CSI: Vegas’ Unplanned Series Finale Will ‘Definitely’ Leave You With Cliffhangers, Paula Newsome Warns
Las Vegas crime lab supervisor Maxine Roby is “in a bit of a noodle” for much of CSI: Vegas‘ Season 3-slash-series finale, airing this Sunday at 10/9c.
The latest CSI franchise entry was cancelled on April 19 as Season 3 averaged north of 5.9 million total viewers — up 4% from its Season 2 audience. Alas, out of the 14 original dramas that America’s Most-Watched Network has aired this TV season, the Sin City procedural ranks last in viewers.
Heading into the unplanned series ender, Maxine (played by Paula Newsome) and Chris (Jay Lee) were snooping around tech titan Truman Thomas’ secret AI robot-populated, DNA-hacking lab when a canister of poisonous gas was lobbed in their direction. Chris, in a bid to save them, swatted away the canister but inhaled a debilitating amount of gas. Before Maxine could do anything, an unseen goon’s pistol was jabbed at the back of her head.
As Sunday’s intense finale unfolds, Max “is in a bit of a noodle,” Newsome previews.
“It’s not often when she’s actually in a place like this,” the actress continues. “You take on a job like this, you have to expect there to be a certain amount of danger, but when you wake up in the morning you wouldn’t expect you’d have to deal with it yourself, or look at one of your employees [possibly dying]. So yeah, it’s a bit of a noodle.”
While Catherine (Marg Helgenberger) and the rest of the CSI team arrive on the scene to puzzle over where Maxine has disappeared to — there’s no sign of a second exit from the room she and Chris were in — new details, and a powerful new adversary (played by Iron Man‘s Faran Tahir), will emerge to shed light on what the hidden lab is actually about.
“There’s much more to be seen, there’s much more to know…,” Newsome teases. “It’s a scary situation, this AI thing, the stuff that we get to see Max deal with.”
Newsome says that by the time CSI: Vegas fades to black on Sunday night, “there will be a bit of a resolution between Max and Joshua (Matt Lauria),” regarding the latter’s season-opening demotion to a Level 1 CSI. But whereas, say, CBS’ similarly unceremoniously snuffed NCIS: Hawai’i dropped merely one tease of what’s (not) to come, CSI: Vegas will “definitely” leave viewers with multiple cliffhangers, Newsome says.
I guess the moral of this tv season is unless you are renewed, or have a pretty shoo-in case. Don’t plan on cliffhangers which will lead the viewers without answers. I know this was a unusual season where they had to plan for only 10 to 13 episodes, and renewals were not going to come when they usually do. Most would come later, so trying to play chicken with the network, never works. I don’t think Vegas was always in the shoo-in category like NCIS. Of course no one thought Hawai’i would go, but I think the writers should rethink the need to shock fans with their enders, especially in this unpredictable season. Or in a ordinary season. Unless you know you are renewal or have a multiple season renewal.
A lot of shows seem to be unaware or it not made clear to them they are in danger until it’s far too late to eliminate cliffhangers and frankly network people could not care less if they anger you by leaving stories hanging.This is a business and its main concern is the perception of and reality of earnings and revenue.
Networks have never renewed and then backtracked in regard to it.
Glow / The Society / Hannibal / The OA / etc…
As long as they replace with shows in a similar category, the networks will always get away with it. People complain and say they won’t watch that network again, but when next year rolls around they will watch the shows that interest them, not sit there thinking ‘I won’t watch that in case the network cancels it’
I usually wait until season 3 to start watching a show just in case the network cancels it within the first 2 seasons. I don’t want to invest time in the show if it’s only going to be cancelled. But, then I get invested in the characters and the network cancels after 3 seasons. That’s why I’m leaning more to watching streaming media and other channels rather than the main network stations.
Same for me, right now I’m watching 3 network programs total. I guess after tonight it’s 2, and I don’t plan to start a new network show anytime soon.
Nothing similar has been announced for the upcoming fall/winter season. There’s a Fire Country Sheriff spin-off which is law enforcement drama category. Elsbeth which is comedy, NCIS Origins also drama law enforcement.
I’ve never understood why if they are planning a cliffhanger they don’t spend a little extra time doing an alternative ending in case they are cancelled
Usually budget reasons I would think. And even when the network allows you to film an alternate ending they could still screw you over. Look at American Dreams. NBC allowed them to film 2 endings and aired the cliffhanger just to cancel it. To this day there is an actual ending out there that is very difficult to find.
Why are soo many shows cancelled and leaving cliffhangers?
I love CSI , I have sew everyone of the CSI . But Paula Newsome was not good on here. I hate to see the show go. I loved them all .
Maybe they can do a 2 hour wrap up like they did with the original in 2015 when that was cancelled and as a bonus it can air on Paramount +.
I LOVE CSI Vegas!! It’s the only mystery show I like. It shows you how they solve the killings & it is so interesting. N is & all the other shows are sooo boring & predictable! Shame on you all for discontinuing this show!! Baby boomers, like me don’t want to stream or buy 6 different venues to watch tv/ movies! So sad!
Yes. I loved the fact that they showed you how the crime was solved, and the science involved. The focus wasn’t on who’s doing who at work.
This makes me not want to watch the last episode. It just boils my blood getting no conclusion to a hanging plot line!!
😥 I am Sad I have enjoyed this program.
Sad about this cancellation, CSI Vegas is such a smart and innovative show with great characters and relationsh