The complete CSI timeline consists of five main shows, and the franchise has been on the air for the past 23 years between the original series, spinoffs, and the most recent revival. Considering the number of shows in the saga, as well as all the CSI crossover episodes, getting into this universe for the first time can be overwhelming. Fortunately, apart from the crossovers and backdoor pilots, almost every CSI show stands on its own and can be watched without any knowledge of the previous series.
The only exception is CSI: Vegas, which, despite introducing new characters and having its own tone, acts as a revival of the original CSI. The list of best CSI characters includes at least one name from every series, which illustrates how rich this entire universe is. CSI currently only has a show on the air, which is a minimal amount compared to when CSI, CSI: Miami, and CSI: NY were all airing at the same time between 2004 and 2012.
Show | Year It Premiered | Year It Ended |
|---|---|---|
CSI | 2000 | 2015 |
CSI: Miami | 2002 | 2012 |
CSI: NY | 2004 | 2013 |
CSI: Cyber | 2015 | 2016 |
CSI: Vegas | 2021 | – |
CSI (2000-2015)
The original CSI show
It is fitting that one of the most influential TV shows of the 2000s began exactly in the year 2000. The original CSI series premiered on October 6, 2020, and ran for 337 episodes across 12 seasons until September 27, 2015. Without any major time kips, every season of CSI generally matched the passage of time in the real world. As such, the first few adventures of Gil Grissom and his team begin in the year 2000, whereas D.B. Russel and Julie Finlay’s run as the main characters concluded in 2015 with the end of the series.
William Petersen’s Grissom left the cast of CSI in season 9, episode 10, which aired in 2009. Laurence Fishburne, who made his debut as Raymond Langston in season 9, episode 9, would lead the show until 2011. Langston did not return for season 12, with the show then introducing D.B. Russel, played by Ted Danson. Although an episode of CSI season 14 led right into CSI: Cyber, which may give the impression that the series lasted even longer, the original show ended in 2015. The Las Vegas crew would only properly return a few years later in the CSI: Vegas revival.
CSI: Miami (2002-2012)
CSI’s first spinoff
After two successful seasons, it was time for CSI to have a spinoff. CSI: Miami, which took the premise of a crime procedural centered on a team of forensic investigators and took it to Miami, premiered in 2002 coming off of CSI’s season 2. The series, which does not include any major time jumps, would run for 232 episodes across 10 seasons until 2012. Interestingly, despite premiering two years after the original CSI, CSI: Miami ended three years before its predecessor. David Caruso’s Horatio Caine first appeared in CSI season 2, episode 22, “Cross Jurisdiction.”
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CSI: NY (2004-2013)
CSI’s second spinoff
Four years after CSI premiered and two years after the debut of CSI: Miami, the franchise expanded again with CSI: NY. Led by Gary Sinise’s Mac Taylor, CSI: NY premiered on September 22, 2004, and ran for 197 episodes across nine seasons until 2013. The show’s backdoor pilot happened in the form of a crossover episode within CSI: Miami, “Felony Flight.” The New York crew would appear in a couple of other crossovers, and the show was concluded over a year after CSI: Miami’s finale. Although it premiered four years after CSI, CSI: NY ended two years before the original show.
CSI: Cyber (2015-2016)
CSI’s fourth spinoff
With the original CSI spinoffs no longer on air and the main show reaching its conclusion, the CSI franchise tried to reinvent itself with CSI: Cyber. Whereas the previous spinoffs set themselves apart from CSI thanks to their different settings, Cyber was marketed as an innovative procedural focusing on cybernetic crimes. The series, which was set in Washington DC, acted as a direct follow-up to CSI and saw the return of characters from the original show, including D.B. Russel. Still, CSI: Cyber is the shortest-running entry in the franchise, beginning in 2015 and concluding 31 episodes later in 2016.
CSI: Vegas (2021-)
A CSI revival
Five years after CSI’s ending, the procedural was revived in the form of CSI: Vegas. Now using the show’s setting as part of the title, similar to what CSI: Miami and CSI: NY had done, CSI: Vegas was marketed as a return to form for the franchise after the failure of Cyber. CSI: Vegas’ biggest selling point was the return of some of the show’s most iconic characters, including but not limited to Gil Grissom and Sara Sidle. CSI: Vegas season 2’s finale happened in May 2023, whereas CSI: Vegas season 3 takes place in 2024.
