Originally branded as an epilogue limited series, the show was renewed for a second season in December 2021, without Fox, Petersen, or Rodriguez returning.[1] The first season consisted of ten episodes. The second season premiered on September 29, 2022, consisting of 21 episodes.[2] On February 21, 2023, CBS renewed CSI: Vegas for a shortened third season, consisting of ten episodes.[3][4]
On November 13, 2023, CBS announced the premiere date for its shows. The third season premiered on February 18, 2024, moving to Sunday nights.[5] In April 2024, the series was canceled after three seasons.[6] The series finale aired on May 19, 2024.
Paula Newsome as Maxine "Max" Roby, head of the Las Vegas Crime Lab
Matt Lauria as Joshua "Josh" Folsom, a CSI Level III who is typically the lead investigator on cases. He is demoted to Level I in season 3 after going rogue to avenge his mother's murder, but is reinstated to Level III at the end of the series finale.
Mandeep Dhillon as Ahalya "Allie" Rajan, a CSI recently promoted to Level III who is an immigrant who followed her dreams to Las Vegas.
Mel Rodriguez as Dr. Hugo Ramirez, the Chief Medical Examiner (season 1)
An attack on Jim Brass brings Gil Grissom and Sara Sidle out of retirement, only for them to uncover a conspiracy that could jeopardize the Las Vegas crime lab and lead to the release of thousands of convicted killers.
While Grissom and Sara try to help a former colleague implicated in evidence tampering, the CSI team investigates the murder of a couple on their wedding day and find a link to the dark side of the Las Vegas elite.
As Grissom and Sara continue their investigation into charges against David Hodges, the CSIs investigate the murder of a video game developer found in a fountain before a gaming tournament.
The CSI team investigates when a body is dug up in the luau pit of a Hawaiian-themed hotel. Also, Internal Affairs begins to question Grissom and Sara's return to the crime lab.
A cargo plane lands safely but with everyone on board dead. Meanwhile Grissom and Sara get closer to the one suspected of framing Hodges, only to find out that he is killed and thus not the mastermind.
CSI goes on lockdown when evidence in a new murder tips off Grissom and Sara to a new suspect in the crime lab. Meanwhile the CSIs investigate a series of murders at a dilapidated clown-themed hotel.
A lost horse is found in front of a hotel with human blood and a boot on it. The police search leads them to a halfway house for murder convicts. Meanwhile Grissom and Sara positively identify Wix as the mastermind behind Hodges' case as his sister brags that Wix will never be apprehended for the crime.
The CSIs investigate human remains found in a convention center owner's bathtub. Meanwhile, Grissom and Sara use the opportunity to get closer to Wix's star witness.
The CSIs delve into the eccentric world of sideshows when a couple of performers are found burned in a pit. Meanwhile, Hodges thinks over a plea deal as his trial begins while Max, Grissom and Sara look for evidence to exonerate him.
When Hodges goes missing, the CSIs must search for evidence that can locate him, clear his name, and save the reputation of the crime lab. Hodges is found alive, and Wix is charged.
Catherine Willows persuades Maxine Roby to let her join the CSI team. Meanwhile the CSIs investigate the murder of a dominatrix found near her secret sex dungeon.
As Halloween descends on Las Vegas, the CSIs investigate a popular haunted house when a mannequin prop turns out to be a real dead body. Catherine enlists help from Folsom to locate her missing friend.
When three masked assailants invade a home and murder an entire family, the team is called to the scene to investigate; Catherine leads the team through the emotional case, which intensifies her own longing to reconnect with her estranged daughter.
CSI is called to investigate a banquet celebrating the sale of a university-developed medical technology to a defense contractor, after a number of guests suddenly grow ill, with three people dying. Meanwhile, Catherine enlists Grace's roommate to find clues following Grace's disappearance.
Catherine becomes more frustrated when a lead suspect in Grace's disappearance is found dead. The CSI team uses all their skills to find the killer, and if his death will lead them to Grace.
While the rest of the team searches for the missing mother of a young boy after he is found hiding in a garage, Max is sent a familiar, cryptic note written in silver ink.
After the skeletal remains of two people are found next to a creek, Allie discovers that one of them dates back from the Neolithic ages. Meanwhile, a seemingly open-and-shut case of self-defense leads to confusion as Max finds another link to the Silver Ink murders.
When a man in an alleyway dies with seemingly three conflicting causes of death, Folsom must track which suspect is responsible for the murder. Meanwhile, Max and Allie follow a lead to their main suspect related to the Silver Ink murders.
