KOOL TV BABE OF THE WEEK: '24' AND 'DALLAS' STAR ANNIE WERSCHING

Ready to play...? The lovely US actress Annie Wersching. Image: FOX.

Very few female friends, lovers or work colleagues make it beyond a season alongside immortal US TV action hero Jack Bauer, as personified by the intense Kiefer Sutherland over eight years of the hit series 24, but Annie Wersching, as the fiery redheaded spitfire and his partner-of-arms, Renee Walker, certainly left her mark on the lead characters heart and soul, and particularly with viewers, in its final two seasons. At first a loyal and dutiful FBI agent who played by the rules, Renee soon had to throw away that rule book when coming across several formidable threats attacking both the White House and America across its seventh gripping day of action, suspense and drama. By the following season, she was out of the service-her career and life seemingly washed up and beyond repair after her past deeds- her emotional and psychological status seemingly wrecked beyond repair. Finding the courage and the bravery to help Jack defeat a new threat to the United Nations, she was sadly eventually slain by a Russian commissioned hitman after her one and only night in the sack with Jack (as a going away forever present, I hope it was a good one!). Her blood soaked death in front of his eyes would soon launch Jack onto the final revenge fuelled destructive course of action that would satisfyingly end his character and the TV phenomenon's current destiny on the small screen...

As FBI Agent Renee Walker, giving Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) an occasional conscience in 24. Image: FOX.

Wersching's first TV work, as the big-eyed alien Liana in STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE. Image: CBS PARAMOUNT.

Memorably started off her TV career in 2002, playing a mysterious alien, Liana, in STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE, Missouri-born Wersching's work beyond her popular, severe FBI suited heroics has included appearances on lots more highly successful series: the noteworthy likes of CSI, BODY OF PROOF, HAWAII FIVE-O and HARRY'S LAW to name but a few. She can currently be seen making the job of boss to the Department of Transportation of Dallas look much more sexy than it ever deserves to be, as Alison Jones, in the second season of the re-imagined series of the same name, currently airing on the UK's FIVE HD, where she'll soon no doubt be steamily caught in the antics of rival Ewing clans. I think my temperature has already started to rise in anticipation of this bright and sexy lady's continued appearances...

GOODBYE, LARRY HAGMAN...

The world is not enough! The late, great Larry Hagman as charismatic evil-doer J.R. Ewing in DALLAS. Image: ULIKE. 

He'd been a well recognised face on TV throughout the sixties (most notably in the fantasy comedy I DREAM OF JEANNIE) and into the seventies, but for worldwide fans of the hit series DALLAS, American actor Larry Hagman, who sadly passed away yesterday at the age of 81, will always be remembered for his brilliant and truly iconic portrayal of corrupt and corrupting Texan oil millionaire and feuding next generation family matriarch J.R. Ewing. It was a TV performance seemingly tailor made for his fine talents as an actor, as he brought such a lot of nuance and subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, villainy to a part-the baddie we all truly loved to hate- that helped redefine the soap opera genre in TV and give it a massive quality injection. J.R. was everything soap-dom could ever have wanted in a baddie: multi-layered, greedy, ruthless, a family man yet a complete bastard to his loved ones, and always needing to have the last word in everything. And whenever he gave us that wicked smile, we all smiled too and enjoyed his deviousness. He was the only man in his unique universe who could make nastiness so much fun...

Certainly the best thing about the TNT channel's resurrected DALLAS series of this year, his character out of the retirement home and his eyes lit up once more whenever the words "oil" and "profit" were mentioned by his son and heir, John Ross, it was a building return to form for the big hatted entrepreneur. It's sad that such two distinctive greats- J.R. and Hagman, a much liked and respected talent in the Hollywood industry and a dedicated family man- are now gone.

They'll be very sadly missed...

Dallas star Larry Hagman dies aged 81 after battle with cancer | Mail Online

OIL SLICKERS! THE RETURN OF 'DALLAS'

Oil's the game, and J.R. is his name. The inimitable Larry Hagman dons the hat and wears his evil persona once more for the new incarnation of DALLAS. Images: CHANNEL FIVE/TNT.

