All the CSI shows make me want to strangle the characters

On the whole, they don't write them particularly likably, but they don't fit the tortured past stereotype you complain about either. That's why I cited SVU and CI--it's Olivia Benson and Goren to a tee. Most of the other procedurals I watch vary from not-character-intensive (the CSIs, which are also pretty crap) to ones with characters who might have tortured pasts, but hardly carry it around as much as say, Gibbs does. Though I'd love to see him crossed over with Hotch from CM. At least one of them is totally in the clear for avenging his wife's death. But he was a bitter SOB before that even happened.

Epic, I know, right?? It totally bugged! I kept saying "they should know better, they film in LA!"

Ummm, poetic (whatever) license?

Because they couldn't get Castle to do it.

Jeffrey Deaver...Seamus Dever...that was weird for a second.

Oh, yeah. I hadn't actually noticed that.

So I'm rewatching Freaks and Geeks, and OMG... Sam Weir is Sweets! The cast of F&G just astounds me!

I KNOW, right? F&G was so amazingly cast.

Just saw the "social networking will kill you" episode of Criminal Minds. Am now freaked out.

Zen, didn't you get the memo that we're all ax murderers?

OK, I'm now recording CM eps on ion and A&E. The DVR is getting full, fast.

Can someone give me a rundown of the most important episodes, i.e. the ones I need to watch for character development and important plot points?

I blame ita and Vortex completely. The rest of you are accessories, so don't think you're off the hook either. Like I needed another show to watch....