# Just why \*don't\* people like David Caruso? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 20, 2003, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-why-dont-people-like-david-caruso/214247 "2003-11-20T03:38:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GraceTX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@GraceTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GraceTX)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-why-dont-people-like-david-caruso/214247/1 "2003-11-20T03:38:54Z")
I watched CSI: Miami the other night and the next day came to Cafe Society to read the comments about the show and I didn’t find any. In past threads, some posters have stated they don’t watch CSI:M because they don’t like David Caruso. So why don’t people like David Caruso? I personally prefer Caruso’s Horatio to William Peterson’s boring Grissom, but that’s just me. Of course, it could also be that I just fancy David Caruso a bit. And why aren’t there any threads about CSI:Miami? Especially since it’s a Top 10 show. Before anyone suggests it, I haven’t started any because 1) I tape it and usually watch it a day or two after the show airs and because; 2) I rarely start threads. I actually had difficulty finding the ‘New Thread’ link when I wanted to start this topic; and 3) I’m just too dang lazy. ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-why-dont-people-like-david-caruso/214247/2 "2003-11-20T07:57:30Z")
Caruso was one of the original stars of NYPD Blue. Originally, the show focused Caruso and Dennis Franz. The show was a surprise hit in its first season. The reports at the time were that Caruso was acting like a prima donna, showing up late, being antagonistic on the set if he didn’t get his way etc. At the end of the first season, he tried to renegotiate his 20-30 thousand an episode salary to get $100,000 an episode. The producers tried to negotiate a compromise of something like 70 or 80 grand, but Caruso wanted that magic six figures, so rather than put up with his antics, and childish behavior, they dumped him. Two actresses, Sherry Stringfield and Amy Brenneman ended up losing their jobs as a result, their characters being tied to Caruso’s. They both recovered quite nicely on ER and Judging Amy. The public generally saw Caruso as getting greedy and deserting the show that made him famous. Fans of the show felt betrayed because he cost them a character they had connected with. Caruso did a series of movies following the dust up, mostly mediocre, and his career stalled. His next series did poorly, and he was on the outs with both Hollywood and the public. CSI: Miami essentially saved Caruso’s career. In interviews, he’s said that he basically acted like a jerk during his NYPD Blue run, and the reports at the time criticising his behavior were pretty much accurate. Angel, 24, The West Wing, Survivor, and Buffy when it was airing new shows all get weekly threads. These share the quality of being serials (at least to some extent), which invites discussion and speculation about continuity issues and speculation about future developments. CSI: Miami and CSI both tend to have self-contained storylines that explain everything at the end of each episode, which doesn’t exactly stimulate the same need to discuss future possible developments. There have been threads in the past, just not regular weekly ones. ---
**Author:** ![Skillet38](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Skillet38](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skillet38)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-why-dont-people-like-david-caruso/214247/3 "2003-11-20T09:21:20Z")
My wife watches the show but I have problems with the main trio of characters. Firstly, regarding the OP and Caruso, to me, he comes across as entirely unsympathetic, bordering on vile, and totally lacking in any sense of humor. Sure, he’s playing the part as written, and he does it well, but I’d like to punch his smug holier than thou banty rooster tough guy face 🙂 then we have the usual flawless pinup beauty detective (yawn) and the herculean monkey boy with the cro-magnon jaw. Superficial complaints only on those two for brevitys sake. Oh, and they have dna records for 3000 crocodiles on file ? ? ? lol I find the show fun to watch actually, I just can’t connect with the characters. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-why-dont-people-like-david-caruso/214247/4 "2003-11-20T11:20:57Z")
I think most people (not all, of course) prefer actors capable of conveying more that one emotion. I kind of like CSI, despite the melodramatics, the lack of realism (you can love Law & Order, or you can love CSI; you can’t love them both without a massive case of cognitive dissonance) and the poor lighting… but CSI:Miami, to me, is unwatchable. CSI’s Grissom is a compelling character - smart, slightly geeky, passionate about his work - while alas! Horatio! is a non-entity, a chliche-spouting cardboard cutout. ---
