TrekToday's new sister site, CSI Files, devoted to the hit series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and CSI: Miami, has had an exciting first couple of weeks in operation. Here's a round-up of the latest news from the site:

• 'CSI' Sets Ratings Alight For CBS
  CSI's latest first-run episode, "Crash and Burn", was the most-watched programme on television last Thursday night. The red-hot episode scored a 17.3 rating / 26 share, suffocating NBC's Will & Grace and Good Morning Miami, ABC's Are You Hot? and UPN's WWE Smackdown!

• First 'Last Laugh' Plot Details
  Sources revealed the first information on the upcoming CSI episode "Last Laugh", in which Grissom and Catherine investigate the death of comedian who falls stone dead in the middle of his act. Could it be the disgruntled warm-up comic who did it, or is the death part of a bigger problem for the CSIs?

• Eads: My Father Influenced Stokes
  George Eads spoke of how his father's career as a district attorney affected his portrayal of Nick Stokes on CSI. "I think I have a respect for these public servants," he said, "for firemen, investigators and police officers. They don't do it for the money. They do it for the people. The victims can't fight for themselves anymore. I pattern a lot of how Nick acts after my dad and some of his values and beliefs."

• 'CSI: Miami' Cast Talk Characterisation
  Several CSI: Miami cast members were interviewed while at a location shoot in Malibu, revealing what they know — or don't know — about their characters. Rory Cochrane (Tim Speedle) admitted he was clueless about what his character does ("It seems like nobody's one thing or the other"), while Khandi Alexander (Alexx Woods) said she was enjoying getting to know her fictional alter ego — a coroner who talks to the dead.

• Gary Dourdan Scoops NAACP Image Award
  CSI's Gary Dourdan (Warrick Brown) took home the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series gong at the 34th Annual NAACP Image Awards, beating off competiton from Without a Trace's Charles S. Dutton and Mekhi Phifer from ER. While Dourdon emerged victorious, the CSI cast were buried at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, losing out to Six Feet Under in the Oustanding Ensemble Cast category.

If you're a big fan of CSI or just getting into the series, why not join in the discussions at our message board, Talk CSI? Here are some of the hottest discussions currently taking place:

• Which CSI actors were famous before they joined the series?
• Does character development matter on a plot-driven show like CSI?
• What did you think of the latest CSI episode, "Crash and Burn"?
• Do you think there should be a romance between Sara Sidle and Gil Grissom?
• Are the CSI novels any good?

If you want to reply to any of these threads, or would like to start a discussion of your own, head over and register at Talk CSI!

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