Sonja Flemming/CBSIs CBS closing the case on CSI?!
While we were super-excited to hear Ted Danson was joining the second season of FX's Fargo, we couldn't help but to start worrying about the future of CSI, now in its 15th season, on CBS. First, the network cut its episode count by four and now its leading man has joined another series?!
So has CSI been canceled? And what's the deal with the network's buzzed-about new superhero series for next season, Supergirl, from Arrow and The Flash mastermind Greg Berlanti?
CBS boss Nina Tassler addressed all of the network's burning questions during her panel at the 2015 Winter TCA Press Tour on Monday:
Will CSI be renewed? "We haven't determined yet what's going to happen… the show continues to be a strong performer," Tassler said. "You look at the journey that that show has gone on, adding Ted Danson and Elizabeth Shue has really taken the show in a whole new direction. We don't know yet what is going to happen with the show, we're just incredibly proud and it continues to do well."
Will Charlie Sheen return for the Two and a Half Men series finale? Sheen hasn't been shy about his desire to return for the longrunning sitcom's final episode. But Tassler didn't want to comment on his possible return, saying, "Chuck [Lorre] is an extraordinary showrunner. I can promise you there will be a lot of surprises and out of respect from Chuck, and this is a direct quote, he has promised to deliver what he's calling 'a mystery sandwich.'"
What's going on with Supergirl? Fans of the superhero genre were excited, and a little surprised, that CBS was the network letting Supergirl (the role has yet to be cast) fly.
"We're watching an evolution with regard to the way superhero characters are portrayed. There's a humanity, they're flawed, there's a relatability," she explained of the fit. "I think for our network, what we responded to was her humanity...the other characters on the show as well. These are all things that made her imminently relatable and made the story exciting, made it an adventure."
What can viewers expect from the second season of Extant? Tassler said fans of Halle Berry's sci-fi summer drama can expect to see new faces when it returns. "There is a big change in supporting cast," she teased," adding, "We are making some changes in terms of the mythology of the show. Molly is going to be much more proactive this year.
What about the network's freshman series? While Madame Secretary, NCIS: New Orleans and Scorpion were all picked up for next season, CBS has yet to make a decision about Stalker and The McCarthys, with Tassler saying, "Ratings is always factor. We're going to see how the shows continue on this final half of the season."