'CSI' Week Kicks Off With Twist

(CBS)  From bugs and bodies to high velocity splatter, that is CSI. And Monday, The Early Show kicked off its "'CSI' Week" with a special preview of the CBS show two-parter with a twist.

A killing spree begins on "CSI: Miami," and ends in the Big Apple on Wednesday's "CSI: NY."

Solving murders with science has made the "CSI" franchise a ratings smash. Now, it'll take two stars from two separate "CSI" shows to solve a crime.

National correspondent Hattie Kauffman reports that David Caruso and Gary Sinise team up to track down a serial killer.

"We work very well together, actually, yeah," Sinise says. "He's got his techniques and I've got mine."

Caruso adds: "To see the two casts together, I think it enhances the reality of what we're doing. It makes it even more real."

Sinise's Max is reserved and brooding while Caruso's Horatio Caine is a bit showy, with his sideways stance and ever present sunglasses.

"I travel during the summer time and people are very aware of the glasses and the character, and the stance, and it's pretty funny," Caruso says.

"Funny" does not describe most story lines on "CSI." Many of the gruesome crimes are based on real cases. As the crime scene investigators unravel the murder mystery layer by layer, the signature shots can be startling.

"I think people like that, you know, they like the science of it," Sinise says.

Caruso also likes the cutting edge science, but admits stories of victims of violent crime can be rough going.

"These events that we investigate are powerful and profound and destructive," he says. "Because while the victim has been sometimes deeply affected, or even they pass away, there is a reverberation in the community and the family."

The intensity of the drama is not lost on Emily Procter. She portrays a member of "CSI: Miami's" crack forensic team.

"What's far creepier is I do it at work, and then I watch it on the news," she says referring to her scenes. "It doesn't really seem to have a lot of space."

And Sinise notes the show has affected juries of murders and even the bad guys have learned a few tricks watching the show.

"We've had people say, you know, cops asked criminals, 'Where did you learn that? Where'd you get the idea to do that?' 'CSI.' Who says television and Hollywood doesn't influence anyone?" Sinise says.

Visit the shows' Web sites and learn more about CSI: Miami and CSI: NY.

And don't miss a special story about Sinise on Tuesday. He's helping put much need school supplies into the hands of Iraqi children.