**Author:** ![TVAA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@TVAA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVAA)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-why-dont-people-like-david-caruso/214247/5 "2003-11-20T13:32:41Z")
Not to mention the poor science, psychology, and general reasoning. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-why-dont-people-like-david-caruso/214247/6 "2003-11-20T13:58:39Z")
Neither CSI show is noted for depth of character. Unfortunately, the one personality trait they decided to give Caruso’s character was a sense of sanctimonious smugness. It’s annoying to watch for very long. As for Caruso himself, Number Six’s post outlines his unprofessionalism during his first starring role. His behavior on his new show (such as demanding scripts be rewritten to highlight his character) indicate he hasn’t changed. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-why-dont-people-like-david-caruso/214247/7 "2003-11-20T14:59:21Z")
OK Caruso annoys me - I try to ignore him as much as possible. But what kills me are the HUGE plot holes! Go with me for a sec… you, an internet guru, are going to kill a stock broker with a big ass hunting knife. You sneek up behind him (in a deserted building) but he doesn’t notice (??) and you cut his throat and, in the process, cut your hand. But you don’t leave any drops of blood because you close your wound with the oh-so-convenient, huge bottle of super glue on the broker’s desk. SUPER GLUE?? IN THE INDUSTRIAL SIZE BOTTLE?? In a stock broker’s office?? Yeah he would use that ALL the time, what with the internet trading and all. ---
**Author:** ![Second\_Guest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@Second\_Guest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Second_Guest)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-why-dont-people-like-david-caruso/214247/8 "2003-11-20T15:57:52Z")
I have no idea if he’s a competent actor or decent human being, but I know I’ll never watch him long enough to find out. I have only one reason for not liking him, and it’s completely irrational. To my mind, he too closely resembles the puppet named [Carrot Top](http://www.classicmoviemusicals.com/lili6.jpg) in the 1953 film _Lili_. That movie gave me nightmares as a kid, particularly the ballet sequence. A mere glimpse of Caruso’s face and hair makes me want to cower under the covers and frantically think happy, happy thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-why-dont-people-like-david-caruso/214247/9 "2003-11-20T16:14:45Z")
To me, **Second Guest** , it’s his uncanny resemblance to Howdy Doody. Not scary, but very distracting. ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-why-dont-people-like-david-caruso/214247/10 "2003-11-20T16:29:21Z")
It’s probably out of print, but David Milch, the co-creator of _NYPD Blue_, wrote a book called “True Blue” about the show. There is quite a bit about the joys of working with David Caruso. It’s probably sufficient to say that Steve Bochco was prepared to gamble with his first hit in years rather than put up with him any more. ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-why-dont-people-like-david-caruso/214247/11 "2003-11-20T19:22:59Z")
Because he comes across as a smug, irritating prick? Just my reason. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-why-dont-people-like-david-caruso/214247/12 "2003-11-20T19:41:15Z")
Stan: IKE! Do you impersonation of David Caruso’s career! Ike: “Its my turn!” (falls out of UFO) ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-why-dont-people-like-david-caruso/214247/13 "2003-11-20T20:05:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DeVena \* > \*\* You sneek up behind him (in a deserted building) but he doesn’t notice (??) and you cut his throat and, in the process, cut your hand. But you don’t leave any drops of blood because you close your wound with the oh-so-convenient, huge bottle of super glue on the broker’s desk. > > SUPER GLUE?? IN THE INDUSTRIAL SIZE BOTTLE?? In a stock broker’s office?? Yeah he would use that ALL the time, what with the internet trading and all. \*\* I got the impression that the killer brought it _with_ him, since there was that bit about noticing a bottle in his office. And the part about how people in sports used superglue to heal wounds (killer was a sports fan from the TV always on sports) and the earlier bit about how it’s common knowledge that people using hunting knives tend to cut themselves… seemed like he planned the murder out, knowing he might injure himself in the process. As for Caruso, maybe people find him creepy. I know I do, but it’s part of the show’s appeal. ---
