"CSI: NY" Season Opener Turns Up The Heat

Will The Partners In Crime Fighting Catch The Bad Guy?

(CBS)  The new season of the CBS hit show "CSI: New York" kicks off tonight, showcasing the sizzling New York summer heat.

Early Show co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez caught up with "CSI: New York" stars Gary Sinise and Melina Kanakaredes while they were shooting their premiere episode.

The "CSI" franchise's third entry has become a hit in prime time with Sinise as Det. Mac Taylor and Kanakaredes as Det. Stella Bonasera, bringing the adrenaline rush to the Big Apple.

The cast admits that New York adds a certain flavor to the show like no other place in the world.

"One of the great things about New York, why so many shows have been set here, it's a big international city. It has many, many stories," Sinise said.

In the midst of a beautiful backdrop, the crew took in the excruciatingly hot, 100 degree heat for many hours just to get the perfect shot.

The first episode picks up where the season-ending cliff hanger left off.

Taylor, kidnapped by a bank robber, is left for dead across the Hudson River in Jersey City, where he is met by Stella, his partner of five years.

It's hard for Kanakaredes to fathom that it’s already the fifth season. She recalled having a baby in season one, who is now five years old.

But she enjoys being a part of the hugely successful show, especially returning to bustling New York City.

"Yesterday, I was in a helicopter at sunset in Manhattan. It was the most beautiful way to see the city. At the same time, a very heightened energetic scene because Mack is missing, this bad guy has taken him and Stella is looking for him," Kanakaredes said.

Many "CSI: New York" fans wonder if Taylor will seek revenge.

"He wants justice. That's what he seeks. He wants people to pay for their crimes," Sinise explained.

"I wonder, do you think we get the bad guy? I don't know," Kanakaredes said.

"CSI: New York" airs tonight on CBS at 10 p.m. ET/PT.