2 l March
28 - April 3, 2021
Northeast Oregon TV Weekly
Christopher Meloni returns to the
‘Law & Order’ beat with ‘Organized Crime’
Christopher Meloni returns
as Elliot Stabler in “Law &
Order: Organized Crime,”
premiering Thursday on NBC.
After years of suggestions and rumors, it’s finally
official: Elliot Stabler is back.
Following a decade away from the police-detective
role he originated on “Law & Order: Special Victims
Unit,” Christopher Meloni reprises the part in the latest
addition to the NBC franchise from executive producer
Dick Wolf with the Thursday, April 1, premiere of
“Law & Order: Organized Crime.” Reintroduced in
the “SVU” episode immediately preceding the new
show’s debut, Stabler now heads a New York task
force targeting the title criminal activity; cast members
also include Dylan McDermott, Tamara Taylor and
Charlotte Sullivan (“Rookie Blue”).
“When you say ‘Yes’ to something like this,” the
amiable Meloni reflects, “you can have all the fantasies
you want about what it’s going to be like, how it will
turn out, etc. I must say the reality has been very
comfortable, though I wouldn’t say ‘effortless,’ since
getting back into being the lead of a one-hour show
takes effort. But it feels right and good, OK in all ways.”
Many viewers are familiar with the Stabler character
– who has remained very evident in frequent “SVU”
repeats on such cable outlets as USA Network and
ION Television – but Meloni attests there are new
differences to him, too. “I think what plays into it is
the environment that he finds himself in,” the actor
notes. “Policing in society is a big topic now, and certain
BY JAY BOBBIN
aspects of the show will reflect where we’re at with that.
We hopefully find Stabler a little older and wiser, but
also with the heroic qualities that I think he possessed
before.”
While he maintains his reason for agreeing to play
Stabler again is a story for “years down the road,”
reappearing on “Special Victims Unit” means Meloni
has a much-anticipated reunion with Mariska Hargitay,
who has played Olivia Benson since that show started
22 years ago. She’s the real-life godmother to Meloni’s
daughter, indicating their closeness, but Meloni admits
to having had butterflies over reteaming with her on
camera.
“Prepping for it was nerve-wracking,” he says. “I had
no doubt that the chemistry would find its familiar
place, and that’s how it played out ... but I did have the
thought, ‘How is this going to work?’ ”
Though “Law & Order: Organized Crime” hit a
couple of speed bumps on the way to premiering – a
change in showrunners (it’s now “Empire” and “The
L Word” veteran Ilene Chaiken) and a production
shutdown over a positive COVID-19 test – Meloni
considers it “a hall pass” to be back filming on the
streets of New York. “We’re doing it under very strict
guidelines, and everybody has to follow the protocols,
but we’re getting things done.”
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