Wednesday, November 28, 2007

CSI:NY "One Wedding and a Funeral"

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There's nothing like getting married in Central Park. Unless, of course, murder interrupts. When Brett Dohn (Bill Heck The Closer) is discovered dead by Emma Blackston (Emily Foxler), Det. Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise), head of the NYPD crime lab and homicide Det. Don Flack team up with Dr. Sheldon Hawkes (Hill Harper) to put the pieces together.

It turns out Brett was dead long before Emma found him. The cops realize another crime scene needs processing. After an examination by Dr. Sid Hammerback (Robert Joy), the cause of death is sharp force trauma. Brett died from being stabbed in the stomach.

Det. Danny Messer (Carmine Giovinazzo) figures out a spatula was the murder weapon. One of the wedding presents was a barbecue set, so assume it came from there. He and Flack soon arrests the caterer, Timothy Maxwell (Rob Evor Six Feet Under). An ill-advised loss of temper led to a fist fight. Danny tells him he now stands to lose a lot more.

Across town, Det. Stella Bonasera (Melina Kanakaredes) finds a mysterious package on her car after a court hearing. Det. Lindsay Monroe (Anna Belknap) waits with her as the bomb squad determines contents are puzzle pieces. Stella has a pretty good idea who the culprit is. Drew Bedford (Kerr Smith Dawson's Creek), has been sending packages in an attempt to have a relationship. She told him it was too much to handle, but apparently he didn't listen.

After she angrily confronts him, he reminds her he sent stuff to work, not home. Plus, a card was always included. Later, she apologizes.

Adam Ross (AJ Buckley) is the unfortunate lab technician who puts the puzzle together. He figures out too late a few extra pieces must be punched out so the pieces fit together. It's 3D, and Mac realizes it has connections to his past. Without knowing all, he flies to Chicago. As the episode ends, he is standing in front of the Chicago Tribune newspaper office, in serious thought.

Wow! Looks like the storyline of the 333 caller is almost wrapped up. Since the production team does not email me scripts or tidbits, I know about as much as viewers. However, I can share a few things already mentioned. These come from past episodes and http://csifiles.com.

Mac got a call from someone asking him how it feels to be home ("One Wedding and a Funeral"). The caller sounded male. Due to voice distortion, this could be anyone. From what I read, the person has known Mac since childhood. Obviously, this leaves out the current team. Gary Sinise has teenagers, so the caller should old enough to have high schoolers or kids in college. The puzzle is a reminder of Mac proposing to Claire, and other stuff.

Now, as for Stella and Drew, how did she miss the card not left on her car? I understand her caution, and applaud her yelling at Drew. He needed to hear it. Wisely, he kept his head long enough to show her he is not the bad guy. So far, anyway. He still needs to shave.

Does Flack become a cop because he cares about people? Just asking. He is cynical when it comes to suspects, but he never seems to think someone could be innocent. To his credit, he checks statements out.

Nice to see Adam back without Kendall. He has a chance to shine.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

CSI:NY "Buzzkill"

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New York is often referred to as the "city that never sleeps, for obvious reasons. Whatever one might want to do, there is a place to go. Central Park lets nature lovers sit and enjoy scenery, while Broadway is around for those who love to escape.

On the other hand, Times Square defines city life. With all of the bright lights, flashing billboards, and cacaphony, one knows immediately downtown has arrived! Those having epilepsy should avoid this location.

After an ad campaign ends in death, Det. Stella Bonasera (Melina Kanakaredes), Det. Lindsay Monroe (Anna Belknap), and Det. Don Flack (Eddie Cahill) have to figure out how a party which happened many times previously without incident took a wrong turn. Jenna Donovan (Tracey Ruggiero The Bold and the Beautiful) had a pulmonary edema, but this does not necessarily mean a murder.

Dr. Sid Hammerback (Robert Joy) suggests someone in Jenna's condition would be in extreme pain. So why not call for an ambulance? He provides a crucial link to the puzzle when he discovers Jenna died from a jellyfish bite, which caused the edema.

Stella and Lindsay track down the ad agency executive, Lia Ramsay (Scottie Thompson Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service) as well as the campaign's billboard manager Damien Barnes (Marc Manard All My Children, Watch over Me. Even though both could be the killer, it turns out to be Lia. She was trying to kill Damien, who stole her ad idea. A fluke saved his life and ended Jenna's.

