Zuiker: Women Drive 'CSI', Personal Success

Anthony Zuiker, who has been making the rounds of talk shows doing publicity, described the success of the CSI franchise as "mind-boggling" and said that he was "very humbled and very surprised" by fan response to the series.

Elyse's CSI Site has partial transcripts of Zuiker's appearances on both The Charlie Rose Show, which aired on August 13th, and The Craig Kilborn Show, which was broadcast on August 14th.

Zuiker told Charlie Rose that he knew in the first week after the pilot, when CSI maintained 85% of its initial ratings, that the show was in a good position.

"Women drive viewership on television, and women love this show," he told Charlie Rose. "You'd think because of the gore, they wouldn't like it, but they love it."

Zuiker also credited his wife's involvement with the creation of the series, saying that they were fascinated by a recreation of the Linda Sobek case. Jerry Bruckheimer liked of the concept, he said, and suggested to Zuiker that he look for a network that would be interested.

While on patrol with the real crime scene investigation unit in Las Vegas, Zuiker encountered a criminal hiding underneath a hotel bed who scratched his face. He watched her arrest and used the experience in the writing of an episode later.

With Kilborn, Zuiker discussed his youth dreaming of becoming a writer and his two children. He said that the show's success had changed his personal life and that friends now want to borrow money.

The writer-producer added that although he works on both CSI shows, Ann Donahue is the "main force" behind CSI: Miami.

Yet he refused to choose a favorite between the two series, saying it would be like choosing between his children.

To read more excerpts, please visit Elyse's CSI Site.

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