Now that his popular character, Eric Delko, has turned in his resignation on
CSI: Miami after seven years of loyal service,
Adam Rodriguez finally breaks his silence—revealing he would have preferred to stay on the CBS hit had contract negotiations gone differently. “They made a business decision that didn’t sit well with me,” Adam says of proposed story line and salary changes (not to mention the addition of
Eddie Cibrian to the cast). “They felt like they could move the ship forward without me, so I was put in a position where I had to make a choice, and the only choice that felt good to me was to move forward. It wasn’t the decision I was hoping to make.”
Maybe that’s why Adam is moving in on Eddie’s girl. No, he’s not secretly dating LeAnn Rimes. Instead, Adam debuts on
Ugly BettyNovember 13, in the first of at least seven episodes, as driving teacher/mobster Bobby Talercio—a new love interest for Hilda (Ana Ortiz). Adam finds it “pretty funny” that, back in 2008, Hilda dumped Eddie’s two-timing character, Coach Diaz, who—just like Bobby—worked at Justin’s school and was hated by Ignacio. But Adam promises Bobby is “going to change Hilda’s life.”
Adam’s time on
CSI: Miami isn’t over yet. He’s grateful to return in late October to shoot the first of seven remaining episodes that tie up Eric’s relationship with Calleigh (Emily Procter) this season. When Delko reappears, he will be pitted against his old coworkers as a forensics expert in a high-profile murder case. “We’ll leave it open-ended in case there are some story lines down the road they want to bring me back for.” Would he be open to returning as a series regular next season, à la
CSI’s Jorja Fox? The actor would take it into “serious consideration,” but says now, “I’m enjoying seeing what else is out there.”