The Impact of CSI - Research Paper Example

Influence of Crime Scene Investigation   When it comes to the matter of the influence that the television show in the of Crime Scene Investigation has on its audience, there are several aspects that need to be discussed so that the influence or the impact of CSI can be presented in the most comprehensive manner. Now the question remains how it is possible to judge what kind of influence the Crime Scene Investigation television show has on the people from different classes of the society. The best way to observe as well as judge the impact of this television show on the minds of the people is to mark the different ways and different level in which the audiences are reacting to it. Its impact on the different sections of the audience is also to be noted individually so that it can be judged if there is any particular group of audience on which the impact or influence of Crime Scene Investigation has special effect.   Let us examine first the public reaction in general to this television show we are discussing. The craze that this glamorous television show has created among the audience, and this craze is manifested in such a way that it is very obvious even to the most casual onlooker that Crime Scene Investigation is one of the most popular and most watched television shows. The discussions that have already been done make it even more comprehensible as to why and how this show has come to gain so much of popularity not only among its target audience but also among those who otherwise might have been least interested in such television shows with themes of detective stories or events.        It would be making a very vague comment if it is said that the public reaction to this television show has to be examined until some manifestations of the public reaction are not cited. The most interesting thing is that such a vast expanse of the public from different sectors is so strongly influenced by Crime Scene Investigation that the impact of this television show has to be discussed categorically. So far as the reaction of the people in general is concerned, the creation of the numerous websites and the online discussion forums that the popularity of Crime Scene Investigation has led to, can speak for it. The creation of such a huge number of websites dedicated for the sake of CSI and the discussion forums for the people to interact make it clear that there has been created a different audience community for this television show who are interested to be a part of whatever it takes into account. In this regard just discussing what happened in some past episode of the show and either analyzing it or referring to it on the online discussion forum can make people feel as if they are part of the extended community of CSI.              In August in the year of 2007, there was once a rumor that Jorja Fox was leaving Crime Scene Investigation. The reaction of the public even at the grassroots level was amazing, giving a clear insight into the intense impact and influence that the television show had on them. There were more than nineteen thousand members of an online forum called Your Tax Dollars at Work. Most of these nineteen thousand members contributed donations to the cause of the CSI. The amount that was raised out of the donations was as much as 8000 US Dollars. The amount was raised for gifts and stunts that were targeted at the executive of the CBS and the producers and writers of Crime Scene Investigation. Some of the stunts took into account a wedding cake being delivered to Carol Mendelssohn with a message that read, “CSI without Sara bugs you” (Campaign Updates, 2007). By 16th October in 2007, more than twenty thousand letters with flyers or money were sent to the Universal Studios and also to the CBS Headquarters in New York. Most astonishingly and most amazingly, the letters were mailed from as many as forty nine different countries. However, Mendelssohn and Fox preferred to donate the money to CASA which is a national Association that supports as well as promotes court appointed advocates for the same of the neglected or the abused children (Rachel, 2007). There is little doubt in the fact that the money being donated for the cause of the abused and the neglected children is of course a positive step, leading to the betterment of, at least, a single small part of the society, which, most possibly, would not have happened if Fox and Mendelssohn’s popularity would not have resulted in the raising of the donation.        It is not that the television show in the name of Crime Scene Investigation has no bad or negative impact on the minds of the viewers. It is to be mentioned in this regard that Crime Scene Investigation has very often been criticized for the violent as well as sexual themes that it often manifests. The level and also the gratuitousness of the graphic violence sexual content and even the images presented by the television show have truly been thought to be crossing the traditional boundary of acceptability as primetime television show. Crime Scene Investigation, in fact, had a considerable number of episodes on sexual fetishism and also on other forms of sexual pleasure. Certain particular episodes in Crime Scene Investigation have been targeted by the PTC or the Parents Television Council as the worst television show of the week. For example, the episode in the name of “King Baby” that was aired in February in the year of 2005 was considered to be the worst and most offensive television shoe of the week. What is even more important in the sense that it clearly reveals what kind if impact the television show has had on the minds of people, is that fact that the Parents Television Investigation started a campaign to file a complaint with the FCC for the episode. Most astonishingly almost thirteen thousand members complained about the episode to the FCC or the Federal Communications Commission (Broadcast Indecency Campaign, 2004).        