Joe Mantegna Returns to ‘Criminal Minds’: Inside the Shocking Plot Twists and Future of SSA Rossi

Fans tuning in to PBS’s 36th annual National Memorial Day Concert on Sunday, May 25, will notice a major change: longtime co-host Joe Mantegna will be absent for the first time since he assumed the role in 2006. The Criminal Minds star revealed on Instagram that a sudden ear issue has grounded him from flying, forcing him to step aside just days before the live broadcast. “Though I’m grounded and can’t fly this weekend due to an ear issue, my heart is very much with my dear friends Esai Morales and Gary Sinise as they lead this year’s Memorial Day concert to honor our fallen heroes,” the 77-year-old actor wrote, promising to return in 2026. Stepping in on short notice is Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning actor Esai Morales, who will co-host alongside Gary Sinise. Capital Concerts, the production company behind the event, confirmed the switch and praised Morales for “immediately accepting the call to honor our military families.” Viewers can expect Morales and Sinise to introduce tributes from Robert Patrick, Blair Underwood, and Gretchen Mol, plus performances by Yolanda Adams, Angel Blue, Loren Allred, Scotty Hasting, and the National Symphony Orchestra under maestro Jack Everly. Mantegna’s absence is especially poignant because of his two-decade commitment to the concert, an annual remembrance that airs live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Over the years, the Tony Award winner has become synonymous with the broadcast, regularly using his platform to highlight veterans’ issues and Gold Star families. His Instagram statement reiterated that mission, calling the telecast “a powerful reminder of what Memorial Day truly represents.” Despite the last-minute change, PBS assures viewers the 2025 edition will proceed as planned from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET, streaming simultaneously on YouTube and the Armed Forces Network. The special will remain available on demand through June 8, giving households plenty of time to watch the tributes—even if they miss the live airing. Health experts say most ear infections clear within days, so Mantegna’s fans can likely look forward to his swift recovery. Until then, Morales’s fresh perspective and Sinise’s veteran presence aim to keep the concert’s hallmark blend of solemn remembrance and uplifting music intact.