CSI is coming to an end after having an epic 15-year run with a dramatic two-hour finale

  • Since staring in 2000, CSI became one of TV's most watched crime shows
  • The original show spawned three spinoffs - CSI: Miami, CSI: New York and CSI: Cyber
  • A few original cast members will appear on Sunday's two-hour finale  

By Regina F. Graham For Dailymail.com

Published: 00:08 EST, 26 September 2015 | Updated: 00:50 EST, 26 September 2015

After years of being one of the most successful and influential hit television shows, CSI is coming to an end. 

The CBS series is going off the air in a two-hour finale Sunday night where stars Ted Danson, Elisabeth Shue and Elisabeth Harnois will be joined by a few original cast members. 

William Petersen, Marg Helgenberger and other stars will appear on the finale titled 'Immortality.'

Since going on air in 2000, CSI became one of the most watched crime shows on television. 

Finale: After 15 years on television, CSI is saying goodbye on Sunday with a two-hour finale 

Finale: After 15 years on television, CSI is saying goodbye on Sunday with a two-hour finale 

Since going on air in 2000, CSI became one of the most watched crime shows on television

Since going on air in 2000, CSI became one of the most watched crime shows on television

From the original crime lab associated with the Las Vegas Police Department, three spinoffs were spawned - CSI: Miami, CSI: NY and CSI: Cyber.

In a 2003 interview with CNN, show creator Anthony E. Zuiker attributed 'CSI's' huge success to a basic human instinct - rubbernecking.

'I think the show is kind of like a car wreck,' Zuiker told CNN. 

'You want to keep watching it, but you don't want to turn away. 

'And because people know it's not real and it's make-believe, and people are out there solving crimes and giving a great mystery week to week, I think that's what lures viewers to watch.'

Earlier this year, Zuiker told CBS News that he still pinches himself over the shows success.

Danson shared that the show's style was unique.

'The show had a new way of coming at crime and murder and mayhem,' Danson, who joined the series in season 12 as 'D.B.' Russell and now is a star of the Cyber spinoff, told CBS News.

From the original crime lab associated with the Las Vegas Police Department, three spinoffs were spawned - CSI: Miami, CSI: NY and CSI: Cyber

From the original crime lab associated with the Las Vegas Police Department, three spinoffs were spawned - CSI: Miami, CSI: NY and CSI: Cyber

'Taking a scientific point of view on a crime show was new back then, and allowed viewers into the darker side of life in a way that wasn't just cops-and-robbers.'

Helgenberger added that using science on the show made it 'fun.'

'On pretty much every show we got the guy, thanks to irrefutable science,' Helgenberger told CBS. 'We made science fun and interesting.'

Danson also said that Sunday's episode is 'offering the fans who've been loyal so long with an opportunity to say goodbye to the people they fell in love with at the start.' 

Sunday's finale will feature some original characters on the show, including William Petersen (above) 

Sunday's finale will feature some original characters on the show, including William Petersen (above) 

 

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