Let us now come to the subject of the influence of Crime Scene Investigation on the criminal minds. One very obvious result of the criminals viewing this primetime television show is that they come to know the details about how the criminal offences of the criminals are detected and proved. The outcome is that they come to be aware of the processes in which their crime might be caught and proved, resulting in their convicted. Moreover, since they come to be aware of the criminal devices are most probable to get them arrested, it becomes very easy for them to find out some other devices that would not be so much easy to detect. So far as the teenagers are concerned, a new type of problem arises, which is not very easy to handle. The teenage audiences are, though there are stray instances, at times, fascinated by the glamorous way in which the crimes are committed in this television show. This fascination often leads them to commit crimes of different levels, though they actually are found to be trivial in comparison to the intensity of the crime as shown being committed in Crime Scene Investigation. Influence of American Idol        American Idol is one of the most popular reality competition shows. It is a real hunt for the musical talents who are also solo performers. The program since its debut on June 11, 2002 has become a very popular show on the American television. The aim of this program is to locate out the best singer in the country who can perform singly and the process includes a nationwide auditions. Opinion of the public can also be known through phone voting.         There may be strong arguments in support of the fact that no other show on the television in America has become so popular and has created such a significant impact on The American population be it young  or the old. There are some similar shows namely American Bandstand or Saturday Night Live. Although these were also musical shows and the American people were introduced to the artists who were really coming up. But there had been hardly any show which served as the introductory stage for the upcoming performers.    The most interesting fact about American idol is that the show has been praised and has won the hearts of the millions of the foreigners.  In this age of DTH services, the show can be viewed by foreigners all over the world. The show is appreciated by the people of the Muslim world. Although the elderly people in the Muslim world look down upon the American culture and values, yet the young generation has been swept away by this wonderful program.          It is said that the programs like American idol has introduced “rock n roll” to the American living rooms. The program has played a significant role in the introduction of the pop songs to the American households. Besides, the selection of talents and their exposure to the national audience has been a significant reason behind the popularity of the show. The performers also get a real boost as they get the direct exposure to the television cameras and become popularly known figures nationwide overnight.         Another factor which lies behind the success of this mind blowing program is that it has become a platform for the exposure and the recognition of the talents which would not have been recognized before. The performers also have a direct connection with the audience and the appraisal is done by the system of phone voting. The audience can also express their opinions over telephones.    The program has become a real boost for the upcoming artists. Cross country surveys have shown that it is one of the most popular shows on the televisions. The judges of the programs have received heroic fame and have turned into household names from the very beginning of the program. People belonging to all age groups are regular viewers of the program.         Another notable impact of the program ‘American idol’ that it has gifted the American music audience with the treasure trove of the old songs which were so long forgotten by people.  The songs which have once enthralled the audiences in the last century are brought back to life on the lips of the performers of the American idol.          American Idol was first aired on the television on June 11, 2002.  The premise of the show has been borrowed UK’s popular talent hunt show ‘Pop Idol.’ The number of audience was estimated to be around 9.9 million viewers. The reality shows which were on air at that time were Dog Eat Dog and Bachelorettes in Alaska. The citizens of America were really prepared for this new kind of show.  (Rogers, 2005)     American Idol struck the audience from its very first show. There had been shows on the television of similar kinds but none could charm the audience with the presentation skills of the judges like Simon Cowell.  It is also the glamour and the presentation skills of the judges like add to the popularity of the remarkable show.  