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CSI: NY star Melina Kanakaredes is leaving the veteran CBS crime drama after 6 seasons. I hear her contract was up and she was approached by CBS and CBS TV Studios with a new deal but opted to move on. I also hear another TV series veteran, Once and Again star Sela Ward, is being seriously considered as a possible replacements to star opposite Gary Sinise on CSI:NY‘s upcoming 7th season. After a six-year run in the Wednesday 10 PM slot, CSI: NY is being relocated to Fridays where it will air at 9PM this fall.
“We hoped Melina would return to CSI: NY for another season, but we respect her decision to move on,” CBS and CBS Studios said in a joint statement. “Her amazing talent and invaluable contribution to the success of the series are greatly appreciated and will not be forgotten. She will forever remain a friend to the network and studio and we wish her the very best.” Added Kanakaredes, who now holds the distinction of having starred on two back-to-back hit series, NBC’s Providence and CBS’ CSI:NY: “I made some amazing and lifelong friendships during my six seasons on CSI: NY, and I will treasure them forever!” CBS signed Kanakaredes in a rich talent deal right after the end of Providence. It led to her starring role on CSI:NY, which I hear most recently earned her around $200,000 an episode. For Kanakaredes, this marks a clean break from the show as she didn’t have a producer credit on it like Sinise or William Peterson, star of the mothership CSI series, who departed it last year. Production on Season 7 of CSI:NY starts on July 28.
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Wow, that’s surprising. I hope Melina will at least appear in the 1st episode since season 6 ended with a cliffhanger. Gary Sinise tweeted that the cast returns to work on the 26th, so I’m sure there is enough time to write her out.
IT WONT BE THE SAME WITHOUT MELINA KANAKAREDES…I HATE SHES LEAVING …LOVE THE SHOW.NOTHING AGAINST THE REST OF THE CAST BUT IF SHES GONE SO AM I ..I WONT BE WATCHING IT EVER AGAIN IF SHES GONE.IT WONT BE THE SAME NO SHOW EVER IS..SO THANKS BUT I WONT BE WATCHING THE NEW SEASON..SORRY IS THERE A WAY TO CONTACT MELINA IDE LOVE A PIC OF HER AND ALSO ONE OF GARY SINISE…
Sela Ward bugs, she’s too fake…being back Melina please……
You are so right Tia, Sella doesn’t fit well at all too stiff Melina needs to return
I am commenting re: Melina Kanakaredes leaving CSI New York. I’ve watched…I’ve tried….the cast is missing the spark they had from the beginning. Melina. Sela, sorry I can’t imagine you running and attempting to save yourself from a crazed boyfriend. You can’t speak Greek when it’s needed…Your wardrobe person needs to find you other outfits…Your a lovely actress, but no, your not Melina, your not the spark this show needs. Miss Kanakaredes just seemed to hold it all together. Bring her back, she’s worth it. Mac Taylor, maybe she’s the ONE! Now that she’s been supposedely in New Orleans heading up a CSI there, how about CSI New Orleans. Now that would be a rocker. JM
I REALLY MISS SEE MELINA KANAKAREDES VERY MUCH. WE HAVE THE SAME CHARITY BREAST CANCER ( I HAVE BEEN A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR FOR 5 YEARS).
THANKS FOR THE SIX SEASONS THAT YOU WERE ON THERE. IT WAS A REAL PLEASURE WATCHING YOU AND THE TEAM WORK TOGETHER.
GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS
I would rather see Marina Kanakaredes than an star on the programme than any other actress that is Malina Kanakarede
I actually love Sela Ward!!!…. I thought that Melina was great but she was a bit bland. I think the character they created for Sela is so much more interesting, and gives her more dept. I think they made a great choice in her replacement. She makes me watch the show more now…. Melina is beautiful and sweet on the show but she is boring!!!! =s
Sela stinks. She is a narcisstic know it all and I cannot stand her character. She is so snide to other collegues. The FBI should have kept her. I totally miss Melina K. She was awesome
I agree, I actually watch CSI:NY more now that Melina is gone.
