The Strip Strangler (17 May 2001)

There's a serial killer on the loose in LA. Since this is a very high-profile case, the sheriff brings in the FBI to help. This annoys Grissom very much as the FBIs like to assume many ... See full summary »

Director:

Danny Cannon

Writers:

Anthony E. Zuiker (creator), Ann Donahue

Stars:

William Petersen, Marg Helgenberger, Gary Dourdan

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
William Petersen	...	Gil Grissom
Marg Helgenberger	...	Catherine Willows
Gary Dourdan	...	Warrick Brown
George Eads	...	Nick Stokes
Jorja Fox	...	Sara Sidle
Paul Guilfoyle	...	Captain Jim Brass
Eric Szmanda	...	Greg Sanders
Michael Cerveris	...	Syd Booth Goggle
Rainn Wilson	...	Guy in Supermarket
Robert David Hall	...	Dr. Al Robbins
Glenn Morshower	...	Sheriff Brian Mobley
Randall Slavin	...	Hunter F. Baumgartner
Gregg Henry	...	Special Agent Rick Culpepper
Skip O'Brien	...	Sergeant Ray O'Riley
Todd McKee	...	Bradley Walden

Storyline

There's a serial killer on the loose in LA. Since this is a very high-profile case, the sheriff brings in the FBI to help. This annoys Grissom very much as the FBIs like to assume many things while he prefers to let the evidence speak for themselves. Due to his seemingly refusal to cooperate, he is taken off the case. His team, however, knows better and keeps their boss informed on the details.

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Plot Keywords:

autopsy | strangulation | bath towel | posed body | gym | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 May 2001 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

CBS Paramount Network Television

Technical Specs

Aspect Ratio:

4:3 Full Frame

Did You Know?

Goofs

While in the morgue investigating a dead woman, in the close up you can see the woman breathing.

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Quotes

[about a serial murderer]
Catherine Willows: When we zig, he zags.

User Reviews

ridiculous

First of all, I was stunned at the absence of review for this particular show. Let me qualify any statements made here with the fact that I love this show generally but in the interest of posterity I just had to speak out on the implausibility of this whole episode.

No sheriff or chief of police on the face of the earth with access to this incredibly staffed and almost supernaturally successful CSI department would ever suspend the, by now, nationally famous (like Dr. Lee from CT) Grissom, let alone allow an underling CSI to supersede his (Grissom again) authority especially when dealing with another police agency......why would he when he garners credit for the work others do as do all real sheriffs and chiefs. The character of Sara Sidle would undoubtedly be demoted, officially reprimanded or possibly even fired for such a breach of chain of command. The Sidle character is too loudly opinionated, stubborn, and impatient anyway to be a CSI. Whether or not her character is supposed to be actually disturbed is not relevant here. However, the non support by Grissom's staff does have a ring of truth to it, as demonstrated by Grissom's incredulousness at their actions and opinions .........shocking but realistic........unfortunately the political skills in the characters of conniving and technically under skilled Eckley and the very often callous, passive aggressive and under skilled Willows are probably the most realistic characters in the show.....what with their greater concerns of advancement over crime solving.

Historically, police departments loath FBI involvement in their cases even when they ask them to participate.......prior to 911, co-operation with this sort of thing was poor..........even after, improvement is questionable.

In the context of the show the CSI lab is easily as good as, or better than the FBI's real crime lab. A fact that i am sure irritates real live crime labs across the country.......all in all, the ridiculous premise of the forced relationships really took away quite a bit from the solving of the crimes and the science which i thought was counter-productive.