Law & Order: Criminal Intent Loyalists Unleash Deadly Fluffalanche

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With great sadness, Movieline reported two weeks ago that Law & Order: Criminal Intent was discharging several key characters from its force including Goren and Eames, the beloved lead detective team played by Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe. Instead of sitting tight while Criminal Intent writers transition Jeff Goldblum's ivory-tickling, ethnic food loving, matinee-catching detective (and whichever actor they recast as his straight partner) as the program's top bananas, Goren/Eames fans are banding together. On October 16, USA Networks will be deluged with jars of marshmallow filling, the same Fluff fans allege they will be watching if the network does not renew D'Onofrio and Erbe's contracts.

The Save Goren & Eames campaign extends beyond Fluff though. There is a petition to keep the actors onboard ("By letting them go, you are destroying the show. They are the show"), and a barrage of messages being sent via email, digital postcard, Twitter and a boycott on Criminal Intent sponsors including Applebee's, Macy's and Wendy's.

It is still unclear why the actors won't be returning, although there are rumors on Law & Order fan websites that D'Onofrio and Erbe were offered half of their current salaries to return for the ninth season, which begins in March 2010. D'Onofrio is expected to appear in the two-part season premiere to say his goodbyes.

Law & Orders franchise creator, Dick Wolf has survived a number of casting changes switch-ups before and has remarked how fans prefer the story lines to the actual actors: "I'm a firm believer that the Law & Order audience, in a sense looks forward to these casting changes." In 2007, Law & Order: Criminal Intent was moved from NBC to its sister network, USA, while repeats continued to air on the major network.



Comments

  • Ruth says:

    Vincent D'onofrio is a magnificant actor not only because of his words, but because of his ability to draw viewers into the story without saying a single word. Why, Mr. Wolf, do you believe that getting rid of the two reasons we watch the show...G/E.... will have no effect on viewership. Yes, salary is important; however these two actors have been in the business for a long time and probably have more money than the Royal family. But, that is not the reason they act,if every job in the world paid the same...they would still act.
    Please do not deprive your current viewers of the opportunity to watch this excellent duo in excellent television. We have attempted to watch Goldblum....it didn't work. Clearly, no G/E no CI for the two people in this household.

  • Mary Jo says:

    Sign the petition to save Goren & Eames at:
    http://www.gopetition.com/online/31034/signatures.html

  • Tammy says:

    I've been watching LOCI since season 1 and Goren & Eames make the show,without this team the show is not worth watching.Vincent D'onofrio and Kathryn Erbe are very good actors and deserve the raise they want.Dick Wolf and USA Network or both should do what is right and give these actors what is deserving of them.The G/E team is the only reason why I watch the show,snd to my surprise when I was looking on the net to see when LOCI would air season 9 and I read this team would be leaving the show,I was shocked.Let me just tell you,I will not watch the show anymore if you take GOREN & EAMES off the show.I stopped watching CSI VEGAS when Grissom left the show and you will loose alot of viewers if you get rid of Goren & Eames,trust that.

  • ann says:

    My husband and I were just talking today about how Vincent D'Onofrio is the only reason we continue watching CI. With Chris Noth, it was a great balance of tough, street-wise cop vs. eccentric, genius cop. But then they decide to bring in...Jeff Goldblum?! And now, they're getting rid of Goren & Eames?! That just puts the final nail in the coffin for us. Sigh.

  • Jane E says:

    Thank you for this opportunity to make a comment. I love watching Mr. D'Onofrio in his character's role. He gives performances that are real acting!
    However,I wouldn't want either Kathern Erby or Vincent D. to stay on if they would prefer to move on. After all these years they probably feel it's time to drop these roles and try other venues. But as a viewer for years, I think the 'characters' deserve to be fully played out. I would love to see Goren move on in a "happy" scenario, also for Eames. But it is in Goren that I saw the exceptional abilities of this actor. I enjoy watching him work his character, it's mesmerizing! His techniques are artful and he brings art to his craft as no other actor I've seen, except perhaps those in the forties and fifties. I would certainly compare him to Cagney, Spencer Tracy and many others. As for Jeff G., I find the character lacks a draw; and don't take offense, but as someone who sews, this man can't seem to wear a suit right! Somebody get this man a tailor! Jeff is playing the character without any character. There is no identity as there is/was with Goren. Maybe it's an acting technique. I read that Vincent uses method acting in his craft. I don't know what this is, but it seems to produce exceptional actors, if he is any example! I liked Jeff in Jurassic Park, thought that was a good role and acting job. But he doesn't seem to have latched onto his character with any sence of identity of the man he is playing, he just goes through the motions of repeating lines. Thank you, Jane