The contestants before they could meet the judges they have to perform before the show’s producers.  The candidates who are selected are asked to perform before the next round of performers. It is only around 100 to 200 contestants who are selected from each city. So the performers all over the country come to know of each other.  The selected candidates from this round have to appear before the American idol judges and the best performers are sent to Hollywood.         Once the contestants reach Hollywood, they are asked to perform on different days and undergo the selection procedure. Over the first six seasons the contestants are supposed to select a song from a list given to them for the first round. In the next round the contestants are divided into different groups and perform in a chorus song.  In the final round the contestants are supposed to chant a song of their own choice.         The semifinal round of the show takes place in different seasons. The candidates who reach the semifinals are divided into different groups. Each singer is then asked to perform in their respective groups. In the first season there were three separate groups and the contestants who were top performers from every group were selected for the final round. In the subsequent seasons namely the seasons two and three, four groups were formed each having eight candidates and only the top two candidates who were selected to the finals.   In the seasons four to seven the number of contestants were reduced to 24. These contestants were further divided as male performers as well as the female performers.  So there were six male and six female voices in the top twelve contestants.  The men and women selected were asked to sing on each following nights and two contestants get eliminated in the process until the number remains twelve.        In season eight there were about 36 semifinalists. On every Tuesdays, 12 various semifinalists performed to get through the final round.  Only three semifinalists were chosen. One mail voice, one female voice that were also the highest vote catchers, and also the third highest vote catchers were selected from this round. These three contestants were sent to the finals. The final round is telecast live in prime time from CBS Television City in Los Angeles. The final round lasted for about two months in season one and about eleven weeks in the next seasons.  The finalists are asked to perform from their weekly themes. During the initial weeks of the show, every contestant sings one song. The top four and the five contestants sing about two songs each.         The contestants coming through these rigorous competitions and winning the contest receive accolades and fame overnight.  They become household names. Often they are selected by the producers and the directors for different films. Since this program is viewed worldwide, the contestants receive acclamation from different corners of the globe. Thus American Idol is also platform to receive worldwide fame.         Many contestants who have become successful in this contest have got excellent break through in their lives. The quality parameters which are strictly observed by the judges Like Simon, Randy, and Paula are admired all over the world. The reason behind the popularity of the program can only be admired once it is seen. (IMBD 2009) The first time viewers are sure to be lured by the excellent voices and the wonderful numbers sung by the contestants. The melodious music has bound the entire nation into one, be it young or old, black or white, national or immigrant. Herein lies the grand success of the program in overwhelming people barring age, gender and race. The impact of the program is tremendous and is sure to leave its enduring influence on both the national and the international audience for the days to come. References 1. Barak, G. (2007). Battleground: Criminal Justice. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. 2. BBC News, 10 December, 2003, retrieved on April 5, 2009 from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3307089.stm 3. Broadcast Indecency Campaign, 2004 retrieved on April 5, 2009 from http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/fcc/Complaints.asp 4. Campaign Updates, 2007 Dollars for Sense Keep Jorja Fox on CSI, retrieved on April 5, 2009 from http://www.dollarsforsense.net/updates.php 5. IMBD (2009) “American Idol: The Search for a Superstar”, available at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0319931/ (accessed on May 14, 2009) 6. Mitchell, B. and Botluk, D. (2005). Getting a Grip on the CSI Effect. Retrieved March 24, 2009 from http://www.llrx.com/features/csieffect.htm 7. Parents Television Council, 2005 retrieved on April 5, 2009 from http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/publications/reports/top10bestandworst/2005/main.asp 8. Rachel, 2007, Fans Donate To Charity, CSI Files retrieved on April 5, 2009 from http://www.csifiles.com/news/011107_02.shtml 9. Rogers, S. (2005) “Ratings: ABCs Dancing with the Stars finale hits summer highs not seen since Idol”, Reality TV World, available at: http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/ratings-abc-dancing-with-stars-finale-hits-summer-highs-not-seen-since-idol-3598.php (accessed on May 14, 2009) 10. Shelton, D. E. (2008). The CSI Effect: Does It Really Exist?. NIJ Journal No. 259, March. Read More