Las Vegas NowMeet the Real C.S.I.

Meet the Real C.S.I.

Las Vegas is known around the world for its glitz and glamour. But the new TV series "C.S.I." focuses on fictional crimes here and the investigators who help to solve them. In this special assignment, we meet the two real life Metro investigators who helped to inspire the series.

It's got the bright lights of Las Vegas and some familiar faces, but if you're a fan of these two leading characters on "C.S.I." chances are you'll like Daniel Holstein and Yolanda McClary, too.

"C.S.I." creator Anthony Zuiker based the show's main characters on Holstein and McClary after spending time with both of them during his research for the series. Holstein was the inspiration for the show's Gil Grissom, and Catherine Willows is based on McClary.

Iin most episodes, homicide detectives play a secondary role to crime scene investigators. In reality, the two sides work as a team in the field but have different expertise.

"Once in a great moon we'll sit in on an interview but even that's rare -- that's the detective's job," Holstein said. "They do the interviews and interrogations of the people; we do the interviews and interrogation of the evidence."

Even the name "C.S.I." is a stretch: it's also an occasional source of ribbing from co-workers according to McClary: "Most people here don't call me a C.S.A. anymore, which is what we're called-- a Crime Scene Analyst -- so they do call me the C.S.I. I'm like 'ha, ha.'"

But many of the technical aspects of the job are close to the real thing: cameras, gloves and fingerprint kits are all import important tools analysts use; many lab tests are realistic, too. Holstein often fields questions from "C.S.I." writers about crime scenarios he might face on the job, but the results make both the show popular, and the real-life work rewarding.

"This job is about finding facts," says McClary. "It's not really about being on one side or another. It's about finding out the truth."

Meet the Creator of 'C.S.I.'
Las Vegas is known around the world for its glitz and glamour. But the new TV series "C.S.I." focuses on fictional crimes here and the investigators who help to solve them. The city has had its share of crime, from grisly murders to real whodunnits like the killing of casino mogul Ted Binion. So to Las Vegan Anthony Zuiker, it made sense to develop a show not just about the crimes that happen here but about the investigators who get very little publicity but are the key to solving crimes.

Zuiker, the show's creator, said: "I think the most interesting thing about 'Crime Scene Investigators' is the fact that it's not a cop show -- it's a forensics drama."

Before producing "C.S.I." Zuiker used to be on the move here at the Mirage. Three years ago, he used to operate the casino's tram. He wrote "Crime Scene Investigators" and sent it to Hollywood. They paid him a million bucks for it, and the rest is history. Zuiker currently is working on other projects that he says will keep him busy for the next three years.