...and the roll isnt expected to be re-cast

Even allowing that it takes awhile for someone to break into one of these casts, I didn't see Beach as a difference maker. Of course, they really don't need any more difference makers on this and his airtime probably reflected that.

As far as the ADA role, it seems to have shrunk over the years and there always has been some issue as to how significant this person was going to be. I'm not expecting much out of whoever replaces Neal. When Neal took over for Steph March, they went to fairly significant lengths to introduce her character. I doubt if we'll see that big of a deal this time around.

quote:

Originally posted by Bruce:
As far as the ADA role, it seems to have shrunk over the years and there always has been some issue as to how significant this person was going to be. I'm not expecting much out of whoever replaces Neal. When Neal took over for Steph March, they went to fairly significant lengths to introduce her character. I doubt if we'll see that big of a deal this time around.

If I remember correctly, didn't the current female ADA on the mothership (Connie Rubirosa) have a minor introduction. Didn't it take time before they acutally fleshed out the character.

quote:

Originally posted by AmericanGothic:

quote:

Originally posted by Bruce:
As far as the ADA role, it seems to have shrunk over the years and there always has been some issue as to how significant this person was going to be. I'm not expecting much out of whoever replaces Neal. When Neal took over for Steph March, they went to fairly significant lengths to introduce her character. I doubt if we'll see that big of a deal this time around.

If I remember correctly, didn't the current female ADA on the mothership (Connie Rubirosa) have a minor introduction. Didn't it take time before they acutally fleshed out the character.

I can't answer on the "introduction" issue because I didn't see enough of her first several eps. I can agree on the "fleshed out" issue because her personna this year seems much sharper, involved and at-ease than what I recall from her first year.

And on SVU, I guess there's some doubt in my mind that, at this stage of the series, they'll bother developing the new character in any significant way.

Why not just end the series, end high not on a dry note. If they think losing already established characters with a loyal following and creating new ones will get the ratings up then they are truly more optimistic than the rest of us.

quote:

Originally posted by XLR8:
Why not just end the series, end high not on a dry note. If they think losing already established characters with a loyal following and creating new ones will get the ratings up then they are truly more optimistic than the rest of us.

I have a feeling we will see a large ratings drop unless they find someone perfect, which knowing NBC, won't happen.

I say it gets below 12 million next season.

I don't think these recent casting changes will affect the ratings at all. Law and Order has a dedicated fanbase that tune in more for the stories than the particular actor or actress that plays the character. As long as the storylines remain high quality, there should be no drop off in ratings. Even if it for some reason drops to below 12 million a night, it will still be NBC's top rated drama and outperform their other "hit" dramas.

L&O:SVU has two characters they really cannot afford to lose and scores of others who are virtually inconsequential. The two lost so far were inconsequential.