'Law & Order: SVU' - Deliberate Act, An Original Story

Wanting to write an SVU fan-fic. I got inspired by the loss of my uncle here (RIP Uncle "Lean") and I got inspired to try to do it in the shower (I'm not kidding); I'm searching for an outlet I guess. Season 13 has been Law & Order: SVU's best season in a couple years by the means of it's writing, I guess you could say it's more intelligent (under new show runner/executive producer Warren Leight, formally of Lights Out and Law & Order: Criminal Intent).

I've also been wanting to do something with new characters: Detectives Nick Amaro (Danny Pino) & Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish); I feel there is more to them than what is given to us on Law & Order: SVU. Plus I want to do something dealing with EADA David Haden (Harry Connick, Jr.); because in the fan-fiction world, pretty much anything goes.

Following season 13's formula:

DELIBERATE ACT (Saturday, December 4, 2012: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1808736/)

THE SVU DETECTIVES SOLVE A CASE A LITTLE CLOSE TO HOME FOR DETECTIVE NICK AMARO (DANNY PINO). BUREAU CHIEF MIKE CUTTER (LINUS ROACHE) PUSHES HIS ADAs TO CONVICT.

Sr. Narcotics Detective Allison Harmon is found crying rape in the streets, the Special Victims Unit is on the clock to track down her rapist with the city and the department breathing down their necks. With SVU's credibility on the line with their arrest, Bureau Chief Mike Cutter (Linus Roache) pushes his ADAs to seek a conviction in the interest of justice, instead of pressure and politics. Meanwhile Detective Nick Amaro's (Danny Pino) future with the Special Victims Unit is unclear.

Also starring: Mariska Hargitay (Det. Olivia Benson), Richard Belzer (Sgt. John Munch), Ice-T (Det. Fin Tutuola), Kelli Giddish (Det. Amanda Rollins), and Dann Florek (Capt. Don Cragen). Guest starring: Stephanie March (ADA Alex Cabot), Diane Neal (ADA Casey Novak), and Tamara Tunie (ME Melinda Warner). Special guest starring: Laura Benanti (Marie-Grazie Amaro), Andre Braugher (Bayard Ellis), and Harry Connick, Jr. (EADA David Haden).

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I bet if this was an episode everybody would be ready to see it! I wish it were, but in the meantime, I need to actually write this. Don't want to make a false-promise; this will be one of those that'll make fans wish I was on the SVU writing team (so do I). I'll probably start posting on the night of Saturday, January 4th and post chapters from there, instead of hitting it all at once. Read it here: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1808736/

My e-mail to NBC about 'Law & Order: CI'

The title of this says it all: I mean what I say, and I say what I mean. And NBC can go to hell bring back Law & Order: Criminal Intent!

Here's my e-mail to NBC about bringing back Law & Order: CI - I hit NBC up with the facts - where is yours?!


Click to view enlarged, you may want to!



Can 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' Be Saved, by NBC?

USA Network, character's welcome? I think not. I know of at least over 4 million fans averaged got their dreams shattered on July 15, 2011 when USA Network announced they were done with Law & Order: Criminal Intent due to the ratings being low, not equaling out the budget. "CI is expensive" basically compared to light weight comedy-dramas Royal Pains, White Collar, Fairly Legal, and Suits - which in my opinion, Fairly Legal and Suits shouldn't have made it to their pilot's being green-lit!


USA Network Promo: Vincent D'Onofrio & Kathryn Erbe portrayed Detectives Robert Goren & Alexandra Eames from the show's inception in September 2001 until April 2010 and again in May/June 2011

Let me briefly go down Law & Order: CI's rocky history:
Green = Good
Yellow = Caution
Red  = Danger

