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Post by annabelleleigh on Mar 3, 2009 22:44:10 GMT -5
As we approach CI's Season 8 premiere the most anticipated event is Jeff Goldblum's debut. Now that Team Goldblum has stabilized (we hope), here's a reminder of who's running the show at CI.alt. The following information will mean most to those familiar with CSI. I apologize if it's all old stuff to everyone; the CSI connection was encouraging news to me.
AL ------------------
Lea, Lipsitz and the CSI Connection
Andrew Lipsitz and Timothy Lea, former writers and producers for the CSI franchise, appear to be ideal picks to helm what once was the Chris Noth side of Law & Order: Criminal Intent and now stars Jeff Goldblum. Both are experienced not only with famous television franchises but with working in New York City and with each other. Lipsitz worked on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and both he and Lea collaborated on CSI: New York.
Lipsitz was part of the CSI production team during the first four seasons. He started on the show's second episode, "Cool Change", and his final episode was the fourth season finale, "Bloodlines". Lipsitz returned to CSI during the seventh season to produce "Fallen Idols".
After leaving CSI post-season four, Lipsitz became an executive producer for New York. He worked on the show during the first two seasons, starting with the premiere episode, "Blink". Lea was a co-producer during the same period for the third member of the CSI franchise. Lea also started with "Blink" and continued through the season two finale, "Charge of this Post", for which he also has a writing credit. Lea returned to New York for several episodes in season three, once as a supervising producer ("Sleight Out of Hand") and twice as a writer ("Love Run Cold" and "A Daze of Wine and Roaches").
(Adapted from an article originally published by Marketwatch.com.)
Additional biographical notes on Timothy J. Lea: Born in Australia, grew up in Connecticut, majored in drama at Bates College, amateur musician. (Source: imdb.com)
Additional professional notes on Andrew Lipsitz: Created 22 CSI franchise scripts; also wrote for the short-lived series "L.A. Doctors" and the even shorter-lived detective drama "Prince Street" (aired/canceled in March 1997) which starred (among others) SVU's Mariska Hargitay. (Source: various)
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Post by Patcat on Mar 4, 2009 9:41:04 GMT -5
AL--How much of CSI: NEW YORK is actually filmed in New York? I understood much of it was shot in LA.
Patcat
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Post by DonnaJo on Mar 4, 2009 11:26:21 GMT -5
I can't stand any of the CSI shows. I sincerely hope that these guys won't morph the Goldblum episodes into a CSI style.
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Post by Patcat on Mar 4, 2009 11:32:45 GMT -5
I have to go with you, DonnaJo, although I've always liked William Petersen as an actor. But, as I've written before and in spite of the fact I sound like my mother, in all of the CSI shows I can't see or hear anything!
Patcat (who's starting to get mail from the AARP)
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Post by annabelleleigh on Mar 4, 2009 13:01:47 GMT -5
My, my. Neither of you think it's good news that Lea and Lipsitz have already collaborated on hit shows in a winning TV franchise?
I don't watch any of the CSIs either but that's because I'm bored with the premise. IMO, it's limiting (though much of the U.S. TV-viewing public obviously disagrees). But I don't expect to see Jeff Goldblum digging into anyone's entrails or operating a spectrometer.
I do expect the foundation of CI to remain the same -- highly perceptive, idiosyncratic detectives using forensic psychology to catch criminals. However I am encouraged that Team Goldblum's scripts will be acquitted by talented, practiced cop show collaborators.
Do you honestly think Lea and Lipsitz could turn all that Goldblum bluminess into a washed-out William Petersen or David Caruso? ;-)
AL
P.S. PC -- you're right. "CSI: NY" is mostly shot in L.A. with exteriors filmed in NYC. However "Prince Street" -- all four episodes -- was shot in New York, and it was more of a character drama.
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Post by Patcat on Mar 4, 2009 13:52:32 GMT -5
Oh, I didn't meant to criticize the new team, especially before we've actually seen their efforts. My problem is with the CSI shows. I actually feel sorry for Mr. Peterson and Gary Sinise for having to try to shoehorn their talents in the shows. I have less sympathy for Mr. Caruso.
I have a friend who's a fingerprint expert. He's not a fan of any cop shows, but he particularly hates the CSI shows.
Patcat
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Post by DonnaJo on Mar 4, 2009 19:10:42 GMT -5
You have a valid point, Annabelle. Both men know how to create a winning series. But my worry is that they will believe that in order to make LOCI a winner, it must be revamped into a CSI mold.
Yet....... I was reminded in an insightful post by Janet at Major Case that CSI:Miami has the rather quirky Horatio. He's almost a parody of a super cool sleuth. So could it be that they will offer up Goldblum as a tongue in cheek type character? That would fit into USA's style.
I can see Goldblum being written as quirky/funny, like old style Goren ("Cat got your tongue? Because there's an extra one here.") ;D
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Post by tjara on Mar 5, 2009 4:19:42 GMT -5
I don't watch any of the CSI's, mostly because I think they are rather icky. I'm a little sensitive in that department and couldn't have my supper or late night snack next to that. I will confess to liking all three leads (Petersen, Caruso and Sinise, especially) though. Also, I'm not that much into forensics, I mean they are interesting, but it's just that they make up so many things. Ask wikipedia about the "CSI-effect" or google that, VERY interesting... I know on many shows, things are made up, I could even come up with a few examples from CI. That's not the point, the point is that I think it's less obvious on some shows, due to the subject matter. It's just a paradox to claim something is science when it's not even possible...
