As a dedicated fan of Law & Order: Organized Crime and someone who has followed its intricate storylines since its inception, I must say I find myself both excited and apprehensive about the upcoming Season 5. The news of John Shiban’s departure as showrunner has stirred up a whirlwind of emotions, not unlike the turbulent underworld depicted so brilliantly in this gripping series.
Unlike “Law & Order” and “Law & Order: SVU,” which are set to return to NBC before the end of 2024, the premiere date for “Law & Order: Organized Crime” Season 5 remains uncertain for fans with a Peacock subscription. Filming started in August, but a significant shift behind the scenes has halted production, and this development might be familiar to long-time “OC” viewers. John Shiban has left the NBC-turned-Peacock series, marking him as the seventh showrunner to depart. This news brings about a major change, and it also echoes what some cast members shared with us about working with him during Season 4.
John Shiban apparently left “Law & Order: Organized Crime” earlier in November, leading to a halt in production. At present, no new showrunner has been appointed, but Matt Olmstead, the original showrunner of “OC”, is returning as an executive producer to assist with the remaining episodes of Season 5. Interestingly, Olmstead previously departed from “OC” quite early on. He re-entered the Dick Wolf television universe when he joined “FBI: International” in the role of new EP/showrunner.
Currently, there’s no information available on why Shiban, a veteran from “Breaking Bad,” is leaving the series, even though production seems to be approximately halfway through. This development is intriguing considering that Shiban and Christopher Meloni were the only ones confirmed when the shift from NBC to Peacock was initially announced. With this departure, Shiban becomes the seventh showrunner to step down, following a succession of bosses that started with Matt Olmstead, then Ilene Chaiken, Barry O’Brien, Bryan Goluboff, Sean Jablonski, and David Graziano. If the series continues, Season 5 would have been Shiban’s second full season in charge.
Reminiscing about Shiban’s departure before the anticipated comeback of Organized Crime in 2025 TV lineup brought back memories of my interaction with Season 4 cast members regarding his contributions to the successful crime series. Danielle Moné Truitt, who portrays Sgt. Ayanna Bell, expressed her thoughts about Shiban as the new boss before the fourth season debut:
This season, our scripts seem quite realistic, perhaps due to the influence of other shows he’s been part of. His presence seems to infuse a certain atmosphere into ours as well. It’s network television, so it will be what it is, but I do believe he adds a touch more seriousness to the universe we inhabit. I’m enjoying this addition. So far, I’ve only gone through three of his scripts because we’re about to start Episode 4 soon.
John Shiban, who graduated from Breaking Bad, is not just a writer but also a producer with Emmy nominations, having worked on Ozark, Hell on Wheels, Supernatural, The X-Files, and many others. Lately, he’s added Dune: Prophecy to his extensive list of Executive Producer credits. Before the fourth season of OC, Truitt admired Shiban’s practical style in the Law & Order: SVU spinoff, and there’s more – she also praised his approach.
I’ve enjoyed three of his scripts so far. I find it refreshing that he hasn’t altered the characters or added unexpected elements, which can sometimes be confusing. It appears he has a good understanding of the characters from the previous seasons and is writing accordingly. Overall, I admire this approach. [laughs]
Among all seasons so far, Season 4 of “Organized Crime” stands out as one of my favorites, mainly due to Truitt’s contributions early on. Moreover, being an admirer of his previous works, such as the long-time favorite “The X-Files”, might have influenced this sentiment slightly.
Dean Norris, famously known for his role on “Breaking Bad” alongside Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul, initially appeared as a guest star in Season 4 of “Organized Crime”. His role was upgraded to series regular for Season 5. In April, near the end of Season 4, Norris expressed that working with Shiban once more was what drew him to become part of the show. He stated:
The show was simply remarkable; aside from Chris Meloni, it’s what makes it worthwhile. John contacted us and explained we’d delve into family dynamics, among other things, and he’s definitely delivered on that promise with superb writing. He’s been as good as his word, and there continues to be more fantastic content, by the way.
During my conversation with Norris, it turned out that a few episodes from Season 4 were yet to be broadcast. However, the storyline was fast approaching its peak and a suspenseful cliffhanger, which left me speculating whether Season 5 would follow in the footsteps of “Breaking Bad.” The actor added:
I’ve nearly reached the finish line with just one more chapter left to read. It’s been an enjoyable ride so far. I had faith in the outcome, and our discussion about the Stabler family dinner scene was particularly engaging. That scene is reminiscent of John Shiban’s signature style, and it was a highlight for me.
Oh man, it’s a bummer that the showrunner for Organized Crime is stepping down again, shifting the series to streaming platforms. Guess we’ll just have to keep our fingers crossed for updates on who’ll take over and when Season 5 finally drops. To pass the time, I’ve been rewatching the first four seasons on Peacock, and hey, if you’re a fan of SVU, don’t miss its return from hiatus! You never know, Benson might give us an update about Stabler.
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2024-11-26 02:37