Specialty B.O. Preview: ‘Before Midnight’, … 
2012-2013 Season Network Rankings: CBS Sweeps In Final … 
Full 2012-2013 TV Season Series Rankings 
TOLDJA! Paramount Pocketing $190M From Disney For Marvel … 
‘Good Morning America’ Hits 19-Year Viewership … 
MGM Buys ‘Modern Family’ Producer Ben … 
‘Fashion Police’ Writers Chant On Picket Lines: … 
Universal Makes Seven-Figure Deal For ‘The School For … 
Steven Soderbergh Will Interrupt Retirement To Direct And … 
Cannes: EOne Announces Itself As Player In U.S. … 
Will LIN TV Stations Go Dark On Time Warner Cable? 
Very Crowded Memorial Weekend Kick-Off: ‘Hangover … 
Shareholders Quiz Time Warner Chief On Political Ties And … 
RATINGS RAT RACE: ‘Modern Family’, ‘Law … 
Hammond On Cannes: Paramount’s ‘Nebraska’ … 
Cannes: J.C. Chandor Sets Next Project ‘A Most … 
Hannibal Classics Sets Cast For Nic Cage Pic … 
Hammond On Cannes: Robert Redford’s Brave New Role … 
Hot Trailer: Jennifer Aniston And Jason Sudeikis’ … 
Brad Pitt’s Plan B Banner Promotes Jeremy Kleiner To … 
Hot Trailer: Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s ‘Don … 
Dick Wolf, creator of the Law & Order franchise, has weighed in on the controversial upcoming episode of Law & Order: SVU, which guest stars former boxer Mike Tyson in his first acting gig playing someone other than himself. Tyson’s casting has come under attack from advocate groups protesting the involvement of a convicted rapist (Tyson served three years for a 1991 incident involving a Miss Black America pageant contestant) on a show dedicated to sex crime victims.
In the SVU episode, titled Monster’s Legacy, Tyson plays Reggie Rhodes, a murderer on death row whose violent actions may in part be the byproduct of sexual abuse as a child. His case attracts the attention of Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and defense attorney Bayard Ellis (Andre Braugher) during an SVU investigation. Also guest starring in the episode is Ed Asner. “It focuses on what can happen when there is an emotionally charged rush to judgment and it is, in my opinion, one of our strongest episodes in the last five years,” Wolf said in a note accompanying screeners for Monster’s Legacy. Originally scheduled for Feb. 13, the episode has been moved up to Feb. 6, sparking speculation that the shift may have been made so that the Mike Tyson episode does not air on the eve of One Billion Rising, a global event supporting rape and abuse survivors.
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
Loading ...
He should be apologizing for this entire season. What a piece of crap this show has turned into. And could the gay characters on last week’s episode be worst written. I swear to god, it felt like it was written by some 50 year old writer grasping for a career.
Spoken like TRUE bitter MELONI fan! lol
The show is better than its ever been, its finally got critics NOT making fun of it.
People are still making fun of SVU because it has gotten so bad. The writing is terrible. And it has nothing to do with Meloni leaving.
I was so happy to see Meloni leave, he was phoning it in and collecting that pay check for years. I wrongly expected for the show to get better. No, it got much much worse, with a writing staff that goes for the cliche and where minorities characters are treated like they come out of a 1970′s stock character machine. AWFUL.
It’s plain and simple, Chris Brown, Mike Tyson. some Black stars commit horrible crimes, and white people profit from them. America the beautiful.
I agree. I enjoy watching SVU now since all the changes.
I like the way they do things now.
Will you ridiculous fanatic Chris Meloni fans stop spamming Warren leight and going on about how the show should be cancelled and he should be fired. He has ZERO to do with Meloni QUITING.
ITA, The writing is much better this season
Get a hobby.
Quite frankly SUV is one of the most misogynist victim-blaming shows out there. Somehow the writers always contrive to make a woman the reason behind why the male perps rape and kill—she was a slut, or humiliated him (which apparently is justification for rape or murder) or that hey, guess what? it was really a WOMAN who is the perp. If I was Mariska Hargitay I would be gagging. I’ve worked on issues relating to violence against women for years and rest assured, Dick Wolf is no friend of women.
No, the strongest episode SVU has written was “Behave” with Jennifer Love Hewitt, in the last TWO years and it was under show runner Neal Baer who would rather have shot himself than cast someone with Mike Tyson’s criminal history on SVU. Tyson deserves his second shot, but not on SVU; a show about empowering victims of rape and abuse. Guest star on CSI: NY or somewhere like that!
