Kathryn Erbe and Vincent D'onofrio, fans won't let them go without a fight. Photo/TV Guide
As reported earlier this week, the USA network has decided to phase out the "heart and soul" of L/O C/I. Kathryn Erbe and Vincent D'onofrio.
Fans are not happy, to say the least. Some are choosing to no long watch the show if the stars leave, while others are protesting in a louder and unified voice.
Below is some information that was brought to my attention. Obviously, I can't verify it. However, read it and I will explain a few things after.
This is in my language no Television inside Lingo she used at me. Apparently there was a HUGE meeting of the powers that be in Los Angeles between NBC and all its affiliates. Ignoring the other stations I'm concentrating on what she said about USA.
All their shows but LOCI got the automatic 5% raise and signed quickly. Monk of course was Tony wanting to move on so he agreed to final season now he's done.
The greedy bastards of the PTB have taken months to work this out.
This business with LOCI is all about the bottom line of course. LOCI made USA therefore NBC stockholders the most money for a scripted drama or comedy on USA, so they did not want to cancel it. However, where the other USA stars make at the most $200,000 an episode and most much less, Vincent & Kate were making around $350,000 an episode plus Vince took a percent of the show last season in lieu of a raise. Goldblum pulled fair ratings at $175,000 an episode. So the decision was made to slash the stars salaries and make more money for the stockholders while keeping the shows numbers up. More money is paid by advertisers for new LOCI episode than any other new episode shows.
There were several proposals made, presented to the stars and rejected by brass by the stars or by Dick Wolf.
Kate and Vincent take a half pay cut--rejected.
Goren is killed and the circumstance cause Alex and Ross to quit.--rejected
All three killed in bomb blast or shoot out--rejected.
Let Kate go and Vince stay without a partner--he rejected.
Vince disappears like Logan. Kate stays as Jeff's partner--she rejected.
So they hashed and rehashed and finally came up with keeping status quo for the March half of season. 3 Stars leaving then -- writers to work out. Goren to leave where he can come back and make guest appearances. HOW's that for the writers to figure out.
This way they hold on to Vincent in the event Goldblum bombs and the show tanks they will have Vincent to bring the numbers back.
Vince gets a percent of the show to hold him to a loose contract.
So there you have it. We should have Bobby, Alex and Ross for the first episodes and then Bobby as a special guest star during the last half.
Vincent has supposedly given a verbal agreement to this. NOTHING has been signed. Not even Goldblum."
Here's what I believe to be going on. The last few seasons, LO/CI have been "jumping the shark". There have been a few jumps
Eames and the whole business about her deceased husband.
Eames kidnapped and we see her home and see her vulnerability. We also see that Goren is very protective and fond of Eames. (Law and Order shows traditionally don't show much of the personal life of the characters. We've seen several story lines that are glimpses, but rarely such personal events as the last few seasons.)
Goren's mother; a whole lot of information about Goren is revealed through the story line about his mother, including the horrible fact that Goren's father was a murderer.
Goren's brother, a talked about, but not really solid character until lately.
Goren's Nephew, the fact that his brother had a son years ago and hide it from the family, ie, Goren and his mother.
Goren's self assigned, secret undercover mission to the mental ward of a prison, where he just about sinks into the insanity that he has been fighting his whole life.
Goren's brothers murder, enter Nichole Wallace again (who in my opinion Goren found interesting and attractive at the very least.) However, the brilliant evil Nichole is murdered by....surprise, Goren's Mentor Declan, whose daughter was the person who kidnapped Eames.
Goren's character change, no more whip smart detective, but a person on a tight rope, who could fall any time
The above situations, while sometimes interesting are all efforts to make the show something it isn't. It's understandable to want to shake things up a bit, but to gut a whole show/cast is not the way to keep the show going.
USA either wants the show to make money and fly with Goldblum, (who is a fine actor, no doubt,) or to cancel it and give us more "fluff".
Updates at the come in.
Comments
Dick Wolf is richer than most people could ever dream about. Why are many of the richest some of the most selfish? Kate Erbe and Vincent D'Onofrio make that show - no slur against Mr. Goldblum -They have not only been there since the beginning, they have become synonomous with C.I. and helped to add to Dick Wolf's and the network's coffers. You'd think he'd be grateful for what they bring to the show and be open to paying them well. You know, sharing in the riches. He did so for the main stars of Law & Order SVU. There was talk that they weren't coming back because of their contract negotiations, however, they won out against corporate greed. But not for the stars of C.I. I guess there's no mistake that Mr.Richard Wolf is called Dick. I hope when all is said and done, all his money will comfort him in his old age.
EMAIL the execs listed on the "Save Goren and Eames site" (link above provided by Terra King) to SAVE GOREN & EAMES!
I don't see the deeper storylines as jumping the shark at all. I detest that term, by the way. The fans have been clamoring for more personal stories. We've got fan fiction sites galore. We want to know about Eames' family, about Goren's family. We want to see their "outside of work" lives occasionally. In the words of our former beloved A.D.A. Carver, we want "meat on the plate".
Seems to me that with those more personal stories, they gave the fans what they were clamoring for. They CARED about the fans back then. Apparently, they DON'T CARE about the fans NOW.
Meloni and Hargitay make $400K per episode. Seems like the network decided to "afford" them. Interesting.
This show ends when Goren and Eames leave. Officially or not, it just won't be Law and Order: CI without them. IF USA wants to keep making money off of CI, then they should listen to the fans and keep the characters that are the show!
