back.”
Is she ever fazed by the transformation of a performer into the violently departed?
“The only time it’s odd is during lunch, and they’re sitting there eating and their brains are blown out,” she said.
The autopsy scene with Alexander proved a snap for Boye, who had experience as a body in a short film — and one other time “if you count when I was undead as a vampire in a high school play,” she said.
Life among the dead
What happened to Boye’s character before she got into Dr. Woods’ tender hands was a different matter. Boye rattled off what she faced during early morning shooting at a Los Angeles area botanical garden.
“It was freezing and I die in this very skimpy lingerie,” she said. “And I’m dragged across the road and then vomited on and then buried and then vomited on again and then unburied and then laid out in a body bag in 40-degree weather,” she said.
Despite that, and the head cold she ended up with, Boye called the experience “so much fun. ... I don’t get icked out easily.”
What she found difficult, besides trying not to shiver from the chill while lifeless, was a surprising empathy for her character.
“I was laying there for so long and so exposed. There’s about 75 people standing around, and I’m just in my underwear, and I started to really feel like this dead body — which was very violated and very much forgotten about.”
The makeup artists take a cooler, analytic approach: Given the inventive deaths the “CSI” writers dream up, they must figure out how to realistically render a variety of corpses.
They turn to experts for help, among them David Campbell, a 23-year-veteran of the Los Angeles county coroner’s office. He’s advised a number of shows, including NBC’s “Crossing Jordan” and CBS’ “NCIS.”
Campbell admits he’s been stumped by scripts. Bogs, for instance, may be common in the Florida Everglades but aren’t part of the Southern California landscape, and he couldn’t describe how a body encased in one would look.
“If I’m asked and I don’t know, I’ll do research,” he said. “There’s a great book called ‘Spitz Fisher’s Medicolegal Investigation of Death.’ I encourage most people in filmmaking or TV to get a copy.”
At times, though, even the best-intentioned series has to cheat on death.
“Sometimes it is too gross to see on television ... so we shoot over or shoot around,” producer Shiffman said. In other cases, a wound may be made more exaggerated than it would be in fact.
Campbell takes in stride the gap between his work in the coroner’s office and Hollywood: “One thing I have learned is that you tell the director what is real and the director decides what works.”
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Post by TVFan on Nov 10, 2004 11:24:48 GMT -5
Ryebeach - Thanks for the article. I often wonder if it's a real person or just a good dummy. I have to agree with you on the Horatio scenes near the end. I was laughing at the absurdity of it too. Loved the slow-mo shot of Horatio, hands on hips, sunglasses firmly in place as the boat approaches the bad guy. I love how the show tries to make Horatio into some sort of super hero. It cracks me up! :lol:
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Post by r2k on Nov 10, 2004 22:05:07 GMT -5
CBS is riding my last nerve. First, they refuse to air the CC pilot, yet keep repeating certain episodes over and over again. Football games (which I do like) force us to wait because heaven forbid we not have 60 minutes. Now, CSI: NY in its last five minutes where the final truth is being revealed, the network decides to interrupt us to tell us Yassar Arafat is dead. They cut in at 9:55. News is at 10:00. The other networks weren't interrupting anything. I love the Jerry Bruckheimer shows. I'm sick of CBS screwing it up. JB should move his shows to another network that knows how to properly air episodes and not interrupt. They could have waited five more minutes for the news to come on.
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Post by CC Fan on Nov 11, 2004 4:24:03 GMT -5
yeah well dont worry because i'm starting to hate CSI NY. It's so totally boring.
