Law & Order: Criminal Intent season 7


The seventh season of Law & Order: Criminal Intent premiered on USA Network on October 4, 2007, and ended on August 24, 2008.
The first ten episodes of the seventh season aired on Thursday nights at 10:00PM/9:00PM, filling a slot previously occupied by the first season of Burn Notice. The season then took a "fall finale" with the episode "Senseless," coinciding with the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike where show runner/executive producer Warren Leight and the rest of the writing staff participated in the work stoppage; the first ten episodes of the season being the only ones produced. The remaining twelve episodes resumed airing Sunday nights at 9:00PM/8:00PM - leading in new series In Plain Sight - starting June 8, 2008.

Network change and production

During the 2006-2007 network TV season, both Law & Order: Criminal Intent and the original Law & Order series began to falter in the ratings on NBC; president at the time Jeff Zucker was in a telephone interview with creator Dick Wolf when he renewed both series, Mr. Zucker said the plan to move original episodes of Criminal Intent to USA Network, with the repeats then set to play "shortly thereafter" on NBC, represented "a new paradigm for network TV." Wolf said he was thrilled with the deal because "my stated goal has been to keep all three shows up and running." Both the original series and Criminal Intent won full 22-episode orders, although most series for cable channels do not produce more than 13. Mr. Wolf said that he had found some budgetary savings to make the deal more viable, but that "none of them are going to be apparent to viewers."
Chris Noth who portrayed Detective Mike Logan said on the move from network to cable; "Cable is probably the future. They're paying a lot more attention to than NBC did, frankly." Noth also believed the change would help the series differentiate itself from the rest of the franchise, saying, "We're happy to set ourselves apart." Vincent D'Onofrio who portrayed Detective Robert Goren said about the switch, "I feel like it saved the show." In an interview about his character, Eric Bogosian thought about the move to USA, "We were one of whatever number of shows on NBC, we're getting numbers every week, we're knocking ourselves out to do the best we can, and I don't think we had one ad all season. To be on USA and have them embrace us and cheerlead us, we feel we deserve it. USA wants us to succeed. I just hope more people watch it and dig it."
The theme music changed to that of the then-defunct Law & Order: Trial by Jury. Original episodes of season seven aired on USA Network until August 2008, with reruns on NBC beginning in January 2008. Production of the seventh season was interrupted by the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike when Executive Producer Warren Leight and the rest of the writing staff participated in the work stoppage. Only 10 of the 22 episodes ordered were produced pre-strike, while the remaining 12 episodes began airing June 8, 2008.
In May 2008, before the remaining episodes returned, USA Network decided to renew Criminal Intent for a sixteen-episode eighth season. Days after USA Network renewed the series, executive producer Warren Leight announced that he was departing the series, after having taken CI to the top drama series in basic cable primetime for the fourth quarter, more than doubling USA’s audience in the 10 p.m. Thursday slot from the same period the previous year. Leight departed at the end of the season to work on HBO's therapy drama In Treatment.

Cast changes

While Criminal Intent was in transition from NBC to USA Network, the salaries of cast members Vincent D'Onofrio, Kathryn Erbe, and Chris Noth were frozen. The prospect of the salary freeze wasn't sitting well with them, as they typically enjoyed at least a five percent year-to-year bump. In the end they accepted a non-pay raise for the new season and they returned, static at $350K for each of the 11 episodes produced.
Julianne Nicholson was temporarily replaced by Alicia Witt who played Detective Nola Falacci, a new partner to Detective Logan, while Nicholson was on maternity leave. Nicholson returned in the episode "Contract," which aired on June 15, 2008.
Chris Noth decided to leave the series at the end of the season; Noth told TV Guide, "When others couldn't get television shows produced in New York, Dick Wolf found a way to do it, and as a New Yorker I truly appreciate all that he has done for the city. The last few years have been fantastic, and both sides are happy with the result. 'All's well that ends well.'" Noth said the split was "totally mutual." He added, "The show keeps morphing and always finds new people. I'm gonna miss everyone I work with every day." Creator Dick Wolf said about Noth's departure "Chris has been a member of the "Law & Order" family since the beginning, and Mike Logan is one of the most popular detectives in the history of television," Wolf says. "We all wish him the best."
Jeff Goldblum was set to replace Noth. "Jeff's presence will add a new dimension to an already successful show," Dick Wolf said in a statement.

