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.
I am just happy to hear this news! Eames and Goren (characters) have in my opinion achieved the status of a modern day Sherlock Holmes and Watson. It (the actors’ stint as these characters) wasn’t ended properly. It was good television; it had a good format(pulling from the headlines) and it showed that crime knows no race/socio-economic status. Donofrio and Erbe were comfortable in their character’s skin and it would be nice to see Courtney Vance and Jamie Sheridan again. I only watch the reruns now; they are always interesting and intriguing to watch. I don’t think that these characters… Read more »
goren and emes were fantastic, glad to see you are listening to the public and bringing them back!
L & O C I– Did not want to see Eames and Goren leave. Like Goldblum okay but his partners were never in sync with him like Goren and Eames. Hope these two main characters can reunite and the show goes on for many more years.
i stopped watching law & order: CI when Goren left the show. i just couldn’t get into goldblum…he didn’t click with the show. when i heard he he left and vincent was coming back…i was so HAPPY!!!! ELATED!!!! EXCITED!!!! i’ve been waiting since i heard in august…so i’m following up and now the show is starting in 2011…i’m sad i have to still wait to watch my favorite L&O series! i’m so happy when i can see goren back on the show!!!!!!!!
I have been looking for CI to return but couldn’t find it. Although I didn’t really like Goldblum and Burrows the writing was still very tight. I kept hoping Eames and Goren would come back as they are the best crime pair on the tube today! I have been a huge fan of all the L&O franchises but have been disappointed with L&O LA. Tonight was the first episode I really got into. I just do not relate to the cast. I think Dick Wolf is trying too hard to compete with the CSI franchise by staging the latest show… Read more »
I knew when these shows came on. I waited for these shows to come on. Now, what do I do–channel surf!
Liked the original L&O, Loved L&O: CI, miss Vincent, don’t like L&O: LA, tired of L&O: SVU (Benson & Stabler’s attitudes, they never learn). Wish they’d leave the shows alone, “don’t fix it, if it ain’t broke” Glad that there will be closure!!!
Don’t cancel Ciminal Minds if you are bringing back Goren and Eames. I tried watching the show after they left and just could not get into the episodes. I do watch the reruns if they are on USA with Goren. The two of them are a super pair and make the show.
Please keep Goren and Eames on Criminal Intent. They are the best pair on TV
Please keep Goren and Eames on Criminal Intent. I am 881 yeas
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BRING BACK GOREN AND EAMES! THE SHOW IS NOT THE SAME WITHOUT THEM……..GET RID OF THE OTHER ONES – THEY JUST DON’T MAKE THE SHOW THE WAY GOREN AND EAMES DID…….
I hated it when NBC moved Criminal Intent to USA because it lost a lot of fans because they dont have the access to it unless they have cable. I have followed CI from the beginning and hate to see it end. I didn’t care much for Goldblum’s character, he no match for Goren. I loved the character and hate to see such a fine drama get cancelled. We need a show like Criminal Intent to give us intellectual stimulation since most of the show on television are skewed to the reality series. I’m sick and tired of having nothing… Read more »
This is by far the best Law and Order franchise of them all. I love the way each episode starts…leaving you trying to figure out how things tie in and waiting for the detectives to come to the turning point in the show, where they narrow their suspects down.
I will not be happy when /if it is canceled.
REDICULOUS 1st Law and Order, now CI.. we love both … keep them on forever. We love the characters… So many crime shows. They Law and Order is one of the longest and best. BRING THEM BOTH BACK..thanks ht
PLEASE RENEW THIS SERIES ALONG WITH THE OTHER ONE WITH ANTHONY ANDERSON & JEREMY SISTO. I AM A HUGH FAN OF ALL THE LAW & ORDER SERIES.
I love Goren and Eames and Criminal Intent is nothing without them. I and everyone at work is so excited that they are returning. How can they think of cancelling something so good are they mad