CBS renews hit freshman drama "CSI: Vegas' for second season

CBS recently renewed hit freshman drama “CSI: Vegas” for a second season, to air during the 2022-23 broadcast season. The CBS Original series is part of CBS’ successful freshman class, which has four of the top five new series this season. The season one finale aired Wednesday, Dec. 8.

“The incredibly talented ‘CSI: Vegas’ creative team and cast did a superb job this first season, brilliantly updating and portraying the ‘CSI’ universe with fresh stories and a new crime lab, proving that, after 20 years, the ‘CSI’ fan base is still hungry for more and ready to embrace a new chapter in this illustrious franchise,” said Amy Reisenbach, executive vice president, current programs, CBS.

“CSI: Vegas” improved its Wednesday night 10 p.m. time slot by 60% in viewers. Through the first nine episodes (as of Dec. 1), “CSI: Vegas” added 3.10 million viewers (6.81m from 3.71m, 84%) with seven-day playback. This is the highest playback of any new drama on any network.

The entire first season of “CSI: Vegas” is available to binge on Paramount+.

About Season One of ‘CSI: Vegas’

“CSI: Vegas,” the sequel to the network’s global hit “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” opened a brand-new chapter in Las Vegas – the city where it all began. Facing an existential threat that could bring down the entire crime lab and release thousands of convicted killers back onto the neon-lit streets of Vegas, a brilliant new team of investigators led by Maxine Roby (Paula Newsome) enlisted the help of old friends, Gil Grissom (William Petersen) and Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox), to investigate a case centered on former colleague David Hodges (Wallace Langham). This combined force deployed the latest forensic techniques to do what they do best – follow the evidence – to preserve and serve justice in Sin City. The first season also starred Matt Lauria, Mandeep Dhillon and Mel Rodriguez.

“CSI: Vegas” is produced by CBS Studios in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Television and distributed internationally by ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group. Executive producers for the series are Jason Tracey, Jerry Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman, KristieAnne Reed, Anthony Zuiker, Carol Mendelsohn, Ann Donahue, Craig O’Neill, Petersen, Uta Briesewitz (initial episode only) and Cindy Chvatal.

Petersen reportedly will not return on-screen for season two.