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While it may have spawned a hugely successful TV franchise, counting a large number of spinoff shows among its many successes, signs are beginning to suggest the original CSI (now known to many as CSI: Las Vegas) could soon be facing the very real prospect of cancellation by CBS.
Signs began to show when CSI’s recent 15th season closed with a total of 18 episodes (a number trimmed from an originally scheduled 22 episode run, and the only time CSI has aired less than a full 22 episode season since the 2007/2008 writers strike), the network failed to secure and early renewal deal with lead actor Ted Danson (who’s contract ended with this season), and it’s latest spinoff CSI: Cyber began with an extremely questionable start (earning fairly average ratings despite cyber-crime being apparently hot subject matter, and being led by Oscar-winner Patricia Arquette).
Similar situations occurred with the cancellations of spinoff shows CSI: Miami and CSI: NY (Miami having aired a season finale in April and then being officially cancelled in May), though losing the mother-show will undoubtedly be more of a shock, should it perish without a proper sendoff (especially as it spawned CBS’ billion-dollar franchise).
Still, as yet the fate of CSI is unclear, and while the show has dwindled immensely from its heyday fans would understandably want a real goodbye for the show which began back in 2000, has aired 335 episodes to date, and may be relegated to a simple limited series (as short as a six-episode final chapter) for the last goodbye (if rumours are to be believed).
Matt Wheeldon – @TheMattWheeldon.
Source: Deadline.
