Ep 20. Last Laugh

In the season 3 episode 20 of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, titled "Last Laugh," the team investigates the death of a stand-up comedian named Tim Sullenger. Tim is found dead in his dressing room, with his throat slit and a smiley face painted in blood on his face. The team is tasked with finding out who killed Tim and why.

The investigation leads the CSI team to a comedy club where Tim performed regularly. They start questioning his fellow comedians and friends to gather information about his personal and professional life. The team discovers that Tim was not very well-liked by his colleagues and many of them had a motive to kill him. One of the fellow comedians, Jeff Powell, had a heated argument with Tim on the night of his death.

As the investigation progresses, it is revealed that Tim was not just a stand-up comedian but also a drug addict. The team finds drug paraphernalia in his dressing room and suspects that his addiction might have played a role in his death. Additionally, they discover that Tim had a connection with one of the club's waitresses, Madison, who was also a drug addict.

The case takes an unexpected turn when the team uncovers a connection between Tim's death and a series of unsolved murders in the past. They find out that all the victims had a smiley face painted on their faces and that the murderer is someone known as the "Smiley Face Killer."

The team races against time to catch the killer before he strikes again. They discover that the killer has been targeting people who had wronged him in the past and that Tim was one of them. Tim had humiliated the Smiley Face Killer in front of a crowd during one of his comedy performances, and the killer swore to take revenge.

The CSI team manages to identify the Smiley Face Killer and tracks him down. In a dramatic showdown, they manage to apprehend the killer and bring him to justice. In the end, the team reflects on how small the world can be when it comes to uncovering crimes.

Overall, "Last Laugh" is a gripping and intense episode that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. It features a well-crafted plot, with several twists and turns that keep the audience guessing until the very end. The character development is also noteworthy, as the episode delves into the personal lives of the suspects and reveals their motivations for committing the crime. The acting is top-notch, with the main cast delivering strong performances that enhance the episode's emotional impact.