CBS Cancels 'CSI: Miami,' 'Rob' & 'NYC 22,' Renews 'CSI:NY'
'Community' Renewed For Season 4 On NBC
George Eads Signs on for More 'CSI'
by Kim Potts, posted Jul 15th 2010 9:40AM
At last, some good news for a CBS procedural: Original 'CSI' cast member George Eads has signed a new contract to continue on the long-running drama, which begins its 11th season in September.TV Guide reports that Eads signed on to continue playing 'CSI'-er Nick Stokes despite telling an interviewer in May that he had decided to leave the series if contract negotiations didn't go his way.
"I have to decide if I want to come back," the 43-year-old Eads said. "It's been 10 years, and I've still yet to do a feature film and see what other opportunities might be out there. In negotiations, you have to be willing to walk away, and that's something I'm willing to do if I don't feel the contract is pleasing to me and fair. There can't really be a hierarchy when it comes to salaries anymore. I feel I deserve to sit at the table with the adults, and we'll see what happens."
Eads was referring to co-stars like Laurence Fishburne and Marg Helgenberger, and his belief that he should be at the same pay grade. Presumably his new contract must have come at least close to providing him with parity with his co-stars, though TV Guide points out that a new co-star, who will be paired with Stokes, might also have enticed him into returning to the show, as it means a potentially more high-profile storyline for his character.
And now that Eads is locked in, the network can focus on casting Stokes' new partner, a character named Kacey Monohan. She's described as a sexy bombs expert who's been blowing stuff up since she was a kid.
Meanwhile, with popular CBS procedural stars Liz Vassey ('CSI'), Melina Kanakaredes ('CSI: NY'), Eddie Cibrian ('CSI: Miami') and A.J. Cook ('Criminal Minds') leaving the network before the new season starts in the fall, Eads' signing, along with the hiring of Emmy-winner Sela Ward as Kanakaredes' 'CSI: NY' replacement earlier this week, indicates that the network might not just be trying to clean house, but rather is trying to freshen up its glut of crime dramas.
41 Comments