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 all for it to continue on and not cancel, as long as Vincent D’Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe continue to be on it. You have already tried it without these two fine, talented, wonderful, and oh-my-gawd actors! It didn’t work! I would wish it to continue and not get cancelled. It is one of my favorite shows…
I love Law and Order CI. I think the original cast is outstanding and I think it was the best L and O series of the group. Please keep this superior show running with its rich characters and well written stories.
Law and Order: Criminal Intent is by far my favorite Law and Order series. SVU is also very captivating but it was Detective Goren that seduced me. I hope USA reconsiders and by some miracle, the series continues. If not, Goren needs Eames so do what you have to to make that a reality for the finales.
I have loved this show since the first episode. “Bobby” always fascinated me. Hope is airs and continues.
Although I love the show, it seemed to be always treated as irrelevant with cheap sets and inconsistent production values. Erbe is the strongest lead and I hope she returns. The male detectives have become too tortured and unstable to be real.
I sincerely hope they do NOT cancel CI ,a great show and it is even better when Goren and Eames are a team – please bring them back. If it ends up being cancelled (even if it’s obvious that is not what the viewer wants) – then a previous comment suggesting private detective series would be a good idea. it really would be shame to loose this wonderul duo.
I’m thrilled there will be another season. I wish it could go on indefinitely! I’ve appreciated all the actors who have played the detectives, but D’Onofrio as Goren is still the most fascinating. It will be great to see him and Eames together again!
I hope they bring ci back and with only det.Gorens and Eames. they made the show exciting, i don’t and didn’t particularly care for the rotating det. teams each week. would have preferred just Goren and Eames every week. I’m an avid law and order fan, I love all of the series my favorites being ci and svu. Please don’t ever cancel these shows there the BEST.
We’re delighted that Law & Order Criminal Intent will be returning with Goren, and hopefully Ames will be back also, they were excellent in their respective roles. We’ll be looking forward to the new 8 episodes at some point this year.
So happy to hear I will seeing det Goren again. I pray with Eames right along side him. I have been a Law and Order fan since HS. Now my teenagers are fans. Our favorite has been Criminal Intent. Would hate to see the show end. But I have to admit once Goren and Eames left so have we. So I’m very excited to see the team again.
Bringing Vincent back is the best news I read all day! Keep it going Mr Wolf. Goren and Eames could go on for another 133 episodes in my book!
Criminal Intent, as all Law and Order franchises are very well written and very well acted. Who hasn’t fallen in love with the ways Detective Goren work his cases and suspects? And how about his perfect professional connection with Detective Eames, whose ability to understand him and his way of thinking could make each case come to an end? I anxiously wait for each episode to air in Brazil, to check their next case, crime, passion, brightness and, of course, intriguing personal lives. It’s pretty hard to watch such emotional strong episodes and be left with no closure. At least… Read more »
Is the network crazy? Law and Order is an institution and Criminal Intent is watch by everyone I know, and of all ages. This series is so well written and acted that it will be a “crime” to cancel them. And by the way, D’Onofrio and Erbe are a fantastic team of actors!
I would have the original detectives and mike shanahan become private detectives which opens up a whole new venue. With there connections in all forms of law, they can investigate and consult all avenue of law not just homicide.
I’m glad there will be closure, even though I see the episodes as re-reuns because I don’t get USA Network. I’ve watched too many really good shows just end with no closure. However, as (to me, anyway) the very best of the Law and Order empire, I think Criminal Intent should have the stature to go on at least a couple more seasons. I was disappointed when NBC moved it to USA because there was a huge fan base at NBC. I was also disappointed when Jamey Sheridan and Courtney Vance were replaced by Eric Bogosian and D’Onofrio and Erbe… Read more »