Det. Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise), Det. Danny Messer (Carmine Giovinazzo), and Dr. Sheldon Hawkes (Hill Harper) join Det. Jessica Angell (Emanuelle Vaugier) in the hunt for a brutal killer after a robbery ends messily. Danny hops on the ambulance with Brandi Parsons (Sandra Seeling Malloca - Suche Nach dem Pandies, the one person who could provide vital information in the case.

Along for the ride is Paul Larkin (David Rogers NY-LON), Brandi's boyfriend, clearly shaken. Danny has work to do, but he does his best to comfort Paul. Compassion, however, turns to anger when Mac figures out Paul and Brandy were both in on the robbery. The one advantage is Paul not knowing the cops do.

Brandi was shot simply because she could identify the other man involved. After Paul abducts a man to help ensure Brandi's death, Mac and Danny use technology to track everybody down. They find both robbery suspects and their kidnap victim alive. Danny is delighted to place Paul under arrest.

I'm only guessing, but it seems a little strange that soap opera actors would show up two weeks on a primetime show. Due to the soap opera schedule, actors hardly have much time for anything else. Adam Ross was listed in the credits, but why? He never appeared in the episode! A "special guest star" is not a ghost, folks. Is Drew out of the picture yet? Perhaps not. Some hard-to-get people offer just the sort of challenge other are willing to take. Frankie Mala is dead, and Drew's background is clean (of course she checked). So what's the problem here? Incidentally, Kerr Smith with a beard makes him unrecognizable.

Danny Messer was strong tonight! Carmine expertly pulled out compassion mixed with reality. He knew Brandi could die, but he wanted to make sure they talked so he could find her killer if she did. He tends to take people at face value sometimes when he shouldn't ("Hung Out to Dry"). When Mac tipped him off to the truth, Danny rose to the challenge. How perfect that he arrested Paul. I was glad to see Mac there, though. Who knows what Danny might have done if he and Paul were alone?

CSI:NY "Commuted Sentences"

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Have you ever heard "crime doesn't pay"? It only works if the justice system does. When Mitchell Bentley III (Chris Gann 24) is acquitted of raping Fern Lazlow in Central Park, the story makes local news. When Bentley is later discovered dead outside Fern's apartment building, Det. Don Flack (Eddie Cahill) moves quickly to arrest the woman.

The only statement she makes is to ask if Bentley is really dead. Det Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise) and Det. Stella Bonasera (Melina Kanakaredes) know there is a chance of someone who looks like the culprit isn't. Evidence is going to be crucial.

Across town, Det. Danny Messer (Carminie Giovinazzo) and Det. Lindsay Monroe (Anna Belknap) have a fresh case to deal with. Det. Jessica Angell (Emanuelle Vaugier) requests CSI help after Joanna Morgan dies outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Dr. Sheldon Hawkes (Hill Harper) joins them.

Mac finally puts the two cases together. Fern, Joanna, and a woman named Amber Stanton (Lauren Stamile Off Centre) had one thing in common - they were all rape victims. In a twisted attempt at justice, Amber killed Bentley while Joanna died in her attempt to kill a man already acquitted of murder. Even though Steve Kaplan (Dax Griffin The Bold and The Beautiful) claims self defense, Angell arrests him anyway. Fern Lazlow was simply an innocent bystander who got trapped inside a vengeful plot.

This episode was a little convoluted, although it worked better then "Boo". The shot at the end where Fern and Amber pass each other in the hall went to the top of the class for smart. I have to wonder why the production team thought it would be a wise for AJ Bentley to be listed as a "special guest star" yet again. Okay, he is not on every week. What makes him different from Robert Joy, who shines as Dr. Sid Hammerback?

Kendall Novak (Bess Wohl) also returned, to dubious distinction. Mac has never been a stupid man, the Truby fiasco notwithstanding. Does he realize she and Adam slept together? Probably, just like he understood about Danny and Lindsay in "Snow Day". I also have some advice for Adam - you can do better than Kendall. Besides, Kendall's too clever for her own good. At some point, she'll fall. Personally, I'll be glad when she does.

Oh, and Flack - ask Angell out! Watching these two share a scene together was both sweet and amusing. Already they have something in common, families with a commitment to public service. Jessica is a great improvement over Devon ("You Only Die Once").