Cast

Recurring cast

Guest stars

Holt McCallany guest starred in the season premiere episode "Amends," as Det. Patrick Copa who witnesses the murder of his partner Kevin Quinn, but has degenerative vision impairment. Florencia Lozano portrays Quinn's widow Theresa, with whom Eames shares a special connection since Kevin was previously partnered with Eames' husband. Goren and Eames question Ray and Rodolfo Delgado. Rafael Sardina plays Dr. Manny Beltran, who was responsible for the death of Eames' husband years ago. Seth Gilliam plays Det. Daniels from narcotics, who helps Major Case when drugs and gangs are involved.
Michael O'Keefe guest starred in "Seeds" as Doctor Eli Rush in a case where an OB-GYN is murdered and posed in a ritualistic fashion.
In "Smile," Amy Acker as Leslie LeZard, Jason Kravits as Jim Kettle, and Jim Gaffigan as Marty Palin, are FDA employees dealing with a crisis from contaminated mouthwash produced by Shorr Labs, whose CEO Bing Schorr is played by Frank John Hughes. Holley Fain also appears as Stacey, an FDA office assistant.
In "Lonelyville," Lola Glaudini portrays Leanne Baker, a dangerous defense attorney who is more than she seems. Josh Pais plays Noah Brezner, who is cheating on his wife with Tammy Mills. At a bar, he meets Anya Pugach who winds up dead in his bed.
In "Depths," Frederick Weller guest starred as Simon Harper, a wealthy man who finances the search for sunken treasure, which goes bad when one of the hunters, Tarek "Rick" Agiza, turns up dead on a Coney Island beach. Det. Streetman is first on scene. To sort out who killed Rick, Goren and Eames hunt for the remaining hunters, Dana Stipe, her husband Greg, and Tom "Chilly" Chilton.
Steve Guttenberg and Paula Devicq guest star in "Courtship" as a famous couple, Clay Darren and Christine Mayfield, in the middle of a divorce presided by Judge Harvey Frye. Frye's wife Monica is murdered "pro" style, and a tip on "Client X" from Dr. Jay Alberstein leads Logan and Falacci first to FBI Agent Frank Billings, then to ex-CIA PI Ronald Hawk.
Peter Coyote guest starred in "Self-Made" as Lionel Shill, a celebrated writer whose career is on the decline, as well as his young protégé T.J. Hawkins. Shamika Cotton plays Kira Danforth, a brilliant up-and-coming writer, working for Ariana Cypher. When Kira is shot dead. Her pot-dealing ex-boyfriend Dante "D Tour" Heath is the obvious first suspect, and sleazy agent Gareth Sage is the next. Ron Simons as Det. Willis is the first on the scene.
Cynthia Watros guest starred in "Offense" as Beth Hoyle, the wife of ambitious Bronx ADA Gene Hoyle, who is prosecuting a rape case against three college football players, including Tim Pardue. When key witness Traci Kwon dies, Logan and Falacci re-interview everyone, including Tim's mom Grace.
In "Untethered," Tony Goldwyn returned as Frank Goren, Det. Robert Goren's brother. Frank is off the streets and clean, but his son Donny Carlson suspects foul play in the death of fellow inmate Jay Lowry under the direction of Warden Pellis. Robert goes undercover into the isolation ward by faking mental illness with Dr. Stern.
Ben Vereen as Rev. Jeremiah Morris, and Daphne Rubin-Vega as Carmen Mendoza guest star as parents of youths involved in "Senseless" violence. Morris' son Isaiah is shot along with Ty and Naomi Johnson. Given Naomi's eye-witness account, Logan and Falacci track down Mendoza's two sons Hector and Paco to find "El Diablo" Felix Aguilar, played by Jesse Garcia.
In "Purgatory," Dean Winters and Lauren Vélez guest star as dirty cops Mike Stoat and Lois Melago. Det. Copa, forced into early retirement because of vision issues, initiates a bar altercation with Goren. Det. Daniels becomes Eames' temporary partner while Goren is suspended pending psychiatric evaluation. To get his shield back, Goren goes undercover to take down drug-dealer John Testarossa. Louis Martinez portrays Hector Santana, who helps Eames and Copa bust Testarossa.
When Law & Order: Criminal Intent returned from the Writer's Guild strike on 8 June 2008, it was the lead-in to the premiere of new series In Plain Sight, of which the show's star, Mary McCormack, appeared briefly in her role as U.S. Marshal Mary Shannon in "Contract," on 15 June 2008. Mo Rocca plays T.K. Richmond, a New York Ledger gossip columnist and prolific blackmailer, who dies in a car bomb, just as news anchor Elliot Falls is trying to gather evidence for the district attorney. Logan and Wheeler track down a host of leads, including a chef looking for investors, real estate developer Ted Regan, TK's bookie Joey Snails, TKs doctor Jacoby, and TK's sister Jeannie. The investigation leads to the making of the movie "Contract Man" produced by Beverly Tyson and Barry Freeburg, in which the lead actor Spencer London has also died mysteriously. From the current screenwriter, they find the original writer is Frank Chess, and later discover he was a former mob capo, and contract hit-man. Bomb Squad Capt. Al Petrosino analyzes the car bomb and confirms Chess' signature.