That is all this casting decision was meant to do, Warren Leight and his “team” meant to keep Tyson cast because it’s bringing media and controversey to SVU, which it hasn’t had really since Chris Meloni left. And regardless, why has Wolf waited SO LONG to respond, the ep airs in a few days, this has been going on for WEEKS. I don’t care what Dick Wolf, Warren Leight or anybody else at SVU says (because they are automatically going to defend their choices, despite this uproar), I’ve signed the petitions (the one against Tyson and the other against Warren Leight) and I’m going to be watching ‘Criminal Minds’ on February 6th.
Thank You, Oscar for signing the petition. Please share as well if you are on Facebook or twitter. I also saw the episode with Jennifer Love Hewitt and I have to agree! She was fantastic and it was very well-written.
Exactly. This isn’t about “second” chance for poor Mike – its about offending survivors when they could and should have cast him on another show.
Couldn’t agree with your comment more!!!
Sorry but Behavior was another terribly written episode. It was so obsessed with showing a rape victim empowered that it violated the law. The writers really need to learn to stop doing that.
There is no “rush to judgement”. For almost 14 years Dick Wolf has talked about how important the show is and how supportive it has been for victims of violence and abuse. This proves that he has not meant a word he said. Guess if you are famous you get a free pass to do whatever you want and still end up on a show that deals with catching and convicting rapists. The producers claimed to have integrity, this move, in my opinion, proves that they don’t.
I don’t have a problem with Tyson being on ANY other show. It also is noticeable that Tyson described Mariska as quiet on set. No-one has ever said that in 14 years. Running a victims advocate foundation doesn’t exactly fit with Tyson, especially when she had to hug him in a scene.
In other words, he enjoyed profiting off the victims all these years, but he doesn’t give a rat’s ass about them. Thanks for clearing that up, Dick.
Yes, that is the impression I got as well! Cleared up…I am certain Criminal Minds will not mind having thousands (maybe millions)more fans.
Does one have to be either a sex offender or a victim? The reality is that many, if not most, sex offenders were themselves victims of sexual violence so I don’t see what is so offensive about casting Mike Tyson as a victim of sexual violence. His casting reflects the reality of this very serious issue.
I stand corrected, it is not most sex offenders, but 30%, almost one in three, is still a high percent. “Among adult and juvenile offenders (verified by polygraph examination), approximately 30% had been sexually abused. (Hindman, Peters 2001)”
You missed the most important part of that study.
“Hindman and Peters (2001) found that 67% of sex offenders initially reported experiencing sexual abuse as children, but when given a polygraph (“lie detector”) test, the proportion dropped to 29%, suggesting that some sex offenders exaggerate early childhood victimization in an effort to rationalize their behavior or gain sympathy from others.”
I understand what you are saying. However, the point of my comment is that a sex offender can also be a victim of sexual abuse. So there is nothing morally or ethically wrong with having a victim of sexual abuse be portrayed by a sex offender. Like it or not, its reflecting an aspect of reality.
By the way, I work at a mental health clinic that provides treatment for sex offenders as well as their victims and I take this issue very seriously.
Gee, a bunch of rage-o-holics in this thread, who no one is listening to BTW. Look, it’s real simple, there’s a school of thought –call if common sense– that says Tyson was convicted for a crime that never happened. You know how easily you can be convicted of “rape” simply on someone’s word?
And secondly, it’s called a TV folks. You don’t like what’s on one channel you can change it! Or you can whine.
The only people who believe Mike Tyson was falsely convicted of rape are those who ignore the evidence. It wasn’t just Desiree Washington’s testimony that got a conviction. It was also the ER doctor who confirmed her physical condition was consistent with rape, his chauffeur who confirmed she was in a state of shock and the fact he checked out of the hotel at 4:30am, less than 2 hours after the rape when he was supposed to stay another day, and made arrangements to fly out of the state as soon as possible.
People are overreacting. If they don’t like the fact that Mike Tyson is in an episode then just don’t watch. I do the same thing if there’s someone I don’t like in a show or movie.
SVU has done a magnificent season. Warren Leight has written stories deep, real and exciting. Well unlike Neal Baer who wrote to highlight Cris Meloni or Mariska Hargitay. The stories of Neal Baer were ridiculous and thankfully Chris Meloni is gone. I think Mike Tyson should not be on SVU. But I’m eager to see this episode.
I have always respected Dick Wolf. The original Law & Order stands on its own and will go down in history as one of best crime dramas ever. SVU was set to follow in its footsteps.