She was too prissy and boring. Sella Ward is a lot more natural and doesn’t strut around sticking out her boobs with a puckered up
face
I agree……I won’t be watching it anymore either now that Melina is gone.
I quit watching when Melina left can,t handle sela
I am disappointed that Melinda is gone and we will probably never know the real reasons. The worst part of it all was the way CBS handled it with absolutely no mention of her in the new season. It’s like she was never on the show. So much for their comments on their respect for her as an actress as they showed her character none at all.
They did mention her in the new season through a gift she sends one of the characters going through a difficult time.
Gee Wiz, Saw the first ep today, will not be watching again. it’s a scandal that Melinda wasn’t given a proper leaving ep. they should have ditched the married couple. Neither of them can act and in my opinion make the show laughable. Couldn’t tell you thier names and couldn’t care less. Sela Ward is ok but she’s no Melinda.
I was worried about Melina leaving Csi NY, but I have watched and Sela Ward is holding her own. She is more outgoing and brightens up the show.
I agree on some but what would we do without Danny’s “BOOM”?
if you don’t know the characters(married couple) why are you making any comments about show?
They did mention Melinda’s character briefly saying that she was in Arizona, I think and enjoying her job. I agree, Sela is no Melinda. Melinda was down to earth and nothing phoney about her. With Sela, it just isn’t the same. I will continue to watch CSI New York as opposed to stop watching the mothership when William Patterson departed. What is he doing now? Thoughts of coming back maybe?
Melinda was tough women cop, Sela tries to be everyone’s mother. She is too soft and I don’t watch the show to see more happy families. That is covered by Danny,Lindsay and their daughter Lucy. We need another tough cop
Her name is Melina, not Melinda !! how much of a fan are you ??
Sela Ward needs to go, but I blame the writers. The writers brought Sela Ward’s character (Jo)into the show way to fast. When Anna Belknap’s character Lindsey started airing, the show gradually made us fall in love with her character. The writer’s shoved Jo down our throat and did it poorly. Jo acts like she is Mac’s long lost friend and she walks around like she runs the entire lab instead of Mac. It takes time to build a character and CSI Ny dropped the ball on this one. I love the show, but when Sela Ward’s character enters the scene, I find myself grinding my teeth or rolling my eyes about poor acting.
OMG…kept meaning to google why Melina Kanakaredes had left CSI NY (I was also a huge Providence fan) and I cannot believe the garbage people have written!!! MELINA and NOT MELINDA (so that goes to show you are not fans at all). I miss Melina BUT Sela Ward is a totally different character and so glad they did not just pretend that she was in fact Stella (as so many stupid shows do these days and think we will not notice). LOVE all the characters on ALL the CSIs. They are a team and would be lost without each and every one!!!
I have read all the comments about csi and Melina leaving,and i love the program. thats life move on these actors do.i wish her the best of luck. i agree with you look foward not back,some people are never happy, maybe they should get outside walk a dog or look at the sun rise, and be nice and helpful and feel better for it. It works.
OMG. Only just started watching CSI since Ted Danson came in. His character brings the human touch which was so lacking.
I agree, the worst part was Det. Bonasera’s leaving the series without any word about it in the 7th season. They could have written an impressive goodbye scene for her. CSI: NY will not be the same without Stella Bonasera:(
I still miss Detective Bonasera. She made a BIG difference to the show. I have not watched the show as much since her departure. I hope Stella will appear in at least a few episodes in the near future.
Sela Wad is great and believable in her role. Good replacement for Melina Kanakaredes – - – her charachter was getting stale
dont like the show so much with the botox acting it seems to be affecting the rest of the people in the program its going to go the same way as csi investigations down the hill
I totally agree with you, it was like she had never been on the
show at all, not reason given why she had left, i found that
absolutely amazing, shame on them.It is just not the same
since she left, the new girl is not a patch on Melina.
the show will not be the same without her
I loved CSI-NY v.much. Every episod i won’t missed it. If Melina leaving from csi i will never see it again. I enjoyed her character in csi with Gary Sinise as Det.Mac Taylor. I agree CSI-NY will not be the same without Stella Bonasera. I hope Mellina will be back to CSI-NY one day.
