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Melina Kanakaredes Exits ‘CSI:NY’; Will Sela Ward Replace Her?
I hear it’s a done deal for Sela Ward to replace Melina Kanakaredes on CBS’ CSI:NY next season. Ward will play a new CSI joining the team of Detective Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise). CBS and producing studio CBS TV Studios moved swiftly after it became clear that Kanakaredes won’t return to the show after her contract expired at the end of season 6. There had been some minor salary issues for Kanakaredes on the show that had to do with paycheck freezes, not cuts, but I hear those had been mostly resolved and the actress ultimately left because she felt it was time to do so. Production on Season 7 of CSI:NY starts on July 28. Ward, who has won two lead actress in a drama series Emmys, one for Sisters, and one for Once and Again, was last seen on TV in a major recurring role on the second season of Fox’s House. She is with ICM and management 360.
UPDATE: CBS just issued a press release announcing Ward’s casting.
Sela Ward will join the cast of CSI: NY as an experienced investigator from Washington, D.C., whose work is driven by her empathy for the victim. Ward will make her first appearance in the season premiere when the show moves to Fridays at 9:00 PM this fall.
“We are delighted to have Sela joining CSI: NY,” said Executive Producer Pam Veasey. “With the exciting stories planned for Season 7, she’ll be a dynamic addition to the cast and the team.”
“I am thrilled to be working with Gary and this terrific group of people,” said Ward. ”I’m a huge fan.”
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That’s terrific! Sela is a genuinely lovely person and fantastic actor. So happy for her!
Sorry, have to disagree. I think this is a serious “downgrade”- the scripts were getting stale, anyway. Everyone has had their “angst” storyline, except maybe Adam – Adam Angst anyone? Bye, bye from my DVR list, NY.
I totally agree it’s a downgrade. I generally love Sela Ward in anything she’s in, but she doesn’t work in this show. Her character acts like she’s been a part of the team forever — all buddy buddy and familial when they haven’t known her long. It comes across as creepy. Like the person you just meet who thinks they are your best buddy. Weird. And she really needs to lay off the Botox. She is a beautiful woman, but she’s gone overboard, and while she looks beautifully creepy, it’s still creepy. All that Botox makes her distracting and not realistic in that role. I wish Stella would come back and Jo would move back to D.C.
You couldn’t be more wrong. Sela’s not “creepy” and it’s not creepy to act familiar. You must be from a severely anti-social background or a member of an unfortunate generation. When I saw her on the show she seemed like she’d been there forever and that’s a good thing, girl, not a bad thing. For you to call familiarity creepy is really a sad statement about our present society. She belongs, she’s alive, she’s herself, and for you to call that creepy angers me a bit also.
i AGREE. SELA WARD IS A TERRIBLE REPLACEMENT FOR MELINA. MELINA FIT IN SO WELL. SELA WARD IS AWFUL.
I DISAGREE WITH PATTY COMPLETELY! SELA IS A NATURAL. SHE’S GRACEFUL & PURE. MELINA WAS OK, BUT IT WAS TIME FOR HER TO MOVE ON. SELA IS THE PUUURFECT REPLACEMENT. Of course, I’m a guy…
the show isn’t the same with sela ward, personally i’ve never liked her pompus attitude and it is showing up in csi ny.
what a shame to get rid of Meleina she was perfect in the show.
it seems like cbs always gets rid of a good thing just like the morning show when they replaced all the wonderful oldies for a younger staff.
i’m sick of it!!!
I dislike Sela Ward on CSI NY. She is playing her role so sweetsie it makes me gag. She sounds like her TV commercials for Olay. Also, her character has no edge or depth-can’t the writers do something about that? I love all the other characters and actors in this show but when she comes on I frequently leave the room! She is ruining a wonderful show.
Sela Ward? That’s an upgrade and I, for one, will be thrilled to see her back on TV. Welcome back Sela!!!
I could see the rates increase as grandma shows up to help crime fight the boogie man.
“it’s happening” = new “TOLDJA!”? Somewhat less catchy. Way less annoying.
+1 million
Welcome Sela. I have always liked her and I think she will be a great addition to CSI/NY.
So happy Sela Ward is back on a weekly show. She is great – good luck
I could hardly tell the difference between the two anyway.
Ditto about Sela. I’ve liked her since she played Harrison Fords wife on the Futigitve and watched her on Once and Again religiously. Definitely one of the best actresses out there. Glad she decided to commit to a weekly TV show again. Just hope that Friday’s won’t kill CSI NY.
Ok, now I’ll have a reason to watch the show.
Like others, I’m so happy to see her back on primetime. But a little part of me was hoping she would be cast as Mom Bartowski on CHUCK!
CBS doesn’t want to give raises to its actresses as they “age”. Better to fire oops “replace” them after they “quit” to save face. Quite the spin in this quote…
“There had been some minor salary issues for Kanakaredes on the show that had to do with paycheck freezes, not cuts, but I hear those had been mostly resolved and the actress ultimately left because she felt it was time to do so.”