I have watched this show since it started eight years ago. I loved the personal stories of Goren and Eames! I wanted to know more about these fascinating characters. It was thrilling to get inside their backstories as they continued to solve crimes. Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe are fabulous actors who have endeared their characters to the fans. If they leave, I leave. But I am not giving up yet! I have joined the campaign to save Goren and eames and I hope you will too! We will not be ignored.
Stunned! Love this show with G/E arc. Will not support show without the actors. WOW!
Since Rachel is ignorant of how Dick Wolf deals with NBCU work let me enlighten her.
In 1988 Wolf hammered out the template deal for all of the Law & Order series: after 5 seasons (shows can be sold into syndication) it's up to NBCU to pay all costs of making L&O, SVU & CI UPFRONT.
Over in GE Capital division last year they lost $97 BILLION in commercial paper, took $128B taxpayer bailout. Now every division of GE including NBCU is on tight budget & 'geniuses' think cutting 3/5 cast members is best way to 'save money'.Dick Wolf didn't make GE Capital get into the finance biz & FAIL bigtime, that was GE's doing.
Wolf has every right to have his original deal honored & not take the hit because GE & NBCU are bad businesspeople & can't manage their money well. This was a risk NBCU took.
I hope D'Onofrio Erbe & Bogosian all get % of CI for their troubles. They deserve it after all the crap they took off NBCU.
I'll be following the actors careers, not so for NBCU TV shows.
Obviously USA doesn't welcome characters - they're disposing of one of the most intriguing characters I've ever seen in Robert Goren. When Goren and Eames are gone, so am I.
Without the brilliant talents of Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe made this series the classiest I have seen on television. Vincent and Kathryn, know this, you have been icons in my household for 8 wonderful years and if you leave....I go with you. I will continue to follow anything either one of you do, but will not be part of USA network. Save Goren and Eames!!!!
I have no idea what makes them think the show will make any money at all without Goren and Eames. They really are spectacularly stupid if they don't know that D'Onofrio and Erbe are the tried and tested money spinners. To give shareholders more money, you have to make more money, and the way to do tht is to keep the A team. They are a great investment. And we love them.
I agree with the criticisms of Dick Wolf. No matter what agreement he reached about the financing of the shows, he can afford to be generous, both to people like Vincent and Katie who have made him so much, and to those of us who love the characters, watch fanatically, and cause the ratings to be so high. You need to show the star and the fans more respect, Dick, and so do those at NBC/USA who think they can dismiss us and then rely on our viewership.
I knew this was the reason, and to attract that young demograph audience with new younger sexier stars that will be paid less moohlah.
NO Goren and Eames! No me! Stuff the fluff NBC!
Thank you, Terra! We so appreciate your coverage and the tennacles of our cause are reaching far and wide, thanks to you and many others. We WILL be heard!
If you had one last day on earth, how would you spend it? I can tell you that I spent mine watching Vincent D'Onofrio's amazing portrayal as Det. Goren in LOCI. That may sound lame to most people and I only share this very personal story with you to let you know that for some of us fans, following these actors and characters are very personal and mean so very much to us. So to hear that networks cast them aside in an effort to save money and increase profits for their shareholders, is more than hurtful. To be taken for granted and assume that our loyalty will follow along is a huge mistake on their part. Fans should stand up and fight to be heard and at the very least, let it be known to the actors that have given us such pleasure that we do appreciate them and wish them the very best for their future.
Yes, I write this because I was found and woke up several days later from a coma and I can tell you that one of the joys in life I still find is watching Vincent D'Onofrio in LOCI.
I have enjoyed Goldblum's work in several films, but he cannot replace D'Onofrio. Goldblum's essentially a SCAB, willing to work for much lower pay (if what I've read is true). Noone can take the place of D'Onofrio & Erbe, whose remarkable performances have not received due recognition (how much DOES it cost to buy an Emmy?). With Goren & Eames, LOCI is the only show worth watching on USA (we 45 year olds DO have money to spend, dear advertisers). THANK YOU Vincent & Kathyrn for 8 great seasons of drama (which seems to be a dying genre on TV). Vince, you're wrong when you say there's no art in TV. YOUR performances on TV HAVE BEEN ART. Not being able to see your work truly saddens me. You say you are a character actor (as opposed to "leading man" material) but you have proven to be much more. I'm tired of Hollywood's current "leading men" (who can't act) being shoved down my throat at the box office. Hope to see YOU more on the big screen in the "leading man" roles you deserve.
Where is former showrunner Rene Balcer amid all this when we need him most?
savegorenandeames blogspot
has been removed... ?
Entertainment Weekly noted in its most recent issue, stars don’t make TV, TV makes stars. Wrong. I have no loyalty to the show, but to the actors and writers. Vincent and Kathryn are great actors. Bye, bye Law and Order, CI.
hey!!..yes, the savegorenandeames.blogspot has been removed aparently!!!..whats that?!....has there been a problem or someone doesnt want people to express themselves?!...mmmm....
Thank you VDO Vault for the back story.
This fight has to continue an we have to be heard. Vincent D'Onofrio created a believable, deeply compassioate character we can all root for. Those who chose to dislike the character have not taken the time to watch the progression of Robert Goren over 8 years. It is like watching a magic show - which Vincent is good at as well. Hmm. Maybe what we are seeing is true, natural talent. Who would be so stupid as to let that kind of talent walk out the door?
melina and maryjo, there are new sites now...
savinggorenandeamesnow.blogspot.com
and
savinggorenandeamesnow.com
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