'CSI' canceled: Petersen, Helgenberger returning for fall finale
"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" will end its 15-season run in a two-hour episode this fall, with original stars William Petersen and Marg Helgenberger returning for the finale, CBS executives announced Wednesday.
NEW YORK -- "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" will end its 15-season run in a two-hour episode this fall, with original stars William Petersen and Marg Helgenberger returning for the finale, CBS executives announced Wednesday.
Ted Danson, one of the show's current stars, will transfer to spinoff "CSI: Cyber," which moves to 10 p.m. Sundays this fall, where he'll co-star with Patricia Arquette.
The finale, scheduled for Sept. 27, will mark the end of a remarkable run. "CSI," which paved the way for a number of shows that married science and crimefighting, anecdotally also influenced many young viewers to pursue careers in forensics.
"It was just a natural evolution of a hit show," CBS CEO Leslie Moonves said Wednesday, in an interview during a press breakfast where the network's 2015-16 schedule was unveiled. "This was a show that was No. 1 for six years. This was a big deal. And you know what? It ran its course."
That said, it left its mark.
"A lot of other shows [on CBS and other networks] were influenced by the 'CSI' procedural," Moonves said.
As for the show's effect on the world outside television, "I have been told by more than one politician, including the governor of Massachusetts, that 'CSI' hurt their ability to close murder cases, because people expected the cases to be resolved, and most cases aren't solved that easily."
In other fall scheduling news, Jenkintown's Bradley Cooper will appear in the premiere of CBS' "Limitless," a new CBS drama based on the film in which he starred, said CBS entertainment president Nina Tassler. Cooper's also an executive producer on the show, which will air at 10 p.m. Tuesdays. His character will recur on the show, "subject to his availability," Tassler said.
Other highlights of CBS' fall plans, which were to be unveiled to advertisers Tuesday afternoon at Carnegie Hall:
-- Five new shows, three dramas and two comedies, will join the fall schedule. Some returning series, and two other new dramas, "Rush Hour" and "Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders," will premiere later as part of the network's now year-round programming strategy.
-- Besides "Limitless," which stars Jake McDorman as a man who takes a neuro-enhancing drug and ends up working for the FBI, the new dramas include: "Code Black," inspired by a documentary about "the busiest, most notorious ER in the nation; and "Supergirl," starring Melissa Benoist as Superman's super cousin.
-- Comedies include "Life in Pieces," a family comedy whose cast includes Oscar winner Dianne Wiest, James Brolin, Thomas Sadoski, Colin Hanks and Betsy Brandt; and "Angel From Hell," starring "Glee's" Jane Lynch as a "guardian angel" who may or may not be heaven-sent.
Returning shows include: "NCIS," "NCIS New Orleans," "Blue Bloods," "Criminal Minds," "CSI: Cyber," "Elementary," "The Good Wife," "Hawaii Five-0," "Madam Secretary," "NCIS: Los Angeles," "Person of Interest," "Scorpion," "The Big Bang Theory," "Mom," "The Odd Couple," "Mike & Molly" and "2 Broke Girls," "Survivor," "The Amazing Race," "Undercover Boss," "60 Minutes," "48 Hours," and "Big Brother."
Outta here (besides "CSI"): "Stalker," "Battle Creek," "The McCarthys."