CSI:NY "Boo"

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Det. Danny Messer (Carmine Giovinazzo) and Det. Lindsay Monroe (Anna Belknap) go to Amity where the Duncan family has been murdered. Sherriff Benson (Robert Picardo Star Trek:Voyager) meets them at the scene, where he he says they are looking at a father who shot most of his family and then himself. However, it's clear he finds it hard to believe.

Rose, the only surviving family member, is found hiding inside a secret passageway. She is rushed to the hospital for observation and treatment. When she is ready to speak, she tells the detectives a "monster" killed everyone else. Lindsay picks up Rose's drawing tablet to find a sketch of the monster in question.

Adding to the mystery is a house history. Thirty something years ago, another was torn apart by murder. Two family members survived and still live in town. Danny and Lindsay use GPS technology to track them down, and arrest both before they can leave town.

The killer is the original family's oldest son, Henry (Seth Peterson Burn Notice). He and his mother were trying to keep a huge secret. Plans went awry when the Duncans returned early from trick or treating. Henry murdered in a panic.

A zombie flash mob gives an entire new meaning to the term "walking dead" after one collapses and dies. Det. Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise), Det. Stella Bonasera (Melina Kanakaredes) team up with Det. Don Flack (Eddie Cahill) to find answers.

Dexter Nevins was buried alive in a scheme to defraud his insurance company. It would have worked, too, if he hadn't woken up and crawled out of the grave.

Mac and Stella learn the doctor who signed the death certificate on Dexter has not shown up for work. They race to his house and find him with Dexter's widow. Neither is dead, but Flack has to get them much needed medical attention.

Can you say evidence overkill? I realize this episode aired on Halloween, but. Too much happened in the course of an hour to be more than a mishmash of material. Putting Danny in charge of a multiple murder does not ring true. Lindsay, with her history, was also not a good person to send out. She testified against the man who killed her friends, but memories linger. Isn't Mac the head of the team? Speaking of, I believe Det. Taylor is becoming paranoid. Those phone calls have not hurt anybody, so perhaps it would be best to drop the recurring theme until later down the road.

CSI:NY "Down the Rabbit Hole"

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Have you ever had one of "those" days? Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise) does, on a regular basis as head of the NYPD crime lab. A young woman has been murdered. This is not unusual. However, eyewitness testimony is going to be a problem since most are mannequins. The cause is obvious, though, a bullet to the head.

Adam Ross (AJ Buckley) to the rescue! He tells Det. Danny Messer (Carmine Giovinazzzo) he has seen the victim before. "Venus" is a cyber celebrity, making a name for herself in the Internet website game Second Life. People who play are able to transform themselves into whoever or whatever they want.

Mac realizes he will need Adam's help to help solve the case. The technician is delighted, and gleefully sets up turning Mac into the character "Taylor". He asks Mac which gender he wants to be. The look on Mac's face is priceless! Even Det. Stella Bonasera (Melina Kanakaredes) gets in on the fun, taking over when Mac attempts to portray a woman so he can get close to a suspect.

Watching Adam win his "battle" to get a huge break, Mac is impressed. He greets the victory with a smile and a strong handshake, just what Adam needs to continue on. Alas, things go awry when Mac has to raise his voice to get Adam to log off. Mac knows trouble is ahead when the firewall is not able to be utilized. Just as Adam follows orders, all the computer screens go black. Oops!

The list of victims is growing quickly, but catching the killer is tougher than it sounds. Mac, Stella, Danny, and Det. Don Flack (Eddie Cahill) race to a hotel when the next victim is a congressman. They take a SWAT team along just in case. However, only Mac has any luck getting close. It's not enough, though, and capture will have to wait for another day.

On the personal side, Mac tells Flack about Peyton ending their realtionship. He knew one of them would have to move if it continued. He belongs in New York, while she belongs to London. Stella, meanwhile, gets a package of rockclimbing equipment from Drew, her not-so-secret admirer.

Dr. Sheldon Hawkes (Hill Harper) tells Mac his phone is now ringing earlier than the mysterious calls tend to arrive. Maybe it's important? He doesn't know about what was in the suitcase in Mac's office.

