"Law & Order" Shakeups (Updated)
Posted July 21st, 2006 by RD Heldenfels
"Law & Order" impresario Dick Wolf is here today, which gave me a chance to clear up some cast departures that you folks have been asking about.
Annie Parisse ("L&O") asked out because she was becoming frustrated over having to turn down movie roles. Wolf called her "one of the role models of how to leave a show." Alana De La Garza ("CSI: Miami") will be a new ADA on the show.
Jamey Sheridan ("Criminal Intent"), as I've reported before, wanted to spend more time in California, where his family is. Eric Bogosian will succeed him.
Courtney B. Vance ("Criminal Intent") was at the end of his contract and the writers felt they had done all they could with his character. Nona Gaye — actress and daughter of Marvin Gaye — is coming in as a new ADA. (UPDATE: Gaye has reportedly left the series, with Theresa Randle replacing her.)
Annabella Sciorra ("CI") left by mutual agreement with the show, Wolf said, without elaboration. Julianne Nicholson (from Wolf's "Conviction") will play the new partner for Chris Noth.
As for speculation that Sam Waterston is leaving the original "L&O," Wolf called it "totally, totally fallacious. … Sam is back for all 22 episodes this year."
And, in case you missed it, Connie Nielsen will fill in for Mariska Hargitay on "Special Victims Unit" while Hargitay is on maternity leave.
July 21st, 2006 at 4:15 pm
Was any comment made on Dennis Farnia's departure? The fact that he's being replaced with a younger, female detective (the first female detective on the original) had me thinking that NBC wanted the flagship show to seem more like the C.S.I. shows, especially after their directive in the early 90s to add women to the cast.
July 21st, 2006 at 5:50 pm
That question did not come up, partly because of the way these big press conferences work. Wolf brought up Jamey Sheridan, if I remember correctly, Annie Parisse came up later and I asked about Sciorra and Vance after that, while forgetting about Farina. But I am pretty sure that Farina left under his own power.
July 21st, 2006 at 6:15 pm
The writers felt they had reached the end with Vance but Waterston's character still has legs? That's interesting. I'll miss Sciorra too.
July 24th, 2006 at 12:03 pm
I'm very sorry to see Sciorra go. I liked the character's quirks, and thought she played well off Noth. I guess I do only have to buy one season of CI on DVD after all.