TV's greatest soap opera/drama icons from Texas-devilishly machivialian grinning Chesire Cat-like J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman), his misty eyed but resilient ex-wife Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) and luckless but noble brother Bobby (Patrick Duffy), all return older but certainly not wiser, clashing heads, fists and slaps for an all new round of oil soaked conflict in the much welcome return of Leonard Katzman's DALLAS to the UK's FIVE channel from Wednesday- a big success this year on the prior US TNT channel, and likely to be just as popular all over again in Blighty. But what happened to Charlene Tilton, the lovable Poison Dwarf?

DALLAS: The Next Generation!       

Brothers in arms: Patrick Duffy as Bobby and Larry Hagman as J.R. Ewing

This time around, it's not just the old patriarchs butting horns and stetsons, their wannabe power broking sons just can't help it either, in verbal and physical battle over all the same kinds of position, money and women that all spoilt rich kids have when good fortune just happens to fall into their laps! Together with the ma's and pa's they're all dynamite, truly putting the fork back into Southfork!

Texan icon J.R. Ewing holds firm!

Check out our previous articles on the show's return here: OIL WARS! THE RETURN OF "DALLAS" and LATHER UP WITH THE ALL-NEW 'DALLAS'!, plus a few new photos to whet the viewing appetites...

Ex-DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES veteran Brenda Strong adds some new sex appeal as Bobby's wife,  Ann.

Like father, like son. Josh Henderson as John Ross.

New blood feuds for Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe),  Rebecca (Julie Gonzalo),  John Ross (Josh Henderson) and Elena (Jordana Brewster).

Bobby confronts Harris Ryland (THE X-FILES Mitch Pileggi) in an upcoming episode...

Classic series favourite Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval) returns for revenge...

Black Gold! A new oil vein is celebrated by John Ross and Elena (Jordana Brewster)

More lapel grabbing from Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe) against John Ross!

Standing defiant: the old and new cast of DALLAS.

Trailer:  Dallas Series 2012 Trailer Extended - YouTube

TROPICAL THUNDER! 'CSI: MIAMI' - THE FINAL SEASON...

Florida's finest, led by Horatio Caine (David Caruso), are back in CSI: MIAMI. Images: CBS.

Surviving a deadly gunshot wound to the chest, continued internal bleeding and diving into the Pacific to rescue friend and colleague Natalia (Eva La Rue) from a watery fate trapped inside a car boot, our superior television detective Horatio Caine, as uniquely personified by flame haired David Caruso, proved himself to be quite the dependable superman to the end-who needs Batman or THE AVENGERS, right?!- and finally put paid to the career of an escaped arsonist/serial killer in the premiere episode of CSI: MIAMI's tenth and final season, which began its exclusive UK airings on Channel FIVE from last Saturday night onwards.

So, in bidding adieu to the fine men and women in front of and behind the scenes of this always colourful, always fast paced, sometimes bonkers plotted, but always thoroughly enjoyable escapist television, here's a little pictorial taster of some of the last episodes to come:

Horatio and Natalia (Eva La Rue) are back in rue health in the series second episode, Stiff.

Trapped in a blazing fire, Calleigh (Emily Procter) tends to Delko (Adam Rodriguez) in Stiff.

More angst for Horatio and Eric as they tend to an injured Ryan (Jonathan Togo) in the tornado wrecking Blown Away.

There's a new baddie on the scene for Horatio. Ex-24 veteran Carlos Bernard as shady businessman Diego Bavarro in Look Who's Taunting.

Trouble in and out of court for Horatio and Detective Frank Tripp (Rex Linn) in A Few Dead Men.

Delko lashes out on guest star Taylor Cole in the search for an eccentric genius with a deadly weapon: Friendly Fire.

The lovely Bo Derek guests as a stable owner, and murder suspect, in The Last Straw.

Whilst another famous "body", the inimitable Raquel Welch, guest stars as a murder suspects influential supermom in Rest In Pieces.

