Here we go again...

From yahoo news:

Dennis Farina to leave 'Law & Order' Tue May 30, 10:14 PM ET



LOS ANGELES - Dennis Farina is turning in his "Law & Order" badge. Farina has decided to leave his role as New York police Detective Joe Fontana after two seasons on the NBC drama to pursue other offers and projects being developed by his production company, his spokeswoman, Lori De Waal, said Tuesday.

The actor's movie credits include "Get Shorty," "Midnight Run," "Out of Sight" and the upcoming "Purple Violets" and "You Kill Me."

Dick Wolf, creator and executive producer of "Law & Order," said in a statement that he respected Farina's decision and looked forward to working with him again.

Farina's departure isn't the only change for "Law & Order," which has a long history of cast turnover. Assistant district attorney Alexandra Borgia, played by Annie Parisse, was killed in the season finale as she investigated a murder case.

Parisse was part of a succession of actresses playing young female prosecutors paired with assistant D.A. Jack McCoy ( Sam Waterston), including Jill Hennessy, Carey Lowell, Angie Harmon and Elizabeth Rohm.

Farina had succeeded longtime series fixture Jerry Orbach, whose Detective Lennie Briscoe was to be featured in a "Law & Order" spinoff before Orbach's death in 2004.

There was no announcement of cast additions for next season, a "Law & Order" spokeswoman said Tuesday.

From E! Online:

Farina Exits "Law & Order"

by Josh Grossberg
May 31, 2006, 9:45 AM PT



Dennis Farina's going off duty for good.

The Law & Order regular has elected not to return to his role as New York police detective Joe Fontana on NBC's perennial cops and lawyers series after two seasons, the network confirmed on Wednesday.

His publicist cited the actor's desire to pursue other projects that his production company is developing as the reason for his departure.

"Dennis is the consummate professional and I respect his decision to pursue other opportunities and he will be sorely missed. I genuinely hope we work together again," said show creator and executive producer Dick Wolf in a statement.

Farina took over for Jerry Orbach, who walked the L & O beat for 14 years as Detective Lennie Briscoe, including a short-lived stint headlining spinoff in Law & Order: Trial by Jury, until his death in 2004.

The veteran thespian has made a career out of playing no-nonsense tough guys.

After getting his first big tube break playing a hard-nosed P.I. on the Peacock's 1980s series, Crime Story, he transitioned to the big screen where he played a motley assortment of movie mobsters and other wiseacres.

Farina's film credits include Manhunter, Midnight Run, Get Shorty, Out of Sight, Reindeer Games and Snatch. On the TV side, he's guest starred on Miami Vice and appeared in the 1992 telefilm, Drug Wars: The Cocaine Cartel, Tales From the Crypt and Buddy Faro.

As it just so happens, Farina's exit comes on the heels of NBC's decision to shift the original Law & Order mothership, now entering its 17th season, from its longtime Wednesday night home to Fridays starting in the fall.

Per the Hollywood Reporter, Wolf tapped actress Milena Govich, who played an assistant district attorney on the producer's recently-axed drama Conviction and guest starred on Law & Order in 2005, to succeed Farina and partner with Jesse L. Martin's character, Detective Ed Green.

An NBC rep was mum on the report.

But any way you cut it, a cast shakeup isn't entirely unexpected given the fact that Assistant D.A. Alexandra Borgia (Anna Parisse) was killed in the season finale while probing a murder.

As for Farina, he's next set to costar with Ben Kingsley, Luke Wilson, Bill Pullman and Tea Leoni in the indie ensemble film, You Kill Me and also has a part in Edward Burns' latest, Purple Violets, featuring Selma Blair, David Arquette, and Debra Messing.

"Wolf tapped actress Milena Govich...to succeed Farina"

Not sure how well that's going to work...she's a little young for the role...unless Dick Wolf is trying to change the demographic appeal of the show with its move to Friday nights.

Maybe, in keeping with SVU's breakup of the Benson/Stabler partnership, it would be better to bring over Mariska Hargitay's Olivia Benson to the original series for a year. They could still do crossover eps, and it would fit within the L&O universe. And it would give them time to find a better partner for Jesse Martin's Ed Green, or to finally pull the plug on L&O (original series).

Getting moved to Friday nights is actually the most significant development here - that's usually the network's way of saying "Get Lost!!".

Getting moved to Friday nights is actually the most significant development here - that's usually the network's way of saying "Get Lost!!".

That is so true. It's like L&O is being punished or something.

As for Farina's departure, I think it's a mistake. He probably should have stayed on another season.
5 bucks says he has deal with another network already lined up.

And if they put it up against CBS's Numb3rs on Friday night (which is more than likely) I will really be mad..... This is what happens when I get interested in too many shows on different networks... they eventually compete against one another and I am left to have to choose....

Maybe, in keeping with SVU's breakup of the Benson/Stabler partnership, it would be better to bring over Mariska Hargitay's Olivia Benson to the original series for a year. They could still do crossover eps, and it would fit within the L&O universe. And it would give them time to find a better partner for Jesse Martin's Ed Green, or to finally pull the plug on L&O (original series).

The only reason Benson and Stabler broke up as partners was a plot device to enable Mariska Hargitay to sit behind a desk because in real life she's pregnant.

