Unofficial Companion Media Blitz!

For those who've been wondering, the "Law & Order: SVU Unofficial Companion" media blitz continues apace. Here, a few links from the recent book party on October 10, and some coverage -- plus thanks to Roger Friedman for highlighting the book on his Showbiz 411 blog!

Loads of great photos here (thanks, Juan Carlos!)

Some nice coverage from John Simon.

The Fabulous Report gets in on the act.

Life magazine!

And Showbiz 411, which also has some interesting insights into the changeups at "Criminal Intent."

And, some nice flowers from "Olivia Benson."

Everybody (except Goldblum) out of the Criminal Intent Water

Big moves going on at Criminal Intent, according to The Hollywood Reporter:

"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.

Details about D'Onofrio, Erbe and Bogosian's exit are still unclear as the actors' deals are being worked out. The network only recently renewed the Wolf Films/Universal Cable Prods. series for a ninth season, slated to premiere in late spring with a two-parter.

Creator and executive producer Dick Wolf has long said that it is the stories, and not the actors, that form the core attraction of his "Law & Order" franchise.

Yet, like Sam Waterston on the original "L&O," D'Onofrio has long been identified with "Criminal Intent" and has helped set its tone as Det. Robert Goren. His trademark gesture, the in-your-face tilt of his head when he interrogates criminals, is a highlight of each episode, as is his encyclopedic knowledge of the arcane that often helps in fingering the suspect.

But, after originating on NBC, "L&O:CI" migrated to sibling USA, which has put together a cluster of dramas that are lighter in tone and subject matter and have more quirkily upbeat characters, as in "Monk," "Psych" and "Burn Notice."

Goldblum, who brings an easy eccentricity to most of his work, is more in the tradition of Tony Shalhoub's "Monk" than D'Onofrio's brooding and tortured Goren.

Additionally, cost savings always factor in production equations these days, with long-standing actors on a show, like D'Onofrio and Erbe, pulling in substantially more than more recent additions.

The sweeping cast changes on "CI" resemble the 2003 shakeup on ABC's "The Practice" when several key actors, including lead Dylan McDermott, Lara Flynn Boyle and Kelli Williams, were let go as a way to slash production costs.

The "CI" changes also represent the biggest shift so far for a show that has seen a number of faces come and go since it began in 2001. For several years, Chris Noth, who played detective Mike Logan, has alternated with D'Onofrio in the top role. He exited the Wolf fold at the end of the 2008 season and is now recurring on the CBS freshman series "The Good Wife."

While D'Onofrio is departing as a regular, it is possible for him to reprise his character in guest stints.

UPDATE: Exclusive Content on The Law & Order: SVU Unofficial Companion Web Site!

Wondering what changes might appear in Season 11's set? Wonder no more: I got a chance to visit the SVU set last week, and was given the full tour of the new "media set."

Check out the exclusive content (not available in the book) available at the Web site ... now!

No. 5!

Please to note that "The Law & Order: SVU Unofficial Companion" is now No. 5 on Amazon's list of TV show books. Thanks to everyone who ordered one ... or ten!

And if you don't have one, head over here -- they're on sale now.

The Law & Order: SVU Unofficial Companion is here!

Okay, so it's here in terms of advance copies. The book will be publicly sold in September.

All of us here at apocrypha central appreciate your continued patronage and patience in this matter!

But you can pre-order it at Amazon here.

And just maybe we might have ourselves a little contest to get an early edition in your hot little hands....

So check back here for updates!

Official: Meloni/Hargitay back for 2 years at SVU

And now it's official:

"Law & Order: SVU" will be returning in the fall with its two stars.

After lengthy negotiations, Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni have inked new deals to continue on the crime procedural, which is coming back for an 11th season in the fall.

Additionally, Emmy winner Christine Lahti has signed on to play the ADA on the veteran series for the first four episodes. Stephanie March will then return, reprising her role as ADA Alexandra Cabot.

Sources said Hargitay and Meloni, who regularly negotiate their contracts together, have inked one-year deals with an option for a second year.

And, despite the congloms and particularly NBC Universal being in a cost-cutting mode, both Hargitay and Meloni are said to have received salary increases to their most recent paychecks of about $385,000 an episode.

Hargitay and Meloni's deals come a month after NBC closed a deal with Wolf Films for the renewal of "Law & Order: SVU."

At the time, NBC brass said that the show will return with or without its stars as the networks and reps for the actors had been embroiled in intense negotiations.

But, while crime procedurals are more resilient than character dramas in replacing leads, losing both Hargitay and Meloni, considered the heart of the show, would've been a big hit to "SVU."

Hargitay is repped by Paradigm. Meloni is repped by Gersh.

Stephanie March Returns -- Again -- to SVU

Stephanie March (ADA Alex Cabot) fans rejoice: She's back for Season 11!

According to EW.com:

NBC declined comment, but an SVU insider says March's pact calls for her to appear in a minimum of 10 episodes next season. The show is expected to introduce one or possibly two new characters to fill the ADA void when Cabot isn't around.