CBS to Begin Production of Fourth CSI Franchise

Updated: 10:54 p.m. PT May 19, 2005

HOLLYWOOD – Seeking to fill out its programming lineup for the fall, CBS has announced plans to begin production of the fourth version of the popular show, CSI.

Prior versions of the show have been set in Vegas, Miami, and New York. In an effort to keep the franchise fresh, the fourth installment will be set in Murrayville, IL, a town with population of roughly 700.

Network executive Dale Miller said, “If you look at our demographics, it is clear that a majority of our viewers are poorly educated rednecks in small white-bred towns. After all, city people have better things to do with their time than watch CSI. We feel that bringing the fourth installment of the franchise to a small, piss hole rural town will give our viewers something that they can personally connect with. We expect ratings for CSI: Murrayville to be the highest yet.”

Writers are reportedly at odds with the decision to set the series in Murrayville, as coming up with unique weekly murder stories in a town with two businesses and zero stoplights should be difficult to say the least. The previous locations have all been large enough to generate a significant number of locations and plots; writers are not sure they can create new weekly twists when every road in the town is connected to each other.

Producers have signed Larry the Cable Guy to play the lead investigator in the new series. Jamie Presley will play his female assistant, and Billy Bob Thornton is expected to play the mysterious Lab Director.

In keeping with the theme of having a different background color for each new CSI location, CSI: Murrayville will be set with a brown tinge. While orange reflected Miami well and blue was a good match for New York, brown was the color that executives felt most summed up the experience in Murrayville. Ironically, no African Americans will star in the new series. Evidently, only whites live in the area, and the producers would like to maintain a sense of realism with the show.

CSI: Murrayville is expected to debut in the CBS lineup in the spring of 2006.