David Caruso, star of CSI: Miami, talks to Playback about his hit series.

How did you come on board CSI: Miami?
I was living in Miami at the time and had opened a small clothing business that had become the butt of some jokes on the Howard Stern show. [CBS president and CEO Leslie Moonves] was watching the Russell Crowe/Meg Ryan movie Proof of Life, and had remembered me from a small part I had in the film. Somehow the dominos fell into place and he thought of me for Miami.

How has Alliance Atlantis been as a CSI coproducer?
My experience with them has been wonderful. They are amazingly generous and absolutely committed to everything we're doing. I would do anything to help them.

Do you deal with them directly?
Oh yes. We're very involved in the promotion of the show through Alliance Atlantis. They have the best promotional department in the business. We've all traveled for AAC throughout the world to promote the show.

How do you explain the appeal of the CSI franchise?
The world of CSI is a new world for the viewer to enter. Crime scene investigation is part of law enforcement, but prior to the advent of DNA, this world did not exist. With the understanding and application of forensic science and DNA, everything changed. This spooky, interesting, dynamic new world opened up for television to explore.

Why has CSI: Miami emerged as the most popular CSI worldwide?
The key to it is the city of Miami, because it's truly an international place. Our mission is to capture the authenticity of the city, and I think we've struck a chord that connects with viewers because you get the international flavor, the international feel.

How was it filming episode one of season five in Brazil, where detective Horatio Caine hunts for his wife's killer?
By starting in Rio de Janeiro we truly connected with who we are as a show, because it's been received well internationally. It is our goal to do a number of those trips. We have a responsibility to those viewers to include them and embrace them in production.

What's your favorite episode?
It's tough to beat the Brazil episode. There's such a level of magic to that hour.