Here is our place to discuss the many wonderful attributes of Gary Sinise, from his amazing acting abilities to his good looks (especially when holding various types of weaponry) and his knowledge of when sunglasses are appropriate.

Mac is a former Marine from Chicago (which is where GS is actually from) and he had a wife who I believe was killed on September 11th.

Gary Sinise is the only reason why I ever tried out CSI:NY. And he is worth it. (Oh, and it doesn't hurt that the theme is "Baba O'Riley," which is the coolest. Song. Ever.)
Mac Taylor seems like a very cool guy, and quite different from the other two CSI show leads, which is good.

Me, too, Namarie. I've been blathering about Gary Sinise for years to anyone who will listen. I was so happy for him when I heard he had signed up to do CSI:NY.

I'm really happy with the way they're developing Mac's lighter side and sense of humor this season. He seems more at ease around his co-workers, and I like how they look up to him. Even though he's their boss, Mac seems very approachable.

I also like it that Mac actually does work in the lab, handling evidence, and doesn't just stand around waiting for everyone else to do his work. I'm looking at you, David Caruso.

(I'm going to Hell for mentioning David Caruso in the same post as Gary Sinise, aren't I?)

Word! I was so afraid of the anvil overdose, considering the character's history. The 1st season finale let me hope that Mac started at a low point and was overcoming his loss, and season two seems to confirm this.

So far, I truly love how the show handles the characters' evolution. Crossing my fingers for CSI:NY to be free of total character wreckage, like it happened...let's say, in almost every show on the long run.

Mac is not only an attaching character: he is a good boss. He has to make his subordinates go by the book, yet he is close to them, he is there when they need some advice. He also asks the veterans (Stella) for advice when he's lost: he isn't written as the know-it-all-always-right-from-the start character (and do I have to mention another CSI leader here?).

Shallow: every episode should include Mac, a black T-shirt and a katana.

If it's to slam Caruso, I think there's an indulgence for that. You should be safe, BeowulfGirl.

I'm with you on liking the characterization of Mac. He seems like a guy you'd want to work for. Solid, rational, but nice enough, and approachable. I still harbor some Grissom-love because I dig socially retarded genius characters, but they get a bit tiresome after a while if no one drags them, kicking and screaming, into some character development. And HoCaine, well...just no.

I like how Mac seems pretty in tune with his people. Seems to know when to nudge them along in their thought processes and when to swat them (verbally). It's deeply cool when he puts somebody in their place.

Edited to add a period, and a question.

Any thoughts as to what Mac did as a Marine? Job-wise, I mean. He's said stuff that shows he's served in combat overseas.

Beowulfgirl, I just realized that I also mentioned the character/actor who shall not be named in my post too. So, word again, and if one should be called up on this, I should be first for lack of originality.

Yes, exactly! If one of Mac's teams accidentally screws something up, they can always go to him without fear of being yelled at. Mac seems to be the kind of boss who would say something like; "Okay, what would you do to fix the situation?"

I only have three Mac-related requests:

1. More t-shirts
2. More guitar-playing
3. More weaponry

(Yes, I'm shallow).

Ack! I've only watched a few episodes of this show. Now I know I have missed out. ::sniff::

Why, yes. Yes you are.


Don't feel too bad, it was (so far) only in one episode. Sinise has his own band, The Lieutenant Dans. He comes by those forearms honestly.

And yep, I'm all for the weaponry too, beowulfgirl.

Oh, okay. Thanks, capnkidd! I feel better now. :) And that is so cool that Gary Sinise has a band in RL.

It was actually tucked into the episode quite naturally. A guitar had been used as a murder weapon, and Mack exercised more than a passing familiarity with the instrument, which is remarked upon by one of his co-workers. He says nothing.

The pay-off is at the end of the episode, when said co-worker walks into a gathering to see Mack, grinning and playing onstage with a band. Not singing, just happily playing guitar in the background. Great little scene, that.

Sinise and the Lieutenant Dans played several fundraisers down South for Katrina relief. I saw them. Really a great little band, low-key and lots of fun. Now you've got me wondering, namerie, whether that was the Lieutenant Dans on CSI:NY. 'Cause I have to confess....I really only had eyes for Sinise. The others I couldn't pick out of a line-up.

And BeowulfGirl thinks she's shallow? ;-)

Only if you ever said DC was better than GS. Gary Sinise makes David Caruso look like poo in the few scenes they’ve had together.

Also, to share my love, an interview with Gary Sinise. Scroll down, it's tucked in the column to the right.

Ah, for this, lostdwarf, much thanks.

You're welcome kidd. As much as I loved him before, the interview made me love him more.

Oh my God, no, I would never do that. Gary just outclasses him in every category you could think of.



In an attempt to explain this, I once mentioned to the BeowulfParents: "Comparing David Caruso to Gary Sinise is like holding up a candle next to the sun."

And, really, wouldn't we all rather work for Mac than Horatio?

Hell, I'd rather work for Mac than for Grissom. He's both good at the science/forensic stuff, and an actual competent boss-type-person.

Some summer random ramblings:

There have been discussions of Carmine and Eddie's accents in other threads, but after watching my Season 1 DVDs recently I got reminded that Gary has his own. I hardly ever notice it, maybe because I've lived in Illinois most of my life and so I've probably heard it more often, but Gary does have a Chicago accent. It really tickled me when I took notice of it in a scene in the first Miami/NY crossover when Gary says the word "cop."

