CSI (franchise)
CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) is a media franchise of American television series created by Anthony E. Zuiker. The first three CSI series follow the work of forensic scientists as they unveil the circumstances behind mysterious deaths, while the fourth series, CSI: Cyber, emphasizes behavioral psychology and how it can be applied to cyber forensics.
| CSI | |
|---|---|
CSI series logos | |
| Created by | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Anthony E. Zuiker CSI: Miami, CSI: NY and CSI: Cyber Anthony E. Zuiker Carol Mendelsohn Ann Donahue CSI: Vegas Jason Tracey |
| Original work | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation |
| Owner | Paramount Global |
| Years | 2000–2016; 2021–2024 |
| Print publications | |
| Book(s) | CSI novels |
| Comics | CSI comics |
| Magazine(s) | CSI Magazine |
| Films and television | |
| Television series | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation CSI: Miami CSI: NY CSI: Cyber CSI: Vegas |
| Television film(s) | Immortality |
| Games | |
| Traditional | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: The Board Game CSI: Crime Game Booster Pack CSI: Senses: The Game CSI: Miami: The Board Game CSI: Board Game |
| Video game(s) | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation CSI: Dark Motives CSI: 3 Dimensions of Murder CSI: Hard Evidence CSI: Miami CSI: NY CSI: Deadly Intent CSI: Crime City CSI: Fatal Conspiracy |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Toy(s) | CSI: Forensics Lab CSI: DNA Laboratory CSI: Forensic Facial |
| Exhibition | CSI: The Experience |
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation began on October 6, 2000, and ran for fifteen full seasons. Starring (at various times) William Petersen, Ted Danson, Marg Helgenberger, Elisabeth Shue, and Laurence Fishburne, the series concluded its run with a two-hour finale entitled "Immortality" on September 27, 2015. The series' original lead characters, Gil Grissom and Catherine Willows, were based upon Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Crime Scene Analysts Daniel Holstein and Yolanda McClary. CSI's first spin-off and the second series within the franchise is CSI: Miami, which ran for ten seasons between 2002 and 2012, and was canceled on May 13, 2012. Miami stars David Caruso and Emily Procter, with its lead character, Horatio Caine, based upon Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) bomb squad technician Detective John Haynes.
In 2004, CSI: Miami spun off CSI: NY, the third series in the franchise and the only indirect spin-off of CSI. It was canceled on May 10, 2013, after nine seasons. The series starred Gary Sinise, Melina Kanakaredes, and Sela Ward. In 2014, CSI spun off CSI: Cyber, its second direct spin-off and the fourth series in the franchise. Cyber premiered in 2015, and starred Patricia Arquette and franchise alumnus Ted Danson—the only actor to appear as a series regular in more than one CSI series. The lead character, Avery Ryan, was inspired by cyber-psychologist Mary Aiken, who was attached to the series as a producer. CSI: Cyber was canceled on May 12, 2016.
In 2020, CBS began considering a limited series revival featuring original CSI: Crime Scene Investigation cast members, William Petersen and Jorja Fox. It was eventually greenlighted, with a video teaser for CSI: Vegas released on March 31, 2021, the season airing from October 6 to December 8, 2021, and renewed for a second season with Peterson or Fox, starring original CSI: Crime Scene Investigation cast member Marg Helgenberger, airing for another two seasons from September 29, 2022 to May 19, 2024 before its cancellation, ending the franchise again.
Five television series make up the CSI franchise: Crime Scene Investigation, Miami, NY, Cyber, and Vegas. All series in total amount to 833 episodes across 39 seasons of television.