I hope this is good for CI:alt, because I feel they've been the "read-headed-stephchild" of the L&O franchise (kudos to Patcat for that phrase) anyway. I'd say the two CSI veterans know how to do a cop show/ cop procedural, and if they can give us "forensics of the brain" (intent, that is), I'm all for that.
I still hold a faint hope, that Goren will get back some of those Goren-lines... and revive some of his spark. Or let's rather say, we get to see some more of that spark again (because it's there in many shows, it's just been toned down). I can certainly see Jeff doing quirky, but I'd rather not have it Goren-style quirky. As I've posted somehwere else, I think Falacci was kinda a female version of Goren, and I'd rather not see Jeff in that position, he can do better than just being handed another Goren. My concern is much more with the writers that with JG, but maybe bringing on to CSI veterans will be a good sign. I'll certainly have to wait and see what they do... and try not to rush to judgement after one episode. Now that will be hard... ;D
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Post by jeffan on Mar 5, 2009 6:10:44 GMT -5
I understand both Donnajo and Petcat's concerns about it being too CSI (esque), yet these are professional writers who have written for various projects. It can only be good for LO:CI overall that Wolf secured their obvious talents for writing winning formulas.
I agree as Jeff is the magister of humorous quirk and, as AL pointed out in a previous comment, the problem with Jeff's initial two episodes was that the writers had "bleached out" too much bluminess. I noted on the USA site, on the poll, that the majority of viewers want to see "all-round Goldbluminess" - a brand in itself!
Thank you AL for posting this article and also for your astute observations.
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Post by Patcat on Mar 5, 2009 10:07:10 GMT -5
Tjara--That's a good point. CI is the red headed stepchild of the L&O world, and the non Goren/Eames episodes are often the red headed stepchild of the red headed stepchild (g). I'm afraid I'm guilty of that myself.
Patcat
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Post by annabelleleigh on Mar 6, 2009 13:00:10 GMT -5
You have a valid point, Annabelle. Both men know how to create a winning series. But my worry is that they will believe that in order to make LOCI a winner, it must be revamped into a CSI mold. Yet....... I was reminded in an insightful post by Janet at Major Case that CSI:Miami has the rather quirky Horatio... Lipsitz started his TV scripting career writing for "Dr. Quinn" Medicine Woman" but I don't expect CI to assume any trappings of the western frontier DJ. ;-) AL P.S. Janet? I thought she had packed up her metaphors and had bid CI fan sites farewell forever when Warren Leight took off for "In Treatment."
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Post by quietfireca on Mar 6, 2009 19:42:39 GMT -5
My, my. Neither of you think it's good news that Lea and Lipsitz have already collaborated on hit shows in a winning TV franchise? I can't see this as anything but good! They're obviously professionals at the top of their fields and know how to work at that level. As for CSIs. I still watch them, but if I miss 'em, no sweat. I still marvel at how they can clip off the top of a Q-tip, swill it in some solvent (probably not aqueous, on the benchtop, not inside a fumehood), maybe throw it in a centrifuge (with the head of the Q-tip inside) and 15 seconds later, as some flashy special video effects are added (that I wish I knew how the heck to duplicate!!!), they walk over to a printer et voila! they have DNA results..... Gimme a break...... I will say Lawrence Fishburn has added an interesting new layer to the original series. Okay, off my show-bashing soapbox....
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Post by quietfireca on Mar 6, 2009 19:52:18 GMT -5
Back on the soapbox.... And their bloody labcoats! Like really. Who irons their labcoat? Wait. Who washes their labcoat? roflololol! Oh, this brings back memories.... (some places do have a labcoat service and they look pretty pristine.... for a while.....) (I worked in coal research for a number of years and when we handled the coal.... well, where is the first place you wipe your hands? White labcoats show up everything..... But(t) then I never saw myself from the back.....) I almost throw up when I see Horatio in a labcoat. It has his friggin' NAME embroidered on it. Obviously they have a different budget than anywhere I ever worked (government included!). Ahhh, thanks, I feel so much better. I had to get that off my chest..... ;D
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Post by tjara on Mar 7, 2009 5:25:59 GMT -5
He, I acutally used to wash and iron my sister's labcoat when she was only a medical student! Nowadays she only wears scrubs
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Post by quietfireca on Mar 7, 2009 17:34:59 GMT -5
He, I acutally used to wash and iron my sister's labcoat when she was only a medical student! Nowadays she only wears scrubs OMG! You were an angel! Well, when you're seeing the public, it's good to look presentable! I worked in clean rooms, too, where you had to suit up and that meant discarding the labcoat, even if it was clean! I just can't help but roll my eyes sometimes when I watch tv lab scenes. I'm getting a bit numb to it, but there is often something that raises my eyebrows. I'm sure your sister goes crazy watching medical shows! (if she has time for such trivial things!)
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