Sela Ward is a far better choice, she has far better character and Stella Bonasera had too many issues and her inner anger distracted from the show.
Stella,Stella
You will be missed. You and mac rock that show. CBS will be in the ditch before long losing all these actors and actresses…….
What is she doing now?
I hope Melina gets to do some funny roles now that she isn’t in the murder genre. She was so adorable and quirky when she landed on Guiding Light years and years ago, and her character on Providence had a few light hearted moments.
great to hear someone else remembers providence…she was brill in that too!!
Wasn’t Sela the original choice for the role that eventually went to Kim Delaney on CSI:Miami?
I still miss Providence.
Oh, look! The Cravenly Boorish Sexism network nickel-and-dimed yet another woman off one of their crime procedurals!
— Rob
They didn’t nickle and dime her off the show, she just read the writing on the wall. CSI:NY is the lowest rated of all the CSI’s and CSI:NY is being moved from its cushy Thursday time slot to a Friday night time slot this fall. The show will most likely not see another season. She is just jumping ship before the boat hits the iceberg. Smart choice for her.
to Jason get your facts straight, CSI NY is on Wednesday night, not Thursday night.
GO BACK AND READ IT. IT DOES SAY WEDNESDAY!!!!!!!
IT SAYS T H U R S D A Y!!! Can’t you read?
actually paul, it was on wednesday nights & it says wednesday in the article!
Guys…read the post Paul is replying to in which “Jason” comments that CSI: NY is being moved from its “cushy Thursday time slot.”
According to another report, Kanadaredes refused to take their generous offer of a substantial pay cut. So, yes, she was nickel-and-dimed off the show.
Moreover, if we follow your logic (despite the fact that you misidentified that CSI:NY was on Thursdays rather than Wednesdays), then if she “saw the writing on the wall” and that the show “won’t see another season,” she would have announced months ago, when renegotations actually began, that she was going to be moving on.
The simple fact of the matter is this: when an actor leaves a show in the middle of the summer, it’s about the network insulting the actor’s intelligence by asking him/her to take a pay cut. Period.
And when CBS insults the actor’s intelligence by asking said actor to take a pay cut, they’re almost always asking a woman to do so.
Rob Jensen,
somewhere in Central Missouri
Please elaborate on the conspiracy of women who CBS has forced off through pay cuts. Names of the other actors? You saying it doesn’t make it so.
* From Criminal Minds: A.J. Cook, who’s gone after two more episodes, and Paget Brewster, the only woman on any of the forensics shows who’s getting to stick around ’til the end of this season directly due — as tweeted by Brewster herself –to the show’s fanbase, but after that, she’s gone)
* From CSI: Original Recipe: Liz Vassey, and likely Lauren Lee Smith the year before
* From CSI: New York: Melina Kanakaredes now and Emmanuelle Vaugier at the top of this past season. Oh, and Vaugier’s seeming replacement, Sarah Carter, after only a couple of episodes at the top of this past season.
Not to mention, the women-led shows Old Christine and Ghost Whisperer, both of which were cancelled due to nickel-and-diming, not due to ratings that were still respectable for their timeslots.
Oh, and on the subject of male opening-credits actors on CBS shows, they’re minorities:
* From CSI: Adam Rodrigues, Latino, at the top this past season, brought back to fan demand
* From NCIS: LA: Adam Jamal Craig, black, character killed off
— Rob
rob j.. are you seriously stating that adamn rodruguez and adam jamal craig were taken off the shows because of their ethnicity?!? how ridiculous do you sound, seriously?!? all of you people who are still constantly throwing out the race card need to WAKE UP… we’re in 2010 & not the 1960′s!!! get over it already!
CSI NY used to be on on Wednesday nights and they moved it to Friday night. CBS has changed so many programs around. My husband and I can’t stand the ‘so called popular’ sitcoms. Friday night is now a favorite next to Sunday and Wednesday. Unfortunately the ‘regular CSI’ has made SO many changes, it doesn’t seem like the regular show. I hear now that the main red head lady is making this her last season as well. Melina has been one of my favorite actresses since she was on Guiding Light.
