CBS Contemplates Changes For The ‘CSI’ Franchise

All three CSI series may be dealing with casting and scheduling changes when the new season rolls around. (Minor spoilers after the jump!)

CSI Files previously reported that CSI: Crime Scene Investigation‘s leading lady Marg Helgenberger (Catherine Willows) may or may not return to the crime drama in the fall. As the season draws to a close, several members of the franchise will encounter familiar villains and set up cliffhanger endings that could find the CSI teams down one (or more) members come September. But cast changes aren’t the only adjustment facing the franchise—and the viewers—when the new season arrives. As CBS decides where to place new and returning series on the schedule for the fall, the CSI franchise could find itself shifted to different nights and times.

The original CSI has faced a 28% drop in ratings, and CBS may choose to move the show to a different timeslot when season eleven begins, Fancast reports. One option is to switch places with The Mentalist and air CSI at 10:00pm ET/PT on Thursdays (which the network tried earlier this season). Another option is to send the drama to Friday nights and open up a slot in the important Thursday lineup for a different programme.

CSI: Miami has also experienced a drop in ratings, especially with timeslot competitor Castle earning an increase in viewership this season. However, CBS might be looking to shake up the comedy lineup on Monday nights in the fall. Since Miami has maintained decent scores in the key viewer demographics, it could stay put during season nine.

The youngest member of the franchise is also the lowest rated of the CSI series. CSI: New York has lost 14% of its viewership, and new competition Law & Order: SVU has taken a bite out of New York‘s ratings. Lead-in Criminal Minds has stronger ratings, and CBS has the option to debut a spinoff in the fall. If the spinoff gets picked up, CBS may choose to follow the example it set with the NCIS spinoff NCIS: LA and air the series back-to-back. If the Minds spinoff (or any other new series) takes the place of CSI: NY on Wednesdays at 10:00pm ET/PT, Mac Taylor and his team could find themselves shifted to Friday (possibly paired with CSI) or Sunday for season six—or perhaps even put on the back burner until midseason rolls around.

Please note that these scheduling changes are just a rumour. CBS will unveil its fall schedule at the May 19 upfront event.

Source: Fancast. Thanks to KieBug and speedystokesgirl for the heads up.