How accurate are shows such as 'CSI'?

There’s a certain allure to crime scene forensics. What else could explain the immense popularity of the CSI television franchise. According to the firm Media Metrics, the original CSI was the most watched program in the world last year. But how accurate are such media depictions? KBIA’s Intersection attempted to answer this question on a recent episode. The assembled panel included Mike Himmel, a retired detective and criminal justice instructor at Columbia College; Bill Marbaker, Crime Lab Director for the Missouri State Highway Patrol; and Captain Tim Hull, Director of Public Information and Education for Missouri State Highway Patrol.