**Author:** ![LilShieste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@LilShieste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilShieste)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-why-dont-people-like-david-caruso/214247/14 "2003-11-20T22:31:01Z")
**Alessan** said: > [@](#): > > I think most people (not all, of course) prefer actors capable of conveying more that one emotion. Yeah, this is the main reason I don’t like him as well. Another reason (and I guess this is more the fault of the _CSI: Miami_ writers) is: Why are there other characters in the show _CSI: Miami_? David Caruso’s character seems to know the answers to any question in any event, regardless of profession. I mean, nothing personal against any of you Jack-of-All-Trades, but it’s just EXTRA annoying when coming from Caruso. 😉 LilShieste ---
**Author:** ![Lobelia\_Overhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@Lobelia\_Overhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobelia_Overhill)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-why-dont-people-like-david-caruso/214247/15 "2003-11-20T23:55:22Z")
I lvoe CSI and I started watching CSI Miami when it came on TV here … I never watched NYPD Blue so I don’t know anything about Caruso from that, although I did recognise him from somewhere (?!). He drives me mad because he recites his lines as though someone is feeding them to him via an earpiece. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-why-dont-people-like-david-caruso/214247/16 "2003-11-21T00:24:17Z")
Well, we used to just make fun of the way he stands there, slouching, melodramatically taking off or putting on his sunglasses. (We used to sing “Vogue” when they had him do that.) But Sniffs\_Markers noticed that everytime he addresses a suspect, it is thusly: For Bob: “Baaaaaaaaah-ob… How come…?” For Dave: “Daaaaaaaaay-ave… How is it that…?” For Lori: “Loooooooooo-ri… Why is it that…?” For Thelma: “Theeeeeeeeeel-ma… Tell me, how did…?” Now, whenever he does it, we burst out laughing! Totally wrecks the mood. Now, on _NYPD Blue_ he was fine, didn’t mind him at all. On _CSI: Miami_ he is a self-righteous prick. And my Og, the “Craaaaaaaaaaaaa-yons…” is too much. ---
**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-why-dont-people-like-david-caruso/214247/17 "2003-11-21T00:50:15Z")
Aside from his constant way-over-the-top acting, I’ve got nothing against him. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Alessan \* > \*\*I think most people (not all, of course) prefer actors capable of conveying more that one emotion. > > I kind of like CSI, despite the melodramatics, the lack of realism (you can love Law & Order, or you can love CSI; you can’t love them both without a massive case of cognitive dissonance) and the poor lighting… but CSI:Miami, to me, is unwatchable. CSI’s Grissom is a compelling character - smart, slightly geeky, passionate about his work - while alas! Horatio! is a non-entity, a chliche-spouting cardboard cutout. \*\* Sums up my feelings perfectly. **Grace** : I’ll take a ‘boring Grissom’ in a New York minute. Caruso should watch a few episodes and get some cues. ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-why-dont-people-like-david-caruso/214247/18 "2003-11-21T16:21:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eats\_Crayons \* > \*\*Well, we used to just make fun of the way he stands there, slouching, melodramatically taking off or putting on his sunglasses. (We used to sing “Vogue” when they had him do that.) > > But Sniffs\_Markers noticed that everytime he addresses a suspect, it is thusly: > > For Bob: “Baaaaaaaaah-ob… How come…?” > > … \*\* Not only that, have you noticed that in addition he always starts addressing anyone by 1) looking off to one side, 2) sighing, 3) saying whatever it is he wants to say (as above) then 4) looks at them for the last sentence which is always one of a) OK? b) What do you think? or c) Isn’t that right? The problem here is, do we blame Caruso or the writers? ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-why-dont-people-like-david-caruso/214247/19 "2003-11-21T21:09:33Z")
If you blame the writers, then also give credit where it’s due: either he was really good in **Proof of Life** , or he had a really well-written part. But CSI:M or no CSI:M, I still enjoy seeing him in the occasional movie. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2003, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-why-dont-people-like-david-caruso/214247/20 "2003-11-22T00:40:22Z")
Miami CSI is one big attitude affectation by _everyone_, including Caruso who juices it up with extra smugness. One of the funniest parts of Miami CSI is how Caruso, who is a medium-small sized human scarecrow physically, has his character written as this intimidating, scary bad ass that regularly threatens ass kickings and retribution to bad guys and perps three times his size. You look at him and think “My 13 year old daughter could kick his ass.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-why-dont-people-like-david-caruso/214247.md?page=2)