A third decade of ‘Crime’
‘CSI’ hits Vegas for sequel series
In an industry currently teaming with franchise reboots and sequels, one fan favorite has seemed to be missing. Though do not fret, the gruesome 2000s procedural “CSI” is back, and it’s picking up right where the original “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” left off when it wrapped up in September 2015.
That’s right, we’re headed back to Vegas, baby, and the crime lab is still open. “CSI: Vegas” premieres Wednesday, Oct. 6, on CBS and to stream on Paramount+.
At this point in the reboot process, audiences generally want to know what has changed. In this case, fortunately, not much. It’s not too often that minimal change to an old TV series equates to a feeling of relief, but given “CSI’S” resounding success and massive popularity, it’s clear the show’s formula works, proving sometimes you don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
Even so, “Vegas” does promise some new energy, thanks to a handful of newcomers joining veteran cast members. New to the “CSI” family are Paula Newsome (“Chicago Med”), Mandeep Dhillon (“Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of the Skywalker,” 2019), Matt Lauria (“Little Birds”) and Jay Lee (“Looking for Alaska”).
Newsome plays Maxine Roby, the head of the crime lab. With a background in genetics and a slew of onscreen procedural and medical roles, she’s perfect for the position.
Laurie plays Josh Folsom, a Level 3 CSI, and Dhillon portrays Allie Rajan, a Level 2 CSI. Lee fills the role of their cohort, whose name and title has yet to be released as of press time.
These new faces are, of course, accompanied by familiar favorites, including that of Jorja Fox (“The Map of Tiny Perfect Things,” 2021) as Sara Sidle, Wallace Langham (“Ford v Ferrari,” 2019) as David Hodges and William Petersen (“Manhattan”) as Dr. Gil Grissom.
With a diverse ensemble cast and many topical issues to draw from, “CSI: Vegas” should have no problem incorporating real-world events into the series continuation.
For those who may be unfamiliar with the CSI franchise, or who may simply be in need of a refresher, the show essentially follows a group of Crime Scene Investigation agents who face crime and forensics headon from the streets of Sin City to their sleek and technically astounding crime lab. This time, however, the team is also dealing with a threat to the lab itself — a threat so major they need to call in reinforcements. Enter Grissom and Sidle, who leave their idyllic lifestyle behind and jump back into the thick of it.
“It’s at once this familiar thing in my mind and also brand new,” returning cast member Fox said during a panel discussion promoting the show. “The world, weirdly enough, is even more topsy-turvy than it was in 2000. There’s [so] much new [stuff] happening, and it’s great to be grounded with William Petersen and be back as Sara and Grissom. Boy, what a thrill that is, and that’s what kept my feet on the ground a little bit.”
Another possibly pleasing tidbit for audiences: the lab threat had already been identified, meaning “CSI: Vegas” may well be intense from the very beginning. The show’s creator and producer, Jason Tracey (“Elementary”), has noted that the attack on the lab involves beloved character Jim Brass (Paul Guilfoyle, “The Morning Show”).
“CSI” fans will remember Brass’s departure from the series after 14 seasons. Having him back, if even to just be “attacked,” is a major callback to the original series — he’s also the catalyst for something much bigger as the trailer for “Vegas” shows someone mysteriously typing out, “Jim Brass is just the beginning.”
While this warning could signal the potential loss of some major franchise characters, it is a good indication that “CSI: Vegas” has some major plans in place for its 10-episode first season. And as wonderfully familiar as the basic plot may seem, the show is getting a major upgrade in both storytelling and gear.
In just six years, a lot has changed in the world of science, forensics and the technology used by crime labs, and the show’s writers have
not forgotten to update their scripts to match these latest practices. After all, the franchise was first launched more than 20 years ago, and two decades in the world of forensic technology is no small tweak.
“It’s an enormous challenge and responsibility,” Tracey said of updating the lab technologies and jumping into the procedural game in 2021. “Fortunately, this franchise that Anthony [Zuiker] devised has always been about evidence and science and following the evidence. ... It’s a solving story ... and we take the responsibility of entering the criminal justice realm really seriously. We’re trying to tell some really thoughtful stories about getting justice for victims.”
It’s clear the return of the CSI franchise is more than just a fun
idea from producers; it’s a celebration of sorts.
“CSI: Vegas” was originally meant as a special 20th-anniversary gift to audiences, though, as with just about everything last year, it was delayed due to the pandemic. Las Vegas is where it all began — before spinoffs were launched in
Miami, New York and Cyberspace — and now, in a sense, both the characters and the viewers are going home.
So don’t miss the premiere of “CSI: Vegas” when it airs on CBS this Wednesday, Oct. 6, as well as for streaming on Paramount+. And hey, fans, welcome home.