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Post by Ryebeach on Nov 13, 2004 18:44:26 GMT -5
Now, CSI: NY in its last five minutes where the final truth is being revealed, the network decides to interrupt us to tell us Yassar Arafat is dead. They cut in at 9:55. News is at 10:00. They could have waited five more minutes for the news to come on. Looks like CBS was pretty angry as well. After reading this article, I doubt this problem will ever arise again at CBS. They're getting tough and rightly so. Source:http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271|91788|1|,00.html LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) By now, "CSI: NY" viewers have probably forgiven CBS for cutting into the end of their forensic drama on Wednesday (Nov. 10) for a special report on the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. CBS and the network's affiliates seem to have been less relaxed. According to reports, the CBS News producer who authorized the programming interruption has been fired. Arafat had spent a week at death's door when the actual end finally came on Wednesday. Approaching the 11 p.m. ET local news hour, a crucial moment for networks and their affiliates, CBS cut into the waning moments of the freshman hit drama for five minutes of clips on Arafat's life, stealing the thunder from local news programming. Affiliates were outraged. Viewers on the East Coast were outraged. CBS was apologetic. "An overly aggressive CBS News producer jumped the gun with a report that should have been offered to local stations for their late news," a Thursday statement read. "We sincerely regret the error." When the Arafat news broke, only CBS cut regular programming short. The competition, ABC and NBC, either ran a news crawl with the information or left the story for local news. According to Reuters, the producer who made the call to break into the programming was fired for going outside of the chain of command. The news service reports that CBS News producers had had specific instructions that Arafat's death should only be teased in a crawl if it occurred during primetime. Standard procedure also requires a senior CBS News executive to clear a programming interruption. CBS rescheduled an encore of "CSI: NY" for Friday night. |
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Post by TVFan on Nov 14, 2004 11:19:15 GMT -5
CSI:NY - Even though CBS made that major mistake, this episode was still ho-hum for me. It could have been fascinating if they had taken the opening scene (with the restaurant employees grasping for breath through a plastic bag) and built an awesome episode around it. But they didn't. CSI: Original Flavor - This was a good ep. The constant changing of facts in the high school case was fascinating. For some reason, it never occured to me that Kate Mara's (the murder victim from "Look Again") character had caused her own death with her cry-out for attention. For a second, I thought that the daytime CSI had killed her. It looks like Catherine will be staying with the team (like there was any question  ). |
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Post by CC Fan on Nov 14, 2004 13:51:47 GMT -5
OMG! I totally thought that Day CSI had killed her too! Only for a second though, at the end when Catherine was messing with the scarf or whatever she used to tie herself with, my mind flashed to when the day CSI had tied Grissom's bowtie, and I thought we were supposed to make a connection.
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Post by TVFan on Nov 15, 2004 11:17:50 GMT -5
CC Fan - That's the exact point when I thought it was her too. I coupled that with Grissom's look when she pulled up in the parking lot, and I figured I was super smart and solved the case! ![]() foujylos.notlong.com [/IMG] Just goes to show you can't assume anything on this show.  |
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Post by Tracylynn on Nov 15, 2004 23:57:55 GMT -5
I didn't get to watch tonight's episode of "CSI-Miami" but I have figured out what is bothering me about that show and that is the new guy (Speed's replacement). To me, he reminds me of Eric Szomna (spelling) on the original "CSI". They have the same facial structure and eyes. I'm just not feeling the new character on "CSI-Miami". I'm not impressed with him so far.
I will say this week's episode of "CSI" looks to be good, and it's their 100th episode. It should be great.
Did anybody hear that "CSI" was going to using some new songs by U2? I think it might start with this week's episode but I'm not sure.
Tracylynn
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Post by CC Fan on Nov 16, 2004 1:14:23 GMT -5
Tracylnn- I agree totally that the new guy looks like Greg from CSI. They're both really cute. I actually kinda like the new guy because I never liked Speedle to begin with. Anyway, CSI Miami was ok, not as boring and stupid as last weeks.
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Post by Ryebeach on Nov 19, 2004 18:58:54 GMT -5
We're only 7 episodes into the series and the syndication rights are just about sold. Unbelievable. I wonder when this discussion will come up for Cold Case Source: www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=6865732 NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Spike TV is close to snatching up CBS' first-year drama series "CSI: NY" for a record sum nearing $1.9 million per episode, sources said. The cable network's deal with the series' distributor, King World, would make "CSI: NY" the most expensive series ever sold into cable syndication. The previous record holder was "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," which Spike TV bought for a reported $1.6 million per episode. Spike TV recently began airing that series weeknights, which has given the network's Nielsen tally a significant boost. Spike TV and King World declined comment Thursday. Both are owned by Viacom Inc. It's likely that "CSI: NY" will begin airing once a week on Spike TV in fall 2005 and then get daily in fall 2008. This would follow the same model as "CSI: Miami," which also got sold into cable syndication during its first year. A&E, which bought "CSI: Miami" for $1 million per episode, began airing the series last month. (A&E is owned by Hearst Corp., ABC and NBC.) "CSI: NY," starring Gary Sinise, is the third installment in the hit "CSI" franchise, which has proved to be a ratings powerhouse in broadcast, cable and syndication. After less than two months on the air, "CSI: NY" is regularly winning its time slot and putting a dent in the ratings of NBC's veteran series "Law & Order." The record price tag reflects not only the vitality of the franchise but the nature of "CSI" episodes, which feature self-contained story lines that can air out of sequence in syndication. Whodunit-style dramas are a top draw in the syndicated market as evidenced by other high-priced off-network purchases, including "Law & Order: SVU," which went to NBCUniversal's USA for $1.5 million, and "Without a Trace," which Time Warner's TNT acquired for $1.4 million. Reuters/Hollywood Reporter |
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Post by TVFan on Nov 20, 2004 17:30:17 GMT -5
The CSI success rate continues. The shows basically sell themselves into syndication. Amazing that CSI:NY hasn't even completed half its season, and it is already sold to SpikeTV.
