CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and CSI: Miami mastermind Anthony Zuiker yesterday revealed he is developing another permutation of the CSI format.

"I don't have story lines, but I do have an actor in mind, a city — it's an American city — and a tone in my head," Zuiker told Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith (via ComingSoon.net). "That launch will be brutal. Launching CSI: Miami nearly killed us, thinking of two separate regimes of casts, and we got off to a rough start — but it's worked out well."

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, which wrapped its third season earlier this month, debuted in fall 2000, attracting an average of 17.62 million viewers during its first year. In its second season, the forensic exploits of Grissom and company were watched by an average of 23.73 million Americans, and a spin-off was soon commissioned. CSI: Miami premiered in fall 2002 and is now the most-watched new drama series on television.

But how much CSI can the viewers — not to mention the producers — handle? "Make no mistake. We're all tired," Zuiker said, but added CBS has faith in the CSI team to come up with the goods. "We're the go-to guys, and it's like it's the Super Bowl, and they keep handing us the ball. So you suck it up and work harder. But I believe the network appreciates that. This is our time."

Given that the networks have already announced their primetime line-ups for the 2003-2004 season, any new CSI incarnation would not be likely to debut before fall 2004. As to which city will be anointed as the next home of the forensic franchise, Zuiker is staying mum. But Bill Zwekcer of the Chicago Sun-Times did float the idea of a Chicago-based series whilst interviewing the producer last month. "Chicago would be terrific," was Zuiker's reply.

The original article can be found here at ComingSoon.net.

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