The news isn't surprising as entertainment site Deadline revealed last week that both dramas were heavily compromised and in grave danger.
This despite the fact that CSI: Vegas and So Help Me Todd achieved good viewing figures. With the entire CBS schedule doing well this season and three new drama series in 2024-25, NCIS: Origins, Matlock (2024) and Watson (alongside a second season of Australia's NCIS: Sydney), the network faced painful decisions , and So Help Me Todd and CSI: Vegas are the least-watched CBS dramas this spring in both linear and multiplatform ratings.
In the most recent linear Nielsen ratings, CSI: Vegas, which improved its time period, is No. 21 among all non-sports broadcasts with 6.234 million viewers and So Help Me Todd is No. 22 with 6.224 million. That's more than a slate of series on other broadcast networks that have been safely renewed for next season, including ABC's Will Trent, The Rookie and Grey's Anatomy and NBC's Law & Order, The Voice (US) and The Irrational.
In 35-day multiplatform ratings, So Help Me Todd is a hair ahead with 7.7 million viewers versus 7.6 million for CSI: Vegas. There are no current plans for either series to move to Paramount+ after being canceled by CBS.
With broadcast budgets under pressure from the weak advertising market and media companies in general having to tighten their belts, it was inevitable that CBS would cut back on series to make room for the new additions.
After Elsbeth was just renewed and The Equalizer is also expected to return depending on a new deal with lead actress/executive producer Queen Latifah, NCIS: Hawaii remains the only big question mark.
The future of the series is said to be the subject of heavy business discussions, with a partial season four of approximately thirteen episodes among the possibilities. NCIS: Hawaii is in the Top 15 ratings. The series is part of the legendary NCIS franchise and is the first series with a female lead.
Like NCIS: Hawaii, CSI: Vegas is part of a signature CBS/CBS Studios franchise with a long history on the network. CSI producer Bruckheimer Television has another CBS drama series, Fire Country, which has been renewed for next season and may spawn a spinoff about a sheriff. There's also a potential Cold Case reboot from Bruckheimer TV and Warner Bros. TV, which is being negotiated at CBS.
CSI: Vegas, a sequel to the 2000 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation series, launched with original cast members William Petersen and Jorja Fox reprising their roles from the first season. The sequel's current cast includes Marg Helgenberger, who joined in season two, Paula Newsome, Mandeep Dhillon, Matt Lauria, Ariana Guerra, Jay Lee and Lex Medlin.
Produced by CBS Studios in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Television, the series is created and executive produced by Jason Tracey. Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman, Kristie-Anne Reed, Anthony Zuiker, Carol Mendelsohn, Ann Donahue, Craig O'Neill, Petersen, Cindy Chvatal, Steven H. Kram and Steven H. Blume also produce.
The cancellation ends So Help Me Todd's Cinderella story after it beat the odds to get a series order in May 2022 following strong pilot testing and then built strong momentum over the summer to launch as one of the surprise hits of the 2022 season -23 and earning a very early season two renewal.
The CBS Studios-produced series stars Marcia Gay Harden and Skylar Astin, along with Madeline Wise, Tristen J. Winger, Inga Schlingmann and Rosa Arredondo. Scott Prendergast is the creator and executive producer, along with Elizabeth Klaviter, who is also the showrunner. Dr. Phil McGraw, Stuart Gillard, Jay McGraw and Julia Eisenman also produce.