It just tickles me because it's not as obvious as the other guys' (at least to me), and so it's kinda fun to try and listen for when it stands out. And I'm glad that they decided to build Chicago into Mac's backstory so that Gary's accent makes sense. Considering Mac's time spent in the Marines and in NY it's even understandable why the accent isn't particularly strong. (Or is it and I just don't notice?)

IMHO, the Chicago accent itself is fairly mild (using say, 'National News Anchor' as a baseline accent), unless you're talking the Southside variant (of SNL's "Da Bears" fame). And Gary doesn't (and shouldn't) have a Southside Chicago accent, so imho, it's just right that his accent only peeks out occasionally.

Of course, I was born, raised, and live in the greater Chicagoland area, so it's hard to tell the 'strength', since it's all just normal speech to me. :)

double post

I've found it to be no stronger than William Petersen's, which is to say that on some words it's really noticeable (for Petersen, it's car), but overall it's not distracting. I hope that made sense; I really need coffee.

Aw, I love Gary's voice...with that little raspy thing going on...and every now and then I'll notice his accent, but usually I don't. Oddly, I'm more likely to notice the accents of people when they come from where I'm from. I'll be halfway listening to the news and suddenly, instead of "National News Anchor," someone will sound familiar.

I remember when I found out he was from Chicago. I was watching some documentary on Ron Santo (former Cubs player) and WP and GS both showed up to talk about watching Santo play and it was really cool.

More summer randomness:

Watching last night's rerun (the one in between Stella getting beat up and Aiden's death) I realized that Mac wasn't wearing a tie. In the first season it was very rare to see him without one and from listening to the DVD commentaries I learned that that was a conscious decision, 1) because a NYPD detective told them that people at Mac's level always leave their jacket and ties on and 2) because Gary wanted to be like Reagan who evidently never took his coat off in the Oval Office.

Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone remembers whether Mac went without the tie often in Season 2? It seemed like such a major thing in the first season to the point that when he was without it at the dog show Stella commented on it and so I was wondering if he wore it less this last season and if that was some kind of indicator of Mac loosening up.

(I really need new episodes, don't I?)

Yes you do and now I want to re-watch the episode just to see him without a tie.

I so do.

IIRC, Mac hardly ever wore ties the whole second season. Which seems kind of strange that he would quit cold turkey like that, even after Stella finally got his tie off. I kind of wish he'd wear them again just because I loved how Stella couldn't leave his tie alone.

I also love how she can't keep her hands off him. ;)

What I really wish he'd wear again is the tux. Now that was smokin'.

I didn't watch the first season, but got very caught up in the second season. My friend loaned me her first season DVDs. I had read references to the tie and how he alwasy wore one and that Stella tried to get him to loosen up and stop wearing it. However, I found it interesting in the first episode, a cross-over with CSI:Miami, Mac was wearing a shirt with no tie and a (very nice looking) black leather coat. I thought it was a good look for him and wondered why after that they decided to put him in a suit and tie.

If you listen to the commentaries on the first season DVDs, I think it's Zuiker who says that after that first Miami/NY crossover a detective friend of his called him and let him know that a NY Detective wouldn't take off his suit coat or something like that and Gary liked the idea, etc.

I don't know why they decided to make him loosen up so suddenly in the second season. I know the show decided to get lighter and that they will stay with that since the ratings went up when that happened, but it seems like a somewhat drastic change in character without a real reason for it.

It wasn't just lighter as in lighthearted, but literally, lighter. I just bought the season one DVD's and it reminded me why I didn't get into the show in the first place - it was filmed so that almost all the scenes had half their face hidden in silhouette.

Which is fine and moody and all, but there is no way an interrogation is going to take place in a huge badly lit warehouse. I'm not that much for realism in television programs, after CSI itself is fairly unrealistic, but I do like to be able to see the Pretty.

But mostly I came here to thank whoever thought of this thread title, because flipping the pillows to the cool side (over & over) in the bleeping July heat last night made me think of Det. Mac Taylor. Talk about sweet dreams.

Ahhh. I hadn't listened to the commentaries. I guess that makes sense. I am going to be seeing a relative of mine later today who is a Detective in NYC and will ask about the suit/tie thing.

What the hell happened to Claire Forlani (new ME), and why was she completely absent in the past 2 episodes?

I was wondering the same thing. I am not complaining however as I really don't like her character, don't think she is a particularly good actor and don't want another person cluttering up a cast where I don't feel we see enough of the regular members as it is.

Plus, I really don't like her with Mac. I don't mind when they have characters reference a social life, but what I most like to see is the team interaction on the job.

For the Sinise fans in the DC area: he and his band are appearing at the Washington Auto Show on Saturday night....

http://washingtonautoshow.com/

That would be a HELL YEAH! He's got the family thing going with his team. (And I really shouldn't have a picture of him spanking CG in my head right now.) He has no problem with people calling him on his games. (For reference see 1.22 when Stella rips into him in english and Greek.) And he doesn't comprimise a crime scene. (Unlike Grissom.) Hell look at the amount of times he's ripped into Danny and Flack. And yet they still like him.

I only really watch CSI NY so when Horatio turned up in a repeat of NY I hadn't seen the other night I actually laughed out loud whenever he said anything, I thought it was a joke for the first couple of scenes and he was acting like that for a reason. I actually felt embarrased for him whenever he was in a scene with Gary Sinise as it made him look even worse. Yeah I think I will be sticking to Mac and NY only.

I know what you mean GenieUK. HoCaine with Mac is a joke. Although I think Grissom and Mac could probably work together quite well. Best Mac scene for me has to be the one in Silent Night. When the suspect makes his stupid comment about the victim being a bad match because she was deaf. You could almost see the disgust on Macs face.