• Law & Order: CI premiered September 2001 on NBC, high rated, renewed 5 seasons.
• Starring: Vincent D'Onofrio (Det. Robert Goren), Kathryn Erbe (Det. Alex Eames), Jamey Sheridan (Capt. James Deakins), & Courtney B. Vance (ADA Ron Carver).
• D'Onofrio had health issues mid season 4. Chris Noth joined the cast with Annabella Sciorra, alternating episodes with Vincent D'Onofrio & Kathryn Erbe.
• Season 5 ratings good for season 6. Annabella Sciorra, Jamey Sheridan, & Courtney B. Vance depart.
• Season 6 moved to Tuesday night's 9/8c, ahead of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
• Warren Leight takes over as show runner. Co-creator/show runner Rene Balcer departing back to the flagship Law & Order.
• Julianne Nicholson (Det. Megan Wheeler) & Eric Bogosian (Capt. Danny Ross) join the cast.
• BOTH Law & Order and Law & Order: Criminal Intent falling in the ratings.
• USA Network offers to take L&O: Criminal Intent a 7th season. TNT seeking L&O as well. NBC keeping L&O season 18.
• L&O: CI becomes one of the highest rated shows on USA Network, Summer 2008. USA Network renewing it an 8th season!
• End of season 7: Warren Leight departs with star Chris Noth.
• Season 8: Chris Noth replaced by Jeff Goldblum (Det. Zach Nichols). Warren Leight replaced by Walon Green (Goren/Eames episodes). First Robert Nathan and later Ed Zuckerman & Michael S. Chernuchin (Nichols/Wheeler episodes).
• CI still high rated in season 8, Jeff Goldblum praised. Renewed 9th season.
• Julianne Nicholson, Vincent D'Onofrio, Kathryn Erbe, and Eric Bogosian depart the cast.
• CI moved to Tuesday's 10/9c; during 2009-2010 broadcast network TV season.
• Walon Green show runner of all episodes of Law & Order: CI. Jeff Goldblum show lead, Julianne Nicholson/Kathryn Erbe replaced by Saffron Burrows (Det. Serena Stevens), Eric Bogosian replaced by Mary Elizabth Mastrantonio (Capt. Zoe Callas).
• Ratings slowly decline after "Loyalty (Part 1)", decline sharply mid-season.
• USA Network shaky about Criminal Intent season 10. Jeff Goldblum, Saffron Burrows, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio don't sign contracts to return.
• USA Network renews CI 10th and 8-episode final season, due to season 9 decline.
• Vincent D'Onofrio & Kathryn Erbe return. Show runner Walon Green replaced by Chris Brancato.
• CI ratings bounce back from season 9 decline. Possibility for 11th season renewal. Creator Dick Wolf/Chris Brancato plan to end the series in a way it could be open to return for another season.
• CI finales on June 27th, 2011; without word of renewal.
• USA Network announces Law & Order: Criminal Intent is done on USA Network.

You can pretty much see what lead to Law & Order: Criminal Intent's decline on both NBC and USA Network. The quick timeslot change on NBC (due to them taking on Sunday Night Football). And the whole 9th season pretty much had an effect on the 10th season on USA Network. But the $1,000,000 question is: "Can Law & Order: Criminal Intent be Saved/Revived by NBC again.?"


Det. Alex Eames (Kathryn Erbe) in the 9th season premiere episode, "Loyalty". Erbe has many notable episodes in the series, more recent ones would be "Amends", "Smile", "Purgatory", "Frame", "Lady's Man", "Loyalty", and "The Last Street in Manhattan"

The answer: yes it can. Law & Order: CI is probably the one off-air L&O show able to make a return, how:

• A strong bombardment of letters, emails phone calls, postcards, etc. towards NBC.
• Follow: @reviveNBCLOCI (Twitter) & "Like": Renew Criminal Intent (Facebook).
• They have contact information for NBC. Bob Greenblatt included.
• Law & Order: CI is the one L&O show without the "canceled" label.
• LOCI's ratings/popularity did a turn around in the 10th season. Plus NBC has slightly bigger budget to take LOCI back.
• NBC needs some more programs for 2012-2013.
• Dick Wolf wants to do more LOCI.

BE SURE TO INCLUDE THIS TO ANYTHING SENT TO NBC ABOUT "SAVE LOCI":

• If it was to make a return, Kathryn Erbe would have to be in the lead-role. D'Onofrio is doing another project titled "Blue Tilt" (created by Chris Brancato, season 10 LOCI show runner). But the Goren character must stay alive/open for D'Onofrio to return, esp. if "Blue Tilt" flops. Meanwhile recommend a good/younger/strong/compelling actor is partnered with Erbe's Eames.
• A good show runner would be a good idea to include, probably should mention Rene Balcer. Since Warren Leight is on Law & Order: SVU and Brancato has "Blue Tilt". DO NOT SAY: Walon Green, if you do, might as well not even bring the show back.
• A damn good time slot: again, should probably be with Law & Order: SVU, I can't see the show perform well in season 11 without SVU with it, this time.
• NBC needs to be reminded how they are declining in the ratings, how they are canceling [crappy] shows, & how the L&O franchise helped give them the ratings they had years ago! Persuade them to want to revive Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

If everyone (Law & Order, SVU, LOLA, etc.) was to do this, not just LOCI fans, I'd bet NBC would be willing to consider a revival of Law & Order: Criminal Intent!

