I remember when police shows were all about cops going after robbers. Sure, the police would solve some mystery, and when the fish were big, would even present evidence to the grand jury. But it was mostly about action and car-chases, and gun fights. But then “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (or simply “CSI”) came out and changed everything. It caught the fancy of viewers who were interested in true crime, but though documentaries were just too boring for their taste.
When “CSI” first aired, television as we knew it would never be the same. On very rare occasions did a single television show create such an impact on several genres at the same time. Such was the power of “CSI.” It took celebrated cases from police and FBI files and depicted them in the most appealing way Hollywood could offer. It was still very much a cop show at heart, but it made audiences think more than any of its predecessors ever did.
In fact, after a few supremely successful seasons, a number of spin-offs were released. Other networks that caught whiff of the cash such shows generated created police procedural dramas of their own. Although nowadays, the popularity of these shows has simmered down a bit, because of that first “CSI”, they were kings for over a decade.
Adam Smith is a retired banker who now lives in Martha’s Vineyard. A big fan of cop shows, Adam also loves to travel and is presently vacationing in Paris. Learn more about him here.
Adam Smith 