Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Dean Winters Returns to SVU for Season 13 Finale

Great news, especially for long time Law & Order SVU fans! Matt Mitovich of TVLine.com reports that Dean Winters will be returning to Law & Order SVU for the season 13 finale, “Rhodium Nights.” Winters will reprise his role of Detective Brian Cassidy.

Read the full story here:
Exclusive: SVU Books House Vet, Grey's Alumna and Season 1 Alum Dean Winters for Finale









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28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow! Never expected to see this one!

With his return, this could possibly open a possibility of him replacing one of the squad members if someone leaves for next season.

Icy said...

@Dalton- I don't think that will be the case, we would have already heard something if someone from the cast was leaving.

He's just doing a guest stint.

Aline said...

Come on...just put Olivia together with Alex already, I'm not gay...but is so obvious she has no chemistry what so ever with Connick Jr,This is for you Warren Leigh...it's no big deal anyway...this is the 21 century!!Wake up man,open you eyes!

Laura said...

I can't wait to see Dean Winters come back as Brian Cassidy! I think in an earlier episode from this season they had his brother as a detective from a different unit, but it'll be even better seeing Dean himself back in the first role I knew him from. I know the chances of him coming back permanently for next season are next to zero, but ever since Meloni left I kept secretly wishing that Winters would come back as his replacement. Nothing against Amaro per se, I just like Cassidy better and loved how he used to play off of Munch in the first season. I always get a feeling of warm, fuzzy nostalgia when they bring back familiar faces. There hasn’t been enough of that this season.

Laura said...

@Aline: Yup, Mariska has absolutely no chemistry with HCJ (in fact, I don’t recall him having chemistry with ANYONE in what I’ve seen him in), but you know as well as I do that Warren Leight would never have Alex and Olivia get together, or even imply it. And even if he was going to do that, Dick Wolf wouldn’t stand for it. Sure, he had Elisabeth Rohm’s Serena outed in her last episode on the original, but I’m pretty sure it was just to be PC and appeal to the LGBT community without having anything explicitly alluding to it up until her final conversation with Branch. Remember, this is the same show that cut the kiss between Benson and Kathy Griffin back in season 11. I don’t think he’d let the main character for the only L&O show still on the air have a lesbian affair with the ADA. It would certainly make for interesting television, though, since she’s always had great chemistry with Stephanie March. Unfortunately the chances of that happening are even less than having Dean Winters back permanently.

Maybe it’s just me, but I thought that if they were going to have a love interest for Olivia, an excellent choice would have been the defense attorney Trevor Langan. He’s handsome, smart, and no more morally questionable than HCJ’s David Haden has proven himself to be. On top of that, he’s played by Mariska’s husband Peter Hermann, so if she’s going to have good chemistry with anybody it would be with him. Even better, his character dated Alex Cabot back in season 4, so there could be some added drama with Benson dating Cabot’s former lover.

CLA said...

I've seen every episode of SVU over the years. And I never saw anything that suggested any connection between homosexual Olivia and Alex Cabot.
They are just two great friends. Women can be good friends. What about romance with Olivia HCJ think they have chemistry. And they are very cute together. Only restriction is that I do about the talent of the actor. He seems close to Mariska a beginner

Laura said...

@CLA: I completely agree with you, I never saw anything sexual between Alex and Olivia either. The A/O fans read way too much into practically every interaction between the two. (The two episodes most cited as “proof” of something going on between Alex and Olivia are “Guilt” from season 3 and “Loss” from season 5, both of which don’t imply anything more than a close friendship.) It obviously would never happen, but it would be entertaining none the less, much more interesting in my opinion than the awkward romance between her and HCJ’s Haden.

Aline said...

Well ... The glances were there, the way they understood each other, but...gossip said it was because stephanie and Mariska were VERY close friends,but that's another story.I've never had fights like that with close friends,they just look good together, my boyfriend thinks that, not only Olivia is way too tough and gay...the same as Alex...she is way too stuborn.Is just the way you look at it.I think that...in this show, they were meant for each other.

Aline said...

...we allow gay marriage in every parts of the world...let's just hope Warren Leight brings the best looking couple A/O into our home,this would be a great THE END.We should all be so lucky!!For real...I just don't see Olivia loving anyone else, not even Elliot, their chemistry E/O were different, they were more like brother and sister...and I LOVE Meloni!P.S. I never read a shipper, i just read into their eyes...it's right there guys!You don't have to be gay to understand their love...

