Great article via Kate Ward at Pop Watch in regards to Chris Melonis possible replacement...
"Perhaps it’s my affection for his now-documented relationship with his wife. Perhaps it’s my love for the way his character is the rare comic relief on Law & Order: SVU. Perhaps it’s the fact that he’s confident enough to sport a ponytail that looks all too similar to a rat tail. But I can’t help but wonder why, when Chris Meloni leaves Law & Order: SVU, Ice-T’s Det. Fin can’t replace Det. Stabler.
As a huge fan of Meloni’s departing Det. Stabler, I’ll admit whoever replaces him has big shoes to fill. He (or, heck, she) needs to have a commanding presence on the small screen, prove he could master the procedural, and be an interesting enough character to encourage viewers to tune into SVU every week. But Ice-T — who has signed on for two more seasons on the series — has all those traits: He’s stolen scenes from his Emmy-nominated co-stars plenty of times, is actually believable as a New York detective (most don’t look fantastic and photo shoot-ready while chasing a criminal, Mariska Hargitay), and would introduce a fascinating dynamic on the show as Det. Benson’s partner. While Stabler was the aggressive ying to Benson’s emotion-laden yang, Fin and Benson would hardly work together in harmony: Many times in the past, we’ve seen Fin criticize Benson for her, ahem, slightly more prudish ways. (Remember when he criticized her for poo-pooing a pastime he enjoys, online porn?) We’ve watched SVU tackle brutal murder after brutal murder after brutal murder — some new tension in the workplace could be what the show needs to keep things fresh."
Read the full article HERE
