CSI's Rascal Flatts Episode Is One Of The Worst-Rated On IMDb

Every "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" fan knows that the CBS crime drama series released over 300 episodes. Although some are exceptional, there are several that people didn't care for at all, including the poorly rated entry on IMDb that featured the Grammy-nominated country band Rascal Flatts.

The popular group appeared in Season 10, Episode 14 ("Unshockable"), where bassist Jay DeMarcus gets electrocuted on stage during a show, and all signs point to deliberate sabotage, putting CSI on the case. The ordeal causes DeMarcus to lose his memory and showcase an affinity for hip-hop music, which leads to him throwing down a rap song at a concert. The investigation involved a surgical guitar dissection and an encounter with a dumpster-diving superfan. Even if the storyline is definitely unique, it didn't go over that great with fans.

Some viewers thought the narrative was poorly crafted, like one IMDb reviewer who posted, "The electrocution of the bass player is ridiculous and his memory loss and movement toward rap is even worse." Others weren't thrilled about how much screen time was given to the band playing on stage. "Rascal Flatts spending many minutes playing songs is irritating," another IMDb user complained. And when it came to the performances from the band, u/Mel-day-Luge wasn't exactly a fan, writing on Reddit, "Rascal Flatts acting was especially cringe-worthy."

While Rascal Flatts and "CSI" have generated a substantial following, it seems pretty clear from the fans' reaction that the group's episode is not a chart-topping sensation that will be making its way to either the band's or the show's greatest hits album. Even though many certainly didn't like it, some may wonder how the group feels about their time on the series.

Any music group will testify that not every gig will go how it's supposed to, and regardless of anyone's best efforts, sometimes fans will walk away disappointed. While "Unshockable" has been arguably deemed unwatchable, at least according to the dismal IMDb rating and poor reception, the band has admitted they enjoyed their time on "CSI."

Playing music on stage in front of people and cameras isn't anything Rascal Flatts can't handle, but they were a bit out of their depth as actors on "CSI." Still, that didn't stop them from taking on such a rewarding challenge. "It was really cool because we get to play our parts, but the drama stuff was really interesting,"  guitarist Joe Don Rooney said during a CMT interview with the band. "We've never done this stuff before, so it's been fun to play ourselves but play different emotions within ourselves towards each other — and aggressive ones, at times." 

Jay DeMarcus, who flexed his acting skills the most with his amnesiac hip-loving turn, felt that it was a satisfying change of pace. "Our main focus is getting out on the road and making records, but as we have time and time goes on and we have more opportunities that come up, we'll probably do a little bit more of it," he said. "I certainly enjoyed my experiences. I think we all did."

The group may have had a positive experience, but lead singer Gary LeVox feels somewhat strongly that their talents are better suited to playing music than playing pretend, saying, "We're better musicians than we are actors — I think." In spite of what fans think, Unshockable will always stand out as a "CSI" one-hit wonder in the eyes of Rascal Flatts.