I didn't watch the other two CSIs this past week, but I caught the original the other night (can you believe it has been 100 eps already?!). I thought the case was very interesting, but I noticed that the trans-gender characters were not written with the same humanity and compassion as Daniela on Cold Case. It reminded me of what Matt Roush had written about Cold Case's seemingly effortless writing that humanizes its victims. Grissom seemed to have an understanding and compassion, but overall, I thought Cold Case's treatment was much better.
The episode was very interesting. I can't believe that "doctor" was performing risky surgeries in a storage facility! I definitely didn't see the twist coming that she was trans-gender as well.
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Post by CC Fan on Nov 23, 2004 2:23:58 GMT -5
CSI Wow that episode was a pretty interesting and graphic episode. That scene where they walk in and the girl/guy is dead and her legs are open. I went  . I thought it was a good episode for a 100th, however, I think they should've switched it and had this episode a few weeks ago and the 100th episode should've been the one with the blue paint guy cause that was my favorite episode all season. |
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Post by misguided freak on Nov 25, 2004 1:23:57 GMT -5
I caught the episode of CSI Miami on Monday, and it's the funniest stuff I've watched in years. Pirates! Cannibals! Russian rocket launchers! And how can we leave out David Caruso's sunglasses of justice? Yes, I watch this show only so I can mock it. It's a sickness.
I don't really like the new guy who is acting as Speedle's replacement. However, I do like the new lab tech guy, who's kind of cute (yes, I'm shallow). What did Emily Proctor do to herself, I think she looks really different from earlier seasons?
ETA: I've just made my 100 post! Yay! Took me long enough!
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Post by Tracylynn on Nov 26, 2004 1:21:41 GMT -5
Well, I'm a little late on replying to this thread but I just have to say a few things. First of all, the 100th episode of "CSI" was freaky and a little disgusting. When they found that transexual on the table I was shocked. I was not expecting that at all. That scene was gross. They had me guessing until the very end as to who did it. WOW! As for the episode last night, well I really wanted to reach into the TV set and slap Eliiot ( I can't remember the name now), the department head. He has it in for Grissom and you can tell it's because Grissom is very effective at what he does and that Grissom's team is a good team. It was sad to see Grissom sitting at the table all alone after the others had left. Grissom's team was his family and that guy broke it up because he's jealous. Does anybody know if this is Peterson's last year on "CSI"? I heard he was gonna leave when his contract was up because of all the spinoffs they are doing. I was wondering if it is then maybe they are getting really for it by doing this to the team. As for "CSI-Miami".....well it wasn't a bad episode but a little confusing. I still can't figure at why that guy took a bite out of his friend. I don't think they set that storyline up to good. Anyways, does everything have to be a crime to them? Also, why did they take over the boat? I might've missed the reason since I was getting my place ready for Thanksgiving. Anyhoo, those are my toughts on "CSI". Tracylynn |
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Post by CC Fan on Nov 26, 2004 19:28:38 GMT -5
AHHH! I can't believe it! I really thought it'd be resolved by the end of the episode, I cant believe he really split them up! I hate Ecklie! He's such a jerk. The episode was really good though, I loved seeing Grissom make a mistake... cause it's so rare. I hope they bring them back together though.
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).
. I thought it was a good episode for a 100th, however, I think they should've switched it and had this episode a few weeks ago and the 100th episode should've been the one with the blue paint guy cause that was my favorite episode all season.
