CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) is a media franchise of American television series created by Anthony E. Zuiker and owned by CBS Studios. 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: 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.Staff (December 5, 2000). "Meet the Real C.S.I." . KLAS-TV. Retrieved March 16. 2015. CSI 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.Scheiber, Dave (January 1, 2004). "Crossing the line". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
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.Goldberg, Lesley (May 10, 2013). "CBS Cancels CSI: NY After Nine Seasons". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 10, 2013. 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.Hibberd, James (March 5, 2014). "Patricia Arquette to star in CSI spinoff". Entertainment Weekly. CSI: Cyber was canceled on May 12, 2016.Ausiello, Michael (May 12, 2016). "CSI: Cyber Cancelled at CBS" . TVLine. Retrieved 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 without either Petersen 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.
Overview The CSI franchise is available in 200 territories with an audience of two billion people.Gilbert, Gerard (December 19, 2006). "CSI: The cop show that conquered the world". The Independent. Retrieved April 22, 2007. Various spin-offs have been developed to cater for the market including novels, comic books, and computer games.
The franchise has had a large cultural impact. It has spawned what has been called the "CSI effect", in which juries often have unreasonable expectations of real-life forensics because of what they have seen on CSI. Equally, the new-found popularity of forensics dramas on television has led to an increase in applications for courses dealing with forensic science or archaeological science—in the United Kingdom applications are up by 30%.Hackett, Paul (March 28, 2007). "Want a career in forensics? Here's some hard evidence". The Guardian. Retrieved April 22, 2007. The franchise is so influential that fellow CBS show How I Met Your Mother advertised itself as "not a Crime Scene Investigation show".CBS (August 20, 2007). "How I Met Your Mother -- CSI: Style". YouTube. Retrieved February 19, 2014. In some ways the franchise may also fill a cultural need:
The "CSI effect" is considered by some experts to be responsible for helping criminals covering up evidence that could be used to trace them using techniques learned by watching CSI and other shows in the same genre.Rowlands, Ted (February 15, 2006). "'CSI effect' cuts both ways: Experts say crime shows help law enforcement and criminals". CNN. Retrieved April 30, 2010. A 2018 study could not find conclusive evidence for the existence of this effect.
Series CSI: Miami and CSI: Cyber spun off from CSI, and CSI: NY spun off from CSI: Miami, all via backdoor pilot episodes. CSI: Vegas was not launched via a backdoor pilot episode, and instead premiered 21 years to the day of CSI: Crime Scene Investigations launch.
Timeline CSI: Miami and CSI: Cyber spun off from CSI, and CSI: NY spun off from CSI: Miami, all via backdoor-pilot episodes. Series Television seasons Duration2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 CSI 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Finale 2000–15 CSI: Miami Pilot 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 2002–12 CSI: NY Pilot 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 2004–13 CSI: Cyber Pilot 1 2 2015–16 CSI: Vegas 1 2 3 2021–24
Characters Series Character Series appearances Actor First Last CSI Miami NY Cyber Vegas CSI: Crime Scene Investigation In addition to appearing in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and CSI: Vegas, Petersen also guest-starred as Grissom in "Where and Why", episode 6.06 of Without a Trace.Main Main 2000 2021 Main Main 2000 2024 Main 2000 2008 Main 2000 2015 Main Guest 2000 2021 MainMain 2000 2021 Main Recurring 2000 2023 Main 2000 2015 Main 2004 2011 Main Recurring 2003 2021 Main 2008 2009 MainGuestGuest 2008 2011 Main 2005 2010 Main 2000 2015 Ted Danson joined the main cast of CSI: Cyber following the ending of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.MainGuestMain 2011 2016 Main 2011 2015 Main 2012 2015 Main 2005 2015 CSI: Miami GuestMainGuest 2002 2012 GuestMain 2002 2012 GuestMain 2002 2012 GuestMain 2002 2009 GuestMain 2002 2007 Main 2002 2002 Main 2003 2009 Main 2004 2012 Main 2003 2012 Main 2005 2012 Main 2008 2009 Main 2009 2010 Main 2009 2012 CSI: NY GuestGuestMain 2004 2013 GuestMain 2004 2010 GuestMain 2004 2013 GuestMain 2004 2006 GuestMain 2004 2013 Main 2004 2013 Main 2005 2013 Main 2005 2013 Main 2005 2013 Main 2010 2013 CSI: Cyber Guest Main 2014 2016 Main 2015 2016 Main 2015 2015 Main 2015 2016 Main 2015 2016 Main 2015 2016 Ted Danson joined the main cast of CSI: Cyber following the ending of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.MainGuestMain 2011 2016 CSI: Vegas Maxine Roby Main 2021 2024 Josh Folsom Main 2021 2024 Allie Rajan Main 2021 2024 Hugo Ramirez Main 2021 2021 MainMain 2000 2021 In addition to appearing in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and CSI: Vegas, Petersen also guest-starred as Grissom in "Where and Why", episode 6.06 of Without a Trace.Main Main 2000 2021 Chris ParkMain Jay Lee 2021 2024 Serena ChavezMain Ariana Guerra 2022 2024 Beau FinadoMain 2022 2024 Main Main 2000 2024
Differences between series
Las Vegas (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and CSI: Vegas) The Las Vegas team are scientists foremost, and follow the evidence. Las Vegas Police Department (LVPD) CSIs are not employed as police officers. The crimes the Las Vegas CSI team face (other than the standard murders, attempted murders, kidnappings, and rapes) include casino robberies, bodies found buried in the Nevada desert, and murders during different conventions at casinos.
