TV Show Review: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000-2015)

Quote by Gil Grissom

“I am sure if there is something out there looking down on us from somewhere else in the universe, they’re wise enough to stay away from us.”

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is show that premiered in 2000 that highlights the criminal cases detectives and forensics work on the night shift in Las Vegas, Nevada. The FBI Crime Lab in Quantico, VA is the biggest crime lab in America and they conduct requests ranging from DNA analysis, latent prints, trace, biology screening, controlled substances, and firearms/tool marks. The one glaring difference in this show compared to actual crime scene units is the ability of CSI to carry weapons, wear bullet proof vests, and perform certain duties normally police officers would conduct. A few of the later episodes get a little far fetched and the character I missed the most for several reasons is Warrick Brown when it ended. Otherwise than these things, it’s a great show.

Creator: Anthony E. Zuiker

Total Seasons: 15

Total Episodes: 335 plus 2 part finale

TV Rating: TV-14

Running Time of Most Episodes: 60 minutes

*******

Major/Recurring Cast in Season 1: William Petersen as Gil Grissom, Marg Helgenberger as Catherine Willows, Gary Dourdan as Warrick Brown, George Eads as Nick Stokes, Jorja Fox as Sara Sidle, Paul Guilfoyle as Jim Brass, Eric Szmanda as Greg Sanders, Robert David Hall as Al Robbins, David Berman as David Phillips, and Geoffrey Rivas as Sam Vega

Best Episode in Season 1: “Gentle, Gentle” where Grissom and the team investigate the death of an infant. It is episode 19 and aired on April 12, 2001.

Major/Recurring Cast in Season 2: William Petersen as Gil Grissom, Marg Helgenberger as Catherine Willows, Gary Dourdan as Warrick Brown, George Eads as Nick Stokes, Jorja Fox as Sara Sidle, Paul Guilfoyle as Jim Brass, Eric Szmanda as Greg Sanders, Robert David Hall as Al Robbins, David Berman as David Phillips, Geoffrey Rivas as Sam Vega, Archie Kao as Archie Johnson, Eric Stonestreet as Ronnie Litre, and Marc Vann as Conrad Ecklie

Best Episode in Season 2: “Caged” where Grissom and Stokes investigate the death of a book restorer while Catherine and Sara investigate the death of a woman in a car hit by a train. It is episode 7 and aired on November 8, 2001.

Major/Recurring Cast in Season 3: William Petersen as Gil Grissom, Marg Helgenberger as Catherine Willows, Gary Dourdan as Warrick Brown, George Eads as Nick Stokes, Jorja Fox as Sara Sidle, Eric Szmanda as Greg Sanders, Paul Guilfoyle as Jim Brass, Robert David Hall as Al Robbins, David Berman as David Phillips, Archie Kao as Archie Johnson, Wallace Langham as David Hodges, Romy Rosemont as Jacqui Franco, and Geoffrey Rivas as Sam Vega

Best Episode in Season 3: “Recipe for Murder” where Grissom and Willows investigate the death of a chef in a restaurant. It is episode 11 and aired on January 9, 2003.

Major/Recurring Cast in Season 4: William Petersen as Gil Grissom, Marg Helgenberger as Catherine Willows, Gary Dourdan as Warrick Brown, George Eads as Nick Stokes, Jorja Fox as Sara Sidle, Eric Szmanda as Greg Sanders, Robert David Hall as Al Robbins, Paul Guilfoyle as Jim Brass, Archie Kao as Archie Johnson, David Berman as David Phillips, and Wallace Langham as David Hodges, and Romy Rosemont as Jacqui Franco

Best Episode in Season 4: “Jackpot” where Grissom searches for the rest of a body after Doc Robbins is mailed a severed head. It is episode 6 and aired on November 2003.

Major/Recurring Cast in Season 5: William Petersen as Gil Grissom, Marg Helgenberger as Catherine Willows, Gary Dourdan as Warrick Brown, George Eads as Nick Stokes, Jorja Fox as Sara Sidle, Eric Szmanda as Greg Sanders, Paul Guilfoyle as Jim Brass, Robert David Hall as Al Robbins, David Berman as David Phillips, Archie Kao as Archie Johnson, Wallace Langham as David Hodges, Aisha Tyler as Mia Dickerson, Louise Lombard as Sofia Curtis, and Marc Vann as Conrad Ecklie

Best Episode in Season 5: “Committed” where Grissom and Sidle investigate the death of a mental hospital patient. It is episode 21 and aired on April 28, 2005.

