The Lab is closed

"I tend not to believe people; they lie. The evidence never lies." — Gil Grissom, "CSI"

All shows must eventually end. Some go out with pomp and ceremony, others with a whimper. But when you've been around for 15 years and had as much of an impact on the culture as "CSI," you tend to get at least a little fanfare.

The 15th season of the show wrapped last February. Ratings were poor, the show is old and expensive, and it was clear CBS wanted an exit. But how can you just let a show — one that was your flagship show for many years — fall off into the abyss. You can't. So CBS, rightly, let it end with a two-hour send off last night.

William Peterson and Marg Helgenberger returned, as did show favorite Lady Heather (Melinda Clarke) for one last ride. It was an episode that wrapped up a lot of things, put people in a good place, and provided some closure.

"CSI" began as a Friday night offering its first season — a sure sign the network didn't think much of it. But it was something different, and the audience gravitated to it. Soon, "CSI" became the network's flagship drama on Thursday nights. And it eventually spawned three successful franchises — the last of which, "CSI: Cyber," is still on the air.

But it's fair to say the show was never the same after Peterson departed in the middle of the ninth season. That's because Peterson is the heart and soul of the show, and without him it wasn't the same.

So as someone who watched the show for many years — the last few off and on — I was glad to see him return. It seemed fitting for him to walk the halls of the lab one last time. For final moments with all the cast. And for an ending that saw him and Sara free of the lab and together again.

Series finales are tricky. Often they're more of a let down than an inspiration. But "CSI" hit the right notes and went out as they came in, confident in their stories and telling them through the eyes of Gil Grissom.