The man who made MIAMI. So long and thanks for all the crime-fighting, Horatio!

Previous seasons of CSI: MIAMI are available on DVD from MOMENTUM PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT.

THE AXE-MAN COMETH! GOODBYE 'CSI: MIAMI'

Father-protector! Horatio Caine guards his turf in CSI: MIAMI. Images: CBS.

I'd been aware that there was a big cancellation decision going on with the suits at CBS over which of their two CSI spin-offs created by Anthony Zuiker would be axed this year: the Gary Sinise starrer set in New York or Mister Shades himself, David Caruso's version, set in sunny Florida. The result came in a few weeks back and I have to say that I'm pretty surprised by the outcome: that Horatio and his team were the candidates going to syndication heaven after its landmark tenth season had been completed, and that no real finale wrap-up was to be done for them or their hit series (and it truly was a hit right out of the gate, despite some early jarring between once series leads Caruso and a miscast, soon to depart after one season Kim Delaney).

Original Season One titles: CSI Miami - Season 1 Intro With Kim Delaney - YouTube

For me personally, I think it's all a bit of a shame really that MIAMI is going into the sunset, despite the fact that ten years is a very good innings for a TV series of this ilk (of which its previous ninth season had ultimately shown signs of a strong recovery episode wise after a very weak, sometimes quite absurd, previous year). Though there had been a few occasional long sub-plots a few seasons back that were pretty good (one noteworthy series peak point storyline being Gary Sinise's Mac in conflict with a powerful newspaper editor/media mogul (an excellently slimy Craig T. Nelson), and a pursuit of a highly dangerous, seemingly one step ahead of the game, gang of marine trained bank robbers), I've never thought that CSI: NEW YORK was as bright, breezy and enjoyable, or had as likable a cast, as MIAMI. Perhaps, overall in the bigger scheme of things that is the American TV industry, film star Sinise, a popular and very straight laced actor, had a bit more clout in his producership role of the series than Caruso had as a lead series star (a bit like William Peterson had in the early seasons of the original CSI series as an Exec Producer, before he got tired of it), or perhaps US viewers and the networks now preferred the second spin-off because it was a little more harder edged in its grounded New Yoik attitude or less stylised in the face of competitive shows of the genre on rival stations. Regardless of such decision-making, power politics and numbers crunching, I'm very much going to miss Mister Caruso in what has so far been his career best TV performance, as the determined man with a mission to keep Florida families safe, Emily Procter as the always deliciously cute sexy gun expert Calleigh Duquesne, Adam Rodriguez as the reliable and equally likable sidekick Eric Delko, and the rest of the ever-growing series cast in its colourful and mostly always popcorn style cinematic heroics.

The series reached its peak in its middle years with (L-R)  Delko (Adam Rodriguez),  Alexx (Khandi Alexander), Horatio (David Caruso), Ryan (Jonathan Togo) and Calleigh (Emily Procter).

The final series of CSI: MIAMI has yet to make its glorious, high-definition looking resumation in the UK on the FIVE channel (presumably around August-time), but I look forward to seeing the resolution of the previous season cliffhanger-Horatio actually shot down for real this time (no fakery, Horatio is dead gimmicks like a few years back) whilst Natalia Boa Vista (the firm and lovely Eva La Rue) was locked in a car boot and heading to a watery grave, as well as discovering how the final new sub-plots affecting our heroes will play out (including an appearance from 24's Carlos Bernard, now playing a baddy). KOOL TV will be previewing CSI: MIAMI's last hurrah in the not too distant future.

LATHER UP WITH THE ALL-NEW 'DALLAS'!

J.R., keep your hat on! The Ewing family bath-time, as promoted in the all-new DALLAS! Image: TNT.

