Executive Dossier
“CSI is a combination of a really interesting new concept and a phenomenal cast” Anthony Zuikerga – ‘CSI’ co-creator, writer, executive producer
One of the shows that has helped AXN do well in the ratings sweepstakes is Crime Scene Investigation (CSI). The drama sees forensic experts using their skills to solve crimes.
The pedigree show has helped attract women to the channel. The channel will now start to air the second spinoff CSI: NY. In this tete-a-tete with Indiantelevision.com the show’s co-creator, writer and executive producer and Anthony Zuiker shares his thoughts on the show.
It is reported that when you pitched CSI six or seven years ago a lot of studios turned it down, but Alliance was the one who decided to take it on. Can you talk about what happened?
ABC had passed the script. I was informed that one of the presidents was moving up. With NBC and CBS I was too late in the pitching season. Usually CBS pitches take a year, I pitched in October and I believe the season ends in August.
I was also finishing a movie for Leonardo DiCapricio called Wanne Be. I called Dina Tasler at CBS and she informed me that they were going younger with Survivor and told me if I could write a great pilot she would ensure that it would go air. And I wrote the best script and like they say the rest is history.
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Why do you think viewers are so fascinated with CSI? He probably is one of the greatest television characters in TV history. And for him not to win an Emmy or be nominated at this juncture is a tragedy for me because to play a character that can make evidence interesting, who plays a listener, who plays a thinker, an entomologist, to play curious is such a defined discipline. He is just a phenomenal actor and I believe he should be recognised at some juncture. He really is the heart and soul of the franchise. |
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Are you planning on expanding to Europe maybe CSI: Europe? |
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When you started creating Crime Scene New York was Gary Sinise your first choice? |
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Why do you have an old song by a British group at the very beginning of every episode of “CSI: NY”? |
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A lot of cases are based on reality. Wouldn’t it be a real reality that one wouldn’t be solved, a crime? |
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But you always manage to find some DNA? |
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What about doing a movie CSI? |
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How much input does your wife give to your creative aspect? |
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Do you make changes based on her opinions? |
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MUMBAI: Game faces on, pressure high India’s gaming ambitions are levelling up. Good Game, billed as the world’s first as-live global gaming reality show, has officially launched in India with a bold mission: to crown the country’s first Global Gaming Superstar.
Blending esports with mainstream entertainment, the show brings together competitive gaming, creativity and on-camera performance in a format that tests more than just joystick skills. Contestants will be judged on gameplay, screen presence and their ability to perform under pressure, reflecting how gaming has evolved from pastime to profession and pop culture currency.
Fronting the show are three high-profile ambassadors: actor and entrepreneur Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Indian cricket star Rishabh Pant, and gaming creator Ujjwal Chaurasia. The winner will take home Rs 1 crore ($100,000) among the largest prize pools for any Indian reality show along with the chance to represent India on a global stage.
Backed by a planned annual investment of up to Rs 100 crore, Good Game is also courting brand partners, promising a minimum reach of 500 million among India’s core youth audience. The creators position the show as a bridge between entertainment and interactive culture, offering long-format content, community engagement and commercial scale.
Auditions are now open to Indian citizens aged 18 and above, inviting amateur and professional gamers, creators and performers alike. Shortlisted candidates will be called for in-person auditions in Mumbai on 14 and 15 February, and in Delhi on 28 February and 1 March 2026.
With big money, big names and even bigger ambition, Good Game signals a shift in how India views gaming not just as play, but as performance, profession and prime-time spectacle.