But ever since Chris Meloni and Neal Baer left the light has gone out of this show. Instead of focus on the victims we find the focus on the sex
lives of the detectives or the lawyers. The name of Elliot Stabler has become Lord Voldemort – he who shall be named – in what company do u find co-workers not mentioning someone’s name after 12 years with him? So unrealistic. And then comes the episode where Olivia Benson the most stand cop out there – role model to reel and real people let a murderer get off because she felt sorry for the 15 year old for girl. Talk about assassinating the character of the much loved Benson.
But all of the above is NOTHING compared to the casting of this scum of the earth Mike Tyson. Casting Mike Tyson GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING SVU stands for. As executive producer and creator – as the guy who named the two most beloved characters of this show after his children – supporting this DESPERATE STUNT CASTING of THE EGOTISTICAL AND UNORIGINAL Warren Leight is the last thing I expect from Mr Wolf.
If this the way SVU is going to be from this point on then none of us are interested in watching it anymore. What happened to this show under the so called tutelage of Warren Leight is a disgrace. I can only hope that Mr Wolf never let him another show of his again.
NBC please do the right thing!! Pull this episode and cancel SVU at the end of this season.
“The name of Elliot Stabler has become Lord Voldemort – he who shall be named”
And thank god for that. The show had become the Elliott Stabler Family Dysfunction Junction Hour, and the writers catered to the “fan fic” bases obsessed with Olivia and Elliott getting together contriving lot development so that almost always, the case centered more around Benson and Stabler than, you know, a victim.
I’ll be nice and not discuss the infamous “the monkey’s in the basketball” ridiculousness of a few seasons back.
The show isn’t as great as it was when it started and hit its stride; but it has much improved without the presence (i.e., deadwood) of Elliott Stabler. I’m not crazy about importing the “CI”-style in the episode openings, however, it is a small price to pay for the ship righting the course and recovering some of the credibility it had when it hooked viewers to many years ago.
Did Neal Bear cast Ice T? Extensive criminal history including being an admitted drug dealer and a pimp. A former pimp, who still attends the “Players Ball” aka Pimp Prom has been a star on he show for years. Why be so upset now?
Its good to see Dick Wolf support this episode, and also to see ICE T and Andre Braugher in support of it too.
It does look like a strong episode and I shall watch it despite the lynch mob mentality that has been out condemning something they havent even seen.
Also the tradition of casting ex-cons is pretty well worn territory. Ask Eddie Bunker and Danny Trejo . Both careers were direct results of their stays in prisons. Always brought in because they have “authentic experience” for their roles. i.e. being felons
Mike Tyson is a convicted rapist. Ick. And his recent career resurgence as white America’s favorite minstrel is kind of disturbing on a lot of different levels.
Oh boo hoo people need to stop bitching about Mike Tyson being on the show. Don’t like it don’t watch it. And this season has been a good one so far in my opinion.I mean come on its been on for 14 years its not gonna be as new as it was back when it first came on :p
Putting an accused rapist on a show such as Law & Order:Special Victims Unit?!? What’s that about!?!?!
Will you guys calm down? It’s obvious Tyson has made amends in his life. He served jail time. So, watch the show or not. Just don’t act like headless chickens…Jeez…
And I am now done with this show. I have watched this show from the beginning. I continued to watch as it has gone downhill because I had those memories of how it empowered victims. And brought these dark subject matters into light. Now all of that has been tarnished beyond repair. I feel like have been played in the worst sort of way and it leaves a very bitter taste in my mouth.
Both Dick Wolf and show Runner Warren Leight are setting new lows for SVU and are complete hypocrites and phonies. Mike Tyson – a convicted rapist and admitted wife beater — should never have been cast on SVU. It sends an incredibly insensitive and poor “message” to survivors of both and is nothing short of stunt casting. For those survivors who watch the show and who have felt that the show was about them and their voice, this should be a wake-up call that the SVU ship is sinking. Jump off now and find a new ship to sail on. As one person wrote, why didn’t they have Mike Tyson appear on Chicago Fire – Dick Wolf’s other show – and spare the bad feelings of/offending sexual assault/rape victims/survivors who watch SVU? Well, I know why, and I think anyone reads this with an open mind will, too — its all about stunt casting and helping Mike and NOT about YOU.
They just cast a dog for Chicago Fire.
Maybe that was stunt casting. Maybe all casting is stunt casting…like giving a show alternative endings is stunt plotting.
TV is a commercial business and ruthless…unless you go on cable.
I signed the petition against casting Mike Tyson on SVU as well. I won’t be watching the episode and hope many others boycott as well. Obviously expected Wolf to endorse it, especially just a few days before it airs. I think many episodes have been written well since Warren Leight took over as showrunner. I’m sure this one could be well written as well, but that is not the issue and the fact that Leight and the other powers that be in this casting decision ignore or diminish the hurt and betrayal that it has caused is offensive.