First things first. This case has not concluded, so commentary will have to be held until the end when I have all pieces. I will say this: this episode was cooooooool! Bringing the virtual world into the mundane world of a crime lab is brilliance personified. For a special treat, CBS is using its website to give viewers some interactive fun.

This technique has been used before when Stella started to find out just how twisted Frankie Mala was ("Hung Out to Dry"). BUT, the video attached to the link was a promo for the next episode. Racy? A little. Too intense for my taste. On that note, will Stella go out with Drew already? The stuff he sends do not lead to an adventure, just too short clips which are a jarring note to everything else. Okay, the chat with Mac worked ("You Only Die Once"). Drew's background is clean, so what's the problem here?

AJ Buckley did a really good job. Seeing him and Mac together reminded me of a close father and son relationship. Considering Adam's father was a bully, he needs male role models ("Some Buried Bones"). One question: why a "special guest star"? The title refers to someone who did the network a favor by showing up. Kid Rock on this show is a good example, or Glenn Close on Will and Grace.

Oh, will Peyton Driscoll (Claire Forlani) "show up" as Mac's mystery caller? I cannot believe she wouldn't leave a message, but anything's possible....

CSI:NY "Time's Up"

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For the NYPD, it's not out of the ordinary for people to make murder confessions which simply are not true. When Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise) hears one face to face, he knows to take things with a grain of salt. After the man dies, he sends Det. Don Flack out to the supposed victim's apartment as a precaution.

When the alleged victim later dies, Mac realizes there is more to the situation than meets the eye. Adam Ross (AJ Buckley) uses an RFID to lead Mac, Flack, and Dr. Sheldon Hawkes (Hill Harper) to the original crime scene. A gambling addiction might have played a role.

With the help of Det. Linday Monroe (Anna Belknap), Mac puts together a more realistic explanation. Someone who saw the ad about time travel thought the concept could be used for placing bets. However, greed took over common sense and two people died when the odds ran out.

Across town, Det. Stella Bonasera (Melina Kanakaredes) and Det. Danny Messer (Carmine Giovinazzo) help homicide detective Jessica Angell (Emanuelle Vangier) handle the case of a dead girl in a deli. Sid Hammerback (Robert Joy) says Stella and Danny death was caused by a medical emergency rather than outright murder.

Still, Stella and Danny end up making arrests anyway. The female victim died as a result of a sorority hazing gone wrong. Medication from a clinical trial and an allergic reaction to flower petals formed a deadly combination.

On the personal level, Mac must deal with the breakup of his relationship with Peyton Driscoll. She takes a job in London and knows a long-distance relationship is a bad idea. Mac goes to his favorite jazz club to play guitar and heal his broken heart. Stella, meanwhile, is dealing with Drew Bedford, an admirer from a previous case ("The Deep"). Considering she killed her last boyfriend, the wariness on her part is understandable. Mac tells her sometimes you just have to take the plunge.

CSI:NY seems to have returned to form. Two cases this time, but three arrests? Gracious. I usually take pretty decent notes, but keeping up with "Time's Up" was a little tricky. Stella's romantic interest could have been saved until next time. While I did not expect to see the end of Mac and Peyton, it is not surprising. Ever since Mac came home alone from his time in London, he never tried to renew the relationship. Hey Mac, ever heard of a phone or email? I bet Peyton never heard about the extension change. Nice to see Adam again. Giving him a computer to toy around with in regards to time travel was a stroke of genius. And, Flack lives in Queens, who knew? I fully expect to meet his relatives this season. Sounds like they're close.l

CSI:NY "You Only Die Once"

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Who says there is never a policeman around when you need one? Det. Don Flack (Eddie Cahill) is with his girlfriend, Devon, when she hears a noise. Flack goes to investigate, interrupting a robbery in progress. He chases the suspect, but gets left behind in a trail of fire.

It doesn't take long before the crime lab arrives. While Det. Stella Bonasera (Melina Kanakaredes) processes evidence inside, Det. Lindsay Monroe (Anna Belknap) is outside looking for clues about the getaway car. The culprit is soon found, deceased.

Flack has just enough time to mention Det. Mac Taylor's (Gary Sinise) shirt malfunction before Chief of Detectives Brigham Sinclair (Mykelti Williamson "Forest Gump") shows up to reprimand Flack about going against policy by engaging in a high-speed pursuit. He wants the people responsible caught, though, and soon.

