CSI: Miami star David Caruso (Horatio Caine) is well aware of the roots of how much Monday night's top drama owes to its parent show.

"They’re kinda like The Beatles," Caruso said of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation to Malaysia'sThe Star Online. "They created the whole format. You’re never going to be bigger than The Beatles."

Caruso has the utmost regard for CSI, which is currently the number one rated drama in the U.S., and a bonafide hit overseas as well. "It’s the biggest show in the world. And for a good reason. That show is totally mesmerising. If we’re compared to it in any way, I take that as a compliment," Caruso said.

Miami is no slouch in the ratings either, something Caruso is well aware of. "It's really a good time to be on the show," he said. "The entire world has embraced the show. There is this amazing dialogue going on worldwide that I’m getting to participate in. It kinda inspires you to work even harder because you realise that you’re connecting with so many people you aren’t aware of."

The trend of forensic science shows has certainly taken off worldwide, and Caruso thinks that it's due in part to the fact that the genre is relatively new and unexplored. "You have to understand that the world of CSI and forensic science to the audience is something new," the actor said. "To just participate in this venture, which is so different from everything else I’ve been involved in, is really exciting. And really challenging."

Caruso has wholeheartedly embraced Horatio Caine, and makes no bones about his admiration for the character he portrays. " aspire to be a man like Horatio Caine. These people are not putting themselves in harm’s way for money because their salaries are almost nothing...they’re thinking about the safety of the public," he said. "If I, David Caruso, employ the same level of dedication, discipline, restraint and compassion that this man could, I would feel pretty good about myself."

With CSI: New York's debut right around the corner, Miami is poised to become the franchise's middle child. But Caruso predicts only success for the second spinoff show, which Miami introduced in May. "That’s going to be a huge show. I have a little bit of legacy from another show in New York, so it’s kinda like going home for me in a weird way," he said of filming the crossover episode, "MIA/NYC--NonStop".

Caruso enjoys filming the show, despite the 42-weeks-a-year commitment it is. "I get to do just about everything I can ever want to do as an actor," he said. "First of all, I get to do a movie every week. I get to do literally 24 movies a year, so you know, we’re really very fortunate."

Sometimes, however, the shoots in lush Miami are interrupted by unexpected guests. Caruso shared a story about a literal set crasher: an alligator. "We were doing a scene about the possibility of an alligator showing up, and one day a very large alligator did show up," Caruso revealed. "There’s not much one can do when one of those guys shows up because you’re in his backyard. An alligator is basically going to do what he wants to do, so we had to wait for it to leave the area."

To read the complete interview, please visit The Star Online!

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