CBS cancels 'CSI,' 'So Help Me Todd' despite high ratings
CBS has officially announced the discontinuation of two of its popular drama series, CSI: Vegas and So Help Me Todd. This decision comes as a surprise given the significant viewership both shows maintained. The former completed three successful seasons, while the latter wrapped up after two seasons. Per Deadline, recent Nielsen ratings revealed that both shows were among the top non-sports broadcast programs, with audiences exceeding 6M each.
Alas, high viewership wasn't enough to save CBS shows
Despite their impressive ratings, CSI and So Help Me Todd were on the chopping block. According to Nielsen ratings, CSI: Vegas ranked 21st among all non-sports broadcast programs with 6.234M viewers. So Help Me Todd was not far behind at 22 with an audience of 6.224M. In terms of 35-day multi-platform viewership, SHMT slightly outperformed with 7.7M viewers compared to CSI's 7.6M.
CBS cited scheduling constraints for show cancelations
CBS attributed the discontinuation of CSI: Vegas and So Help Me Todd to "scheduling constraints." Notably, the network is preparing to launch three new drama series in the 2024-25 season: NCIS: Origins, Matlock, and Watson (alongside Season 2 of the Australian NCIS: Sydney). These upcoming shows have necessitated some tough decisions, leading to the cancelation of what CBS described as the "least watched CBS drama series" this spring in both linear and multi-platform ratings.
A look back at 'CSI: Vegas'
A follow-up to the original 2000 CSI series, CSI: Vegas stars William Petersen and Jorja Fox, reprising their iconic roles in S01. Marg Helgenberger, another original star, joined the cast in S02 alongside Paula Newsome, Mandeep Dhillon, Matt Lauria, Ariana Guerra, Jay Lee, and Lex Medlin. Helmed by creator and executive producer Jason Tracey, the reboot series features a new team of investigators at the Las Vegas Crime Lab.
Here's more about 'So Help Me Todd'
Meanwhile, So Help Me Todd, which premiered in 2022, starred Marcia Gay Harden as a defense attorney Margaret, and Skylar Astin as her investigator son Todd. Despite being considered a black sheep in the family, Todd gets a shot at redemption when his mother extends him an opportunity to work at her law firm as a private investigator. The show was created by Scott Prendergast and produced by CBS Studios.
