Parents Television Council Slams 'CSI'

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation may be the most-watched drama in the country, but that doesn't win it any points with the Parents Television Council, which rates it as the number five worst show on television.

According to the PTC's recently released list, shows are ranked based on how appropriate they are for family audiences based on their subject matter. Ten shows are ranked on the best shows list, while ten others are classified in the worst shows list. Though CSI came in at number five this year, last year the show was ranked in the number one slot.

Citing "distasteful story lines," the PTC adds that elements such as "graphic depictions of decaying bodies, grisly crime scenes, dissections, flashbacks of brutal rapes and murders, and kinky and bizarre sexual fetishes" make the show inappropriate for family audiences. CSI's timeslot, at 9pm as opposed to the later 10pm, is also too early in the PTC's view, and the occasional rerun at 8pm also draws their ire.

CSI was not the only CBS show to earn the disapproval of the PTC. CSI: Miami's lead-in show, Two and a Half Men landed just about CSI in the number four slot. And another CBS crime drama, Cold Case, landed in the tenth worst slot. Neither CSI: Miami or CSI's lead out show, Without a Trace made the worst shows list.

But in addition to having three shows on the worst shows list, CBS claimed the top spot on the best shows list with the freshman drama Joan of Arcadia. PTC commended the show for being "pro-family." Also on the best list is Everybody Loves Raymond, which came in at number seven. Everybody Loves Raymond preceds Two and a Half Men on Monday nights.

To see the complete PTC list of best and worst shows, visit their website here.

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