Back in March we reported that Law & Order: Criminal Intent was rumored to be on the cancellation block due to its rotating cast and drooping ratings. Apparently, that wasn't true. In fact, executives over at NBC were impressed with the 11 million viewers per week it was able to retain up against such Sunday night powerhouses as The Sopranos and Desperate Housewives. So, when the new fall schedule came out in May CI was right there, ready for a sixth season.
This is good. Despite it being the youngest of the Law & Order trio still on the air (the original is entering its 17th season while SVU will be starting its eighth season this upcoming Tuesday) I personally feel it's one of the best. Yes, even better than SVU, which has gotten a bit stale as of late. This was confirmed while watching a preview copy of the CI season premiere. I'll tell you all about it after the jump. (By the way, slight SPOILERS ahead).
First, a bit on what has changed on Criminal Intent. The show has been pushed out of its former Sunday night slot (due to Sunday Night Football) and now resides on Tuesday nights at 9:00 pm, right in front of its older sibling SVU. Gone is Jamey Sheridan as Captain James Deakins, Annabella Sciorra as Detective Carolyn Barek (who was Detective Mike Logan's partner) and Courtney B. Vance as ADA Ron Carver. Sciorra is replaced by Julianne Nicholson as Detective Megan Wheeler, and Vance is replaced by Theresa Randle as ADA Patricia Kent. Neither of these actors appeared on the preview DVD.
Sheridan has been replaced by Captain Danny Ross, played by Eric Bogosian. As you would probably assume, Captain Ross isn't immediately enamored to the tactics of his major forces detectives, particularly Robert Goren (Vincent D'onofrio). In fact, he asks Groen's partner, Alexandra Eames (Kathryn Erbe) to watch over him, just to make sure that he doesn't get too creative with his investigation. However, Eames has been paired with Goren long enough to know and greatly appreciate the tactics he uses to catch the right person.
Where the former Captain spent most of his time in the office and let his detectives run the show, Ross is more of a hands-on type of boss. This is evident in the season premiere, as he takes a more active role in the investigation of a serial killer who seems to have returned after several years of hiding. As the investigation proceeds, however, he allows Goren more and more freedom to work the case. Especially since his partner is kidnapped and tortured by the killer.
If you've watched any episodes of the Law & Order franchise you'll probably guess who the serial killer is after the first 20 minutes. Then, after another 10 minutes, you'll really know who the killer is. However, it's the way that Goren comes to the conclusion of who it is that's the entertaining part of Criminal Intent. And the way he gets the killer to confess is just so suave; like two old friends having a conversation about the weather.
The season premiere of Law & Order: Criminal Intent is this Tuesday. Next week the second detective team of Mike Logan and new partner Megan Wheeler step up to the plate. Hopefully, we'll have another episode this season where the two teams get together on an investigation.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-17-2006 @ 7:53PM
Sheila said...
NOOOOOOOOooooooooo...no more Capt. Sheridan or ADA Carver? But I love them! And if they HAD to bring in another team, Sciorra was perfectly FINE.
Meddlers. MEDDLERS!
I guess I should just be thankful I still have my weekly Bobby and Alex fix. ::sigh::
Thanks for the scoop!
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9-17-2006 @ 8:03PM
ann said...
I may be dead before we see it in England... we have only just got S4 and no mention yet of S5 airing. However sounds to me like S6 will be most exciting and others may come and go, but as far as I'm concerned Goren is the star of the show. Vincent D'Onofrio has created a magnificent character and it has been fascinating to see how he has developed the role over the years... I'm greedy and only sorry that he's not in every single episode because I think the show could be renamed simply Detective Robert O Goren
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9-17-2006 @ 8:04PM
BC19 said...
Any hint/word on how Courtney B. Vance's ADA Carver is written out of the show in this upcoming premiere? I suppose I could ask about Sciorra's departure too (undoubtedly that question will be answered in L&O style with 2 or 3 throw away lines just before or just as Logan meets his new partner), but I skip the Noth weeks anyway so I don't really care.
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9-18-2006 @ 5:51AM
Diane said...
Being in the UK, I can only echo what Ann has already said. We've so far not even been allowed to see season 4 in the right running order. It would be some consolation if NBC would release the DVDs of each season as quickly as they could, but for some strange reason, they don't seem to want to do that! I just plan to keep breathing for as long as possible. Thank you for the article and picture. It's nice to know there are others out there who appreciate the wonders of LOCI and Vincent D'Onofrio (hey, I'm female and breathing, I 'appreciate' him completely) ;-)
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9-18-2006 @ 10:21AM
sarahlee said...
I can't wait for Tuesday night! I'm even starting to be interested in the "off" epis. (w/o Goren) I would like to know how, or if, Deakins and Carver's absences will be handled. Is it possible that we will have cameos from those two in season 6?
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9-18-2006 @ 11:28AM
Sandra Jensen said...
I've been avidly watching any old Law and Order:Criminal Intent that comes on television in order to get my daily Robert O. Goren(aka the talented and gorgeous Vincent D'Onofrio) fix, while waiting anxiously for the new season to start.