CLA said...

@ Laura and Aline

Perhaps what arouses the passion of some people by Olivia Benson is just that his character both sweet and strong. No doubt Benson's tough. But it is also tender and loving. And extramennte female when necessary.
About the alleged involvement of Sthephanie Mariska and I do not believe malicious rumors. I'd rather stay with the evident facts: Mariska is married to a handsome man, has a beautiful family and adjusted and became a true icon among women for their positive attitude towards life and his constant fight for the victims of sexual abuse.
I want to make clear that, if he is homosexual, it changes nothing about the admiration I have for her.

Anonymous said...

@Icy I know, but him returning always opens up a possibility. If he can show up now, he can show up again, ya know?

Aline said...

@ Laura and Aline
Perhaps what arouses the passion of some people by Olivia Benson is just that his character both sweet and strong. No doubt Benson's tough. But it is also tender and loving. And extramennte female when necessary.
I agree with you, about the vicious rumors I don't know( I don't think we ever gonna know)It doesn't change my admiration for both actresses...but rumors often turn out to be true,so I tend to believe a little bit in everything.I do think that they make a lovely couple,but Hollywood is so so FAKE...we can't never know...the actors even act in interviews...I didn't even meant to bring Mariska sexuality up, because it doesn't really matter, she's beautiful inside and out...I just wish the caracters ended up together.

Joanne said...

I am ridiculously happy about this. Can't wait.

OhSusannah said...

The only reason I'd like see Cassidy and Benson together again after all these years if he were to profess his unrequited love for her now. He was the first guy that Liv ever slept with in the series, and they were few and far between.She blew him off in that Closure episode,politely enough and in a later episode he arranged to leave the unit for narcotics. I didn't see a great deal or any chemistry between Cassidy and Benson then, and don't expect to see it now, 13 years later.Interesting dynamic.I wonder if they're doing it to arouse jealousy in David. He and Liv presumably will now be working closely with that new investigative department of the old SVU cases. That seems rather soap opera-ish to me, so I hope they don't really go there.Not sure how the topic of a lesbian relationship between Alex and Liv got thrown into the mix other than conjecture.There was an interesting S3 episode,though, that showed Olivia and Dr. Elizabeth Olivet out discussing a case.They looked to me as if they were on a date. Liv had more make-up, earrings, etc. Not the kind of thing where two professional women discussing work topics would dress up for, I thought. The episode was the one with the daughter of the singer who became very obsessed with Liv because her mother neglected her so much. In fairness, they had the same scene with Alex and Olivia going our for drinks so maybe I'm way off base here.I hope we get a S14 to stir things up in and out of the squadroom!

gahks said...

Totally unexpected, but a welcome return appearance! I would really love to see Dean come back permanently, but recurring roles in the vein of Diane Neal and Stephanie March would be great.

Book him for the 300th while you're at it, Mr. Leight!

Samantha said...

@Aline Olivia belongs with Casey. Plain and simple.

Samantha said...

@Aline Alex and Olivia never had ANY chemistry, whereas Casey and Olivia did. Olivia belongs with Novak, not Cabot, and that is all I have to say.

Aline said...

@Samantha dear, I don't agree with you,nobody have chemistry with Novak!Cabot is the one for her...Cabot and Benson, should be together Warren Leight, I wish you could read this,I'm not talking about, having them kissing or in bed together,just make us know there were always an item, remember Grison and Sarah from CSI.Nobody is so unlucky in love, and never in a million years, a woman so beautiful as Olivia(Mariska)would be alone all this time,and don't come throwing us Bill Pullman or Harry Connick Jr...there were never chemistry there.We want you guys from NBC to open your eyes and let Olivia be with Alex.Any man or woman, gay or straight would be happy with this happy ending.

Samantha said...

@Aline: You are entitled to your opinion, but please realize something: Novak has been on SVU longer than any other ADA, and for more episodes. Why? Because she is an incredible ADA. Did you know her success rate is twice that of Alex's? For citation, see season 3 and season 8. Olivia belongs with Casey.

Aline said...

@Samantha...I'm going to throw the towel!!I do NOT agree with you,on the subject that Casey belongs with Olivia, but we both know that unfortunataly neither of them are going to be with Olivia in the show...so,we might as well...agree to disagree.Stephanie March is prettier than Diane, and she looks better in scene with Mariska(I wonder Why ;-)).Together (in subtext) they were a sight for sore eyes...imagine if it got real??I just saw real passion there.Remember when Alex dated Trevor Langan, she had no chemistry what so ever with him as well...see my point???Alex and Olivia were meant for each other.