That old rascal J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) and the rest of the old and new cast of the modern US TNT continuance of the classic DALLAS TV series get together for some soapy exchanges and certainly aren't afraid to poke fun at one of the original shows most absurd, and funniest, moments, when a shower taking Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy-no stranger to unusual water experiences from his MAN FROM ATLANTIS days!) returned from the dead, resulting in everything that his poor wife/widow Pam (Victoria Principal), and the rest of the cast, had experienced in the prior two seasons or so beforehand having all been a dream! Yep, it was the final desperate nail hammered into the shows late-eighties coffin (though we were, thankfully, spared the kind of flying saucer kidnap seen in DYNASTY!), but hopefully the shows new producers will not let another audience-grabbing gamble like that ever happen again!

Originally scheduled to air exclusively on the UK's FIVE channel this past January (but delayed), expect to see DALLAS-most likely a format of the original show meets a more serious DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES hybrid cocktail- once it starts airing in the US from June.

Check out our previous DALLAS articles here: CLASSIC IMAGE: "DALLAS"s FAVOURITE SON: J.R. EWING and OIL WARS! THE RETURN OF "DALLAS"

Keep a track on the new series here: Dallas 2.0 News – Dallas TV Series News

NEW HANDS ON DECK: 'CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION' SEASON TWELVE

Ted Danson and Elisabeth Shue in the new season of CSI. Images: CBS.

We've already showcased the premiere appearance of Ted Danson as DB Russell, the new lead star of CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (finally arriving on the UK's FIVE channel from next Tuesday 13th March) in a previous feature (VIVA LAS VEGAS! TED DANSON'S NEW REIGN ON "CSI" | KOOL TV), but here's some additional episodic stills introducing the arrival of another anticipated name actor to the series: the lovely Elisabeth Shue, taking over from Marg Helgenberger's departing Catherine Willows, as Julie (Finn) Finlay, the volatile but dedicated forensics expert, and once co-worker to Russell in Seattle, making her first appearance in the show, then bonding with the Las Vegas based team in her own unique way, within the episode Seeing Red.

New look titles: CSI Las Vegas - Season 12 Intro {w/ Elisabeth Shue} - YouTube

Building better work bonds: Julie and DB in the episode Stealing Home.

In the crime lab with Julie and Greg (Eric Szmanda) in the episode Seeing Red.

He died with his red shoes on! Another case for Nick (George Eads), Julie and DB in the episode Stealing Home.

New girls on the block: Morgan Brody (Elizabeth Harnois) and Julie in Trends with Benefits.

Greg and Morgan are on the case in the episode Bittersweet.

The team pool their formidable resources in Seeing Red.

For the first time in ages, this fresh new look to the long-running, still in the top ten US ratings list series (which also include young blond newcomer Elizabeth Harnois's addition to the swelling cast ranks in the season premiere episode, as Morgan Brody) actually has me want to start watching the show again after several much needed years away from it. Fingers crossed that this regenerative, creative shot in the arm, which I think the series really does need at this time, actually works well for the shows writers and producers as the CSI TV legend continues...

OIL WARS! THE RETURN OF "DALLAS"

Family conflicts anew! The old and new cast of the resurrected DALLAS. Image: TNT/FIVE.

Good news for all UK lovers of the original King of the Suds, DALLAS- and the next generation of inhabitants residing over the Texas-based Ewing oil empire over at South Fork-as FIVE have acquired the new TNT made series for transmission next year, once more brought to life by its creator, David Jacobs. And here's a sneak peek image of some of the returning main cast, whose list includes old favourite Patrick Duffy, back for more punishment and punch-ups as nice-guy Bobby Ewing, sweet Charlene Tilton as "the poison dwarf" Lucy Ewing, Steve Kanaly as former ranch hand Ray Krebbs, Linda Gray as lovable, if slightly off her rocker, alcoholic, general china plate throwing Sue Ellen, and, of course, the irrepressible Larry Hagman as that old scheming, power mad, bullet-proof J.R. Ewing himself-the true iconic lynch pin of the series, of which any kind of re-make or continuation of DALLAS wouldn't have been the same if J.R., and Hagman, hadn't been involved in it somewhere along the line.

