The mothership is being decommissioned. A few weeks ago, we reported that CBS's long-running series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation was officially cancelled, but there was speculation about how (or if) it might wrap up. After 15 years of being a flagship franchise, you don't exactly just go off the air (unless you're Law & Order -- a mistake NBC made that CBS is clearly learning from).
A small note in CBS's fall schedule has now revealed the series' fate: a 2-hour finale that will feature the return of some original cast members, including William Petersen and Marg Helgenberger. That finale, on September 27th, will then be followed the next week with the season premiere of CSI: Cyber (which CSI cast member Ted Danson will now be joining). The circle of life.
So CSI will be gone, but not forgotten. The show ranked as the most-watched drama series in the world five times during its run. It also helped launch what feels like a thousand imitations since it began in 2000. Two of its spinoffs -- CSI: Miami and CSI: NY -- are gone, but the show also helped pave the way for series like NCIS and its spinoffs, Criminal Minds and its spinoffs, and many, many more. It also helped establish CBS has the home for procedurals about gruesome murders and the science-geared investigations that attempt to solve them (which have allowed CBS to clock some big numbers over the years both with ratings and overall viewership).
For more of our coverage on CBS's upfront presentation, check out the network's renewals and new series orders, as well as its full fall schedule. You can also keep up to date on the cancellation or renewals status of over 150 scripted broadcast and cable series with our TV Lifeline.