After the main suspect of the Silver Ink murders is found dead, the lives of the CSI team are put on the line as they delve deeper into the true motive behind the killings.
Molly Tate, a prior survivor to the Silver Ink murders is killed, and her body booby-trapped with a mysterious poison, hospitalizing Sonya in the process of the autopsy. Meanwhile, the team attempts to find an antidote, and decipher the strange silver ink symbols.
Max confronts a grieving and angry mother when the remains of their young daughter are found dumped inside a drum at Lake Mead. Meanwhile, Greg Sanders returns to the crime lab to offer his assistance with the team.
The team investigates a pop-up outdoor masquerade party in the desert celebrating the construction of an upcoming casino, after an explosion winds up killing three people in the blast. Meanwhile, Folsom stumbles into a predicament when a dead body is found at his friend’s apartment.
Allie’s judgement is tested when Gene Farrow, a former suspect from The Painted Man murder, walks into the crime lab covered in blood and wielding a cleaver. Meanwhile, Max sees a therapist to help her cope with her anger issues following her assault. Also, Folsom has trouble connecting with his estranged mother after the arrest of his childhood friend Trey.
As the team investigates the death of a local news meteorologist found inside a nut processing factory, Max contemplates who to promote to Dayshift Supervisor. Also, Folsom struggles to balance his relationship with Chavez while investigating his mother’s drug problems.
Folsom spirals into an emotional frenzy when his mother is found murdered inside a warehouse. After reuniting with Trey, they both set out to hunt for the killer. The episode ends when the main suspect is then found dead in a dumpster, Josh surrenders and is arrested.
Folsom’s future hangs in the balance as the rest of the team questions his innocence following his surrender, while simultaneously under pressure from a notorious crime family responsible for Jeanette’s murder.
Catherine’s recent involvement with the Tarquenio family triggers a memory from five years earlier that may be the only clue to bring them down. Also, Folsom is acquitted of all charges, however, Nora Cross returns to CSI to investigate his questionable actions.
The team investigates the world of celebrity impersonators when two dead bodies resembling Frank Sinatra and Joey Bishop are found rotting within a wall. Also, Max has to decide Josh’s future at CSI.
After an unusually-carved body is discovered inside the basement of an abandoned hospital, Allie is trapped at the crime scene when an explosion separates her from the rest of the team. When more bodies are discovered inside, CSI faces the possibility of a serial cannibal roaming Las Vegas.
CSI is called to investigate the death of a man killed inside an automated kinematics research facility, but when one of the dozen humanized androids at the scene is coated in the victim’s blood, the team questions if the robot’s AI is capable of murder, or was purposely reprogrammed to do so.
A massive leak of uranium leaves a father and son dead in their home, forcing CSI to take additional precautions as they try to find the source, motive and killer while investigating the radioactive crime scene. Meanwhile, Max continues to investigate the murder at the kinematics research facility when she finds additional evidence leading to another culprit.
When a fitness instructor is killed in a sauna and his soon to be son-in-law shot dead in the Nevada mountains within the same night, and the only other connection between the two cases being a series of freak accidents leading to their deaths, the team attempts to separate the superstition from the evidence. Also, Chavez goes undercover to help Max with the unsolved case at Mojave Kinematic Designs.
While Chavez and Max search for a missing suspect in their ongoing investigation of Mojave Kinematic Designs, the rest of the team is called to investigate the bizarre and gruesome discovery of an intact human nervous system displayed at a local car dealership.
Penny takes charge of her first homicide case when a man stumbles into oncoming traffic with an unusual gunshot wound and no primary crime scene to work with. Meanwhile, Catherine, Chris and Max continue to investigate Mojave Kinematic Designs; their findings lead them to an underground science facility, along with a massive discovery that confirms their conspiracy.
In the series finale, Max is kidnapped and Chris is hospitalized following an ambush at a Mojave Kinematic Designs facility, leaving the rest of the team to find their boss and her captors within a labyrinth of neighboring underground tunnels before it’s too late.
