While renewing CSI every year used to be an easy decision for CBS, that’s not the case any longer as the ageing crime drama has clearly run its course. CBS still hasn’t figured out what to do for the show’s 16th season, but it definitely won’t be a full 22-episode season.
The top possibility that heated up Friday night is a two-hour movie, written by creator Anthony Zuiker and Ann Donahue. Entertainment Weekly reports that another option is a 13-episode season or a four-episode season and the two-hour TV movie.
CBS is also crossing their fingers and hoping to bring back William Peterson, who starred during in the early seasons of CSI and helped make the show an international success. However, there’s no deal in place.
CSI became a global brand and spun off two successful shows - CSI: Miami and CSI: New York. A third, CSI: Cyber with Patricia Arquette, launched this season to modest ratings. CBS is expected to still renew that one, even though it hasn’t done so yet.
George Eads left the show this season, meaning that there are no remaining stars from the first episode of CSI. The show currently stars Ted Danson and Elisabeth Shue.
Meanwhile, Zap2It has confirmed that CBS has already cancelled Vince Gilligan’s low-rated Battle Creek and Stalker. The McCarthys was also cancelled.
You can check out the list of new shows coming to CBS in the fall here here.
image of Ted Danson courtesy of INFphoto.com