CSI 12x10 Genetic Disorder

Say hello to Greg Sanders: CSI.

Or maybe it is now officially going to be Greg Hojem-Sanders.

Whatever the case may be, this was definitely the defining episode for Greg as a true Crime Scene Investigator. No more quirky lab rat; No more CSI trainee; No more asking a superior what to do next. This was Greg’s showcase to prove how far he’s come since getting out of the lab as a full-time tech and into the crime scenes bringing his investigative skills to the forefront.

Right from the beginning, Greg made the decision to stay unbiased and not make assumptions until all of the evidence was processed – unlike SOME people (but we’ll get to Brass ‘the ass’ later). I liked how right from the beginning he made sure to keep Super Dave focused on processing the body and not giving more speculation on Mrs Robbins cheating. I like how Greg was hesitant to give any information to Doc Robbins when Doc asked to be briefed as “Doc Robbins: Coroner” and not “Al Robbins: husband”. I love how Greg went to Catherine to ask advice about relationships. I loved the scenes with Greg and Donna Hoppe, the genealogist, and their discussions on Greg’s ancestry. I also loved Greg helping Henry with re-doing the DNA samples. And of course, Greg being all business and not willing to think Mrs Robbins guilty until there was any evidence to support it.

Yes, this was definitely the portrait of Greg Sanders, CSI.


On the flip side, there’s Jim Brass. Yes, for much of this episode, I was calling him “Brass – the ass”. I was expecting him to be a bit skeptical about Judy Robbins claiming her innocence and denying an affair, given Brass’ history of a cheating ex. What I wasn’t expecting was him being as obnoxious about it as he was. I guess with everyone else treading lightly and trying to go easy on Doc, Brass needed to be written as an ass – just to keep everything from getting too sugary sweet. At least Jim made amends with Doc at the end. I’m not sure he’s been totally redeemed in my graces yet, though.

And then there’s Doctor Al Robbins, Chief Medical Examiner for Clark County, Nevada. Yes, the “old radio guy”, Robert David Hall, gave a wonderful performance in this episode. I especially loved that they showed Doc getting out of his prosthetic legs. They’ve only really mentioned that once before – (back in “Snuff”, if I remember correctly) and it was great to see it brought up again. Many people still don’t realize that RDH really does have two prosthetic legs, after losing them because of a run-in with a semi (yes, the semi won that battle)as well as an exploding gas tank engulfing him in flames, but RDH thankfully survived. Because he survived that accident, he decided to take a chance and fulfill his dream to become an actor.

Another highlight in this episode was the appearance of Pamela Reed as the genealogist, Donna Hoppe. I love this woman. I’m not sure if I’ve seen her since she was on “Jericho” a few years ago. She’s also been in both “Kindergarten Cop” & “Junior” with Arnold Schwarzenegger; “Best of Times” with Robin Williams & Kurt Russell, and my favorite – “Passed Away” with Billy Petersen and Frances McDormand.

If you’d have told me that I would enjoy an episode with no Sara (I REALLY missed her in this one), little Catherine, and pissy Brass – I’d have said “it ain’t gonna happen”. However, putting Eric Szmanda, Robert David Hall, and Pamela Reed front & center throughout the episode was the best possible scenario to make it happen. So, thanks to Liz Devine for writing it as such. And it didn’t hurt that I used the Catherine Willows Theory to its fullest as well this week. That’s saved me so many times in the past few seasons. It’s actually become my #1 rule of life – “expect the worst, then you’ll never be disappointed & sometimes nicely surprised.” (the rest of the rules can be found here )

The only complaint I had was that I wish Cath would have had a scene or two with Judy Robbins. I actually didn’t even mind DB’s phone call to his wife (yet again) in this one, since it helped him notice the pruned leaves of the flowers.

On that note, I have to mention that DB certainly has the “Supervisor” role down. Have we ever really seen him get down & dirty and processing a scene? He always seems to be “supervising” and delegating others to do the actual crime scene work.


Okay, time to get down to a few specifics.


-- Greg goes to Cath for relationship advice – in the locker room.
G: hey, you were married. Do you think it’s odd that our genealogist was on Judy’s side of the bed?
C: well, you choose a side early on in a relationship, and you…pretty much stay there. Unless you’re…mixing it up with some…extra curricular. Did you find semen?
G: yeah. Henry’s testing it now. We think that Traxler might have had a briefcase, only Morgan & I weren’t able to find one at the scene.
C: Judy have time to ditch it?
G: I don’t see how she could. She was on the phone for 20 minutes with her daughter. Two minutes later she called Traxler’s cell, and a minute after that, 9-1-1. And they kept her on the phone until patrol showed up. Besides, why would she ditch his briefcase, but not blow out the candles in the bedroom or turn off the … Marvin Gaye?
C: wow. Marvin Gaye? … “Sexual Healing”
G: Why else would you play Marvin Gaye? Well, if that briefcase is missing, it had to be important to someone.
C: you need to find out more about your dead genealogist.


