Noth Set for 'Law & Order' Return? (1 Viewer)

[Mikel_Cooperman]

Sex & the City star Chris Noth is set to return to the force in 2005 as a Law & Order regular. The actor, who played Mr. Big in Sex & the City, is set to reprise his detective character Mike Logan, which he played for five seasons on the original Law & Order drama in spin-off show Criminal Intent. And if series star Vincent D'Onofrio's health problems become a serious problem, Noth is being tipped to take over the lead role in the program. The Cell star D'Onofrio has fainted twice on the set recently with a mystery illness. A show insider says, "The producers need to protect the show, and I think that moving Noth into the lead would be a very likely scenario."

 

[Patrick_S]

Always liked Noth and if I recall correctly his departure from the original Law was not his choice. If he is coming back in CI would be a nice addition to the show.

 

[Mark Maltais]

COOL.

I was a big Noth fan on the original series early years and always felt he got shafted when his contract was not renewed (shows producers wanted somebody younger, they thought Noth was getting to old to be the show's sex symbol).

I've never been crazy about D'Onofrio' character (I do like him as an actor though, just not his Bobby character) Being a cop myself I can say without a doubt NOBODY knows that much sh!t (at least on my platoon).

Hope D'Onofrio gets better soon.

 

[Chris]

D'Onofrio has had some.. "health" issues is an interesting way to put it.. (no, not drugs, just that his billigerence and demands on the set are such that he's universally disliked at has problems with crew and "walks out" on takes, etc. he doesn't care for or doesn't see a need in)

I actually do like him in the role, but wouldn't mind North replacing him either.

 

[Mikel_Cooperman]

I remember reading that Noth didnt want to do it anymore. He wanted out because he was burnt out. He came back and did the TV Movie about Mike Logan and then that was it.
I stopped watching L & O on a regular basis after he and Jill Hennesey weren't on anymore.

 

[Michael Harris]

I never warmed up to D'Onofrio and thought CI was the weakest of the Law and Order franchise. Maybe Noth can make more watchable for me.

As for the flagship show, I've not made my mind up on Dennis Farina.

 

[Jason Seaver]

I like Farina, a lot - I think Orbach had really been running on autopilot for a while.

I was really surprised to see that Elizabeth Rohm is the longest-running occupant of her "slot", too - apparently, by the time Anna Parisse replaces her midseason, she'll have been on the show longer than Brooks, Lowell, Harmon, Hennessey.

 

[chuck_b]

I actually do like the D'Onofrio character, as it is at least non-mainstream in a sea of boilerplate cop/lawyer shows. He is the heart of the CI series, which is not an ensemble cast as many of these shows are. His departure would radically change the shows feel and character. Noth was good on the orinial L&O and would a welcome addition in a different show format.

I also seemed to remember D'Onofrio was sick from the latest election results - I guess another 4 years of W sent him over the edge :wink:

 

[Tony Kwong]

What do you guys think about the recent news that Annie Parisse (As the World Turns, National Treasure) joining Law & Order?

What about the new Law & order: Trial by Jury in the fall 2005? with Kirk Acevedo, Bebe Neuwirth...

 

[David_Blackwell]

Gack. I liked D'Onofrio. I hate to see him go.

 

[Paul McElligott]

He's not going ... yet. I chalk these rumors up to NBC sending him a message that he's not irreplaceably.

I wonder what the story on Logan will be when he appears on CI next month. Is he back in Manhattan after his "exile" on Staten Island?

 

[Mark Maltais]

The one thing with Law and Order is that it is easy for the producers to just turf anybody off the show. A big plus when signing contracts. Changeovers are good on this show, it keeps it fresh.

I've watched CI quite a bit, but just can't seem to get into it as I have with the others. Right now IMHO, SVU is the strongest one going now. Really great and exceptional writing. That show went from Friday night to holding it's own against NYPD Blue, pretty impressive (even if NYPD was on the way out)!! Just goes to show that just because a program is on Friday nights doesn't make it a death slot, a great show will hold it's own and build an audience.

As stated earlier I've also not made up my mind on Farina, hopefully they will give him some good character development.

 

[Jason Seaver]

SVU is actually kicking NYPD Blue's ass in the ratings. I think it's been the strongest procedural on TV for a while now.

I think D'onofrio is an exception to this rule; the show was created specifically as a vehicle for him, and his performance is a big part of what makes the show distinct.

 

[John_Lee]

Yeah, there's plenty of beat cops, but only one Encyclopedia Brown.

 

[Holadem]

I just got into Law & Order a couple of weeks ago at a friends house. Now I watch it whenever I find it. While the formula gets old at time, what often hides under a seemingly ordinary murder is fascinating.

I watched a single ep of CI and absolutely hated it, due in no small part to D'Onofrio. I am not sure if it's the character or the actor but I cannot stand his schtick.

The one ep of SVU I saw was cool.

But nothing beats the Practice .

--
H - completely different animal, I know.

 

[Ken Chan]

The original L&O ("the mothership") is pretty good, but the last few seasons have dragged the average down. Hopefully the upcoming cast change will help.

SVU is the superior franchise now, although it too may have been even better a year or two ago with the Hitchcock-blonde DA (the soon-to-be Mrs. Bobby Flay), as opposed to the one they have now.

With CI, either you get the sideways-head-turn shtick, or you don't. I don't.

The Practice was an entirely different animal and good in its own way, but got ridiculous toward then end, before the last Alan Shore season, especially when Lindsay was put on trial for shooting her third stalker.

 

[Holadem]

Agreed. The height of the show was events leading to Bobby's trial and the bit with the bomb, IMO. But that's for another thread.

--
H

 

[Eric Vedowski]

From USA Today (12/06)
Vincent D'Onofrio, star of Criminal Intent (Sundays, 9 p.m. ET/PT), is not being replaced by Chris Noth. Rumors started swirling that the combustible D'Onofrio posted anti-Bush screeds on the set, irritating other cast and crew members. Rumors were compounded when the star had two fainting spells, forcing a brief hospital stay.

The Bush-bashing rumors amounted to "tabloid journalism," Dick Wolf says, and the offending "signage" actually took place on L&O'supcoming fourth edition, Trial by Jury, which D'Onofrio has nothing to do with. Wolf acknowledges that Noth, previously on L&O, was on a short list of possible replacements drafted during the hospitalization. But D'Onofrio is back, so "that step was not necessary. Vincent's done an incredible job the past 3½ years, and I would like him to be there for the rest of the show's run."
For what it's worth.
Also-Michael Imperioli is replacing Jesse L. Martin while he films the movie version of "Rent"

 

[Anthony S.]

I have to respectfully disagree. The current ADA is a honey.

 

[Michael Harris]

While Alex was the bomb in an ice princess sort of way, I have to agree I really like the ADA Neal. Kinda like a librarian or teacher you just want to take home. See her picture on NBC's web site. Yum.