Canceled TV Shows 2015: ‘CSI’ Gets The Axe After 15 Seasons, Will End With Two-Hour Movie

CSI has been canceled, but fans of the crime drama will reportedly get a fitting send-off.

Reports circulated on Monday that CBS was ending the show after the conclusion of its 15th season. The network has yet to make an official announcement, but there are widespread reports that the decision has been made.

There have been reports for weeks that the procedural crime drama was on the ropes, and CBS may have tipped its hand when the network cut the number of episodes this season down to 18, the lowest number since the writers strike of 2007-08.

But networks can often be harsh with long-running shows that are past their prime. Before CBS officially announced that CSI was canceled, Deadline compared the situation to Law & Order’s abrupt cancellation five years ago. NBC axed the show after the season had already ended, giving fans no chance for closure.

“The same goes for CSI, where Elisabeth Shue’s character Julie spent the Season 15 closer in a coma, briefly opening her eyes in the final minutes. At least for L&O the cancellation call came before the final three episodes had aired, giving fans an opportunity to savor them knowing they are the last. With CSI, viewers won’t have that option as the show wrapped its 18-episode 15th season in February with little fanfare.”

But CSI fans will certainly have closure. The Huffington Post reported that CSI would be ending with a two-hour movie, one that may bring back some popular characters.

“Industry insiders are reporting that the network will finish off the show, which wrapped its fifteenth season in February, with a two-hour long movie. EW reports that original CSI star William Petersen may return for the special, as well. CBS did not return request for comment on the rumors. Spinoff show, ‘CSI: Cyber,’ has, however, been renewed for a second season.”

The announcement that CSI has been canceled may not be the only bomb to drop this television season. There are reports that Fox’s popular crime drama Bones could be the next show to be taken off the air. Insiders said the likely cancellation was not due to ratings but because of contract negotiations.

“Bones ratings are bumping along at their series low, and are at just 70 [percent] of Fox’s scripted ratings average in 2015,” TV by the Numbers noted. “Even for a veteran show, that’s typically in the Cancellation Bear‘s ‘likely canceled’ prediction range.”

“Unlike [the] similarly low-rated The Following, Bones is produced by Fox, which the bear figures gives it reasonable chance for renewal, if the actors can be signed to new contracts. In these cases, the bear assumes that the contracts get signed, because that usually, but not always, happens.”

But more astute television followers likely knew that CSI would be canceled. Back in March, the television ratings blog TV by the Numbers noted that CSI as “certain” to be canceled.

[Image via CBS]