Parents' Guide to

CSI: NY

By Elisabeth Chaney, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Mature, captivating forensic whodunit.

TV CBS Drama 2004
CSI: NY Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 3 parent reviews

Dave W.
Dave W. Adult
July 20, 2022
age 18+

Don't Bother!

There is too much violence, and is too true to life in today's day and age!

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
firstavenger11
firstavenger11 Adult
February 12, 2012
age 13+

CSI new york

This title has:

Great role models
Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

The third addition to CBS's hit CSI franchise, CSI: NY follows a team of five New York City crime scene investigators as they discover forensic evidence at murder scenes and interpret it to solve the crimes. In each episode, the team typically works on two homicides: one of which drives the main plot, the other a subplot that usually has some type of comedic or sexual overtones. Leading the team is Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise), an introverted yet charismatic leader who lost his wife on 9/11. Reporting to him are four investigators, each of whom has a unique area of expertise outside of the typical forensic purview. For example, Danny Messer (Carmine Giovinazzo) has highly tuned street smarts that give him a trustworthy familiarity when he speaks with suspects and witnesses.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (15 ):

CSI: NY is better-developed than its Miami counterpart, but not as strong as the original Las Vegas installment. That said, the characters are smart and edgy. And the show rarely leaves the viewer with a cliffhanger, making it a great choice for viewers who prefer all-inclusive episodes with no strings attached.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the science behind the show, using that to transition into conversations about what teens are learning in science class. Could what they're learning be used to investigate crime? Do they think science is something they'd like to pursue as a career? On another tack, how do teens feel about the crimes depicted in the show? Is the neat nature of the episodes' plots a realistic reflection of crime solving?

TV Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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