CSI: Vegas’ Paula Newsome Breaks Silence on ‘Surprising’ Cancellation: ‘It’s a Good Run; It Should Be More’
CSI: Vegas lead Paula Newsome is now ready to open up about CBS‘ decision to cancel the CSI franchise’s latest entry after just three seasons.
CBS cancelled both CSI: Vegas and its onetime lead-in So Help Me Todd in one fell swoop on April 20. Newsome, though active on social media, had yet to squarely address the sad news. But as part of an in-depth conversation with TVLine ahead of Sunday’s Season 3 (now series) finale, the actress shared how she got the news, and her immediate reaction.
“I got the news from my showrunner [Jason Tracey], and I was very surprised,” Newsome told TVLine, “because our ratings are so good.”
Season-to-date, CSI: Vegas is averaging north of 5.9 million total viewers, up 4% in audience from its Season 2 numbers. Alas, out of the 14 original dramas that CBS has aired this TV season, the Sin City procedural ranks last in viewers. And “America’s Most-Watched Network,” as previously reported, had very difficult calls to make this Upfront season.
“Our numbers were much higher than a lot of shows on other networks that had been picked up, so that was very surprising, but I know the business is tough,” Newsome noted, before launching into a thoughtful metaphor.
“The truth about part of what we do as actors is we sometimes have to ‘wait in the hallway’ [between roles], and it’s about enjoying the time in the hallway,” she started. “Before I got CSI: Vegas, two minutes before that call I didn’t know a thing about it! Before I got the call for Spider-Man [No Way Home, where she played an MIT bigwig], I didn’t know anything about it! There’s always time in the hallway, and the most important thing is to enjoy that time, because something is always coming. So make sure that when you have the time off, enjoy it. Travel, relax, work out more.”
Newsome also takes some solace in the fact that she was the lead on a broadcast-TV show for three seasons, which in an increasingly unpredictable and volatile TV climate isn’t too shabby.
“[In the past] a show with our numbers would be on for a couple more seasons, no question,” posited the veteran of series such as Chicago Med, Barry and Women’s Murder Club. “But yeah, it’s a good run. It should be more. I’m very proud of what we did.”
Heading into Sunday’s finale, CSI: Vegas left Newsome’s Maxine Roby in quite the cliffhanger predicament, having been caught snooping around the hidden lab where a tech titan (The Mentalist‘s Owain Sebastian Yeoman) has his creepy, AI-driven robots “hacking” DNA. It isn’t spoiling anything to say that the CSI lab boss will use her considerable intellect to make the best of a potentially deadly situation.
Indeed, when asked what she loved most about her character, Newsome is quick to say, “She was so multifaceted. She was smart, she was warm, she was funny… All of those things. All of those things.”
I’m sad for this cancellation but honestly her character was terrible and the le least interested.
I kept searching for Csi vegas! it kept moving to different nights & times! When I finally got a hold of it, it’s gone!
It’s a shame that it has been canceled. It’s always good. I feel that CBS should rethink this decision!
Carol keep in mind too that Netflix did a foolish thing by putting minehunter on high heat for almost 5 years. They’re gonna try and bring it back and be interesting to see.
I’m so sad they are canceling I really enjoyed CSI Vegas
Very upset with the cancellation of both CSI Vegas and So Help Me Todd. I enjoyed both of them. Don’t understand the reason behind these decisions. This is why we go to streaming services!!!
I agree with Paula. This show did not deserve a cancellation nor did ncis Hawaii.
ABSOLTELY!!!
Again shows the networks don’t know what they’re doing and why I preferred to watch cable because I’m tired of these asinine decisions. CSI Vegas was a very good show, and it was very foolish of them to remove it. Also disappointed they didn’t give us a full season of the young Sheldon, I don’t know why they can’t do full season all year. There’s no reason why they have to stop all 24 episodes mistake but I have to say I seek CSI would be great for a cable channel for Showtime or Paramont plus there’s so much you could do with that show on cable , I’d be more interested too and much more realistic To
CBS is usually my first choice for TV viewing. But now, cancelling NCIS Hawaii, So Help Me Todd, and CSI Vegas , Blue Bloods, and Magnum, and renewing the ridiculous reality shows; I will be looking for another favorite station as of now. Maybe I will be spending more time on streaming channels?
CBS really needs to pay attention to all their viewers!
Dumb ass network. This was an excellent show!