  • joanne says:

    I want them Vincent D' Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe to stay on the show do not let them leave tehy make the show Jeff Goldblum he sucks on the show sorry but if Goren and Eames is not on teh show I will no longer be watching the show

  • John says:

    A big mistake to remove D'onofrio and Erbe. My wife and I watch L&O CI as well as L&O SVU for the tough, realistic storylines and acting...with actors that can pull it off. We do not watch Monk, Psych, Royal Pains as they are too fluffy. Most of TV is juvenile crap anyway, so why not leave us adults some thoughtful, gritty dramas with great actors and storylines? I guess SVU is the only one to watch now. Too bad.

  • Lanzamel says:

    Dónofrio together with Erbe made an unforgettable team and will be very much missed. He is an extradinary actor and extremely watchable and Yes very HOT!! However, as much as his fans from Law and Order - and I'm one of the biggest - do not want them to leave - it maybe time for them to pursue other projects and in that, I am sure they will have continued success.

  • Pat Madaras says:

    Please, please, please, do not let Goren & Eams go. They are the only reason I watch the show. In fact, when they brought Logan back, I skipped those episodes. Mr. Wolf, shaking up the cast members is not what the people want. They want the talented & skilled actors. That is Erbe and D'Onofrio. Show them some respect.

  • drl says:

    To the IDIOTS at USA Networks,
    I cannot believe you arent paying Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe what they are worth....oh yeah, cuz u are FREAKIN IDIOTS!!!!Jeff Goldblum, you know, that Olive Skinned Fella, on C.I. He stands out like a TURD in a punch bowl. If you want him on the show, fine, let him be comic relief when D'Onofrio needs a vacation, but on a weekly basis, he cant carry D'Onofrios shoes. I will be forced to LEAVE USA NETWORK FOREVER if this travesty continues................

  • Patrice Batyski says:

    D'Onofrio & Erbe ARE Law & Order CI. They have heart, character & depth. Goldblum's character is a NYPD Monk. I never watched an episode of Monk during the years it was on, and if I watch CI without D'Onofrio & Erbe, I will be watching Monk Lite. I don't want fluff. I want gritty NY detectives. USA doesn't have characters; they are a bunch a homogenous cream puffs. I am done with USA nETWORK.

  • Antoine Christenson says:

    As a loyal fan of Law of Order: Criminal Intent since the beginning I have to say that with the departure of Vincent D’Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe....so goes the departure of myself. USA Network should have kept Monk going if they wanted a comedy show, or at the very least let Jeff Goldblum have his old show.....Monk The Even More Comical. What was USA Network thinking? Perhaps they weren't, because without Gorin and Eames they have successfully led many fans away from the show permanently. Why doesn't USA Network go into the middle of New York city and tel the detectives, who put their lives on the line everyday, that our network looks on you as a bunch of goofs.....as USA Network appears to be.

  • Wanda says:

    I only watched the show because of D'onofro. The show has lost it's punch with Goldblum. The stories are very transparent and he is no D'onofro...not even close. Bring him back and I'll come back. Without him, I'm long gone. Goren is the best TV detective since Columbo. This a a disgrace.

  • angie says:

    I think that the salaries should have been paid to these wonderful actors, because they are this show. You lost me on their final night. I can't believe that these actors weren't paid much more to stay. I will not be watching anymore, THERE"S NOTHING TO WATCH NOW!!!
    I have been a loyal fan since the beginning and with all changes made, my loyalty is with the original cast.

  • To all the naysayers that think a writing campaign can't work...Vincent D'Onofrio is returning to CI. Did my Fluff idea work? We may never know, but we do know that the ratings were severely compromised by loyal fans that turned away from USA Network and this action to bring back the show with its original actors speaks volumes.