RENE (cont.)
mostly because [the other shows] weren't paying attention to what we were doing. Even though crime is sort of an endlessly renewable resource, there are just certain crimes that capture the imagination of writers. Whether it's for the other Law & Order shows or even CSI. CSI has done episodes on crimes that we've done in the past. There are certain intrinsic things about popular crimes that just really get to you. Naturally, writers will gravitate to those stories.

CAROLE
How do you structure your writing season?

RENE
We don't really arc out stuff. All the writers meet at the beginning of the season and we critique the past season. We talk about Goren's character - where we want to take him. This year we made a decision to try and get him a little more engaged with the perps, and move him a little closer to his edge, into his zone of discomfort. We don't just want to do a mystery show.

CAROLE
(sincerely) The show is well-known for its great characters, which makes viewers want to know more about those characters.