TV Shows and Spin-offs, Part Four

This is will be the fourth hub to highlight television programs with spin-offs or "sister" programs. So far, we have examined The Andy Griffith Show, All in the Family, Star Trek, Dragnet, The Beverly Hillbillies and Law and Order. Now, we will discuss CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and NCIS.

There are several other popular television programs with spin-offs or "sister" shows that I have not mentioned. Some include Dallas, Dynasty and M*A*S*H. These programs have spin-offs or "sister" shows that may or may not have been quite as popular as the originals.  Stay tuned as I will probably write a hub later to highlight those programs.

 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation was such a popular and innovative idea that the creators introduced two more crime investigator programs set in two distinct and populated cities.  Each installment in the CSI family introduced a new set of characters with his or her own contributions to the crime scene being investigated.  Some of the major characters of each program have appeared in one or two of the other series.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is set in Las Vegas, Nevada with the investigators of the Las Vegas Police Department studying each clue, no matter how minute the clue might be.

CSI: Miami is obviously set in Miami, Florida with the investigators solving crimes centered around the specific individuality of Miami.

CSI: NY is the New York City installment.  Some of the earlier stories relived a main character's reaction to losing a loved one during the September 11 terrorist attacks.  The New York branch of CSI has more recognizable locations for the crimes to occur. 

This crime drama is very similar to CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. The crimes are investigated by the Navy's crime scene investigators. If a crime victim is or was a member of the military, the case is investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). This series is set in Washington, D.C. NCIS is, itself, a spin-off of the television series, JAG (Judge Advocate General).

The popularity of NCIS gave birth to a "sister" or spin-off series based in Los Angeles called NCIS: Los Angeles. The Los Angeles series solves crimes similar to the Washington, D.C. series.

It's just a matter of time before NCIS becomes so popular that it, too, will institute more "sister" or spin-off shows.

© 2010 Tammy L