Law & Order has added some new faces to the lineup. Jeremy Sisto, best known from Clueless and Waitress is officially joining as Detective Cyrus Lupo (come on, who picks this names?). He’s going to be the new partner for Detective Ed Green, played by Jesse L. Martin.

Also joining is Linus Roache, who is playing Michael Cutter, the new Chief Assistant District Attorney (more on that here). He takes over the job from Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) who is getting the new job of District Attorney. And he of course took over the top dog job from Fred Thompson’s character DA Arthur Branch. Thompson, of course, left the job so he could make a run at president, which doesn’t seem to be going so well for him at the moment.

Back to Sisto’s character, he is arriving after spending the last four years working undercover abroad. But he’s back to help Green solve the case of his brother’s death in New York, which is a case of assisted suicide.

Law & Order is back on Wednesday January 2nd at 9pm on NBC, and fans will get to watch two episodes for the season premiere instead of just one. A great thank you for those 18 year fans of the show!

When Fred Thompson left Law & Order because of his presidential aspirations, it also raised the issue whether older episodes featuring Thompson would still be allowed to air under the equal airtime guidelines granted candidates running for office. As you will recall, Thompson asked to be released from his contract after rumors of his presidential dreams hit the press.

seem that TNT isn’t worried about issues surrounding Fred Thompson and the 100 or so episodes of the long-running drama he appears in.

TNT will air 23 episodes of the drama next week alone, apparently unworried about limiting Branch’s airplay even as the Tennessee Republican plans to announce his presidential candidacy.

“TNT has no plans to alter its schedule,” spokeswoman Shirley Powell said, a stance that could provoke a fight in the courts or before the Federal Communications Commission.

Equal time rules require TV stations to provide the same airtime to opponents when a candidate appears on the air. The many exceptions — news shows, talk shows, interviews, documentaries — essentially mean the rules apply to entertainment programming.

Thompson’s expected post-Labor Day entrance into the race triggered NBC’s decision to stop airing “Law & Order” reruns featuring him starting Sept. 1. Next week Thompson will essentially shift time slots on NBC: The “Tonight” show announced said that he will appear as a guest with Jay Leno on Thursday.

I am kind of hoping one of his opponents does challenge it to see how the ruling holds up for entertainment fictionalized shows on television.

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Kidnapped’s Linus Roache has signed on with NBC’s Law & Order to play the new executive assistant district attorney. As you may remember, Sam Waterston’s character Jack McCoy was in that position, but he has been elevated to DA for the upcoming season after Fred Thompson left the show for a potential run for president in 2008.

From the press release:

I’ve known Linus’ work for several years, said Wolf. He is an actor who totally gets inside his roles. I think he and Sam are going to raise the bar and add intellect and passion in the back half of the show.

They certainly have been making plenty of changes for the upcoming season. Jeremy Sisto has signed on for next season as a new DA and Jesse L. Martin has also signed a new deal to return to the show as well.

Law & Order does not yet have a season premiere date, but it will return sometime mid-season.

Woohoo! Jesse L. Martin has signed a new contract for next season on Law & Order, for at least thirteen episodes of the upcoming season. He will be entering his nineth season playing Detective Ed Green.

The news comes hot on the heels of Jeremy Sisto signing onto the show as a defense attorney.

You have to admire the creativeness of the TNT Network. On the day after the series finale of the Sopranos, they will be running a twelve hour Law & Order marathon featuring actors who were also on the Sopranos.

From the press release:

TNT Gives Sopranos Fans a Cannoli Packed with Their Favorite Actors In a 12-Hour LAW & ORDER Marathon Monday, June 11

Episodes Feature Such Guest Stars as Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Aida Turturro and Frank Vincent

One day after the series finale of The Sopranos, TNT is giving fans of the series a chance to spend the day with their favorite stars when the network presents 12 episodes of the hit drama LAW & ORDER, featuring such guest stars as Edie Falco, who has won three Emmys® for her performance as Carmela Soprano on The Sopranos; Michael Imperioli, who earned an Emmy for his performance as Christopher Moltisanti; Aida Turturro, who earned an Emmy nomination for her performance as Janice Soprano; and Frank Vincent, who plays Phil Leotardo. Other Sopranos stars to appear in the LAW & ORDER marathon include Jerry Adler (Herman “Hesh” Rabkin), John Ventimiglia (Artie Bucco on The Sopranos), Vincent Curatola (Johnny “Sack” Sacramoni), Dan Grimaldi (Patsy Parisi), Joseph R. Gannascoli (Vito Spatafore), Ray Abruzzo (“Little” Carmine Lupertazzi Jr.), Robert Funaro (Eugene Pontecorvo), Dominic Chianese (Corrado “Jr.” Soprano), Vincent Pastore (Salvatore Bonpensiero) and Sharon Angela (Rosalie Aprile).

TNT’s 12-hour LAW & ORDER marathon kicks off Monday, June 11, at 2 p.m. (ET/PT). The following is a complete rundown of the episodes and guest stars featured:

2 p.m. “I.D.,” featuring Aida Turturro and Jerry Adler – The cops tackle identifying a corpse left in an elevator.