I'm also a longtime fan of Christopher Noth, and I really loved the two times he and Vincent worked together along with the delightfully acerbic Kathryn Erbe.
Perhaps someone can find out why the creator, Dick Wolf, has not released the second season to DVD yet?
I have bought the first and third seasons on DVD, but can't understand why the second season has been omitted?
Oh, a little message to the creator,Dick Wolf. Don't touch my Bobby Goren and try to make him dissapear like you have stupidly done to other actors in your franchise because VINCENT D'ONOFRIO is LOCI!
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9-27-2006 @ 10:59AM
Cindy said...
I'm Hooked on Bobby Goren. Please don't alter him too much. I admit I skip the Noth weeks pretty frequently. I am Absolutely bummed that ADA Carver is gone. I really enjoyed his surprise, wit, and interaction with Eames and Goren. Please bring him back!!
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9-19-2006 @ 11:25PM
John said...
Just saw the first episode tonight. Frankly, they ruined it! It's way too creepy and noir for my tastes. If they wanted to kill the show after this season, they're off to a fine start.
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9-24-2006 @ 1:20AM
linda said...
I didn't like the noir styling at all that they shot with this week.
I have been a faithful fan since day one. CI quickly became my favorite, especially after Jerry Orbach left L&O.
D'Onofrio is the show, no doubt. Him and Kathryn Erbe made a great team!
I loved "Mike Logan" way back when, but find his presence in CI, odd and jarring, and I was not thrilled the weeks him and his partner were on.
It wasn't CI to me.
Goren reminds me of Colombo with a twist, and that is what keeps me addicted to this show. I will miss Jamie's Sheridan's character, I liked him and Courtney B. Vance's ADA Carver, I thought they did add something to the mix.
I guess no matter what they do, as long as they keep Goren and Eames, I will keep tuning in.
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9-26-2006 @ 11:15PM
john said...
I stll don't know why they did not pick Samantha Buck -- aka Detective G. Lynn Bishop to partner with Logan. I agree with BC19, will they explain the departure of Vance and Sciorra? And what were the REAL reasons (real life, that is) of their departures and of Jamey Sheridan.
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9-27-2006 @ 12:10AM
Ben Goldhammer said...
OK I watched the 1st ep its ok but now I am watching the 2nd Episode of this season and this new team is a joke. If this is the new team and Vincent D'onofrio and Kathryn Erbe don't come back then I will no longer be watching L&O:CI
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9-29-2006 @ 1:47PM
Pan O'Connell said...
I hate it that they have changed the cast. CI is my fave and I really liked it the way it was.
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10-01-2006 @ 12:46AM
Naomi said...
I LOVE Criminal Intent! It's the best show on tv right now, except for the every other week of Chris Noth, who is OK, but is NOT of the calibre of Vincent D'Onofrio. OK, I'm out of the loop, but could someone PLEASE explain to me why Goren/Eames are only on every other episode? I've read odd bits here and there, but nothing makes any sense. NBC are you are listening: Keep Vincent D'Onofrio on CI or you will have NO audience at all! And, who was the Fool who decided to take Jamey Sheridan and Courtney B. Vance off the show? BIG MISTAKE!! Please bring them BACK!
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10-04-2006 @ 1:26PM
Marty Holmesq said...
Why is Erbe seeing a psychiatrist? what did I miss? Was it the kidnapping? please advise. will we ever see her husband or her baby?
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10-11-2006 @ 9:19AM
Debra Duerksen said...
Someone asked about Erbe's husband and baby. She had the baby as a surrogate for her sister and now considers the baby to be her nephew. The show belongs to Goren, Eames, Sheridan and Carver and should have stayed that way. Chris Noth and his parter are just annoying and their new boss is a joke. I'll give it a few more weeks but without D'Onofio and Erbe, I'm gone.
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10-20-2006 @ 10:33AM
Walter Huston said...
Law and Order:CI is the most interesting show on television. Goren is the show!!! The new Captain is a little too much because it seems that his character is stealing the scene from Goren and Eames. The legal angle should be emphasized more. We need to see more of Goren and Eames. Stop tinkering!!
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10-25-2006 @ 7:29PM
Margaret Kennedy said...
My favorite show and I hope NBC will restore the cast we have always liked. Goren and Eames are the big drawing cards and it isn't necessary to try to beef up the supporting cast with an annoying new captain. With the lack of good movies on cable, I am now relying on broadcast networks for decent programming and the reality shows don't appeal to me. I prefer intellectually stimulating shows like CI.
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11-02-2006 @ 6:23PM
P O'Connell said...
I want the original cast back. I don't care for the new characters at all.
I watch the show faithfully, but just can't get used to all the changes. Why can't they just leave well enough alone?
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11-09-2006 @ 6:15PM
Joni said...
They're alternating detective teams every other week because the intense work schedule was too taxing on D'Onofrio's health. He'd experienced some fainting spells.
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11-19-2006 @ 8:34PM
muldare said...
Does anyone know why Annabella Sciorra is no longer on the show? And whether they offered any storyline explanation.
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