Last month, we reported that USA Networks was considering cancelling its long-running Law & Order: Criminal Intent series. After a number of different scenarios were supposedly bandied about, the cable channel has made up its mind — or has it?
The spin-off series follows investigations of high-profile cases. The show moved from NBC to USA Networks in 2007. Up until last year, it starred Vincent D’Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe. This past season starred Jeff Goldblum, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Saffron Burrows.
Due to the TV show’s uncertain future, Goldblum decided to exit. The rest of the cast’s contracts expired over the summer.
USA has now decided to both renew and cancel Criminal Intent. It’ll come back for a 10th and final season of eight episodes. This will bring the series total to 195 installments.
On the positive side, D’Onofrio is returning as Detective Goren, a character he’s played in 133 episodes. Other castmembers are still in negotiations to return.
Executive producer Dick Wolf said, “Only time will tell if this is a fond farewell or a renaissance for Detective Robert Goren but everyone is ecstatic about going back to work on a show that’s a passion for all of us.”
Interestingly, Jeff Wachtel, president of original programming for USA, doesn’t sound totally committed to ending the show. He said “We have been the fortunate caretakers of this legendary series, and we plan to give it the world-class farewell it so richly deserves. Dick and his team promise to create a major event for television with incredible surprises. The plan is for this to be the series finale, but with a Dick Wolf franchise, one really never knows until it’s over.”
The 10th and final (?) season of Law & Order Criminal Intent is expected to air in 2011.
What do you think? Are you happy there will be some closure for the series? Do you think Criminal Intent should continue and return for season 11?
Image courtesy USA.
Vincent D’Onofrio IS this series, period.
Goren & Eames make the show. Why cancel a show that has great characters who prove over and over again that they can keep the interest of the viewers week after week, year after year. The development of the principle characters makes the show!!
YES!! I hope this baby (TV Show L&O: CI) smokes it so good and rocks the house and the ratings get so HIGH they have to bring it back and Vincent and Kathryn come back and they pay them $4,000,000 per episode each!!! for 20 shows/year… and they all do it for 10 more years! They’d be $40,000,000 for each of them for their great work… and Obama gives it them TAX FREE so it is all profit. Yea Baby!!!
Happy to see that Vincent D’Onofrio is returning. Hope that Kathryn Erbe does as well. I like Jeff Goldblum better in the last season when his character alternated with Goren and Eames. Somehow he can’t carry the season alone.
Hi,
Personally and on behalf of my entire family, I would like to say I think that once Goren (D’Onofrio) returns to the show the numbers will rise to ridiculous digits just as they dropped when the 2 reasons (Goren and Eames) for us all watching the show departed. These 2 characters weren’t just lines that, as we have seen with the replacements, anybody can just step in and perform. Bring back Goren and Eames and bring back the fan base…
The Daniels Family
I am so glad Vincent D’Onofrio is returning! It will be greater still if he portrays detective Gorem as he did in the begining years of the series. Kathryn Erbe always played detective Eames in a consitent manner. Having both return would certainly bring the series back to where it belongs. It is still one of my favorites!
I’m glad it will get at least some kind of closure for the characters and fans and that Vincent D’Onofrio will return. His leaving along with Kathryn Erbe spelled the end of the show. I knew it wouldn’t last long after the main two characters left. Now they just need to get Kathryn Erbe back.
There is no Criminal Intent without Goren and Eames. I hope Kathryn Erbe does return for one last hurrah. I really hope that the ratings are well enough that they will have second thoughts about cancelling. It was/is a great series.
It WILL be cancelled, and a crossover with SVU may end it.
I love the cast with vincent d’onofrio in it. I just hope the show doesnt end in a bad way. i Hope they go all out and make it worth while because after the firing of goren episode I only really liked one other episode–
I am so happy to hear that Vincent D’onofrio will be back. I have been watching Law&Order Criminal Intent through Netflix and am on season 6. Glad to hear that they are bringing it back for another year.
They should have never let D’onofrio and the original cast members go in the first place. And for Goldbloom – please!
They finally heard the fans, well hell we’ve been yelling loud enough, Vinnie is back and the fans will be right there with him whether it is the final go round or a new beginning. Yeah Goren, now sign on Eames and start to work!
the best show on cable and NBC is C.I. jeff g is a great actor he was good on the show but vincent is law and order criminal intent for now ..but if dick gets actors for season 10 that can carry the show it will go on .he once said its the scripts that make the shows!!!!
Well Dick I must disagree with both Dicks since the fact has been proven that the characters aren’t just scripts that anyone can do. I do agree that Goldbloome is a fabulous actor, but Law and Order CI is all about Goren and Eames (D’Onofrio and Erbe) and no one else can play those parts no matter how you write the episode. Last seasons cases were fabulous but had absolutely no punch whatsoever.
Jeff Goldblum I love him as an actor, he’s great, but in Law & Order Criminal Intent he could not replace Vincent D’Onofrio’s Detective Goren. Goren and Eames, they were the ultimate. I’m so happy that D’Onofrio is returning I hope Kathryn Erbe will return also especially if this next season is the last; both charaters should have a proper ending.
Bravo that d’onofrio is back……we love him!!!!