3 p.m. “Grief,” featuring Edie Falco – A reluctant witness affects the case of two rape victims in custodial care.

4 p.m. “DWB,” featuring John Ventimiglia – The detectives uncover a shocking twist while investigating the beating of a black man.

5 p.m. “Trade This,” featuring Vincent Curatola – The murder of a stockbroker points to organized crime when a hired hit man kills the prime suspect.

6 p.m. “Deep Vote,” featuring Dan Grimaldi – A political reporter is the target of a murder plot.

7 p.m. “Everybody Loves Raimondo’s,” featuring Joseph R. Gannascoli and Ray Abruzzo – Two men are gunned down at an exclusive restaurant.

8 p.m. “Sects,” featuring Robert Funaro – Police and prosecutors go after a fanatical cult leader who encourages sex with children among her followers.

9 p.m. “Publish and Perish,” featuring Michael Imperioli – The police investigate the link between a powerful police commissioner and the murder of a porn actress and a maverick publisher.

10 p.m. “Hindsight,” featuring Michael Imperioli – Det. Nick Falco is investigated after a woman he spent the night with turns up dead.

11 p.m. “Shadow,” featuring Dominic Chianese – The murder of a bail bondsman looks fairly routine until the chance words of the chief suspect uncovers possible case-fixing.

Midnight “Juvenile,” featuring Frank Vincent – The investigation into the shooting of a newspaper columnist leads to a murder case from two decades earlier.

1 a.m. “Deadbeat,” featuring Vincent Pastore and Sharon Angela – The murder of a deadbeat father whose son is dying of leukemia presents a moral dilemma.

Something fun for those fans who can’t quite handle the fact the Sopranos is over.

Jeremy Sisto, of Six Feet Under fame, is joining the cast of Law & Order as a defense attorney, replacing Milena Govich on the show. You may have remembered he was in the season finale of Law & Order in May.

The announcement that Sisto is joining the show comes hot on the heels of Fred Thompson’s announcement that he is leaving Law & Order for a potential presidential run.

Now that Fred Thompson is out of the show because of his presidential aspirations, Sam Waterston wants his character to have a crack at the departed District Attorney Arthur Branch’s job. Waterston’s character is Jack McCoy, who is currently the Executive Assistant District Attorney on the show.

Waterston has been on the show for 13 seasons of Law & Order. But an unnamed source who was not permitted to speak about the situation publicly says that it is a go for Jack McCoy to become the new DA when the series returns midseason. The show had not named a new DA when it went to hiatus.

Fred Thompson has officially asked to be released from his contract with Law & Order, which helps pave the way towards a potential presidential run.

Thompson asked Wednesday to be released from the show after five seasons, series creator and executive producer Dick Wolf said.

“Although he told me he has not made a firm decision about his political future, he felt that given the creative and scheduling constraints of the upcoming season,” he should leave “Law & Order,” Wolf said in a statement.

The producer lauded Thompson’s commitment to “Law & Order” and the new TV movie “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee,” in which the actor plays a president — Ulysses S. Grant. The film, which Wolf produced, premiered last Sunday on HBO.

Thompson, 64, a former U.S. senator from Tennessee, has yet to announce he’s seeking the GOP nomination but has taken steps toward a summer entry into the crowded field. He has been casting himself in speeches and on the Internet as a Reaganesque conservative.

Interesting he is running as a Reaganesque conservative since Ronald Reagan was also a movie star prior to his presidential run.

Source

Now that we know Law & Order has been given a reprieve and will be on NBC next season, the question was still up in the air on what to do about Fred Thompson, who potentially may run as the Republican presidential candidate in the upcoming US presidential election. Fred Thompson currently plays D.A. Arthur Branch on the long-running drama.

NBC’s top entertainment executive said Monday that he doesn’t expect actor and potential Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson back on “Law & Order” next season.

NBC Entertainment President Kevin Reilly claimed no insider knowledge of Thompson’s political plans, but his statement indicated the seriousness of Thompson’s presidential musings. The former Tennessee senator has been making speaking appearances and blogging on issues in recent weeks as he considers a candidacy.

“It’s pretty clear that Fred is going to be leaving the cast of the show no matter what,” Reilly said at a news conference on NBC’s fall schedule.

He later left the door slightly ajar by saying it was “highly unlikely” Thompson would be back. Thompson certainly wouldn’t return to prime-time network television if he chooses to run, he said.

I don’t know, I just have a hard time picturing him as the Republican candidate.

Source

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Despite rumors that Law & Order would be moving to TNT, turns out that NBC will be running the series after all. The reprieve also brings it closer to eclipsing the longest running drama on television record currently held by Gunsmoke, which aired for 20 seasons from 1955 through 1975.

The deal was apparently made last minute between NBC and Law & Order’s producer Dick Wolf. So fans can look forward to a new season of Law & Order, although it remains up in the air if Fred Thompson will return to the series or not, since he may be running as the Republican candidate for president if things go his way.

