Unfortunately, just like with any other kind of breakup, no one says what they really mean in these situations, so it's hard to say exactly what went down.

Apart from a few early grumbling rumors that disappeared pretty quickly, there's no reason to disbelieve the official line from both sides that it was a fairly amicable split.

Those early rumors concerned, as usual, money -- there were questions of wage parity with "CSI:NY" co-star Gary Sinise -- but they didn't seem to go very far or last very long. All that's left is the (somewhat unsatisfying) story that it was just time to "move on."

"CSI" network CBS's official release at the time suggested it was entirely her decision. "We hoped Melina would return to 'CSI: NY' for another season, but we respect her decision to move on."

Kanakaredes issued an even vaguer statement of her own, saying only that, "I made some amazing and lifelong friendships during my six seasons at 'CSI:NY,' and I will treasure them forever."

But it really could have just been time to "move on." After spending six seasons on the show, she'd gotten about all the exposure and fame and goodwill and all that she could reasonably hope for. And given the fact that earlier this year she had a fairly meaty role in one of the biggest films of the year -- the goddess Athena in "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lighting Thief" -- she may have just been eyeing the next step in a promising career.

However, all that doesn't make things easier for fans. CBS thought that the addition of Sela Ward to the "CSI:NY" cast would -- executive producer Pam Veasey called her "a dynamic addition" -- but it may just take time to adjust.

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