The CSI empire is expanding again, this time they’re taking over amusement parks. Variety reports:

Half-hour production will let audience members witness a fake crime, then guide them through the “whodunit” process by using the scientific techniques featured in the series. Parkgoers will act as witnesses, suspects and crime investigators.

I’m highly intrigued by the idea, because I am fascinated by forensics. But CSI is not really a show about forensics (or at least, not an accurate one). But there is an interesting point later in the article when they say the crime will not be a murder because it’s a “family friendly” show.

How exactly is crime and investigating crime “family friendly?” I’m not saying that kids shouldn’t be allowed to view the show, or that kids can’t benefit from learning about how crimes are solved. I was raised by a police officer, so fingerprinting and forensics were dinner conversations. But it’s very different from saying the CSI: Live show will be PG and that it will be family friendly.

I also wonder if we might be reaching the saturation point with CSI. How much of a good thing is too much? How long with the nation’s love affair with Gil Grissom last?

So would you take a trip to Six Flags: Magic Mountain to check out CSI Live? And if you do, will you take pictures and tell me all about it?