A month ago I returned to my once-every-six-months haunt--David Caruso's IMDB page. As it has been for the past couple of years, the page is dominated by a few regulars. The most prominent (and my personal favorite) is Dixiebabe.
For anyone who has attempted to post anything there that is remotely positive about David or even neutral, you know how quickly your opinion is shot down, devoured, regurgitated and then spit upon. But Dixie can't help it. It's just her nature, right?
Not long ago she posted a French article (and used Google Language tools to get a laughable English translation) that, of course, mocked David and the show responsible for rocketing him back to stardom, CSI: Miami.
Well, that fine display of eloquent journalism got me thinking.
There is so much 'out there' about David Caruso. And by 'out there' I mean online, in dozens (if not hundreds) of blogs, on TV gossip shows, tabloids, magazines and websites. Some fans post predictably positive comments. Those who hate him post just-as-predictably negative comments. It is a never ending battle which no one can win...
Except for one. Someone will get the last laugh.
The article mentions the period in David's life when he struggled with alcoholism. It's sad that he turned to alcohol--It's sad that anyone turns to alcohol. But what is impressive is the fact that he overcame it. He beat it. Conquering alcoholism is not an easy thing to do, but he kicked the habit and, in a remarkable way, remade himself.
Is his career as successful as it might have been had he stayed on NYPD Blue? It's doubtful, but no one can say for sure. One thing that is certain is that if David had stayed on NYPD Blue, the world would be missing one of the most iconic characters in television history.
Horatio Caine. Love him or hate him, but you can't ignore him. Maybe not everyone knows his name, but if you say, "the redhead on CSI: Miami", nearly everyone knows who you're speaking of.
Some would argue that David is not successful. But I ask, what is success anyway? The American Heritage dictionary defines it as such: The achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted.
Okay, well then in that case Caruso is very successful. He 'desired' to be a star. He is such. He 'planned' to breathe new life into his career, and, although it took nearly seven years, it happened. He 'attempted' to get a big break, and CSI: Miami came along and gave him perhaps the biggest break of his career.
Caruso himself readily admits that he was foolish in the way he behaved when stardom hit nearly 15 years ago. He knows he's lucky to have gotten a second chance. He knows CSI: Miami will never be the media darling that NYPD Blue once was, but it is still wildly successful. Regardless of anyone's opinion about the show, it cannot be denied that Miami is one of the most watched programs around the world. Is it also mocked and ridiculed for its absurdities? Certainly! (I, for one, find the absurdities of the show to be one of its greatest strengths.) However, people (even those who hate Caruso) continue to tune in by the millions on a weekly basis.
I sometimes wonder if the anti-Caruso-ites realize that they're actually helping him. By watching his show (to mock him) they're boosting the show's ratings.
A word of advice: If you want to kill his career, stop watching his show.
And yet...I don't think you can. There is just something about David Caruso that you can't turn away from, no matter how much you hate him.
So, laugh at him all you want. But it's David who gets the last laugh, and he's laughing all the way to the bank.
