LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT -- Pictured: (l-r) Dann Florek as Capt. Donald Cragen, Richard Belzer as Det. John Munch, Danny Pino as Det. Nick Amaro, Mariska Hargitay as Det. Olivia Benson, Ice-T as Det. Odafin "Fin" Tutuola, Kelli Giddish as Det. Amanda Rollins -- Photo by: Art Streiber/NBC
Law & Order: SVU (Wednesdays, 10:00 p.m. ET/PT, NBC) has changed dramatically since the exit of original cast member Christopher Meloni, who played Detective Elliott Stabler on the series, but somehow it’s remained a solid show.
How? Well, according to Diane Neal, who plays Assistant District Attorney Casey Novak on the drama, it all boils down to the scripts.
“It’s still really good. That’s the thing. It’s actually still really good,” she exclaims. “The scripts are really fantastic.”
Still, the actress does admit that the first day on the set of the show, post Christopher Meloni, was strange.
“It was really weird. The episode that’s on tonight is the first one that was filming and I kept texting Chris with ‘Where are you? It’s so weird without you,’ ” Neal confesses. “I missed his meaty presence here because he’s huge and all muscle-y. Then I got to know the new kids and Mariska (Hargitay) was in the best form ever and I was like, ‘This is going to be awesome.’ It’s a little bit different, but it’s better somehow.”
LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT -- Pictured: Diane Neal as ADA Casey Novak -- Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC
Meloni wasn’t the only change, however. Stephanie March has returned for a measure of the shows, as well as Linus Roche, who has transitioned from the original Law & Order to SVU. Danny Pino has joined the cast as Detective Nick Amarro and Kelli Giddish plays Detective Amanda Rollins. But, to hear Neal tell it, the cast will be a bit more fluid.
“Everyone was kind of in a new boat all over again,” Neal points out. “I’m guest starring on a show that was my show. I’m just a guest in a place that isn’t mine anymore. I’m like, ‘Wow, this feels really bizarre.’ I don’t have a dressing room. It’s a weird feeling, but I’m like, ‘Oh, OK.’ Danny (Pino) and Kelli (Giddish) are stepping into what is kind of a well-oiled machine, but it’s such a new machine that we’re all kind of feeling our way out. The good part is everyone is incredibly nice and talented, so it’s been a really fun process all trying to learn it together.”
All they need is Sam Waterston and it’ll be like old times.
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