In This Section
TV Guide Spotlight
Also on TVGuide.com
|
« Today's News: Our Take
Out of Order: Who'll Get Crunched By New Budget?
Though both the original Law & Order and Criminal Intent (which is moving to sister network USA) have been awarded new seasons, NBC U has some belt-tightening to do. Sources tell FoxNews.com that franchise father Dick Wolf will reduce L&O vet Sam Waterston's salary by giving Jack McCoy a "promotion" to the smaller role of district attorney, and then hire a younger (read: cheaper) actor to fill the vacated slot.
Among the cops, Milena Govich, the series' first female detective, wasn't asked back for the fall, and rumors are swirling that partner Jesse L. Martin may join her on the unemployment line. CI, meanwhile, plans to keep Vincent D'Onofrio and Chris Noth, despite their hefty salaries. No word on whether their female counterparts — Julianne Nicholson and Kathryn Erbe — will return, but they rarely got a word in edgewise, anyway. — Reporting by Raven Snook
|
TVGuide Links:
|
|
|
|
May 16, 2007 3:03 PM
|
|
Wow. I don't know if I'd watch the "Mothership" with Sam Waterston in such a limited role & without Jesse L. Martin entirely. I'll follow CI to USA (I watch the reruns there anyway.) I hope there are no cast changes there.
|
|
May 16, 2007 3:27 PM
|
Honestly, if they don't want to pay anyone that has been on the show for more than a year, that's fine. Just cancel the damned show and be done with it.
I will not watch a show without Martin and Waterston in major roles.
|
|
May 16, 2007 3:39 PM
|
Dick Wolf is such a selfish person.
Why would he fight so hard to keep these shows on air to only gut them into a former shell of what they used to be. He's cheating himself, the fans, the employees, and just about everyone. All for a record that no one's going to really care about. This isn't sports -- records don't matter that much
|
|
May 16, 2007 3:41 PM
|
|
I actually think it will be VERY interesting to see Jack McCoy on the other side of the table, always saying "Just make a deal" and having to play politics.
|
|
May 16, 2007 3:58 PM
|
No no no no no!!
Sam Waterston for only a second an episode if that as D.A....NO NO NO!!
He is Law and Order. Bite me Dick Wolf!!
And no Jesse L. Martin are you kidding me with this??
|
|
May 16, 2007 4:11 PM
|
In my opinion, the less of the sniveling, grumpy, arrogant Jack McCoy , the better. I felt the same way about his former boss, Adam Schiff, who before he left was nothing more than a grumpy old man.
Thank god that Chris Noth will be back, without him it would be difficult to stomach the always right Detective Goren.
In no way, shape or form do I see Dick Wolfe as selfish in any of this. Maybe you should consider the actors that are employed by his shows before someone says that of Dick Wolfe.
|
|
May 16, 2007 4:19 PM
|
I would have been happier to keep the staff intact and maybe alternate shows each week.
Since they've kept Vincent (without whom there is NO Criminal Intent), they better keep Kathryn. She is completely his partner. They have an amazing balance. Be better off to lose Chris Noth!
No loss for Jesse's partner. Never liked her from the start. Send Chris over there.
While I will miss Sam's trial work, it might be interesting to see him in the higher role. Haven't other DA's had more lines previously? Beef of the DA for Sam.
|
|
May 16, 2007 4:22 PM
|
|
No Jesse L. Martin. I won't be watching anymore. I only tune into the original because of him. Dick Wolf might as well have let them cancel if he was going disect the show this much. I only tune into CI when Chris Noth is on, I doubt I'll even do that with it moving to whatever cable network it is going to now. I think Dick Wolf is an idiot.
|
|
May 16, 2007 4:24 PM
|
It'd be great if they could bring back Abby Carmichael (Angie Harmon) and give her Jack's current job.
Benjamin Bratt's series was canceled, wasn't it? They could bring Ray Curtis and pair him up with Jesse L. Martin's Ed Green.
That would probably bring back old viewers and some new viewers.
|
|
May 16, 2007 4:39 PM
|
|
I love the original L&O and despite what some say, the characters are just as important as the cases. Jerry Orbach's Briscoe was reason enough to watch the show, and I am almost as fond of Jesse L. Martin. But these days, Sam Waterston is the one who carries L&O. His sense of justice and righteous indignation gives this show its heart. Last week's episode about the veterans' hospital is a perfect example. I doubt I'd continue watching without him.
|
|
May 16, 2007 4:57 PM
|
|
I think they should put Chris Noth (who I love) on with Jesse L. Martin on L&O. I think they would have the wisecracking relationship we are used to on that show. I think this would bring a host of new viewers providing the stories are still good.
|
|
May 16, 2007 4:58 PM
|
I think Bejamin Pratt would be a good choice! they can transferred Ice tea and/or Munch from SUV to L&O, so that they have more screen time.
For replacement of Sam Waterson, I would pick Stephanie March. She played ADA on SUV. I think she is credible.
|
|
May 16, 2007 5:09 PM
|
Watching McCoy deal with the politics of being a DA would be interesting. He's always seen things from a "right or wrong" perspective. Maybe they can bring back Ben Stone? Surely Michael Moriarty could use a job.
I'm glad they're getting rid of Milena Govich, her character was so horribly written...and acted. They better not get rid of Jesse.
|
|
May 16, 2007 5:14 PM
|
|
It's unrealistic to think that they're going to bring back already established characters such as Munch, Curtis, Logan, Charmichael, or Cabot as replacements. The idea is to find people who are cheaper.
|
|
May 16, 2007 5:44 PM
|
|
|
