When I first heard about CSI: The Experience coming to Dublin's Ambassador, I've got to admit, I was a bit flummoxed.

Taking America's No1 TV show about a crime investigation unit's crime-solving adventures into the live arena does sound ever-so-slightly bonkers.

"No, no, it's all incredibly sane stuff," offers Wallace Langham, who plays lab technician David Hodges in the TV phenomenon. "The thing is, this is not necessarily a show, it's an exhibit," Langham laughs. "It's not a stage show."

Before CSI made him a bona-fide star by placing his smiling face in the opening credits, Wallace Langham was one of those actors who was everywhere and nowhere, a regular on the likes of The Larry Sanders Show and Veronica's Closet while also popping up in the occasional hit movie (Little Miss Sunshine, Weird Science).

Now that Langham is finally ready for his close-up, he's not quite sure what he's going to do with it.

PAUL BYRNE: Being a Jerry Bruckheimer production, success was always a strong possibility with CSI, but it's proven to be a worldwide phenomenon. Why do you think that is?

WALLACE LANGHAM: The only thing I can figure is people's desire to solve a mystery. Which is basically like a game, or a challenge, and it does get people to think. They want to work along with the detectives, I believe, and then there's a deep sense of the macabre in a lot of people. I think that people do genuinely like the blood and the guts. Luckily, it's all fake and make-believe, but there are so many different ways to kill someone that I think it's fascinating [laughs]. We do a lot for the public!

PB: Spoken like a true American! A true Texan!

WL: Yeah, we have a thirst for blood.

PB: Your old Larry Sanders Show cast mate Janeane Garofalo spoke of how that show has given her enormous street cred. How was it for you?

WL: I've got to say, it's an extreme honour to be part of television history. I feel like lightening struck twice, in a way. Sanders in and of itself was like Christmas every week, just to go in and read a script, and see what we could get away with. And every year when we would finish a season, I would just thank Garry for putting me on it, because it was a life-changing experience. And then to be on something as wildly popular as CSI, that's a real bonus.

PB: Given that you're finally a household name, are you content?

WL: It's definitely a very easy thing to do, being on a television show -- the bills are paid, everybody's fed, you know, life is comfortable -- and the fact that I can hang on to a No1 television show and go and do stuff like Little Miss Sunshine or The Great Buck Howard, stuff like that, is just a dream career. But my intention is to move forward in larger ways. I don't have a specific gameplan, but the general idea is to, see how I can expand as a creator.

PB: I'm getting a petition together to declare The Larry Sanders Show is the greatest TV comedy of all time. Care to sign?

WL: Oh, wonderful, wonderful. I would have to say, as far as American television goes, yes, it is the greatest.

The CSI Experience is currently at Dublin's Ambassador Theatre

- Paul Byrne