Crime lab The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Crime Lab is a modern crime lab and shares a lot (but not a building) with the Las Vegas Police Department. It reports to the sheriff's office. In early episodes of season one the lab is frequently referred to as the number two crime lab in the United States, solving cases believed unsolvable. The lab consists of specialist laboratories, a larger office (usually used by the Grave Supervisor), a smaller office used by Catherine Willows between seasons 5 and 12, a locker room, an AV room, a break-room, and stairs leading to a second floor, housing offices for senior staff.
Miami (CSI: Miami) The Miami team are detectives foremost, and mainly use theories to solve crimes. The crimes the Miami-Dade Police Department's (MDPD) CSI team face (other than the standard murders, attempted murders, kidnappings, and rapes) include drug running, murdered refugees from Cuba, bodies found washed up on the beach, bodies dumped in the Everglades, and crimes involving the rich and famous who have secrets to hide in their mansions and beachfront properties.
Crime lab The Miami CSIs were firstly, stationed out of a broom closet next to the MDPD's bull pen. They were given their own building prior to the start of the third season. Originally dark and technical, this building housed Horatio's office, Megan's office, specialist labs, and a locker room. During the fourth season a government grant meant that slanted glass walls, multiple modern labs, an interrogation room, and a new locker room were all constructed. Horatio's office is not seen following the lab's reconstruction—although a state-of-the-art ballistics suite was added, acting as Calleigh's office. The lab has reinforced windows and shutters to protect against hurricanes and tsunamis.
New York City (CSI: NY) The New York team are equally scientists and detectives, and frequently use criminal profiling (as well as evidence and theories) to solve cases. The crimes the New York CSI team face (other than the standard murders, attempted murders, kidnappings, and rapes) include organized crime activity involving the Italian Mafia, street-gang violence, and ethnic, cultural, and ability differences.
Crime lab During the first season, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) CSI lab is in an old underground building with rustic brick walls. The lab houses Mac's office, a locker room, the autopsy suite, and specialist forensic laboratories. As of the second season the lab is on the 35th floor of a high-rise building in Manhattan. Equipped with glass walls and state-of-the-art equipment, this lab consists of the Supervisor's office (belonging to Mac, and – for a short time – Jo), specialist laboratories, an observation walkway, a break-room and kitchen, a locker room, and an office belonging to the Assistant Supervisor (first Stella, then Jo), containing an additional hot-desk used by Hawkes, Danny, Lindsay, and Aiden. Part of this second lab is blown up in the season three finale, "Snow Day", but is restored by the beginning of season four.
Washington, D.C. (CSI: Cyber) The Cyber team focuses on the technical aspect of crimes, with NextGen forensics providing it with a real-world crime scene investigative counterpart. The FBI Cyber Crime Division investigates cyber-based terrorism, internet-related murders, espionage, computer intrusions, major cyber-fraud, cyber-theft, hacking, sex offenses, blackmail, and any other crime deemed to be cyber-related within the FBI's jurisdiction.
Divisions — Cyber Crime DivisionThe FBI Cyber Crime Division operates out of Washington, D.C. and is housed in the Cyber Threat Operations Center. The CTOC consists of Ryan's office, Russell's office, a communications bull pen housing the desks of Krumitz, Nelson, and Ramirez, a cyber lab, a glass walkway, and a 'tear-down room'. Due to their nomadic nature the team are often seen interviewing suspects at various FBI field offices and police departments.
— Next Generation Cyber Forensics DivisionThe Next Generation Cyber Forensics Division is a lab-based facility within the Cyber Crime Division used for the processing of evidence in cyber-related cases.
Theme songs The opening themes for all five series are remixes of songs performed by The Who.