Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 13
A new era begins after Stabler's exit.
It was the first season broadcast without any other running American Law & Order series, and marked the departure of Detective Elliot Stabler after a squad-room shooting. Warren Leight became executive producer and showrunner, and Mariska Hargitay assumed the lead role.
Quick Facts
- Season number
- 13
- Starring
- Mariska Hargitay
- Danny Pino
- Kelli Giddish
- Richard Belzer
- Ice-T
- Dann Florek
- Episodes
- 23
- Network
- NBC
- First aired
- 21 September 2011
- Last aired
- 23 May 2012
Facts from the source article.
Production
Warren Leight replaced Neal Baer as showrunner after Baer moved to CBS Television Studios. Casting director Jonathan Strauss was promoted to co-producer, a move described as rare in television. Strauss told The Hollywood Reporter that NBCUniversal and Wolf Films had afforded him a "unique opportunity" to serve in both roles. The thirteenth season was Ted Kotcheff's last as executive producer; he cited the departures of Christopher Meloni and Neal Baer as primary factors in his decision, adding that a large turnover in writing and producing staff could help the show stay fresh.
Cast changes and returning characters
Initial reports indicated Hargitay would appear in only the first 13 episodes, but NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt later clarified she would be in every episode. NBC considered Jennifer Love Hewitt as a potential replacement for Hargitay, but she did not join the show. Hargitay said Meloni inspired her with his integrity and talent, and that she would miss him. Actors Danny Pino, Kevin Alejandro, David Conrad, Michael Raymond-James, and Rhys Coiro tested opposite Hargitay as replacements. Stephanie March and Diane Neal returned as ADAs Alexandra Cabot and Casey Novak for an undetermined number of episodes. Neal said the show was returning to its original focus on sex crimes and crimes against children.
Cast
Linus Roache reprised his role as Bureau Chief Assistant District Attorney Mike Cutter from the original Law & Order series in the season premiere. Show runner Warren Leight said that if Cutter was once a hot head, added responsibility had made him more mature and jaded. Roache stated he learned a lot from his time on Law & Order and looked forward to experimenting with Cutter's development in the new context. Franco Nero guest starred as an Italian dignitary accused of rape, evoking the Dominique Strauss-Kahn arrest. Kathleen Garrett played the dignitary's wife, Ron Rifkin played his defense lawyer, and Anika Noni Rose played the victim. NBA stars Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh appeared as themselves in the episode "Personal Fouls," with Mehcad Brooks playing Prince Miller and Heavy D playing Miller's cousin and business manager.
More in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Seasons
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced