Capitalizing on a Hit TV Show

In the US, the crime drama series CSI is the most watched TV show, and this year's spin-off, CSI: Miami is the most watched new show.

CSI stands for Crime Scene Investigators (Investigation), and both shows deal with the forensic scientists that process and analyze the crime scene evidence in order to hunt down criminals.

There is a high school that created a science class that teaches these forensic sciences using a mocked up crime scenario (see link to news story). More than half of the students have to be turned away each semester.

I was thinking that a profitable variation of this could be a CSI class for adults at night in which the class is taught basic techniques and then applies those techniques to slove a case. It would probably draw from the same crowd that likes going on those train, murder mystery parties, and of course, the demand is most likely amplified by the success of these two shows.

Information products? Maybe a guide for the best colleges/universities for forensic science study along with a description of the different specialties and jobs available, and what kind of cases are handled...

I was thinking about the fingerprint kit that I had when I was a kid. I don't know if tying anything in for kids would be appropriate or even advisable. The show deals with murder every week, and can get slightly gory for tv. I doubt many kids are watching it.

Anyway, just a few ideas I had before falling asleep last night...




High School CSI

Some followups:

Another article about high schools teaching forensics classes:

http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20021024/D7MRP8U80.html

and on Friday 10/25, Court TV offers 3 cases for free download for high schools to teach.

http://www.courttv.com/forensics_curriculum/

Prime TIme Live (ABC 10 P.M. EST Th 10/24) follows CSI's in Philadelphia as they try to solve murder cases.

48 hours (CBS 8 P.M. EST Friday 10/25) talks to forensic pathologist Elizabeth Devine, technical consultant for the series ``CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.''

> In the US, the crime drama series CSI is the
> most watched TV show, and this year's
> spin-off, CSI: Miami is the most watched new
> show.

> CSI stands for Crime Scene Investigators
> (Investigation), and both shows deal with
> the forensic scientists that process and
> analyze the crime scene evidence in order to
> hunt down criminals.

> There is a high school that created a
> science class that teaches these forensic
> sciences using a mocked up crime scenario
> (see link to news story). More than half of
> the students have to be turned away each
> semester.

> I was thinking that a profitable variation
> of this could be a CSI class for adults at
> night in which the class is taught basic
> techniques and then applies those techniques
> to slove a case. It would probably draw from
> the same crowd that likes going on those
> train, murder mystery parties, and of
> course, the demand is most likely amplified
> by the success of these two shows.

> Information products? Maybe a guide for the
> best colleges/universities for forensic
> science study along with a description of
> the different specialties and jobs
> available, and what kind of cases are
> handled...

> I was thinking about the fingerprint kit
> that I had when I was a kid. I don't know if
> tying anything in for kids would be
> appropriate or even advisable. The show
> deals with murder every week, and can get
> slightly gory for tv. I doubt many kids are
> watching it.

> Anyway, just a few ideas I had before
> falling asleep last night...

Hi Bill,

Thanks - interesting posts you wrote, and the articles you linked to too !

I think you've definitely uncovered a "hunger" here for more info about forensic science. It's certainly could be something you could probably create and sell a product about (after educating yourself about it). :)

- Dien Rice