But in the meantime, new episodes of Law & Order: SVU air, Wednesdays at 10/9c on NBC!

Review: 'Law & Order: SVU', "Official Story"

The Law & Order: SVU episode "Official Story" is one mother of a tale. One where I need to use bullets instead of long ass paragraphs. A few things tuggged at me with this fairly well episode (written by Law & Order: CI and LOLA writer, Peter Blauner):

• This episode seemed too 'political' and it showed too much 'intent'.

(Left to Right) Guest star John Doman (William Rand), Dann Florek (Capt. Don Cragen), Danny Pino (Det. Nick Amaro), Guest star Harry Connick, Jr. (EADA David Haden), and Mariska Hargitay (Det. Olivia Benson), in the episode "Official Story".

I get the style of the Law & Order franchise, today's issues often come into play with many crimes (real world or fictional). But why the hell was the Special Victims Unit investigating William Rand’s (guest star John Doman) company’s involvement in the cover up of a years old rape in Iraq? The Special Victims Unit isn't some kind of NYPD/military special force, which investigates things of that nature. And of course, with SVU running things, the witness typically is killed. Are all the police officers in the NYPD this careless and in over their heads, I think NOT.

• Too much of Nick & Marie Amaro (Danny Pino & guest star Laura Benanti)?

Again, I understand, Amaro has a life outside the SVU, as the other characters do, but are we seeing a bit much of Mrs. Amaro and young daughter Zara? I feel queasy here, I have the urge to yell "STABLER FAMILY DRAMA", I thought Warren Leight was trying to verge away from the personal lives being involved in the cases. It wasn't direct involvement, but they had enough involvement in this already mess of a case. I'd like to continue seeing Laura Benanti come in to play the sexy military wife of Nick Amaro, but in a normal capacity (like Kathy was for Stabler in the first season of SVU). NO AMARO FAMILY DRAMA PLEASE?!

• Too much hype for Harry Connick, Jr., not enough courtroom scenes.

Guest star Harry Connick, Jr. (EADA David Haden) and Mariska Hargitay (Det. Olivia Benson) after kissing in "Official Story".

I like the character, EADA David Haden, and I like what he's doing for Olivia (Mariska Hargitay), making her smile, after 13 years, she needs to seek finding a relationship (and having Calvin, guest star Charlie Tahan). But Harry Connick, Jr. pissed me off last night, I thought we were going to see Connick getting down in the courtroom and taking it to Olivia's bedroom.

I compare Connick, Jr. to Jeff Goldblum in the 9th season of Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Connick's acting was so wooden, a plank of wood would have probably done a better job! Connick singing and looking good on the eyes doesn't mean jack if he can't act! I hoped with Connick coming in, courtroom scenes would have been added to these already wonderful episodes.

Because it's LAW & ORDER: Special Victims Unit, emphasis on "Law & Order". I miss powerful and compelling testimony from the victims and some of the perpetrators, I miss the forensics and medical experts battling it out on the stand. I miss seeing ADA's Cabot and Novak grill the hell out of people on the stand. I assumed Harry Connick, Jr. was going to be doing that during the day and having dinner with Olivia at night... guess one can't be too hopeful.

Three of my favorite episodes this season are: "Scorched Earth", "True Believers", and "Spiraling Down", mostly because of the court scenes! Look, I love a good compelling confession in the Law & Order world as much as the next fan, but I have to scream this: "STOP MAKING SVU; LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT".

Am I displeased with the whole episode "Official Story"? - No, just certain points I feel could have made this episode even better than it was. Personally I found it to be a damn good episode: for Law & Order: Criminal Intent. But, I enjoyed seeing the scenes with Holt McCallany last night and even Laura Benanti, she and Danny Pino are "the perfect match" as Mr/Mrs. Amaro!

But as for Harry Connick, Jr., unless he turns into Linus Roache, I don't think I'm going to want to see him continue his role of EADA Haden. But this is just one man's opinion.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit returns Wednesday, February 8th at 10PM/9c on NBC, and it's one you don't want to miss!