I think bringing back Grissom and Seidel in first season was a gimmick to get it started but it would have been better to develop the regular characters.. I agree that Newsome has been the least interesting to me of the regulars… I would hope it doesn’t end with a cliffhanger of any sorts like NCIS Hawaii did… Show has gotten better this season… Too bad…
Funny thing is the original CSI was amazing in its time 20 years ago but current tech now makes it quaint….
Funny how all of the shows that have a solid following with female leads were cancelled.
FINALLY someone mentioned this fact. I usually do not pay attention to this kind of thing but it was OBVIOUS in this case.
You are clearly trying to claim its a misogynistic decision but seeing as CBS’s viewership skews female (57%) and its the least viewed of CBS’s drama’s then if the cancellation was because of having a female lead then its because women aren’t tuning in. So if there is a conscious decision to cancel shows with female leads that decision isn’t on the networks but by the women who won’t tune in to watch successful women, preferring to watch shows (often scripted reality) where they feel superior to the complete and utter trainwrecks you see on things like The Kardasians or the Housewives shows.
The reality is though its not a conscious decision to cancel female led shows, its that for whatever reason its just not engaging with the audience. In CSI’s case that seems likely because it some back and largely been the same show it was back when it was originally on and the same show its spinoffs generally were.The first season at least tried a bit more to be different but it reverted in S2. Maybe it should have gone to Paramount+ from the off and been like Criminal Minds and changed the format up fully and been a bit gritter and darker (although it sounds like the upcoming Criminal Minds reverts back to more case of the week so repeating CSI’s failing just worse as CSI never got rid of the case of the weeks to focus on a season long arc, for much of the time the arc in S1 of CSi was more a b storyline)
I think the reason it was cancelled mostly boils down to its terrible time slot…pretty much everything in that timeslot has been cancelled (I know they said these decisions were based on both live and streaming ratings, but with a bad time slot, it’s already starting off at a deficit). It improved ratings in that slot, nothing there will do any better.
I loveeee this show and all the (actors & actresses), they made a great ending to my weekend. I am really lost because of the cancellation, I really could see more from this series…boohoo I am sooo sad.
CBS has disappointed me with the latest decisions to cancel So Help Me Todd and CSI:Vegas.😞
It is such a great show don’t understand why you have to cancel some really good shows I guess I’ll have to watch reruns on ion tv.
WHY cbs WHY?
Bring it back with redhead in the lead
I’m so glad she broke her silence. She was silent much too long.
I’m so disappointed about this. CBS should have kept this show and let it grow instead of saturating us with NCIS spinoffs.
I am so surprised this show has been cancelled. It is one of the better ones on TV. I enjoy the story lines and the characters. I am sad to see it go.
CBS sucks. I loved CSI Vegas and So Help Me Todd. But sure, yes, let’s add more inane reality and game shows. Whoever is making these decisions needs to be fired.
I am shocked at the decisions made to cancel CSI Vegas. This show is a, let’s not wait for the DVR, we can’t wait to watch on real time
So help me Todd is so fun, intergenerational. Dad watches it with us at our house, that and Blue Bloods.
Lastly, NCIS Hawaii, what are TV Exec’s thinking. These are 3 amazing shows. Unbelievable
I’m very disappointed that csi Vegas was canceled! I watched it every week. Please reconsider.
CSI:Vegas should go to Paramount+. Going to miss the series/cast. Just great to have that feeling again watching it.
Of all things, CBS is coming out with a ‘The Real CSI: Miami’. 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
CBS is making bad decisions in canceling shows that are very popular and great ratings follow, what really is going on behind the scene? Too many great shows have been canceled. Very strange, I hope they rethink things.
Only after they see the slump in ratings & hopefully realize their mistake?
I think it’s very sad that CSI:Vegas was canceled. I never missed an episode. The CSI series has always been popular. No one wants another reality show.
It also looks very racist because your network canceled East New York, and now another black woman lead series is being canceled.
Will miss this show. TV has become so limited in programs I enjoy.
Canceling csi Vegas as well as NCIS Hawaii are horrible mistakes. Both shows have interesting drama and are not silly. Some of the shows returning are also a mistake…..except for SWAT…and will not last.
It’s such a good show. It’s better than dumbing your brain with reality TV. I think its a terrible decision, and leaving on cliffhangers arw things I don’t understand what a grwat way to show viewers you just dont care. I hope someone else picks it up.