Awww this is what I’m really going to miss the most after two more episodes. Cath & Greg.
Marg & Eric bring such great chemistry, even to simple scenes like this. I love how Greg turns to Catherine in this situation, instead of DB (who continues to wear the big neon “FAMILY” sign on his forehead – or at least gets to mention it once in every conversation)



-- Cath & Doc in the morgue
Cath swabs Docs mouth
D: thank you for NOT asking how I’m doing. David’s been asking every five minutes.
C: well, he’s concerned. As we all are.
D: I know what you’re thinking.
C: well, it’s just…hard enough when someone you love’s in trouble. It’s harder still when you’re dealing with betrayal.
D: you don’t think about that when you have an affair.
C: Judy had an affair before?
D: not her, me.
C: oh.
D: everyone assumes that I can’t… and I wanted to see if I could. Almost destroyed Judy & our marriage.
C: when I was married to Eddie, he would hurt me, and then I would hurt him back, and it was just years of back & forth. That what you think happened here?
Doc’s phone rings
D: Cath, I have to take this, I’m sorry.
C: oh, of course.
Cath packs up her stuff as Doc answers the phone. It’s a lawyer returning Doc’s call. Doc tells him his wife needs a criminal defense attorney, and it’s murder.
Cath looks back at him as she stops at the door.

This is another thing I’ll miss greatly – Cath & Doc. I’m not sure if it’s just the situation of the case, but Cath really seems melancholy throughout these two scenes that she’s had. Is the sadness of her eminent departure starting to bleed through from Marg already? But seriously, there have been two Catherine scenes, and both have referenced Eddie.

The question I have here is – in the Cath/Eddie “hurting” each other talking about affairs, fistfights, or both? I’d put money on the latter. We know Cath’s been roughed up by Eddie, but I can’t really see her getting one over on him in that department, so I’m guessing her “hurting” him was via affairs. And you know, that takes me back to my heavy Cath/Gil shipping days. (oh yes, the PureJoy love still reigns)


A few other notes:
- I like how Morgan reassured Judy that gathering evidence not only can identify guilt, but also innocence. It’s nice to hear that, because it’s not something that usually gets stressed enough on this show.

-- Hearing that they were going to bring in the dayshift coroner, I was hoping they would have brought Jenna back from season 1. That would have been some nice continuity. Alas, we get a new face. I did like her, though. She kind of reminded me of Torri Higginson’s guest role on NCIS.

- The 9-1-1 conversations to begin the episode were funny.
“9-1-1 what is your emergency? … NO I can’t give you directions to the Luxor. Look for the search light pointing straight up. You can’t miss it”
“9-1-1 what is your emergency? … sir, this line is for emergencies only.”
“9-1-1 what is your emergency? … no ma’am, the fire department won’t fish a rat out of your pool… even if it’s the size of a dog.”

-- Greg being the bigger man.
Greg: we need to keep Doc out of here. This will tear his heart out.
Brass: yeah, I’ve been there before.
Greg: well, then again – maybe it’s not what it looks like.
Brass: well, a cheating wife & her dead lover…you see something I don’t see?
Greg: yeah, a crime scene that has yet to be processed.

Now THIS is Greggo all grown up. Isn’t he just so cute & hug-able?


-- and Donna Hoppe instructing her genealogy clients:
“and ALWAYS get permission from the church or the cemetary administrator before you start any grave rubbing”

I actually thought she said grave ROBBING at first. LOL

“you should hyphenate” ROFL

“my gut says – ‘how do we find St Patrick’?” – “have faith, my son.” LOL

Greg & Donna talking about his ancestry reminded me of Greg & Lily and their talk about the Old Vegas history.

I was totally laughing when Donna told Greg that Alrich Magner Hojem was one of the richest men in Edina, Minnesota in the 1900s, and that Edina residents were derogatorily nicknamed “Cake Eaters” because of their wealth. My grandparents lived in Edina for almost 40 years – and they were anything but rich. LOLOL

-- I loved the ending music "I can't make you love me", however, I'm a bit partial to the Maria Bello version of the song.

-- on a final note:
“Cue the banjo music” ROFL classic (just as long as there’s no squealing pig sounds)