‘CSI: NY’ canceled by CBS, leaves original ‘CSI’ sad and alone (‘Vegas’ canceled, too)

Last year, there were three “CSI” shows battling in the scripted TV thunder-dome, with the New York and Las Vegas editions battling to stay alive. This year, we’re saddened to report that there is now another casualty to the enormously successful CBS franchise.

We have confirmation now that “CSI: NY,” which had a pretty great ride despite multiple time and night changes, is now gone after an impressive nine years on the air. (Round of applause for any show that lasts this long in a day and age when NBC eliminates over half of their comedy schedule in a few hours.) It’s been pretty clear for a while now that the show was going to be sent off to pasture / the retirement home where “CSI: Miami” currently resides (which is appropriately in Florida). The ratings have not been great in the 18-49 demographic in proportion to the cost of paying actors nine years into the game.

In the end, CBS needs some sort of massive, earth-shattering overhaul on Friday nights, but they are not going to fully get it given that “Blue Bloods,” the oldest-skewing show on the oldest-skewing network, is returning for another season. It also needs to rethink police dramas, which we do think are starting to fall by the wayside.

So how long does “CSI: Las Vegas” have? The show’s already older than it two offshoots, and Ted Danson has helped reinvigorate it in the ratings. It all depends on whether or not the young folk (yes, that sounds corny) decide that this is still something that they want to watch or not.

Anyhow, “Rules of Engagement,” “Golden Boy,” and “Vegas” are almost sure to follow this one out the door. If it makes you feel better (and it probably won’t, given that you have not seen them yet), you can also see here some of the shows that CBS has picked up.

Update: We’re hearing that ‘Vegas” is now gone, as well. Plus “Rules of Engagement” and “Golden Boy.”

Photo: CBS