CSI: New York will get personal next season, as there's conflict ahead for Mac, and romance for Stella.

According to the Akron Beacon, reporting from the TCA Summer Press Tour, front man Mac Taylor will take on a 'nemesis.' Though the show has seen Mac disagree on numerous occasions with Chief Dwight Hillborne, their relationship so far hasn't reached such drastic levels. However, series creator Anthony Zuiker said in an interview with CSI Files last year that he hoped to introduce more "political obstacles" for Mac.

Meanwhile, his partner Stella Bonasera will be busy being romanced, but not by any of the main characters of the show. "I know he's an artist," Melina Kanakaredes told her hometown newspaper. "And that there is an ethnic background that we may have a similarity in... I don't know if he'll be Greek or Italian. It's a 50-50 shot at that. I know they don't want him to have too thick of an accent."

Stella will reportedly meet her new love while investigating a case. But that doesn't necessarily mean it will be a bad guy... or a good guy. "You never know. He could be a bad cop, bad artist, I don't know."

New York will see a lot of changing this upcoming season, mainly in its setting, as the underground lab will now be above ground. It is Zuiker's attempt to brighten up the show. "We've moved our offices to a high-rise, and you now see the Empire State Building outside my window," Gary Sinise said at the CBS press party.

"We needed to sort of refind what CSI was about in terms of New York. It took us a season," Zuiker added. "We have all brand-new sets this year. [The show's setting] is on the 35th floor in a vertical city, with stories that can only be told in New York City.... We already feel a great difference in the first three scripts."

The new changes are also meant to bring the characters together, which is one of the main reasons why Dr. Sheldon Hawkes (portrayed by Hill Harper) will be joining the outside world as a CSI. "We've seen some of the early dailies, and he's got great chemistry with Gary Sinise," Nina Tassler said at the Television Critics Association (TCA) Summer Press Tour. "They're really terrific together."

"That's the kind of stuff we're hoping for, and that Gary and I signed on to do," Kanakaredes added. "I think this year the changes are so important to all of us.... It feels as if we're starting again. It's that different."

Sinise and Kanakaredes comments can be found at USA Today. Head over to the Akron Beacon to read the rest of Kanakaredes's interview. And for more on the TCA Press Tour, visit TV Guide.

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