Sure to generate further mix and match character conflict, bed-hopping and back stabbing drama galore are a few cast members defectees from another popular US series-DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES- most notably Brenda Strong (who played that series primary story instigator and narrator, Mary Alice Young-having committed suicide in the opening moments of its pilot!), now as Bobby's new wife, Ann, and ladies favourite shirt-off, six pack showing Jesse Metcalfe, previously best known in DH for being Eva Longoria's ex-toyboy flame, John Rowland, and now up to new tricks as the fiery and ambitious Christopher Ewing, deep in rivalry against  Josh Henderson's equally brash John Ross-their story being the primary focus of the returned series. Further supporting female glamour adding to the steamy mix will surely come from THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS movie series lovely Jordana Brester as Elena Ramos, and Julie Gonzalo as Rebecca Sutter.

Trailer: Dallas 2012 First Look | NEW DALLAS SHOW (TNT) [HD] - YouTube

So, let battle and cat-fighting commence, as our hopes that all the pent up old bitterness left over from our favourite characters of the eighties can be re-ignited and recaptured in some significant way for viewers old and new-but this time, please, no more shower/it's all a dream stuff!

HEAT-WAVE! "CSI: MIAMI" SEASON TEN

I pity the fools who run into Calleigh (Emily Procter) and Horatio Caine (David Caruso). CSI: MIAMI continues in new episodes. Image: CBS PARAMOUNT.

In the ever glowing sun of Miami, Florida, relaxation is the normal preoccupation for the millions of holiday-makers who descend upon it to enjoy its glamorous beaches, scenery and nightlife. But for the residing CSI team that works within its hot climes, led by iconic bespectacled hero Horatio Caine (played by the inimitable David Caruso), there's no respite or time to smell the roses in their pursuit of the wicked, murderous and immoral-from all walks of life and lifestyle- that operate and thrive within its distinctive swampland borders. And thank goodness for that, too, as television would be a boring place without CSI: MIAMI and its glossy, almost psychedelic coloured cinematography, adrenalin paced editing and slightly absurd but always played with conviction comic book-esque storytelling. The series is currently showing classic episodes daily on the UK's channel FIVE as well as premiering new episodes every Tuesday night from Season Nine (which really has turned out to be a great improvement over the previous lackluster year, with much better use of the main cast and Horatio getting up to some serious bad-ass stuff again!). Lucky viewers in the US, however, are now onto Season Ten-yes, the show has gone on for that long!- which its dedicated producers insist will be a "game changer" for the series and its main characters, and also sees in a new politically powerful, and very wealthy, baddie/antagonist for Horatio, as played by 24 ex-hero Carlos Bernard, for a major season story arc. As well as a more prominent return for the lovely Emily Procter, now back from real-life maternity leave as Calleigh Duquesne, look out for future plots involving the return of the man who killed Horatio's beloved Marisol (of which Alana De La Garza returns to play the part in flashbacks for the season opener), our heroes trying to save a crime scene during a lethal tornado, and a race against the clock for Natalia and Horatio to find an escaped killer. The lovely actress/model Natasha Henstridge also returns as FBI agent Renee Locklear- a possible new love interest for Horatio.

With the shows continued success, it looks like sunglasses manufacturers will be kept busy for a few more years yet! Classic clip: Jim Carrey does his legendary David Caruso/Horatio Caine impression:
Jim Carrey does David Caruso - YouTube and as done by the series cast: Horatio Caine Impressions done by the cast of CSI Miami - YouTube


Seasons One to Nine of CSI: MIAMI are available on DVD from CBS PARAMOUNT.

SOUTHERN STAR! THE RETURN OF "JUSTIFIED"

Miranda rights? What are those? Timothy Olyphant as Marshal Givens in JUSTIFIED. Image: FX.