Law & Order: Criminal Intent was also picked up, but with a network-crossing twist.

Looks like another show or two might be jumping from network to cable. Law & Order as well as Law & Order: Criminal Intent are on the NBC chopping block for renewals for next season. But TNT, which already airs Law & Order reruns, might pick up the low-rated series since the series does perform well for TNT in reruns.

NBC Universal and Wolf Films, the producers of the long-running, franchise-spawning prime-time stalwart, are in talks with the basic cable network to pick up either, or possibly both, Law & Order and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

“Negotiations are ongoing regarding Law & Order and Law & Order: Criminal Intent and, as always, we do not comment on negotiation,” Dick Wolf said in a statement.

A rep for TNT, meanwhile, says, “We don’t comment on speculation.”

The move appears to be a last-ditch effort to keep Law & Order from being canceled. Now in its 17th season, the formerly dominant procedural has struggled ratings-wise in recent years. But Wolf is apparently willing to make concessions to enable his brainchild to surpass Gunsmoke’s 20-year run to become the longest running show in prime-time history, one of his oft-repeated desires.

The pickup, should it occur, would come with a price—a much, much lower one.

TNT is apparently targeting a truncated 18th season—13 versus the standard 22—to cut production costs. The basic cable network would also require Wolf & Co. to dramatically reduce other per episode expenses to make the pick up a more economically viable option. In exchange, TNT would offer producers more creative freedom.

But have no fear, Law & Order: SVU fans… that has already been picked up by NBC for next season.

Both Charlotte Ross (NYPD Blue) and Ron Silver (West Wing) are guest starring together on Law & Order next month.

A student is shot at a politically charged college assembly and the investigation leads to a Ph.D. student dealing in embryonic-stem-cell research who feels threatened by the tactics of the assembly speaker (Charlotte Ross)—a right-wing conservative. Bernie Adler: Ron Silver. Malcolm Yates: Louis Cancelmi.

The episode, titled Talking Points, airs on Friday, February 2nd at 10pm.

Julie Benz of Dexter fame has filmed a guest starring role on Law & Order that will air next month during February sweeps. And it sounds like it will be a ripped from the headlines episode to boot!

Julie will play the wife of a naughty televangelist who gets caught cavorting with male hookers… sound familiar?

A popular reverend is suspected of a gay actor’s murder when it is discovered the victim threatened to out the pastor and expose his hypocritical stance on homosexuality. Reverend Sterling: Anson Mount.

The episode is titled Church, and will air on February 9th at 10pm.

Source

Wow. I didn’t even realize Anna Chlumsky had done much of anything since appearing as a child in the tear-jerker My Girl back in 1991. She has done a few things, but nothing of real note. However, she will be in a January episode of Law & Order, along with former Flashdancer Jennifer Beals. Jennifer Beals is also currently starring in fourth season of The L Word (Thanks TLW fans for letting me know!)

Not much is known about the episode, titled Charity Case. “Secrets about an adopted child are uncovered in the course of an investigation into the shooting death of a soap-opera star’s husband.”

The episode is scheduled to air January 12, 2007 on NBC.

When Law & Order returns back from the Christmas hiatus, the first new episode will feature guest star Mariel Hemingway playing a tabloid personality whose son dies under suspicious circumstances while visiting. Yep, this sounds suspiciously ripped from the headlines on the whole Anna Nicole Smith saga when her son died while visiting her in hospital, something Law & Order is infamous for doing.

A young man, who was homeless and addicted to drugs, dies under very strange circumstances while visiting his mother (Mariel Hemingway), a tabloid personality known for her alleged gold-digging ways. Dr. Adam Vaughn: Ben Bass. Tony Bicks: Dan Bakkedahl. Dave Seaver: Michael Boatman. M.E. Rodgers: Leslie Hendrix.

As you will remember, Anna’s son David Smith died under mysterious circumstances while visiting her in hospital where she had just given birth to a daughter. He died after taking a deadly prescription drug cocktail.

The episode is called Remains of the Day and is scheduled to air on January 5th on NBC.

You’d think partying celebs would know better than to drink and drive, but celebs like Paris Hilton and Mel Gibson do and get busted, when they could easily afford to just hire a driver when the urge for an AM/PM burger strikes in the middle of the night.  While Chevy Chase has never been busted for a DUI, he’s going to play a celeb busted for drinking and driving on a guest stint on Law & Order.

Chevy Chase, of Caddyshack and Fletch fame, is set to guest star in the Law & Order episode In Vitro Veritas, airing Novembver 3rd.

Chase guest stars as a television celebrity who is pulled over for drunk driving while wearing blood-soaked clothes, and whose religious prejudice comes out after his arrest.

 Hmmm, doesn’t that sound suspiciously like a previously mentioned celeb’s DUI bust?  This episode started filming September 25th, well after Mel’s arrest, but no word (yet) on when it was written.