via THR:
"Law & Order: Criminal Intent" is planning dramatic cast changes for next season, with four regulars, including star Vincent D'Onofrio, departing.
D'Onofrio is expected to exit sometime during the series' upcoming ninth season, handing over his badge to Jeff Goldblum as the top detective on the major case squad.
Kathryn Erbe, who, like D'Onofrio, has been with the show since its beginning and plays his long-suffering partner Alex Eames, also will be phased out, as will Eric Bogosian, who plays the force's captain, Danny Ross.
As previously reported, Julianne Nicholson, who played Goldblum's partner but has just had a baby, her second, also is leaving. She's being replaced by British actress Saffron Burrows.
UPDATE: more details from Michael Ausiello:
NBC is finally confirming what I first hinted at last week: Vincent D’Onofrio os exiting Law & Order: CI. He’ll say good-bye in the show’s two-part season 9 premiere, at which time he’ll pass the baton to Jeff Goldblum.
Surprising turn of events. CI is my favorite Law and Order, so this is disappointing news, but I do love Goldblum, so things aren’t all bad.
Wow… mark L&O:CI off my DVR. Sad news. I guess it had to end (the main two cast members) at some point.
D’Onofrio is Criminal Intent. This is a very sad turn of events indeed. I like Goldblum and Burrows should be a good addition, but Vincent’s Goren character made the show what it was (the best of the l&o’s). I also had grown fond of Nicholson’s work so I’m sad to see her leave as well.
The second Vincent is out, I will stop watching. Like Quinn said, the show is it’s star… Looking forward to his next project!!
Vincent certainly made the show very fitting with the USA brand.
I’m surprised just because the only main person staying came on last season. It reminds me of the The Practice/Boston Legal transition. For the last 3 seasons the only Emmy noms were for guests & Spader. Then being Alan Shore got James Spader 3 Emmys. So it might be surprisingly successful; we’ll see…
Thank god the captain will be gone!
What a shame – Vincent and Kathryn made the show – was my favorite L&O – was this over budget cuts and salaries?
ugh good riddance. CI was such crap. a “law and order” show that never saw the inside of a courtroom. and every episode ending with donofrio “mind gaming” his way into solving the crime. gimme a break. so long “law and order: absolute drivel.” i encourage all you disappointed fans to rediscover the original.
Sad news. I think USA is about to see a huge drop in viewers for this show. I hope to see Kathryn Erbe in many more projects in the future. I absoloutley loved watching in her on CI and OZ. Anyone on here have any idea of where her career might go after this?
What’s his major malfunction?
Damn! I’m glad D’Onofrio is gone but everyone else is joining him?! Just have Goldblum go on L&O until NBC cancels it and it’s moved to USA. There is no point to even keep CI on the air, they could just do another spinoff with Goldblum.
I’m thinking this next season will be their last. The ratings were not that stellar for cable, and I’m sure it’s pretty pricey.
Do you think the next season will have Jeff be the main detective in all 16ish eps? Or split them up like it has been since Vincent asked to only do half?
L&O:CI is far and away my favorite of the L&O programs, and its move to USA was the single event that led me to start paying attention to that network, where I discovered Burn Notice, In Plain Sight, etc. Erbe is talented and a key ingredient of the program, but D’Onofrio was its heartbeat. I don’t think it will survive his departure any better than, say, Northern Exposure survived the departure of Rob Morrow, or better than such a show as NYPD Blue (which had lots of turnover) would have survived the departure of Dennis Franz. I’ll certainly watch to see how D’Onofrio and Erbe finish their run, and give it a chance thereafter, but I’m not optimistic.
Bad news for CI, of course, after letting Noth go, I wasn’t really interested anymore. Didn’t like Goldblum’s character anyway. I agree, no point of keeping it on the air, just transition it to the original L&O and kill the show.
Started watching this year on USA on a more regular basis because of Goldblum. What does this means with so many changes? It seems like it will be a whole different show.
If USA and Dick Wolf think the show will be successful with just Jeff Goldblum they’re Crazy! I’m looking forward to watching the ratings fall off a cliff when Vincent and Kate are gone.
I don’t get it. It’s a completely different show with all those cast changes. Just kill the show or rename it or something. What’s the purpose? there is nothing worth saving. I am sure ratings will plummet! Ha Ha!
Bye bye USA, Vincent D’Onofrio IS ‘Criminal Intent, so the minute Vincent leaves, so do most of your viewers. Most of us watch despite Goldblum, not because of him, so congratulations, you just killed the show.
Not sure I’ll keep watching when Vincent leaves, but I’ll give it a chance.
Sadly.