Best & Worst TV Spin-offs: Worst: CSI: Miami (2002-present)

I remember this disaster, still loved HD at that point (grew up with it, probably the way some here grew up with Transformers or the like), so I looked forward to it. Mistake. I only saw the first episode, it was horrible. Couldn't tell you a thing about it. Of course, this was after the shark had literally been jumped on HD, so they were scraping the bottom of the barrel to begin with.

And I remember that Fraser restaurant episode well, one of the few I really remember, along with one where the brothers try to solve an unsolved case of their father's. Both classic. And in a way, the same episode.

 

Worst: CSI: Miami (2002-present)
Spun-off from: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000 to present), a forensic drama about, er, crime-scene investigators.
Hit or Miss? Miss. Sure, CSI: Miami has been a ratings success ? beating the numbers of its predecessor and spawning another spin-off, CSI: NY. But it's difficult to credit any series that features the sunglasses-tearing-off, bad-quip-making antics of David Caruso...
Factoid: CSI: Miami has had crossover episodes with both the original CSI and CSI: NY, the only series in the franchise to do so.

Ok ... so I guess this is one where the author has pulled an 'author's veto' on the nominee, since by his/her own description this should arguably be in the 'best' category (I mean, if Dr Phil got in ...).

I can understand the rage against David Caruso though - even in publicity shots he's irritating (and I don't even *watch* any of the CSIs).

[image=http://www.starblogs.net/caruso3039.jpg] [image=http://www.insidesocal.com/tv/93414__david_l.jpg] [image=http://www.thetoque.com/images/stories/david_caruso_sunglasses.jpg]





... and that's it people, we're finished. Feel free to discuss any other spin-offs you might think of.

 

I haven't watched any of the CSI's either, but how was this show (and CSI:NY) actually spun off from the original? I'm sure they had a special cross-over episode or something along those lines, but is that the only connection?

It seems to be that the traditional definition of "spin-off" is to take notable characters from the parent show and put them in new situations in their own series. IE...Joanie and Chachi-further adventures of those characters.

The CSI franchise just seems to be a matter of re-casting the same show over and over. It would be like creating "Happy Days LA," where the main character is a cool surfer who is a hit with all the ladies, and who drives a convertible instead of a motorcycle. Or "Happy Days Maine," where the main character is a suave, rugged crab fisherman who is a hit with all the ladies and who drives a Jeep. Those wouldn't really be spin offs, would they...?

 

That's the traditional definition, but not necessarily the only one. For example, Knight Rider featured none of the original characters (unless you want to count the car, but even it only shared the KITT name) with the main lead being mentioned as Michael Knight's son.

On another tangent, Young Americans was devised as a completely stand alone series on it's own ... until the producers decided to promote it by whacking a character into Dawson's Creek for a couple of episodes (which made it enough of a 'spin-off' to be featured in this list).

And of course NCIS, which deliberately had it's characters feature via a 'backdoor pilot' in original series JAG before launching their own series.

I would consider the various CSIs as 'spin-offs' by virtue that they are being derived from the original due to their theme, setup and title. It might not be the most orthodox way but I think it still fits the definition.

 

I see Mr. 44's point, though. It *does* just seem like recasting, but the reason it's a miss is that David Caruso's smugness and self-satisfaction rises like a miasma from every frame. About five minutes of this and I'm throwing selected vegetables at my television scene, which does it no good, as much as I enjoy nailing Davey's nose with a rotten tomato.

 

This link is ancient. But I once I saw that clip, I saw all I needed to know to realize that CSI Miami sucks.

 

Sold.

 

I maintain that CSI Miami is on the level of Plan 9. It is such an utterly wrong headed, completely idiotic show as to be hilariously compelling. And Caruso is just astoundingly bad. I mean this is the worst acting ever done on television probably.

 

I'd consider it "one of the best for all the wrong reasons." My favorite meme of all time comes from CSI: Miami - how can I hate that?

 

My ears are bleeding.

 

That's not acting, Rogue; it's posturing.

 

Caruso is ripe for an SNL skit where some talented mimic mercilessly mocks his performance on the CSI show. The thing is, I'm not quite sure how you parody what he does. It's already so ridiculous to begin with, where do you go with it?

He's really great at tilting his head at an angle.

 

Betty White did it when she hosted

 

I hadn't seen that, thanks for linking. It was fun, but I was thinking more of a direct parody of Caruso himself, not a relative. Still, Betty White was great!

 

How do you parody a parody?

 

I thought CSI Miami was one of the best comedies on television.....?




Seriously, this show is so bad its one of the best things on television. I can't imagine anyone watching it because its compelling drama.

 

I'm sorry, Caruso doesn't amuse me, he's just too annoying.

 

Spin-offs seem to be less frequent, or is it my imagination? "Joey" was the last one that I can think of.

 

I think TV producer's just know that a spin-off is no guarantee to success these days (or even ever, judging by the age of some of the shows listed here). Audience's expectations are just moving and changing so quickly that it's hard for a spin-off to capture the same lightning twice. Especially considering that spin-offs (at least of the traditional mold as Mr44 was talking about earlier) often necessitate a change of scenery, cast, theme and setup etc to accommodate the new show which might fail to keep the same fans - Joey is a good example of a spin-off that failed here, whereas Frasier managed to succeed (and judging from some of the responses here, managed to even top the original).

Also, a successful show might be on the air for a good 8-10 years (or more) - so unless you spin-off early by the time you get to the end the marketplace has already moved onto the next big thing (judging by it's description this is probably what happened to AfterMASH too).

 

Somewhere on YouTube (not hard to find) is a clip from Letterman where Jim Carrey impersonates/parodies Caruso's opening scene camp. It should be adjacent to the other clip I already posted.

 

Supernatural also did a parody as well. They were parodying several shows:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K4yioL2ngI

 

Jim Carrey

 

lol. I like CSI: Miami. I had gotten used to watching it after The Sopranos everyday on A&E so I got into it.

I still like to wait and laugh for the opening Curso line though.