Melina Kanakaredes Quits CSI: NY

CSI: NY star Melina Kanakaredes has quit the hit TV cop drama.

TV executives at CBS in America have released a statement confirming the news to fans.

The statement reads, "We hoped Melina would return to CSI: NY for another season, but we respect her decision to move on.

"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."

Kanakaredes has not explained her decision, but states, "I made some amazing and lifelong friendships during my six seasons on CSI: NY, and I will treasure them forever."

Antonio Sabato Jr. and Danica Patrick to Heat Up CSI: NY

Start your engines, CSI: NY fans!

In his first return to TV since failing to find love on his VH1 dating show My Antonio, Antonio Sabato Jr. has signed on as a guest star on CSI: NY alongside NASCAR driver Danica Patrick.

Sabato and Patrick will play Formula race car drivers Davi Santos and Liza Gray, who will get into an explosive car crash during an expedition race through New York City.

Their fiery episode will air February 18th on CBS.

Fall TV Premieres: Wednesday Night

Tonight's "Hump Day" prime time schedule is filled with plenty of returning shows and new series premieres. Here's what new on TV tonight:

COUGAR TOWN (ABC 9:30 pm): A recently divorced single mother (Courtney Cox-Arquette) explores the honest truths about dating and aging in a beauty and youth obsessed culture in this hilarious comedy that is sure to become an ABC hit.

CRIMINAL MINDS (CBS 9:00 pm): Season five will pick up where the show end off in May; the morning after Hotch (Thomas Gibson) has returned home from his Canadian mission, only to be greeted and seemingly shot by his old nemesis, the Reaper (C. Thomas Howell).

CSI: NY (CBS 10:00 pm): Season six premieres with Mac (Gary Sinise) and Stella (Melina Kanakaredes) mourning the loss of Detective Angell (Emmanuelle Vaugier) who is still alive but their is a life changing result for a cast member.

EASTWICK (ABC 10:00 pm): Like the John Updike novel and the 1987 movie (Witches of Eastwick), the show focuses on three women in New England -- Roxanne (Rebecca Romijn), Kat (Jaime Ray Newman) and Joanna (Lindsay Price) -- who discover they have supernatural powers

GARY UNMARRIED (CBS 8:30 pm): There is no surprise that Gay (Jay Mohr) is still unmarried when the 2nd season premieres. New challenges get thrown into Gary's past this season, including his love interest Sasha (Brooke D'Orsay) and an old friend Curtis (Keegan-Michael Key), who both work at the radio station Gary will be painting.

LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT (NBC 9:00 pm): Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) will deal with cases this year that forces them to make very tough decisions. They will also be joined by several high-profile guest stars including Christine Lahti as the new Executive DA and Wentworth Miller who will face-off with the duo.

MODERN FAMILY (ABC 9:00 pm): This new series is a satirical look at three different families and the trials they face in each of their own uniquely comedic ways. It includes a multi-cultural couple (Ed O'Neill & Sofia Vergara), a traditional family (Ty Burell & Julie Bowen) and a gay couple (Jesse Tyler Ferguson & Eric Stonestreet). This has got to be one hilarious "family"!

NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE (CBS 8:00 pm): Plenty of loose ends are tied up including Richard (Clark Gregg) being left at the altar, and Christine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and Matthew (Hamish Linklater) getting jilted by their respective lovers as the show starts it's 5th season.

All hours based on Eastern Time.