{
  "id": 11729919,
  "title": "Criminal Minds Star Aisha Tyler Had A Recurring Role On Another Massively Popular Procedural",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/criminal-minds-star-aisha-tyler-had-a-recurring-role-on-another",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-03T17:12:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TVLine",
    "slug": "tvline",
    "url": "https://www.tvline.com/2271831/criminal-minds-aisha-tyler-recurring-role-procedural-csi/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Aisha Tyler, a well-known actress, has had a recurring role on the popular procedural series **Criminal Minds** since 2015. However, her foray into the world of crime-solving dramas began years earlier. Tyler appeared in **13 episodes of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CSI)** between **2000 and 2015**.\n\nIn CSI, Tyler played the role of Mia Dickerson, a DNA lab technician known for her ability to deliver quick results. Her journey in CSI started in **Season 5, Episode 3** titled \"Harvest,\" which focused on the abduction of a young girl. Her second appearance was in **Season 5, Episode 5** titled \"Swap Meet,\" where the team tried to solve the murder of a woman who had attended a spouse-swapping party.\n\nTyler's breakthrough in CSI came during her audition when she impressed the casting directors with her pronunciation of certain terms, which she credits for landing her the role. She revealed this in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, stating that her pronunciation skills were a significant factor in her selection.\n\nAlthough Tyler is primarily known for her work in comedy, including her recurring role on **Friends**, she was eager to challenge herself with the gritty drama of CSI. She expressed her excitement about the opportunity, noting that it was a refreshing change from her previous roles. Tyler was also part of a short arc on the series **24**, where she played Marianne Taylor for seven episodes.\n\nInterestingly, Tyler auditioned for both CSI and 24 simultaneously. Despite the pressure of juggling two high-profile roles, both shows accommodated her schedule, allowing her to balance her appearances between the two series. Tyler humorously shared that she would alternate between filming and then \"break down sobbing at the end of the week and drink a very large glass of wine.\"",
  "summary": "Before joining Criminal Minds, Aisha Tyler had a recurring role on another popular procedural as a lab tech whose skills made her a fan favorite.",
  "key_points": [
    "Aisha Tyler had recurring role on CSI from 2000 to 2015",
    "Tyler appeared in 13 episodes of CSI, known for DNA lab work",
    "Tyler transitioned from comedy to drama with Criminal Minds"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}