I'm sure she'll be back next season and that Benson and Stabler will be reunited.

Wow, I have to say I am surprised by that move.

Bringing in a woman to partner with Green?

Isn't Law & Order getting a little repetitive with that theme?

SVU has mixed sex partners.
Criminal Intent has mixed sex partners- two sets of them!

I think it would be a big mistake for the original L&O- it kills a tradition and basically ends the male bonding that was done with each set of partners. I thought it was a good thematic element.

What next? A male assistant DA for Jack?

The only reason Benson and Stabler broke up as partners was a plot device to enable Mariska Hargitay to sit behind a desk because in real life she's pregnant.

I'm sure she'll be back next season and that Benson and Stabler will be reunited.

I know she'll be back, but was speculating on some of the options Dick Wolf has for dealing with Dennis Farina's departure in an interesting way.

...What next? A male assistant DA for Jack?

The first assistant to the main ADA (Ben Stone, played by Michael Moriarty) was played by Richard Brooks. He did pretty well, too.

So there is precedent for a male 2nd ADA on the show.

Personally, I think it's time for a stronger character as the 2nd ADA - all of them have basically been the shadow for the main ADA; with the way the season ended (McCoy being removed from the case) it would be a good opportunity to bring in a character that is the legal, moral, and intellectual equal to Jack McCoy.

The show just seems to be lacking something ever since Jerry Orbach left.

The first assistant to the main ADA (Ben Stone, played by Michael Moriarty) was played by Richard Brooks. He did pretty well, too.

So there is precedent for a male 2nd ADA on the show.

Personally, I think it's time for a stronger character as the 2nd ADA - all of them have basically been the shadow for the main ADA; with the way the season ended (McCoy being removed from the case) it would be a good opportunity to bring in a character that is the legal, moral, and intellectual equal to Jack McCoy.

I know Richard Brooks was Ben Stone's ADA.

But McCoy has always had women. He even had a relationship with a former coworker and it was implied that he gets close to his women partners.
(Around the time of Jamie being his ADA)

As far as Richard Brooks goes, I liked him and he worked well with the character of Stone. I don't see McCoy with a male partner. But it would make sense if they get a woman for Green. Which is still a bad idea since its been done too many time on L&O.

Not really sorry to see Dennis go--he always seemed to me like he shoulda been playing a mafia boss instead of a detective (apologies to all those here of Italian descent, not meaning to stereotype)!

Not familiar with the actress in question--what else has she been in? A female partner for Green would be cool, in spite of its being repetitive of the other shows, especially if they got romantically involved LOL! (Jesse Martin is too HOT not to have a relationship!) That would be a new wrinkle in the whole mixed-gender partner thing, could spice things up and keep at least those of us who love Jesse watching!

Kinda glad to see the move to Fridays--I really don't think there is anything much to watch on that night right now. Sick of 20/20 and--sorry Lucky--NUMB3RS is just not my thang hee hee. But I agree it might be fatal, so maybe they should shake things up, as I said above!

I think they brought female characters in after a season or two cuz there were just too many males involved--and only one was good-looking IMHO LOL! (Chris Noth, who BTW has NOT aged well!)

BTW I have always wondered--why has Jack McCoy never advanced to the head DA position (the office currently held by Arthur Branch, I mean)? There has been TONS of turnover in that role also, so he coulda been promoted at any time.

BTW I have always wondered--why has Jack McCoy never advanced to the head DA position (the office currently held by Arthur Branch, I mean)? There has been TONS of turnover in that role also, so he coulda been promoted at any time.[/QUOTE]

The position Arthur Branch is in is a "elected" position. jack is in a appointed postion.

I liked Farina in this show and I'm sad to see him go. The female partner for the cops I'm not feeling right now! It's o.k for the other Law & Order shows but not this one. It kind of equals itself out to have two guys as cops since the boss is a female.

I very curious who's gonna be the next assisted ADA!

You have a point, marving, about the elected vs appointed positions. Somehow I can't see Jack McCoy getting into politics...

I dunno about the female cop angle... They do have a female captain, and she has been great in the job. The two males as detectives have been a great mix with her.

I suppose they were going for the older white male to complement the younger minority male.... it worked for a while, but maybe they need to rethink it. I dunno. Just keep Green. I like Jesse Martin!

All I know is that I can't seem to get enough of crime dramas, between Dick Wolf and Jerry Bruckheimer I get to feed my need every week. The shame part about it is that the new episodes of these shows are on two different networks and sometimes compete. Thank God for networks like USA, TNT, Bravo, and Spike who show the reruns of some of them. I was glad to see Without a Trace on TNT this week.

I think what's hurt Law And Order a lot as far as the ratings is the fact that NBC and TNT have rerunned the show into the ground.

The show just seems to be lacking something ever since Jerry Orbach left.

Yeah I agree with you there.

I think that Dennis just had a tough time filling in such large shoes.

I've heard it's harder to take over for a legend than being the guy who took over the guy who replaced the legend. I did warm up to him and now I wish him the best.

I heard that Ed is now the senior detective and the lady who plays the detective will be his partner. I'm glad Ed is now senior detective or I would have been upset..

The show just seems to be lacking something ever since Jerry Orbach left.
Agreed!!!