An actor from a CBS police procedural and an actress from an NBC crime drama will join NBC’s “Law & Order: SVU,” where the departure of star Chris Meloni has already been announced, TVLine.com reports.
Danny Pino of CBS’s "Cold Case" and Kelli Giddish of NBC’s "Chase" have been tapped as series regulars, the story says.
Pino was thought to be one of the actors on the short list to fill the shoes of Meloni, who is leaving after failing to sign a renewal deal, the story notes. Pino played Senior Detective Scotty Valens on "Cold Case."
Giddish will take on the role of the new female detective who will jump in when Mariska Hargitay cuts back on the show midseason, the story notes. It was previously announced that Hargitay’s character would be promoted, meaning less time on air.
Giddish starred as U.S. Marshal Annie Frost on "Chase," which was canceled in early 2011.
Love Kelli Giddish but do not like wispy petite blondes playing tough NY cops. To LA(ish. I’d rather see Rosie Perez who is an amazingly underrateed actress!
Also love Danny Pino, and he brings in that sexy ethnic/hispanic flair, but dudes, this in NY, the cop has gotta be Irish or Italian. Are you kiddin’ me? C’mon! We need the grit.
I kinda wish they’d have moved Goldblum over to the SVU from Major Crimes (L&O:CI). The thought of Belzer’s character in the same room as Goldblum’s would be worth tuning in for on its own!