Zuiker, Petersen React To PTC Comments

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation's creator and star recently offered their views on the Parents Television Council's decision to brand the series the least family-friendly show on television (story).

"It hurt," executive producer Anthony Zuiker said of the group's condemnation of CSI for dealing with such subjects as cannibalism, sex clubs and snuff films. Speaking with Stephen Battaglio of the New York Daily News, Zuiker said CSI tries to appeal to a cross-section of viewers.

"We don't want to exclude families. We don't want to exclude children. The first family that turns off the show because it's too dark - that's catastrophic to us."

Although CSI is scheduled to air at 9:00 p.m., the show is seen in many midwest states at 8:00 p.m. The PTC's Melissa Caldwell said that was too early for a series that deals with adult-oriented themes, and William Petersen (Gil Grissom) agrees. Talking to Julie M. Fidler during the American Society for Clinical Pathology's annual meeting last week, Petersen said CSI should really be screened in a later timeslot.

"It's obviously a judgment call for parents," he said (via the William Petersen Appreciation Page). "Parents have to decide. I would wish that it was a 10 o'clock show and on at 9 o'clock in the midwest and 10 o'clock on the coasts. But the network has decided that, because that's when they put it, they've decided that's where they're gonna leave it. But I can understand when parents' councils are a little concerned about it. 'Cause it's a show that people wanna watch, so the kids are gonna watch it."

Although Zuiker said CSI will be "extra responsible" due to the PTC's comments, the series will continue to tackle confronting, adult-oriented issues.

Read more at the New York Daily News and the William Petersen Appreciation Page.

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