Because the writing was in the wall!
It is better to walk away than be fired by CBS.
Women are paid less on CBS and worth less on CBS. CBS feels women watch their network to see men not the women. And that men watch men. So getting rid of their female stars is a win/win.
Women need to stop watching CBS.
Marty, none of what you’ve said makes sense.
Significantly, Sela Ward is eleven years older than MK.
Also, who is getting gobs of $$$ to host the CBS Evening News?
And, which network basically did a Weekend at Bernies with Angel Landsbury on ‘Murder, She Wrote?’
Dollars to donuts Sela Ward is getting paid far less than Kanakaredes. CBS looks good hiring Sela. Les gets to continue to pay less.
Did anyone note the Criminal Minds mess?
Has Marg Helgenberger’s deal been re-upped?
Whenever a network executive or a star says it’s not about the money, it’s about the money. What gig did Melina have in the wings? How many years has it been since Sela has had regular work? Nothing against Sela, but spin is spin
How would you describe “regular work” for an actor? And what does that matter anyway? The question is this: who was a nobody bit-part actress before she joined the cast of CSI: NY, and who was a two-time Emmy Award-winning actress with about a dozen major movie credits to her name? Sure, Melina is a decent enough actress, but rehiring her at any price does not add new momentum nor credibility to the show. The producers know that. Melina’s agent — and the ego-laden actress herself — apparently don’t. One thing is certain in show business: unless you are an actress of the caliber of Sela Ward, it is unwise to bite the hand that feeds you, especially in a bad economy.
I had just about given up on CSI:NY. At least partially because of how abrasive and whiny the character of Bonasera had become. I’ll miss her hair, but I won’t much miss her. I hope she was smart enough to invest her better-than-decent earnings, because I don’t expect we’ll see much of her going forward.
I am shocked! CBS actually made a good decision? Miracles do happen! Sela Ward is a fine actress and I am sure that she will do an excellent job on CSI.
i like Selena . i think she will make a nice addition to the cast for every show reaches a point where it needs some fresh blood. though hope her character arrives after the show has answered the cliff hanger from last season . mostly did Danny get shot by the pycho or did he survive.
Cool, Sela is pretty hot for a women her age. Easy on the eyes too.
sorry, 7th season — what??
I thought CSI NY started just a couple years ago… Has Gary Sinise REALLY wasted six long years of his career?? Really??!
Ummm… Wasted? Really? He’s the show’s producer and star. Gary Sinise is an amazing actor, but he’s not leading man material, and therefore he’d never be able to pull off a career like Tom Hanks’ or even Nicholas Cage’s (though he has a much better range than Cage does, I think). To pull of producer and leading man in an ensemble show, especially the third installment of a franchise like CSI is a veritable coup! In a few years, he’ll be retired from this chapter of his life and back to making movies and — more to the point for a successful actor — living comfortably off the residuals from the show. This was hardly a waste of his time. It was a shrewd business decision.
Congratulations to Melina on creating a believable character for the 6 years on CSI:NY!
I’m sure Ms. Ward will do a fine job but I am so sad to see Ms. Kanakaredes leave. She does an amazing job and is the perfect combination of good looks and intelligence. She will be missed.
I am THRILLED that Sela is back on a TV series!! I loved her in all of her shows and my favorite time of HOUSE is when she was on.
She is a classy southern lady and a terrific actress!!
WELCOME, SELA!
Melina has and will be great in anything she does.
so glad melinas gone.soooooooo many times they could have killed her off but didnt.she does not act.she poses.i hated her from the start
IF CBS decided that they simply MUST hire Sela Ward, why the heck didn’t they replace Emily Proctor or even David Caruso and leave Melina where she was? CSI Miami needs a COMPLETE overhaul. We all know that Eddie Cibrian was fired due to his bad press with LeAnne. I’d rather seen Eddie take over Caruso’s role. Seriously, how many more years are we going to put up with that ‘hands on hips’, ‘take off and put on the sunglasses’ and call it acting? CSI LV could use a couple of younger faces as well…by next year they’ll be shooting Marg through one inch gauze. OF the three female leads, Melina was the best!!!
Welcome Sela..you are beautiful at any age. I get so sick of the porn-viagra male population ragging about who’s hot for their age, etc. As far as the media is concern its over for a women at 30…but who really, really cares. Go Sela.
I think Sela Ward’s character is boring. Her character trys to hard to show off her knowledge of the job. That’s a complete turn off. Don’t get me wrong, I always liked Sela. But, she just doesn’t fit CSI. I tried to watch, as many of people I know. I won’t watch because she doesn’t not add any intrigue to her character or show. Gary Sinise/Mac is a beautiful and very interesting character. He needs someone with chemistry. Sorry Sela, you are not the one. Please bring in someone a little younger, with less grandma looks.
southern she is, classy she AIN’T!! and yes her character Jo is creepy.