Stella and Flack go undercover to catch the brains behind the operation. At a function for the mayor, they mingle among the guests. Upon finding the perpetrator, they stop her by using a Bond toy of their own. By remote control, a barrier pops up in the middle of what looks like an empty street. She's hauled to headqarters, and the last member of the identity theft gang is soon arrested.

One hitch comes up during the investigation. An email is intercepted which could destroy Sinclair's career. Dr. Sheldon Hawkes (Hill Harper) may have seen it first, but it's Mac who goes to his boss and explains the mess just may come out anyway.

Before too long, there is a leak and the chief finds himself anwering questions about an affair. He's not happy, and puts Mac on notice. A lab member had better not be involved.

Mac has more to worry about. The mysterious phone calls continue, and Mac tells Flack. The two figure out their man was flew from Heathrow to JFK when Mac did. When Taylor returns to his office later and finds a locked suitcase. It doesn't belong to him. Want to guess the combination? 333, the time when the calls arrive.

The James Bond theme was clever. Gadgets galore took the lab on a fun ride. I have to say, Flack and Stella looked good in formal wear! And the interaction of Flack and new girlfriend is going to be interesting to watch.

Now, who leaked that email? I have a few ideas, but nothing solid. Hawkes wouldn't risk his medical career ("Some Buried Bones"). If so, why go to Mac in the first place? Sid Hammerback (Robert Joy) has the same problem. A distorted voice is difficult to recognize, but it sounded male. Adam Ross (AJ Buckley)? He has come close to losing his job before ("Past Imperfect"), but somehow, I cannot imagine his gain. Kendall would be a good choice, especially since little is known about her other than sleeping with Adam.

As for the phone calls, I can easily think of someone clever enough to plan it out - Shane Casey. Yes, yes, he's in prison ("Raising Shane"). Come to think of it, Mac put Dean Truby away too ("Consequences"). Would Reed Garrett (Kyle Gallner), Mac's "stepson" dare? Unlikely, but one never knows....

CSI:NY "The Deep"

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Sometimes the only way to solve a crime is to jump in. When Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise) and his team start the case on Staten Island, they get much more than they bargained for. After a skeleton pops up during a sailboat race between New Jersey and New York, Dr. Sheldon Hawkes (Hill Harper) has to figure things out minus some visual clues.

He tells Mac and Det. Danny Messer (Carmine Giovinazzo) whoever the person is, he or she has been dead for a few weeks. Despite a full tank of oxygen and a regulator, asphyixation seems to be the culprit. In other words, the victim suffocated. Dr. Sid Hammerback (Robert Joy) later tells Det. Stella Bonasera (Melina KanaKaredes) trace evidence of cyanide was found in the tank. It's not long before the syringe is found, but Danny has to pull Hawkes out of the bottom of the East River after the doctor is trapped while they are looking for evidence.

The steetwise cop downplays off Det. Lindsay Monroe (Anna Belknap) when she says Hawkes was lucky to have Danny around. He also downplays the doctor's gratitude, saying the outcome would have been the same if Danny was the one in trouble.

Mac, Stella, and Det. Don Flack (Eddie Cahill) arrest the culprit, but the focus shifts after Stella realizes the killings were actually part of a terrorist attack. A helicopter with a high-ranking passenger is scheduled to be blown out of the sky. Several tense moments go by while team members scramble to stop proceedings, and quickly. Mac finds himself looking at the detonator, but Flack radios him that the bomb has been defused.

On a personal level, Stella finds herself dealing with a love interest after Drew Bedford (Kerr Smith (Dawson's Creek) tries making a move on her after she questioned his boss during the investigation. She had to kill her last boyfriend in self-defense after he turned out to be psychotic ("All Access"). The advance is rebuffed, but a future possibility exists.

Mac continues to get phone calls at 3:33 a.m. Although they started when he was in London with Dr. Peyton Driscoll (Claire Forlani), nobody has ever spoken after Mac answers. ("Can You Hear Me Now?"). The question remains as to who or why.