Note: Aisha Tyler as Mia Dickerson leaves the show

Major/Recurring Cast in Season 6: William Petersen as Gil Grissom, Marg Helgenberger as Catherine Willows, Gary Dourdan as Warrick Brown, George Eads as Nick Stokes, Jorja Fox as Sara Sidle, Eric Szmanda as Greg Sanders, Paul Guilfoyle as Jim Brass, Robert David Hall as Al Robbins, David Berman as David Phillips, Archie Kao as Archie Johnson, Wallace Langham as David Hodges, Louise Lombard as Sofia Curtis, and Marc Vann as Conrad Ecklie

Best Episode in Season 6: “Still Life” where Grissom and the team investigate a missing boy from a playground. It is episode 10 and aired on December 8, 2005.

Major/Recurring Cast in Season 7: William Petersen as Gil Grissom, Marg Helgenberger as Catherine Willows, Gary Dourdan as Warrick Brown, George Eads as Nick Stokes, Jorja Fox as Sara Sidle, Eric Szmanda as Greg Sanders, Paul Guilfoyle as Jim Brass, Robert David Hall as Al Robbins, Liev Schreiber as Mike Keppler, David Berman as David Phillips, Archie Kao as Archie Johnson, Wallace Langham as David Hodges, and Liz Vassey as Wendy Simms

Best Episode in Season 7: “Toe Tags” where three bodies come back alive through voice over to speak of their deaths. It is episode 3 and aired on October 5, 2006.

Note: Louise Lombard as Sofia Curtis leaves the show

Major/Recurring Cast in Season 8: William Petersen as Gil Grissom, Marg Helgenberger as Catherine Willows, Gary Dourdan as Warrick Brown, George Eads as Nick Stokes, Jorja Fox as Sara Sidle, Eric Szmanda as Greg Sanders, Wallace Langham as David Hodges, Paul Guilfoyle as Jim Brass, Robert David Hall as Al Robbins, David Berman as David Phillips, Liz Vassey as Wendy Simms, Archie Kao as Archie Johnson, Sheeri Rappaport as Mandy Webster, Jon Wellner as Henry Andrews, and Marc Vann as Conrad Ecklie

Best Episode in Season 8: “Committed” where Sidle investigates the death of a college freshman. It is episode 7 and aired on November 15, 2007.

Note: Jorja Fox as Sara Sidle leaves the show

Major/Recurring Cast in Season 9: William Petersen as Gil Grissom, Marg Helgenberger as Catherine Willows, George Eads as Nick Stokes, Eric Szmanda as Greg Sanders, Lauren Lee Smith as Riley Adams, Wallace Langham as David Hodges, Paul Guilfoyle as Jim Brass, Robert David Hall as Al Robbins, David Berman as David Phillips, Liz Vassey as Wendy Simms, Archie Kao as Archie Johnson, Sheeri Rappaport as Mandy Webster, Jon Wellner as Henry Andrews, and Marc Vann as Conrad Ecklie, and Jorja Fox as Sara Sidle

Best Episode in Season 9: “Disarmed and Dangerous” where Willows and the team investigate the death of an undercover FBI agent. It is episode 12 and aired on January 29, 2009.

Note: William Petersen as Gil Grissom leaves the show

Note: Lauren Lee Smith as Riley Adams leaves the show

Major/Recurring Cast in Season 10: Laurence Fishburne as Raymond Langston, Marg Helgenberger as Catherine Willows, George Eads as Nick Stokes, Eric Szmanda as Greg Sanders, Wallace Langham as David Hodges, Robert David Hall as Al Robbins, David Berman as David Phillips, Liz Vassey as Wendy Simms, Paul Guilfoyle as Jim Brass, Sheeri Rappaport as Mandy Webster, Archie Kao as Archie Johnson, Jon Wellner as Henry Andrews, Marc Vann as Conrad Ecklie, and Alex Carter as Lou Vartann

Best Episode in Season 10: “World’s End” where Willows and the team investigate the death of a student at her daughter’s school. It is episode 19 and aired on April 22, 2010.

Major/Recurring Cast in Season 11: Laurence Fishburne as Raymond Langston, Marg Helgenberger as Catherine Willows, George Eads as Nick Stokes, Jorja Fox as Sara Sidle, Eric Szmanda as Greg Sanders, Wallace Langham as David Hodges, Robert David Hall as Al Robbins, David Berman as David Phillips, Liz Vassey as Wendy Simms, Paul Guilfoyle as Jim Brass, Sheeri Rappaport as Mandy Webster, Archie Kao as Archie Johnson, Jon Wellner as Henry Andrews, Katee Sackoff as Frankie Reed, Marc Vann as Conrad Ecklie, and Alex Carter as Lou Vartann

Best Episode in Season 11: “Wild Life” where Sanders and Sidle investigate the deaths of an elderly couple. It is episode 9 and aired on November 18, 2010.