Making the much beloved Cowboy hat wearing Detective Sam McCloud's crime-busting skills seem positively geriatric in comparison comes the return of popular law enforcer Marshal Raylan Givens, as played by star ascending Timothy Olyphant (best known for his film roles in THE CRAZIES, DIE HARD 4 and HITMAN, as well as DAMAGES on TV), in a role pitch perfect for those wild eyes of his and his laconic on-screen acting style (one that would certainly please a young, in his prime Clint Eastwood), for the second series of JUSTIFIED, developed by acclaimed film-writer Graham Yost, and based on the stories of the iconic Elmore Leonard. It's back on UK screens with all its sun scorched location filming and smoky interior bar-rooms via those hungry to buy hot series people at FIVE USA in the UK.

Acclaimed by critics, with an opening season premiere which debuted to strong ratings last year, the series has created its own distinctive visual style, accompanied by weird and wonderful plots featuring a multitude of equally eccentric characters and rough baddies, and showcasing Olyphant, now a big hit with the ladies, as a lawman not afraid to take risks, clashing with his superiors and friends (including memorable support from THE SHIELD's excellent Walton Goggins) in order to get the job done, and, if necessary, bending the rules to his advantage whilst serving out his undeserved exile to the rural East Kentucky mining town of Harlan.

Here's a fun trailer for the new series: YouTube - Justified Season2 Trailer
And another: YouTube - Justified Season 2 Teaser Trailer

Season One of justified is now available on DVD from SONY HOME ENTERTAINMENT.

ON THE MOVE AGAIN! IT'S "THE WALKING DEAD"!

Making a point! Their "cover" blown, Glenn (Steven Yeun) watches brave Sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) fight against a Zombie in Season One of THE WALKING DEAD.

Zombie-mania once more returns to our television screens tonight with Channel FIVE in the UK's wise snapping up of exclusive terrestrial rights to show the excellent AMC first series adaptation of the hugely successful, and often very gory, Zombies dominate the world catastrophe/action/thriller/character drama (yes, it's all these things in one!), THE WALKING DEAD, impressively realised for the small screen by original comic co-creator Robert Kirkman (alongside Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard), and legendary modern day film-maker Frank Darabont. For anyone who hasn't seen it, here's a few great stills from the opening episodes to get you in the right bloody frame of mind!

Shopping in BLOOMINGDALES will never be the same again!

Flanked by partner Shane (Jon Bernthal),  Rick locks on to a fast moving escapee in the series opening scenes.

Abandon all hope? The future for humanity looks grim...

A small group of human survivors, led by Shane, band together as best they can...

Sheriff Rick begins his solitary hunt for his wife and child, plus any other human survivors.

Zombie-watch! Some of the main cast of the hit series THE WALKING DEAD.

Keep an eye on future KOOL TV blogs for more news as and when on Season Two...

THE HEAT IS ON! THE RETURN OF "CSI: MIAMI"

Delko (Adam Rodriguez) and Horatio (David Caruso) rush to aid the fallen Calleigh (Emily Procter) in the CSI: MIAMI Season Nine opener: FALLEN Part Two. All images: CBS.