Hallelujah, they brought back the theme song! AJ Buckley did not return this episode, which tells me Adam continues to be a recurring character. Will Kerr Smith? Time will tell, but I have to question the wisdom of Stella involved with someone who is about the same age as Danny or Adam. Lest one think I am being unkind, I also have problems with either of the latter two dating Stella. Flack would make a better choice. Of course, Mac is a great candidate! Too bad he's taken.
I liked the interaction between Danny and Hawkes. For all his streetwise demeanor, Danny is a good friend. Seeing his brother Louie shot has softened his edges a little bit. He and Hawkes are complete opposites, but they are becoming really good friends.

CSI:NY "Can You Hear Me Now?"

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Crime doesn't stop for anybody, not even the NYPD. After Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise) rushes through Heathrow Airport to catch a plane home, he gets an call from Det. Don Flack (Eddie Cahill) about a new investigation. Minutes later, Mac joins Flack, Det. Stella Bonasera (Melina Kanakaredes), Dr. Sheldon Hawkes (Hill Harper), and Det. Danny Messer (Carmine Giovinazzo) at the Statue of Liberty where a female security guard has been murdered.

Back at the lab, Det. Lindsay Monroe (Anna Belknap) processes evidence sent back during fieldwork. This is a big case, so Lindsay calls Adam Ross in (AJ Buckley) to lend a hand. It helps that he is with another lab technician, Kendall Novak (Bess Wohl) at the time. Between the two of them, they provide valuable information which later helps to crack the case wide open.

Stella and Flack go to an apartment building in their search for evidence. The landlord, Morton Brite, reminds Stella he was her primary suspect in a long ago case in which a classical musician was killed. Not only has the killer never been found, nobody who might have seen or heard something has ever been in contact with the police.

When two others are killed, Mac thinks they were witnesses in the previous case. After an attempt on a musician's life occurs at a concert hall, his guess is confirmed.

Danny talks to the musican, Nova Kent (Alison Sudol, in a guest role), who explains she had been there during the original attack and escaped with her life only because she promised never to tell.

Even though an arrest is made, the more recent murders remain unsolved. The killer is still out there somewhere.

Stella goes back to the landlord where the last two people lived. She tells the landlord about the current arrest, but not about the search for the second killer. After examining a piano he has, she discovers an A string is missing. It's the missing link, and Stella arrests him once she catches up to him in the stairwell. So why did he do it? He was angry his tenants refused to talk, even though they had badly needed evidence.

Leave it to CSI:NY to open with a bang! I couldn't help but notice the opening credits are a mix of current as well as past seasons. While the visuals were a nice touch, what happened to the theme song? The music is supposed to be instantly recognizable but it appears to have vanished. Mac came home, but Peyton Driscoll (Claire Forlani) has yet to return. Trouble in paradise? The only way to know is to keep watching....
Lindsay has a new haircut, but personally, I think it looked better longer. AJ Buckley has allegedly been hired to be in every episode this season, which indicates a season regular. Shouldn't he then be in the opening credits? I have a feeling Adam Ross is going to give viewers a much closer look at who he is. Having Kendall around opens up some interesting possibilities. More than likely, she will be a recurring character like Peyton.

CSI:NY "The Deep"

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Sometimes the only way to solve a crime is to jump in. When Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise) and his team start the case on Staten Island, they get much more than they bargained for. After a skeleton pops up during a sailboat race between New Jersey and New York, Dr. Sheldon Hawkes (Hill Harper) has to figure things out minus some visual clues.

He tells Mac and Det. Danny Messer (Carmine Giovinazzo) whoever the person is, he or she has been dead for a few weeks. Despite a full tank of oxygen and a regulator, asphyixation seems to be the culprit. In other words, the victim suffocated. Dr. Sid Hammerback (Robert Joy) later tells Det. Stella Bonasera (Melina KanaKaredes) trace evidence of cyanide was found in the tank. It's not long before the syringe is found, but Danny has to pull Hawkes out of the bottom of the East River after the doctor is trapped while they are looking for evidence.

The steetwise cop downplays off Det. Lindsay Monroe (Anna Belknap) when she says Hawkes was lucky to have Danny around. He also downplays the doctor's gratitude, saying the outcome would have been the same if Danny was the one in trouble.

Mac, Stella, and Det. Don Flack (Eddie Cahill) arrest the culprit, but the focus shifts after Stella realizes the killings were actually part of a terrorist attack. A helicopter with a high-ranking passenger is scheduled to be blown out of the sky. Several tense moments go by while team members scramble to stop proceedings, and quickly. Mac finds himself looking at the detonator, but Flack radios him that the bomb has been defused.

