O'BSERVATIONS: THE "CSI" SEASON FINALE

The story for the two-hour finale of 'CSI' was conceived by Quentin Tarantino, who also directed.

Sadly, there was a last minute addition to the episode: a dedication at the end of the show to the memory of Frank Gorshin, who died only a few days before the episode aired. Mr. Gorshin appeared in the show as himself, along with Tony Curtis, in a scene with casino magnate Sam Braun.

It's a given in Toobworld that unless otherwise stated, the episode takes place on the day that it's first broadcast. One might think that nothing was shown or mentioned to indicate that the date was anything but May 19th, when Nick Stokes first began his investigation of the entrails crime scene.

If so, that would mean that Frank Gorshin's televersion outlived the Real World entertainer by at least a few days.

But the argument could also be made that the appearance by Mr. Gorshin serves as the time-stamp on the episode; that it must have taken place at least two weeks ago while Mr. Gorshin was still relatively ambulatory.

Mr. Tarantino's films are full of pop culture references, especially to old TV shows. Remember Vince Vega dancing the Batusi in "Pulp Fiction"?

Those aren't considered Zonks, threats to the integrity of Toobworld's reality, because they happen in the movies, a different universe of Man's creative vision. But there was a mighty big Zonk near the beginning of this 'CSI' episode when David Hodges was teaching Greg Sanders how to play the 'Dukes Of Hazzard' board game, complete with mentions of the General Lee, Roscoe, Cooter, and Uncle Jesse.

The Duke boys should exist in the same universe as the LVPD Forensic team......

Wasn't there some old board game based on a movie which Tarantino could have used instead?

BCnU!
Tele-Toby