Diane Neal Rests Her Case On SVU

[Techguy]

Good-bye ADA Casey Novak-- from Cinema Blend:

Diane Neal Rests Her Case On SVU
By Kona Gallagher: 2008-04-16 10:32:14

Is it just me, or has the return of our favorite shows seemed to bring news of a rash of people leaving said shows? First we had Jesse L. Martin leaving Law & Order, then Gary Dourdan exiting CSI, now TV Guide is reporting that Diane Neal is leaving Law & Order: SVU. On second thought, maybe procedurals are just having a bad few months.

Neal, who has played A.D.A Casey Novak since 2003, will be making her final appearance on the show during its season finale next month. Novack made her first appearance on SVU in a guest role as a murder suspect and autoerotic axphyxiation-loving, male stripper gang-rapist (seriously), but went on to step into the role of A.D.A. after the position was vacated by Stephanie March’s character, who appeared to be gunned down in a drive-by shooting by some Columbian drug lords, but was actually just put in Witness Protection and shuttled off to Wisconsin (no, seriously).

A spokesperson for SVU confirmed Neal’s departure, saying, “Diane spent five years on SVU and was a tremendous addition to the SVU team. She is looking forward to new opportunities and she will be missed.” Even though as Alexandra Cabot, Stephanie March left Wisconsin and the Witness Protection Program to reprise her role on another Dick Wolf courtroom drama, Conviction, it does not look like she’ll be returning to SVU. Instead, Wolf is said to be looking to cast an up-and-comer. The Law & Order franchise has a pretty revolving cast, but SVU has remained more consistent over the years than the others. Hopefully Neal’s departure won’t open the door for other castmembers to follow.

[Ladyheather]

Wonder if Ms. Neal was asked to leave or she decided to leave?? It sounds like she was given her pink slip and ask to clear her desk. Well, I liked her character. She was strong and challenged the investigators.

[Jefferaldo]

I didn't get that impression. All reports suggest that it was her decision to leave.

On another note about actors leaving procedurals, Dianne Farr (Megan Reaves, Numb3rs) is hanging up her FBI badge.

[Sirenna]

I wonder what the new ada will be like? I'm kind of looking forward to the change although I liked Alicia

[DonnaJo]

Wonder how they will have her leave the show? Dick Wolf loves a dramatic departure.

I cringe thinking about what they'll do to the poor woman.

[Jefferaldo]

Well for one, maximum blondification

[deathroe]

Seriously. She already got seriously beat up in the TBJ crossover. Mind you I have to wonder how they'd outdo the whole Cabot scenario. Maybe they should have the Law and Order reality house or something. They could send all the characters who left from Greevey and Stone on to live in some kind of Big Brother house and see how they all interact.

On a related note--someone needs to write an analysis of the female heroines as VICTIMS on the L&O franchise shows (Eames is the least victim-y one around, IMHO). There's a grand tradition of this starting with Olivet and Kincaid. Not me. I don't think I have the stomach for that analysis!

[Jefferaldo]

Well according to spoilers of the show, she is asked to join a Law Firm. Apparently she's at some function having drinks speaking to someone working at this Law Firm and he asks "How do you sleep at night?" and she replies "I don't. Make me an offer. I might jump ship."

[DonnaJo]

Apr 18, 2008 21:05:25 GMT -5 Jefferaldo said:

Well according to spoilers of the show, she is asked to join a Law Firm. Apparently she's at some function having drinks speaking to someone working at this Law Firm and he asks "How do you sleep at night?" and she replies "I don't. Make me an offer. I might jump ship."

Hmmm..very interesting little tid bit. Thanks Jeff.

Glad to hear that she makes a move that makes her happy.

[DonnaJo]

In my new TV Guide, there's a small article about Neal leaving SVU.

It says, and I quote," ..shortly after the story was posted, says an SVU insider, an emotional Neal gathered the show's crew together on set and informed them that she had just been fired."

Neal was very evasive about confirming this, but she didn't deny it either.

[deathroe]

why the heck would they fire her? That's ridiculous. She's one of the better things about the show (although if you ask me, they all are. It's just a crazy show.)

[ragincajun]

Apr 18, 2008 16:53:22 GMT -5 Jefferaldo said:

Well for one, maximum blondification

I thought he like Redheads, thought that was the reason for casting Redhead strippers for CI, or who is it that has the thing for redheads?

First Carver, Now this, I am missing the Order from Law and Order. Didn't care much for Lake, so that one doesn't bother me.

[ragincajun]

delete

[untitled]

Lake was pretty fresh still, but what about Fin? I'm sorry but I felt they gave Lake the most attention when he'd only been on the series for a year.

[bluefairy]

I know this is a very old topic, but I was just surfing the web yesterday and found Diane Neal's twitter. She said she really hated to see herself leave and she would definitely come back to SVU if they asked her to. So I think it wasn't her choice to leave.