On a personal level, Stella finds herself dealing with a love interest after Drew Bedford (Kerr Smith (Dawson's Creek) tries making a move on her after she questioned his boss during the investigation. She had to kill her last boyfriend in self-defense after he turned out to be psychotic ("All Access"). The advance is rebuffed, but a future possibility exists.

Mac continues to get phone calls at 3:33 a.m. Although they started when he was in London with Dr. Peyton Driscoll (Claire Forlani), nobody has ever spoken after Mac answers. ("Can You Hear Me Now?"). The question remains as to who or why.

Hallelujah, they brought back the theme song! AJ Buckley did not return this episode, which tells me Adam continues to be a recurring character. Will Kerr Smith? Time will tell, but I have to question the wisdom of Stella involved with someone who is about the same age as Danny or Adam. Lest one think I am being unkind, I also have problems with either of the latter two dating Stella. Flack would make a better choice. Of course, Mac is a great candidate! Too bad he's taken.
I liked the interaction between Danny and Hawkes. For all his streetwise demeanor, Danny is a good friend. Seeing his brother Louie shot has softened his edges a little bit. He and Hawkes are complete opposites, but they are becoming really good friends.

CSI:NY Season 4 Episode 1

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Crime doesn't stop for anybody, not even the NYPD. After Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise) rushes through Heathrow Airport to catch a plane home, he gets an call from Det. Don Flack (Eddie Cahill) about a new investigation. Minutes later, Mac joins Flack, Det. Stella Bonasera (Melina Kanakaredes), Dr. Sheldon Hawkes (Hill Harper), and Det. Danny Messer (Carmine Giovinazzo) at the Statue of Liberty where a female security guard has been murdered.

Back at the lab, Det. Lindsay Monroe (Anna Belknap) processes evidence sent back during fieldwork. This is a big case, so Lindsay calls Adam Ross in (AJ Buckley) to lend a hand. It helps that he is with another lab technician, Kendall Novak (Bess Wohl) at the time. Between the two of them, they provide valuable information which later helps to crack the case wide open.

Stella and Flack go to an apartment building in their search for evidence. The landlord, Morton Brite, reminds Stella he was her primary suspect in a long ago case in which a classical musician was killed. Not only has the killer never been found, nobody who might have seen or heard something has ever been in contact with the police.

When two others are killed, Mac thinks they were witnesses in the previous case. After an attempt on a musician's life occurs at a concert hall, his guess is confirmed.

Danny talks to the musican, Nova Kent (Alison Sudol, in a guest role), who explains she had been there during the original attack and escaped with her life only because she promised never to tell.

Even though an arrest is made, the more recent murders remain unsolved. The killer is still out there somewhere.

Stella goes back to the landlord where the last two people lived. She tells the landlord about the current arrest, but not about the search for the second killer. After examining a piano he has, she discovers an A string is missing. It's the missing link, and Stella arrests him once she catches up to him in the stairwell. So why did he do it? He was angry his tenants refused to talk, even though they had badly needed evidence.

Leave it to CSI:NY to open with a bang! I couldn't help but notice the opening credits are a mix of current as well as past seasons. While the visuals were a nice touch, what happened to the theme song? The music is supposed to be instantly recognizable but it appears to have vanished. Mac came home, but Peyton Driscoll (Claire Forlani) has yet to return. Trouble in paradise? The only way to know is to keep watching....
Lindsay has a new haircut, but personally, I think it looked better longer. AJ Buckley has allegedly been hired to be in every episode this season, which indicates a season regular. Shouldn't he then be in the opening credits? I have a feeling Adam Ross is going to give viewers a much closer look at who he is. Having Kendall around opens up some interesting possibilities. More than likely, she will be a recurring character like Peyton.

Mr Whipple Died!

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Dick Wilson, known far and wide as Mr. Whipple from the Charmin commericals passed away recently. Although he appeared onscreen many a time over the years, he created one memorable character.

"Please don't squeeze the Charmin" is perhaps the most famous catchphrase in modern television history. Note I said modern. To view most commercials nowadays (say, the ones from Superbowl Sunday), YouTube is required. Or at least an Internet search.

I found this blog post on Wilson's passing. Yes, it's unique, but worth the read.