Production
Development
Following the airing of the series finale of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation in 2015, series creator Anthony E. Zuiker said the future of the characters would be that "Grissom and Sara ... [would still be] sailing the oceans, ... saving the environment, ... [would have] children, and they would dedicate their lives to the betterment of humanity. ... Catherine would still be running the crime lab, ... [Brass] probably would retire, ... and DB probably is working in the private sector in Washington DC. And I think that all these characters would still have their toe in the crime water."[52]
Soon after the cancellation of the last series in the franchise, CSI: Cyber, in 2016, it was announced that the producers were open to reviving the franchise. The CBS Entertainment president at the time, Glenn Geller, said, "We are incredibly proud of all CSI shows. It may come back in another incarnation."[53] On February 10, 2020, it was announced that an event series sequel to CSI: Crime Scene Investigation was being discussed, from Jason Tracey, CBS Studios, and Jerry Bruckheimer Television, with Tracey, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Jonathan Littman as executive producers.[54]
On August 10, 2020, it was announced that the series was still in development, now titled CSI: Vegas, with the original star of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, William Petersen, set to executive produce alongside Tracey, Bruckheimer, Littman, KirstieAnne Reed, Zuiker, Craig O'Neill, and Cynthia Chvatal.[55] In February 2021, the series was nearing a formal straight-to-series order. It was also announced that although it is being billed as an event series, it could become an ongoing series airing multiple seasons.[56]
On March 31, 2021, it was announced that CSI: Vegas had officially been ordered to series, with Uta Briesewitz directing the pilot.[57] On December 15, 2021, CBS renewed the series for a second season.[1] CBS Entertainment president Kelly Kahl confirmed that the second season will be longer than 13 episodes, although the network currently has "not done a final tally yet".[58] In October 2022, Anthony E. Zuiker teased that the second season will consist of at least 17 episodes.[59] It was later revealed that the season would comprise 21 episodes in total.[60] On February 21, 2023, CBS renewed CSI: Vegas for a third season,[3][4] which has premiered on February 18, 2024, consisting only 10 episodes.[5] On April 19, 2024, CBS canceled the series after three seasons.[6]
Casting
On February 10, 2020, it was announced that two of the original stars of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Petersen and Jorja Fox, were in talks to potentially reprise their roles as Gil Grissom and Sara Sidle.[54] On August 10, 2020, it was announced that Petersen and Fox were still in negotiations to return, and that casting was under way for five new characters.[55]
On February 12, 2021, it was revealed that Paula Newsome, Matt Lauria, and Mel Rodriguez had been cast in the series. Lauria and Rodriguez both previously guest-starred as different characters in the franchise. It was also revealed that Petersen and Fox were finalizing their deals.[56] On March 31, 2021, it was announced that Mandeep Dhillon had been cast in the series.[61]
Later that day, it was revealed that Wallace Langham would reprise his role as David Hodges, and Petersen and Fox were officially announced as being cast.[57] On May 3, 2021, it was announced that Jamie McShane had been cast in a recurring role and that Paul Guilfoyle would reprise his role as Jim Brass in two episodes.[62] In September 2021, Zuiker hinted that additional CSI: Crime Scene Investigation characters may make appearances in the series.[63]
On December 15, 2021, it was announced alongside the second season renewal that Petersen won't return as a cast member, though he would remain as executive producer. On January 25, 2022, it was announced that Fox will also not return for the second season.[64] Two days later, it was announced that Rodriguez would leave ahead of the second season as well.[65] On February 11, 2022, it was announced that Marg Helgenberger will reprise her role as Catherine Willows in the second season.[66] On May 24, 2022, it was announced that recurring actor Jay Lee would be upgraded to series regular and that Lex Medlin and Ariana Guerra would join the cast as regulars.[67] On December 15, 2022, it was reported that Eric Szmanda would reprise his role as Greg Sanders in several episodes during the latter half of the second season.[68][69]
Filming
On August 10, 2020, it was announced that filming was planned to start in the fall of 2020, whenever COVID-19 conditions permitted Hollywood production to resume.[55] On January 8, 2021, it was announced that the series is set to begin production in early 2021.[70] Filming began May 4, 2021, and was scheduled to run until November 4, 2021, in Los Angeles, California.[71] On August 22, 2021, it was reported that Petersen had been taken to a hospital after becoming ill during filming.[72]
Release
Broadcast
The series was originally planned to air on October 6, 2020, to mark 20 years since the day of the premiere of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.[54] However, on August 10, 2020, it was announced that due to COVID-19 related production shutdowns, the series would not be able to meet that premiere date.[55] On January 8, 2021, it was announced that the series was set to air during the 2021–22 television season.[70] On May 19, 2021, CBS announced that the series would premiere in fall 2021, on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET.[73] On July 12, 2021, a premiere date of October 6, 2021, was announced by CBS, to mark 21 years since the day of the premiere of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.[74] The first season comprises ten episodes.[63]
Outside the United States
The first season was premiered on Alibi in July 2022, with the second season premiering in December 2022 in the United Kingdom. The series also aired in many Asian territories and Latin America on AXN.