I am confused as to what day it is they have swapped everything around so much on CBS. I love ALL the CSI’s and hate it when they make cast changes.I have sorely missed Peterson and now HIS replacement is leaving?????Ghost Whisperer was one of our favorite shows despite jumping the shark well over a year ago and returning with a crazy convoluted storyline that jumped 5 years into the future. Then last year was the year of all the new medical shows which I enjoyed immensely even though the critics doomed Three Rivers before it aired.Mercy I loved.This year it’s all cops and lawyers, most of which I am sur are doomed to fail so I haven’t bothered watching them.
I like CSI:NY a lot better than CSI: Miami. David Caruso is a terrible actor and ruins the show. I won’t watch it as long as he’s on the show.
By moving CSI:NY to Fridays, to me is not a good move and I think it will kill the show. Move it back to Wednesdays
I too like CSI NewYork the best of all the CSIs and am worried that now that it has moved to Fri. night, it will soon be gone. I do watch CSI Miami but find I just have to ignore a lot of what Horatio does. If one of the CSIs goes, I sure hope it is Miami before any of the others.
i agree with u, csi ny is realistic than miami, i like melina alot but i love the whole show. i like the chemistry of mac and stella.
Have never watched an episode of CSI: NY–yet never would miss it if Sela Ward starred…
I think Sela Ward would be a great replacement. She is beautiful and very intelligent. I never missed a show when she appeared on House. Good Luck to her.
i wish melina wasnt leaving i dont think selina or watever her name is will ever fill her shoes.
She’s made her money. Why not go take a shot at becoming a movie star?
i do not blame Melinda if she felt it was her time to go . though csi new york will not be the same with her character of Stella gone wonder how they will address her not coming back. for thought if any one was out on new york it would be Carmine giovinazzo since the last season ended with a gun shot and Danny right in the line of fire from that pycho stalking him and Lindsey.
“Melinda”? Gee… you must really watch the show religiously….
if they took out danny they would also have to take out lindsay because it wouldn’t be ethical to have a father and a husband just up and leave.
Great! I love Sela Ward! She is a wonderful and graceful actress.
Love Sela Ward and have never watched CSI NY. I hope the character is up to the caliber of things she played before. Cuz once you play Lilly Manning Samler, you better have plans of having your next major TV outing match or top that.
Apparently CBS is getting rid of all its womenfolk.
Ah, I think if Sela Ward was hired – sane amount of womenfolk. 1-1+1=1.
I love Sela Ward. She is a believable actress. Melina was so beautiful and I will miss her face. I don’t usually watch CSI: NY, but when I switch channels and find her on the screen, I get transfixed.
I have always loveded Melina. She is beautiful and very sweet. I met her on CSI-NY and found her to be very warm and friendly. I to will miss her. On the other hand I am nuts about Sela Ward. I have liked every thing she has done. I think they chose a good replacement. Good lick to all. CSI-NY is the best.
I loved Melina as “Stella” but am open to seeing a new actor/actress on the show.. She will be missed by many but times change and people do too. I didn’t like the idea of how they took her out without giving her the exit she so richly deserved after 6 seasons of outstanding acting but life goes on and so does the show.
I watch every show on wed nights and watch every rerun, I will truly miss Stella,but I wish her all the best.
heres mt question how are they going to explain her not being there next season?Sela Ward is a beautiful and very good actress, she will fit right in.
to keep this show alive and kicking, they need to cast some one famous and sexier – with an edge … majority of the cast, especially the young guys,and deserve her money to be spread around them. storylines are much better these days, too it just needs some pep and so CBS carpe diem!!
All the CSI’s are terrible. I would watch NY once in a while just because Melina is sexy. Don’t even have to do that anymore. Good luck to her in the future.
