'CSI' looks even better in Miami

'CSI: Miami' Airs: 9 tonight, CBS (Channel 5) Stars: David Caruso, Kim Delaney, Emily Procter, Khandi Alexander, Adam Rodriguez, Rory Cochrane Nutshell: Better than the original. If I were running "CSI," I'd make three fixes: one, more money in the budget so the show didn't look so cheap sometimes; two, cast some people who actually light up a TV screen; three, tell the writers that if they put any more of those macabre puns in the scripts, they're fired. Somebody at the network must have thought the same thing, because this spin-off has none of those defects. In Caruso and Delaney the murder-by-numbers "CSI" format has two leads with proven star power on the small screen. The big redhead is only slightly muted from his "NYPD Blue" days; it's great to see him back. Delaney has an intriguing dark side to her, and I liked Alexander as a coroner who talks to her corpses. The Florida location shots are dazzling, although tonight's episode opens in a swamp in the Everglades, not exactly drop-dead scenery. (Wait, was that a pun? It must be contagious.) This just feels like the show "CSI" should have been all along. 'Half and Half' Airs: 8:30 tonight, UPN (Channel 29) Stars: Rachel True, Essence Atkins, Telma Hopkins, Valarie Pettiford, Chico Benymon Nutshell: This year's "Girlfriends." From urban-comedy impresario Yvette Lee Bowser ("Living Single," "For Your Love") comes another harmless adult romp about dating, friendship and people you can't believe you're related to. Mona (True) and Dee Dee (Atkins) are half-sisters who share a father and very little else. Mona was from the first marriage, and she's been unlucky in love and life; Dee Dee is still Daddy's little girl, and it shows. Both women have take-charge moms, and as you might guess, they don't think too highly of each other. I'm not sure how much mileage can be had from that set-up, but I found the first two episodes unexpectedly entertaining. The characters are distinct (and well cast), and the writing shows more than average insight into the human condition. To reach Aaron Barnhart, phone (816) 234-4790 or visit the TV Barn Web site at www.tvbarn.com. @ART CAPTION:Caruso at work with Khandi Alexander in the background. @ART:Photo (color)