Brenda Strong portrays Kathy Jarrow, who is "Betrayed" by her husband Woody Sage as he disappears with his lover Avery Hubert. Goren and Eames start looking where they were last seen by questioning a bodega clerk Amado, then Avery's husband Roy Hubert, who is also cheating with his ex-wife, Trina Melda. Senator Charles E. Schumer makes a cameo appearance.
In "Assassin," Indira Varma plays Bela Kahn, a Tamil freedom fighter and political activist who survives an assassination attempt at JFK when she returns from her house arrest in Sri Lanka. Madhur Jaffrey plays her mother, Stephen Schnetzer her husband Ajay, Waleed Zuaiter her brother Rani, and Aadya Bedi her niece Jasmina Khan. Olivia Birkelund plays Blair Khan, Rani's ex-wife.
Sarah Jane Morris guest starred in "Please Note We Are No Longer Accepting Letters of Recommendation from Henry Kissinger" as Marla Reynolds, a woman who murders the parents of three children who are on an exclusive and long waiting list to get into a Day Care Center. Jessica Walter portrayed her wealthy, ambitious, and vindictive mother-in-law Eleanor.
In "Reunion," Joan Jett plays Sylvia Rhodes, a public access hostess of "Rock 'n' Talk" who is murdered. Michael Massee plays Jordie Black, a rock-star accused of the murder, and Dana Wheeler-Nicholson plays Jordie's wife, Tara. Noel Fisher plays Milo Rhodes-Black, Sylvia's son. David Patrick Kelly plays Bo Levy, the family attorney.
James Frain as Dean Holiday and Christopher Lloyd as The Great Carmine guest star in "Vanishing Act" as magicians accused of murdering another magician, Miles Stone. Will Janowitz portrays Jacob Green, Stone's technician, and Kristen Connolly plays Miranda/Teresa, initially seen as Carmine's assistant. The cold opening includes Access Hollywood cameos by Paul Shaffer, The Naked Cowboy, and Shaun Robinson.
Miguel Ferrer guest starred in "Ten Count" as boxing coach Gus Kovak, who coached Gabriel and Peter Gardela. Karolina Wydra plays Christina, Peter's girlfriend. When Gabriel is shot outside a bar, Logan questions the Bouncer, then Callie's mother to find the girl Gabriel was trying to save from her thug boyfriend. But they discover ten grand in Gabriel's room, and Wheeler thinks that "the fix was in," so she and Logan question fight promoter Ziggy Gold.
Anthony Carrigan portrays H. Jack Walker III, a privileged "Legacy" student at Manor Hill, and member of the elitist "Jack Pack" and John Shea plays his father. Sonequa Martin-Green plays Kiana Richmond, one of several lacrosse players who beat up geeky student Paul Phillips, who later turns up hanged in the tunnels beneath the school. Matt Salinger and Betsy Aidem play Paul's parents, and Kiana's lawyer-father is played by Peter Francis James. Joanna Adler plays Anna Nobile, an unpopular teacher, and Sarah Steele her daughter Tessa. Jefferson Mays as Headmaster Keifer Gates, helps detectives with a locker search.
In "Neighborhood Watch," Scott Sowers is Sgt. Whelan, an overly-zealous cop who floods the neighborhood with flyers calling out Kyle Jones as a sex offender. Halley Gross plays Nancy Williams, who was fifteen when she and nineteen-year-old Kyle had a consensual relationship. Leslie Hope plays as ADA Terri Driver, an ambitious prosecutor who railroaded Kyle into prison. Logan and Driver immediately begin knocking heads. Alison Becker plays Det. Streetman, who is first on-scene when Kyle's body is found. Skipp Sudduth plays Clete Dixon, a former detective who offers Capt. Ross his theory of the crime in order to become famous. Dreama Walker is neighborhood girl Brenda Lally, who tips detectives to Ricky Moss, a local ne'er-do-well. Jonathan Cake appears as Colin Ledger, Det. Wheeler's husband.
In "Last Rites," Father Chris Shea, a friend of Logan's former partner Lennie Briscoe, convinces Logan to reopen a 16-year-old homicide case. It jeopardizes both Logan's and Wheeler's careers because the prosecutor was ADA Driver, who, as a young ADA, ramrodded the case for personal gain. Now she will stop at nothing to bury the truth to run for Attorney General. Chris McKinney plays Randy Nichols, who has already served sixteen years and has another eight years left on his sentence. Kene Holliday plays a cold case detective, and Guy Boyd plays the original detective. James Murtaugh portrays Alan Bottner, whose son Peter and daughter-in-law Shannon were kill.
In "Frame," John Glover returns as Dr. Declan Gage, who manipulates Nicole Wallace into killing Goren's brother Frank, then Gage kills her as well. Det. Fontanella is on-scene at Frank's murder when Goren arrives. Ilana Levine plays Evelyn Carlson, Frank's ex-wife and mother of Goren's nephew Donny.

Episodes