I can’t believe she’s leaving, she’s my all time favourite character and she’s an amazing actress. I am very disappointed and although I will start to watch the next season I know for a fact it won’t be as good!!
she’s one of my favorite characters on csi: ny as well, along with danny messer! i am really sad to see her go, but i will continue to watch
i have been watching csi miami for a long time now
i have alwayed loved it. to see her leave though i actualy disaprove of Melina Kanakaredes or stella of leaving. i just dont think csi will be the same im only 15 years old and you all may think im to young to know anything but i actualy do next to Abby stella is one of my favorites i hate thats she is leaving 
but this is just my oppinon
I will surely miss Melina on her role as Stella… Why not? I’m a smacked fan. I wish that she will consider coming back for the seventh season. Claire Forlani came back as a guest on season 6 so I’m still crossing my fingers.
Really glad to see Melina leaving the show. She was often the reason I didn’t catch an episode.
Sela Ward is lovely looking and also a much better actress. Ward and Sinise would be an excellent pairing.
Melina left when CBS wouldn’t pay her what she thought she was worth.
She’s the reason Providence drew such poor ratings and also the main reason [other then the Danny - Lindsay bubblegum scenarios] that CSI: NY has lagged.
If Sela Ward does replace Melina, its the best thing to happen to this show in a long time.
Gary Sinise is the star of the show, he’s still there, and the show will be even better now.
Totally agree, glad to see one sane fan in the bunch!
u guys are TOTALLY WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! STELLA AND MAC MAKE A WAY BETTER PAIR!!!!!!!!!
Bull! They have great ratings and she was a great actress. Ward will do well in her spot and I am excited to see it. All the CSI’s are worth watching along with Criminal Minds.
Your totally wrong Melina was fantastic in both Providence and C.S.I NEW YORK which wont be the same without her.Does anyone know what she plans to do.
I’m shocked to see that CSI:NY is the lowest rated of the CSI’s since Vegas is the worst since Grissom left. I personall rank them 1. Miami 2. NY 3.Vegas. I think Stella ward would be a great replacement. I think CBS is setting up Miami & NY to fail. Miam moved to Sunday nite to compete with Sunday night Football? & Now NY to Friday night which usually is a prelude to the end. This really stinks since we enjoy these shows except Vegas that’s the show that needs to go or bring back Grissom.
I very much so agree with you on all of that. Definately the Grissom part. He was one of the main reasons that I watched CSI. And Stella was one of the main reasons that I watched CSI NY. I have never seen Sela Ward but I really hope that what every one is saying about her is true because I don’t think that Stella ever needs to be replased.
i agree, i haven’t really watched much of las vegas since grissom left.. not a big fan of laurence fishburne being the lead character now!! it’s just not the same! csi: ny is by far my favorite of the three!
Funny, tho I like Peterson a lot I think the show is way better now than it has ever been. Laurance Fishburn brings an entire new energy to the show that brings me back week after week.
Its like they have turned the daylight on the show after years of darkness.
Sela Ward is too old. They need to have Melina’s replacement been someone near Melina’s age or younger.
I think the same thing. I don’t know Sela Ward but I looked up pictures and I just don’t think that it would work, age wise, on CSI NY. I think that they are sortof pushing it with Gary Sinise who is 54 and David Caruso, Horatio Caine, who is also 54. Melina Kanakaredes is 43 and they are going to try and replace her with someone who has over 10 years on her. I don’t know…
Sela is 54 and would be more believable then a thirty year old in that part. In the real world people work up the ladder in their careers they don’t run the should when they are twenty or thirty! She is still a beautiful woman and we the real fans can appreciate that.
54! what does their age have to do with their character? Please can we agree that these individuals have the knowledge and skills gained over “years” in the profession – they mentor the younger CSI agents.
And, I just have to add – David Caruso makes CSI Miami the best of the CSI shows on television. (hey, don’t hate because my opinion isn’t the same as yours).
Every time a show is moved to Friday is a sign that the network is getting ready for it’s end or doesn’t have much faith in it being a big rating success. Being on Saturday is even more of the sign.
That’s odd because I’m always looking for something to watch on Friday night. I hope it remains in the later time slot though.
that sucks!!! she should stay but I hope that when she moves on to better things she has luck
I’ve really missed Sela Ward so this could be win win even though I like Melina Kanakaredes, Sela ward gives every woman over 40 hope, she’s gorgeous!!