Anyone who has been reading the KOOL TV blog long-term will know that watching the adventures of Miami’s finest forensic/investigative squad, led by David Caruso as Horatio Caine- CSI: MIAMI- is one of my most guiltiest of pleasures in my TV watching life. It’s a typically fashioned Jerry Bruckheimer produced series, its full of gloss, its fast paced, has attractive leads stars and lots of location glamour, rich lifestyle and exciting action. However, even I have to admit that the last season of the show-its eighth, which ended on the UK’s CHANNEL FIVE last year (but is now back in repeat runs on the station, as well as SKY LIVING HD), was not its finest hour by any means, and came across as a little tired and all too obviously littered with mistakes made from the shows production end. We had reached a point were the episodes were becoming too predictable, stale or had been done before, whilst some were way too over the top in their conception (one story even had a murder on a Richard Branson style passenger space shuttle/plane taking elite passengers into Earth orbit trips! Please!!), alongside too many main characters now being in the series (with the top heavy addition, despite their likeability, of two new leads (Eddie Cibrian as returning CSI member Jesse Cardoza, and Omar Benson Miller as trainee Walter Simmons, plus BOSTON LEGAL’s Christian Clemenson as the quirky new autopsy doctor, Tom Loman) working to the ultimate detriment of the show, resulting in not all of them having enough screen time to appear (especially affecting other regulars like Rex Linn, Eva La Rue and Jonathan Togo) or have enough to do (many of the gang frustratingly had inter-changeable dialogue, too), linked with subplots that disappeared into nothingness, season plots that just disappointed (Jesse’s protecting his ex-wife when he thinks she’s married to a killer being one thread that ended disastrously, whilst Horatio’s long term Internal Affairs nemesis, Rick Stetler (David Lee Miller), went totally out of character and became a baddie. He was a pain in the ass before, but this new change was poorly conceived and a waste of what could have been a really strong series end story arc). And, most criminally, no one last year seemed to want to give David Caruso-the shining iconic star of the series, love him or hate him, with the on and off sunglasses- an effective long term plot, as had been the case the previous successful seven years, resulting in him seemingly wandering in and out of episodes with not enough to contribute other than his trademark skills and memorable pithy comebacks to scumbags. With all these problems I was beginning to think it really was time for MIAMI to call it quits after eight years, especially with many new pretenders to the throne now on TV and matching it in terms of popularity, ratings and similar story-telling, like CSI: HAWAII (sorry, HAWAII FIVE-O!). Fortunately, it's cliff-hanger episode, FALLEN part one, in which most of the MIAMI Dade team were seemingly taken out by a mysterious virus within their own lab, resulting in Horatio and now semi-regular Eric Delko (Adam Rodriguez) outside of it arresting their number one suspect for a series of similar murders, and unaware of what was happening, proved a terrific ending, intriguing me enough that I’m now really looking forward to year nine’s UK commencement later in the summer. And I truly hope it doesn’t disappoint.



Horatio's crime-busting Mojo returns in the episode LAST STAND.



Trouble for Delko and Ryan (Jonathan Togo) in SUDDEN DEATH.

Viewers in the US have been enjoying this new run since last September, and it looks as if the shows producers, realizing their past mistakes, have indeed sorted the problems out to a large degree, announcing that this season things will be back to basics with the return of the core team in plots and a reduction in its numbers (one character being quickly written out, killed by the lab released virus), alongside stronger storylines and a central position for Horatio Caine. So far, the behind the scenes actions appear to have been successful, with ratings satisfying enough to ensure its likely survival for another year, and promising lots of intriguing plots (including the resolution of the cliffhanger, FALLEN, plus SUDDEN DEATH (Horatio and the team investigate Miami’s elite with the death of a young girl), SEE NO EVIL (a blind man’s link to a murder sees the emergence of an old enemy), MANHUNT (Horatio searches for the dangerous, now inexplicably freed, murderer of his wife), MATCH MADE IN HELL (Ryan goes undercover in a dating service), STONED COLD (the team investigate the murder of a young girl who has been stoned to death), ABOUT FACE (Natalia discovers a shocking secret), and the shows milestone 200th episode: HAPPY BIRTHDAY (in which the team tracks down the sadistic murderer of a woman who was eight months pregnant)), lots more great guests star names (including Roger Bart, Wes Ramsey, LA FEMME NIKITA’s Peta Wilson, Erica Eleniak, Zoe Bell, and LOST’s Mark Pellegrino), plus a big storyline for Horatio, where he may even get a new girlfriend near the end of the season (apparently she’ll be a secret service agent-good move there, writers-but c’mon, give H. a break and let her live for at least a season-don’t just kill her off after two episodes like all his past flames have been!). Also adding noteworthy contributions this season will be directors including actor David Arquette and an episode both scripted and visualised by Adam Rodriguez (pictured below).

Delko stays with the series for MANHUNT.

So, as the Sunshine State’s oranges blossom and ripen for quality goodness, let’s hope a similar taste of fresh vitality works its magic for CSI: MIAMI!

Previous seasons of CSI: MIAMI are available on DVD, and showing in repeats on the UK's SKY LIVING HD and CHANNEL 5.