'CSI: NY' looks like a hit

CBS made Anthony Zuiker an offer he couldn't refuse.

The creator of "CSI" and "CSI: Miami" was invited to dinner with CBS chairman Leslie Moonves and other top network executives earlier this year.

"We all had a great dinner together. And . . . the chairman looked over at me and said, 'We all know why we're here, Anthony.' And I said, ' "CSI: NY," sir.'

"And shortly after that, we really began to sit down and think about what that show was and possible actors for the show. And it came together relatively quickly."

It certainly didn't hurt to have the talented Gary Sinise sign on. And he was followed by Melina Kanakaredes ("Providence"), Carmine Giovinazzo, Vanessa Ferlito, Hill Harper and Eddie Cahill.

"He has this excitement to tell his story in a new way and enticed all of us actors to come onboard with 'CSI: NY' because we would be able to know who these people are — get a little in-depth into the characters," Kanakaredes said.

Which is the plan to make "NY" different from "Miami" and the original "CSI" — to make it "more character-driven," Zuiker said.

We know, for example, that Sinise's character, Det. Mac Taylor, lost his wife in the attack on the World Trade Center. And we're already getting personal information about the other cast members in tonight's premiere as Zuiker makes good on a promise the viewers will "get to know these wonderful characters a lot sooner."

Not that it's going to be a character-driven drama. "CSI: NY" is still, first and foremost, about the cases and the investigations and the science.

Zuiker is taking some chances. Tonight's pilot is extremely dark, and there's a danger that Taylor-the-tortured-soul could wear thin. Quickly.

But it's still "CSI." And it still looks like the biggest new hit of the season.

THE MOUNTAIN (8 p.m., Ch. 30) looked at the example set by the "O.C." and learned — well, nothing, apparently.

"The O.C." became such a success because it's got a sense of humor. Otherwise, it would be an overblown, boring soap opera. Which is exactly what "The Mountain" turned out to be. (The two shows come from the same company, but the people doing the writing and producing — the showrunners — are completely different.)