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to take a random potshot at a hard-charging artiste who has toughed his way through challenge after challenge, including puberty, and quite another to cast aspersions on the depth and range of his talent.

"The funny answer," says Eric Deggans, media critic for the St. Petersburg Times, "is, We've been asking that question for years, too. The serious answer is, There are surprisingly few actors who have a charisma that viewers want to see. David Caruso has that. It was a humbling experience for him to go into movies and find it did not translate. But on television, people like to watch him."

Andy Dehnart, editor of TV-news site realityblurred.com, offers his own perspective on Caruso's putative charisma, telling AF, "I think it's because he's so terrifically bad that he's really awesome to watch. He is so absurdly bad that you can't possibly believe he's on television — that he's on a top-rated show. It's just all the more train-wrecky."

However, Glenn Garvin, TV critic for the Miami Herald, begs to differ: "I'm in a minority on this. And I acknowledge that it flies in the face of all recent evidence. But I think David Caruso is a talented actor."

For what it's worth, Mr. Garvin is also the founder and sole member of the Carrot Top Fan Club.

Got a question? Send it to answerfella@esquire.com.

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