CSI: Crime scene imitators

The "CSI"-ing of television continues this fall — with a vengeance.

You knew it would happen when "CSI" emerged as the most-watched show on television. Network programmers have never been shy about trying to clone what works.

Which explains why there are so many so-called "procedural dramas" — programs all about the plot, where the characters take a back seat — all over the airwaves this fall.

Last year it was "CSI: Miami" and "Without a Trace." This year, CBS adds another show, ("Cold Case") from the producers of those shows; a "JAG" spinoff ("Navy NCIS") that's sort of a Navy version of "CSI"; and a show about undercover FBI agents ("The Handler"). And one of the three brothers in "The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire" is the town's police chief.

Heck, even a show about a teenage girl who talks to God ("Joan of Arcadia") has a strong cop-show element — her father is the chief of police and, in the pilot, there's a serial killer on the loose.

Not that CBS is alone by any means. And not that all the clones are exact — law-enforcement shows of myriad hues are very much in vogue this season. ABC is adding "10-8," "Karen Sisco" and "Threat Matrix," and NBC will bring us "Las Vegas."

If you count returning cop (or law-enforcement) shows, there will be 23 on the Big Four networks this fall. Throw in legal dramas (including NBC's new "Lyon's Den") and that number jumps to 28 — more than 70 percent of the prime-time schedules on ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox.

There are a few other shows, of course. Sitcoms haven't fared well recently, but there are a few worthy entries ("Two and a Half Men," "A Minute With Stan Hooper" and "I'm With Her") this fall.

And prime-time soaps are making a bit of a comeback with "Skin" and "The O.C" (which debuted over the summer) and semi-soapy shows like "One Tree Hill," "Tarzan" and (once again) "The Lyon's Den."

An encouraging trend is the one toward ethnic diversity. There are more shows featuring Hispanics in lead roles than ever before (including "The Ortegas," "Luis" and "Skin") and, perhaps more encouraging still, a bunch of shows with multiethnic casts (including "10-8," "Threat Matrix," "Navy NCIS," "Whoopi" and "Like Family.")

Here's a quick rundown on the new shows this fall on the Big Four networks, UPN and the WB. (And, no, we didn't forget Saturday — there are no new shows on that night.)

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SUNDAY