Note: Laurence Fishburne as Raymond Langston leaves the show

Note: Liz Vassey as Wendy Simms leaves the show

Major/Recurring Cast in Season 12: Ted Danson and D.B. Russell, Marg Helgenberger as Catherine Willows, George Eads as Nick Stokes, Jorja Fox as Sara Sidle, Eric Szmanda as Greg Sanders, Wallace Langham as David Hodges, Robert David Hall as Al Robbins, David Berman as David Phillips, Elisabeth Harnois as Megan Brody, Paul Guilfoyle as Jim Brass, Elisabeth Shue as Julie Finlay, Sheeri Rappaport as Mandy Webster, Jon Wellner as Henry Andrews, Marc Vann as Conrad Ecklie, Alex Carter as Lou Vartann, and Archie Kao as Archie Johnson

Best Episode in Season 12: “Freaks & Geeks” where Russell and the team investigate the death of a carnival performer. It is episode 6 and aired on November 2, 2011.

Note: Marg Helgenberger as Catherine Willows leaves the show

Note: Sheeri Rappaport as Mandy Webster leaves the show

Major/Recurring Cast in Season 13: Ted Danson as D.B. Russell, George Eads as Nick Stokes, Elisabeth Shue as Julie Finlay, Jorja Fox as Sara Sidle, Eric Szmanda as Greg Sanders, Wallace Langham as David Hodges, Robert David Hall as Al Robbins, David Berman as David Phillips, Elisabeth Harnois as Megan Brody, Paul Guilfoyle as Jim Brass, Jon Wellner as Henry Andrews, Marc Vann as Conrad Ecklie, Alex Carter as Lou Vartann, Archie Kao as Archie Johnson, and Barbara Eve Harris as Sheriff Sherry Liston

Best Episode in Season 13: “Wild Flowers” where Brody investigates the murder of a sex slave during a rave. It is episode 3 and aired on October 17, 2012.

Major/Recurring Cast in Season 14: Ted Danson as D.B. Russell, George Eads as Nick Stokes, Elisabeth Shue as Julie Finlay, Jorja Fox as Sara Sidle, Eric Szmanda as Greg Sanders, Wallace Langham as David Hodges, Robert David Hall as Al Robbins, David Berman as David Phillips, Elisabeth Harnois as Megan Brody, Jon Wellner as Henry Andrews, Paul Guilfoyle as Jim Brass, and Marc Vann as Conrad Ecklie

Best Episode in Season 14: “Girls Gone Wild” where Sidle, Finlay, and Brody investigate a murder and one of them is MIA. It is episode 10 and aired on November 27, 2013.

Major/Recurring Cast in Season 15: Ted Danson as D.B. Russell, George Eads as Nick Stokes, Elisabeth Shue as Julie Finlay, Jorja Fox as Sara Sidle, Eric Szmanda as Greg Sanders, Wallace Langham as David Hodges, Robert David Hall as Al Robbins, David Berman as David Phillips, Elisabeth Harnois as Megan Brody, Jon Wellner as Henry Andrews, Marc Vann as Conrad Ecklie, Alimi Ballard as Kevin Crawford, and Mark Valley as Daniel Shaw

Best Episode in Season 15: “Rubbery Homicide” where Russell and the team investigate the murder of a man in a rubber doll. It is episode 8 and aired on November 30, 2014.

Note: George Eads as Nick Stokes leaves the show

Note: Elisabeth Shue as Julie Finlay leaves the show

Major Cast in Season Finale: Ted Danson as D.B. Russell, Jorja Fox as Sara Sidle, Eric Szmanda as Greg Sanders, Wallace Langham as David Hodges, Robert David Hall as Al Robbins, David Berman as David Phillips, Elisabeth Harnois as Megan Brody, Jon Wellner as Henry Andrews, William Petersen as Gil Grissom, Marg Helgenberger as Catherine Willows, Paul Guilfoyle as Jim Brass, and Marc Vann as Conrad Ecklie, and Melinda Clarke as Heather Kessler

*******

Best Episode of All Time: “Grave Danger Volume 1 and 2 where Stokes gets kidnapped and the team rush to find him before it’s too late. It is episode 24 and 25 in season 5 and aired on May 19, 2005.

Best Story of All Time: The whole story of the miniature killer in season 7.