How Discovery Channel's "The New Detectives" Inspired the Creation of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation"
By
Blair Marnell
Crackles when you bite it. Shows the baker did the work.
Summary
The article explains how the Discovery Channel true-crime docuseries "The New Detectives," which debuted 30 years ago, inadvertently inspired the creation of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." In 1998, CSI creator Anthony E. Zuiker watched an episode of "The New Detectives" about a murdered NFL cheerleader, which sparked the idea for what became one of television's biggest crime franchises. Zuiker cited this as his primary inspiration during a 2025 interview with the Television Academy.
Key quotes
· 2 pulledIn 1998, I was watching a Discovery Channel show called 'The New Detectives,'
There was this particular episode...
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