Looks like Jesse L. Martin is gone! There has been alot of cast changes this past year!

Anyway Michael's character is Nick Falco from a different part of the city. What's interesting about this cast change is that both lead characters are Italian or the same. Usually the lead characters have been different ethnically. It will be interesting to see how these two work with each other. :)

I saw that episode last night. I was surprized because I was expecting Michael to just be a guest-star and then when they did the opening credits, they showed him in the opening credits walking with the other stars.

I don't normally get to watch L & O in its' "regular" time slot (I normally only get to watch the older reruns of the series). Anyway, how did they explain Jesse L. Martins' character's departure????? Did his character get shot or hurt????

Signed,
Respectfully,
Dutch

I saw that episode last night. I was surprized because I was expecting Michael to just be a guest-star and then when they did the opening credits, they showed him in the opening credits walking with the other stars.

I don't normally get to watch L & O in its' "regular" time slot (I normally only get to watch the older reruns of the series). Anyway, how did they explain Jesse L. Martins' character's departure????? Did his character get shot or hurt????

Signed,
Respectfully,
Dutch
His character got shot last week. It was a 2 part episode. The conclusion was on Trial By Jury. I was shocked that he was off the opening credits. I knew he was going to miss the last 5 episodes of the season but I thought he'd be back.

My understanding is that he is making a movie. He was on Broadway in the musical "Rent" before coming to L&O, and is playing the same character in the movie version. It is not for sure that he will not come back.

Here is the link to a message board where this is discussed:
http://www.tvsquad.com/2005/04/13/jesse-l-martin-leaving-law-and-order/

Michael Imperioli replaced Jesse Martin huh? That's interesting. I like Jesse's character on there. That's messed up he got shot. Michael is a good actor. He was in Spike Lee's Jungle Fever & Clockers movies. He was also in My Baby's Daddy movie with Anthony Anderson & Eddie Griffin.

Jesse L. Martin's departure is only temporary. He will return. Martin is no fool - he's got a good gig and he knows it.

I was hoping they'd bring Chris Noth back as Logan when Jerry Orbach left the show before his death. But at least we'll be getting him half the season on Criminal Intent.

I don't understand if its temporary then why was Jesse L. Martin taken off of the opening credits? Thats never happened before.

I don't understand if its temporary then why was Jesse L. Martin taken off of the opening credits? Thats never happened before.

Yeah, I didn't understand that, either. I figured they would have kept Martin in them and had Imperioli listed as a "special guest star." The Sopranos is either filming or set to begin filming season six, so I don't know how he'd be able to do both shows if he stayed on L&O as a regular.