Forgive me for saying so, but hitting 100 doesn't seem so special.

Pipe down, centenarians; I'm not referring to you guys. Heck, any human being who makes it to three digits deserves a mention on morning television at the very least, preferably from a portly weatherman's lips.

I'm talking about TV series -- specifically, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." Currently the highest rated show of the season, attracting nearly 30 million viewers last week, the father of CBS's blockbuster franchise officially makes it to the big 1-0-0 tonight at 9 on KIRO/7.

"CSI" joins other programs celebrating anniversaries this month, including UPN's underrated comedy "Girlfriends," which saw its odometer click over to 100 on Nov. 8, crossing a threshold few African American casts could dream of nearing. "Everybody Loves Raymond" aired its 200th Monday, an event that coincides with the sitcom's final season. Think of all the comedies that flamed out around these shows, which still have a few doses of funny left in them. That's worth recognizing.

However, a hundred episodes of "CSI" is no cause for ice sculptures and parades. Even if it's been the top drama for three seasons. Even if it's the first crime drama in TV history to be No. 1.

Unless one of the core cast members leaves and executive producers Anthony Zuiker and Jerry Bruckheimer screw up the structure -- horrendously, and on multiple occasions -- "CSI" has a decent shot at making it to 200. And beyond. "CSI's" toughest competition, NBC's "Law & Order," made the 300 mark in May 2003. Talk to us when you near that, Jer and Tony.

OK, we'll admit a certain awe at how thoroughly "CSI" saturated television has become, in a rather short amount of time. Grissom and the gang have only been on the job since 2000, and their tales have already spawned two spinoffs in "CSI: Miami" and the first serious competition for "L&O" on Wednesday nights, "CSI: NY."

Innovative, successful blueprints are rare in TV land, and "CSI" happens to have one everyone wants to duplicate. Actors have to be climbing over one another for roles as random as, say, victim No. 3. A number of series borrow "CSI's" storytelling devices, including CBS's "Cold Case" and NBC's "Medical Investigation," both known to get happy with the flashbacks, and Fox's "House," fond of close encounters with organs and blood cells.

"CSI" also remains ever renewable by sidelining the characters' personal lives, especially in recent seasons, to spotlight the crimes every week. This also means the actors are somewhat expendable, as George Eads (who plays Nick Stokes) and Jorja Fox (Sara Sidle) found out last summer when they angled for a pay raise and were fired, then rehired after a bit of groveling.

Perhaps the ultimate sign of pop cultural permeation is that "CSI" has a line of toys for children, which is too weird for words.

Formulate your own opinions about whether the "CSI" influence has made television better or worse; the surest thing about the crime drama is that it is dependable entertainment, week after week. Episodes with false starts are few and, even then, the stories usually manage to get back on course and chug excitingly toward each murder's gruesome unraveling. The show is the Japanese economy auto of broadcast television.

Looks as if it's celebrating in signature sweeps style too, with a murder investigation that takes Grissom (William Petersen), Catherine (Marg Helgenberger), Warrick (Gary Dourdan) and the rest into territory that middle America may consider a little freaky-deaky. Tonight's case file, titled "Ch-Ch-Changes," begins with the investigation into the horrible stabbing of a transgender woman. With no review tape to go on, why don't we let the press release do the talking? "This leads the team into the fringe world of sex changes and transgenders in order to catch a killer."

Of course it does.

That also means "CSI" addicts should expect twisted goodness. Time and again the writers have displayed a knack for handling, shall we say, intriguing aspects of Las Vegas that live up to the city's motto. What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but when happenings such as plushie parties, spouse swaps and vampiric nosh-fests end extra nastily, it's enough to make viewers jump for joy.

Channel surfing

Good news both for "Alias" and "Desperate Housewives" fans. According to the industry newsletter "The Programming Insider," Sydney Bristow's new ABC home will be Wednesdays after "Lost," starting Jan. 5. Which means Wednesday nights belong to J.J. Abrams , and the women of Wisteria Lane , residing in "Alias's" previous timeslot, won't move house. In other news, ABC officially picked up "Complete Savages" and "Rodney" for full season orders, and The WB is closing up shop on " Drew Carey 's Green Screen Show."