Law And Order: Organized Crime Star Shares How Dick Wolf ‘Makes It Worth Your While’ To Come Back To The Franchise

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The “Law & Order” series franchise is uniquely outstanding, with its roots dating back to 1990 when it was first created by Dick Wolf. Over the years, it has expanded to include six spinoffs, two of which continue to air concurrently with the original in the 2025 TV schedule. After nearly four decades and countless episodes primarily set in New York City, it’s no wonder that actors have often portrayed multiple characters within this franchise or even revisited roles after many years. Recently, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, who starred on “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” joined the cast of “Organized Crime.” She shared her insights on what draws actors to return to Dick Wolf’s universe.

Interestingly enough, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio isn’t the sole cast member from the Organized Crime series to depart and subsequently rejoin the franchise. Christopher Meloni, famously known for his role as Elliot Stabler in the SVU sector of Law & Order universe, quit only to return almost a decade later. Similarly, Dean Norris, Rick Gonzalez, and Michael Trotter returned as new characters. Mastrantonio herself made a comeback in Season 9 of Criminal Intent as Captain Zoe Callus in 2010 before appearing in Organized Crime Season 5 as Isabella Spezzano. You can stream Season 5 with a Peacock subscription now.

Isabella’s stint on ‘Organized Crime’ was unfortunatey brief, yet she left a lasting impression during her limited appearances. During my conversation with Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio about Isabella’s significant final plot twist, she shared her thoughts on rejoining the ‘Law & Order’ series.

In simpler terms, this project only required three episodes, making it an easier commitment to take on compared to other projects, which were also excellent. However, let me tell you, Dick Wolf runs a fantastic franchise. To put it plainly, he pays generously and understands that these roles can be challenging, so he compensates appropriately for the effort. This makes it more enticing to come to work, not that it necessarily impacts the quality of your performance. You’ll still do your job regardless of pay, but when you hear “he pays well,” it makes you inclined to say, “Alright then, I’m in.

It seems that Dick Wolf, who is not only an executive producer for NBC’s One Chicago series, but also CBS’ FBI and the upcoming CIA shows, has a knack for effectively managing the Law & Order franchise, ensuring it’s lucrative enough to tempt actors back. This includes offering competitive pay! Mastrantonio added.

During the filming of my initial project, Criminal Intent, I recognized it consisted of only 14 episodes instead of a full 23. Given that I resided in London at the time and had raised my children there, this meant I had to make a daily commute to New York. However, the production team was incredibly supportive, enabling me to wrap up Episode 3 and begin Episode 4 without having to travel by plane every week, which was very considerate of them.

For most folks, commuting from home to work is commonplace. However, I’d wager that the London to New York journey is exceptionally extreme for nearly everyone! The actress spoke highly of how the Criminal Intent production team and Wolf Entertainment managed her travel, even finding an added benefit in portraying an NYPD captain rather than a beat cop or detective. She expressed:

I must admit, it was truly refreshing to see that character consistently present at work, which was a delightful change. As we women advance in age, there seems to be a tendency to position us as matriarchal figures within the office setting. [Laughs] This, however, works out wonderfully for actresses like myself. It means fewer early mornings and less travel to distant locations, making it an overall beneficial situation.

Actors specializing in detective roles often find themselves chasing leads amidst New York City’s varied weather – be it rain, sunshine, or snow. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio relished filming her office sequences for the show, “Criminal Intent.

It’s quite surprising, but it seems that she appeared in more thrilling scenes across just three episodes of Organized Crime, compared to all her appearances in Season 9 of CI! The actress shared insights about how the Wolf team created a welcoming atmosphere for her.

After completing this task, you’ll come to find that there are numerous individuals who will help guide you through this process. It’s not stressful at all; in fact, everything is taken care of. You merely need to pack a toothbrush and board the plane they’ve arranged for you. Once onboard, skilled professionals will present you with unique outfits and hairstyles that you might not have imagined. They handle the creative aspects, making it relatively effortless for you.

It appears that the television world is undergoing some changes, which may explain why Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio has decided to rejoin the Law & Order franchise, while certain shows produced by Wolf Entertainment have reduced their casts. Interestingly, SVU is set to bid farewell to series regulars Octavio Pisano and Juliana Martinez before Season 27 in the fall, but there’s also good news as former series regular Kelli Giddish is returning to the show.

The regulars on “Chicago Fire,” Jake Lockett and Daniel Kyri, are preparing for Season 14 in the One Chicago section of Dick Wolf’s TV universe. It wasn’t clear if the cuts in “SVU” and “Fire” were budget-related, but a CBS executive confirmed that financial issues were behind the cancellations of “FBI: Most Wanted” and “FBI: International.

As I type this, most of the Wolf Entertainment series that haven’t been cancelled are taking a break during the summer season. However, there’s good news! You can still enjoy fresh episodes of Law & Order: Organized Crime every Thursday, and you can only find them on Peacock for streaming.

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2025-05-30 02:38