Aline said...

@Samantha Success rate???What do you mean by that??

Samantha said...

@Aline: Casey was stated in season 8 to have a conviction rate of 71%. In fact it was Judge Donnelly who stated this. As for your comment, Diane Neal is smoking hot, and if you think otherwise, then you're blind, sweetheart. But hey...everyone is entitled to their opinion.Casey/Olivia forever :)

Kate said...

I love all the Benson getting it on with everybody talk......any hint of anything seems to egnite great discussion. Mr Leight, take note...just give us that little hint of romance with Benson (with anyone) and we will always come back for more

Aline said...

Well...I guess I spiced things up a little with my comment about Alex and Olivia being together...never thought it would drag so much attention.;-)

Let's just wait and see...ando hope for a season 14.Fingers crossed guys!! :-))))

Arleen said...

Oh no....Dean Winters was in the beginning season. I hope this doesn't mean they are ending SVU, with him in the finale episode. Has the series been renewed yet?

They seem to be running out of ideas for new stories; I've noticed a lot of this season's episodes are hybrids of old episodes from previous seasons. Of course there are a lot of in-the-news stories they never seem to cover - things like gang rape, child abuse, and sex trafficking, which I would think are regular cases for the real sex crimes police.

They could take the characters in some new directions next year - like have Olivia discover another DNA relative - say a 13-yr-old niece who is a runaway prostitute she might try to help. Or bring back Chris Meloni as a guest - maybe his son or a daughter get in trouble of some sort. I'm sure there are all kinds of "doable" ideas.

ConnorBehan said...

I can't believe I'm even wasting my time typing this but there are two character archetypes that epitomize feminism:

1. A confident, streetwise, lady cop who kicks down doors and arrests criminals.
2. A woman who dates other women and has no romantic desire for men.

"Olivia Benson is already #1 so wouldn't it be great if she were also #2?" This is why you see hundreds of people blog about why they think Olivia should be in a lesbian relationship - wishful thinking. I'm a fan of strong female characters too but I know when to stop deluding myself. The 290+ episodes that have aired have made it abundantly clear that Olivia is heterosexual.

It was for this reason that the "kissing scene" between Mariska Hargitay and Kathy Griffin was shot without any intention of airing it. Neal Baer liked to mess with the fans and perhaps he shouldn't have done this but the decision not to air it had nothing to do with homophobia (in a show that has shown same sex kisses before). Hargitay and Meloni have kissed on camera before and such a scene has not appeared in an SVU episode for the same reason - it is not part of the story they are trying to tell.

Aline said...

ConnorBehan I don’t agree with you, the show never portraited a true picture of a Olivia straight, she was always something above sexuality.It didn’t help that she never had any chemistry what so ever with any man, except with Meloni, but it was always like brother and sister.Olivia is gay, at least gay for Cabot(I would go gay for Cabot LoL).The way they get along,the look in their eyes,they are always feeling so complete together…and don’t make me start with the fights…it’s not wishful thinking, I don’t even care if Warren Leight is going to put them together, but if Olivia ends up with a man, is not going to be reliable.I vote for Olivia ending up with Alex and that’s it.If you watched all the seasons, you would know, that during the time Cabot was in the show,Olivia never look at a man, that’s the truth, and Cabot had no chemistry with Trevor Langan either.So I rest my case!!!!!

ConnorBehan said...

@Aline: I vote for Olivia "ending up" with an anonymous person whose existence is not revealed during the show. This is Law & Order! A season 17 comment like "I got married 2 years ago" would be perfect. No one seems to care that e.g. Odafin's sex life or lack thereof is not mentioned at all. Like I said, the double standard causing everyone to demand this kind of knowledge for Olivia came about because she is a feminist sex symbol. The fact that you care so much tells me that the deconstruction above is at least partially correct.

I have watched every SVU episode and Olivia absolutely looked at men while Cabot was on the show. In "Countdown" she regrets not being able to spend time with her boyfriend. In "Counterfeit", Olivia returned from a date upon being called to the crime scene. And in "Pandora", Elliot mentions to the homicide detective that his partner dates guys. I will take direct evidence over "oh but did you see the look in her eyes?" any day of the week.