PASADENA, Calif. — Miguel Ferrer is ready for the fight this fall, when his Crossing Jordan drama goes against CBS' spinoff, CSI: Miami.

        “Bring it on, man! Let's go,” he told the Television Critics Association during a press conference to promote the second season of NBC's Crossing Jordan. Both forensics dramas will air at 10 p.m. Monday this fall.

        “We love our show. It's a different show,” Mr. Ferrer says.

        Jill Hennessy stars as Boston medical examiner Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh, who works for Dr. Garret Macy (Mr. Ferrer). The NBC drama was the time-period winner last season.

        CSI: Miami, a spinoff from TV's top-rated drama, CBS' C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation, will star David Caruso (NYPD Blue)and Kim Delaney (Philly, NYPD Blue).

        “Both are police procedural shows, but you can't compare the two,” Mr. Ferrer says. “Their show is like watching a music video. You know nothing about those people. Ours is much more character-driven. It's more about the relationships and the people,” he says.

        Mr. Ferrer was disappointed to hear NBC Entertainment President Jeff Zucker say that Crossing Jordan would be David to CSI; Miami's Goliath.

        “Listen, man, that (new) show is unproven. I'm not giving up the ship at all,” he says. “We're the defending champs! Let's see what these guys have. I think we have different audiences. They're very different shows.

        “Our show is quirky, it's funny, it's unlike anything on TV,” he says. “I don't know why we didn't get the sizzle last year that Alias or 24 did. I hope this year we're able to gain some legitimacy and respect for what I think is really good, solid work.”

        Crossing Jordan returns with a 90-minute show at 9:30 p.m. Sept. 23. CSI: Miami premieres at 10 p.m. the same day.

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