SVU is so much better written now. Thank MR leight. Love the show.
Lovin Mariska
Wow, Dick Wolf praised a Dick Wolf Production? I am shocked. Shocked.
This is nothing but stunt casting. Everyone should get a second chance. He may be reformed, learned hus lesson, what have you. However Tyson should not appear on this show. If nothing else for the fact that for years it has encouraged victims to seek help, to stand up against their abusers. This episode is supposedly about the cycle of violence and what it does to people. I agree it is a large part of the problem in today’s society, but couldn’t they have cast someone else in this role? I have been a loyal fan since the very beginning, but I can’t say if I’ll continue. I won’t lie, there is a small part of me that wants to watch the episode, its like a train wreck you don’t want to see it but you can’t help but watch. I was looking forward to the episode with Marcia Gay Harden, I love her character on the show, but I’m not sure if I’ll continue to watch.Which makes me sad because I love the characters, and have really come to like Kelli Giddish and Danny Pino. I also feel for some of the actors. They have been put in a tough spot and whether or not they agree with I’m sure they can’t say anything publicly. I also think its very telling when Tyson said that Mariska was very quiet on set. In all the interviews I have seen about her no one has ever described her that way, and she does not come across that way when being interviewed. I also read that Tyson said that he wasn’t there to make friends. So I can’t help but wonder if something was said to him on set, or if he maybe knew that some were not happy about him being there. If anyone read her tweets at the end of last week it was like she was making a statement without actually making one. I also felt that I could hear her voice in the statement the JHF made. I think it would be interesting to see down the road after the show is over if she will ever say anything about this episode. I feel like this has been a slap in the face to fans, victims, survivors as well as Mariska and her foundation. Some of WL tweets last week ended with smiley faces, like he was being smug about it and rubbing it in people’s faces. Will I continue to watch the show? That is a decision I am struggling with, I may just stick with season 1-12. However, I will still continue to support Mariska and the JHF and the work they do. I have a whole new respect for her after this mess.
They are prepared to cast a convicted rapist in a show that has put itself in a role of responsibility to survivors. Where does this end? If Mike Tyson had been convicted of a sex crime on a child would they still have cast him? If not, why not? They wouldn’t go that far for a unnecessary publicity stunt obviously. The hideous crime he did commit appears not to matter to those involved in this decision. Personally I’ve watched SVU for years, have survived my own journey but if I were to see my rapist on set with the SVU cast I would be physically sick. There is no excuse for this casting and this decision in my opinion. You had such a fantastic product but in the end you used your audience for nothing more than greed. This goes against everything that SVU stands for.
Warren Leight rejuvenated SVU. Theres no doubt about that.
Theres also no doubt that an obsessive unhinged group of people who have been out to get this showrunner since Criminal Intent have latched onto a campaign and made that campaign look like the lunatic fringe.Its a pity. They have undermined it but they have.Its having the reverse effect. People are beginning to feel sorry for Tyson. He looks like the victim now.
Some of the comments on twitter about the showrunner look like libel or character assassination. Maybe they should look into whether its legal or whether they can take it through the courts.I think they did this recently with a politician in UK and defamation of character.
For a bunch of people watching Law and Order these people dont seem to have learnt much.They are just after blood and making wild judgements.Maybe it was a good thing Law and Order got cancelled if it attracted people like this.
Warren Leight has gutted what was left of SVU.There is no doubt about that. He doesn’t seem interested in doing stories about SVU’s given subject matter. It feels like he wants to restart Criminal Intent instead. And the ratings show what a mistake that is.
Actually ratings are considered good for SVU which is why it will be renewed next year with current staffing.It has held its own in a difficult time slot and having lost a major character. It should be a 10pm slot considering its subject matter.
The only thing Warren Leight “rejuvenated” was his paycheck. Law & Order: SVU is HORRIBLE under Warren Leight, it was bad enough under Neal Baer, but Baer actually listened to viewers (maybe a little too much at times), whereas Leight ignores people and scoffs at those who are fans of his or his projects (past, present or future). This casting of Tyson shows Warren Leight’s and Dick Wolf’s true colors seriously. Wolf used to preach hard about SVU being about/for the real rape victims out there, I guess none of that matters anymore.
True, Mike Tyson did his time, and he’s welcome to guest star on any other TV show he wants, BUT SVU is the one Tyson does NOT need to be on, because of his 1990s rape conviction, his lack of taking responsibility and his down view perspective of women. Tyson to this day still denies all from beating his wife Robin Givens to the rape of Ms. Washington. If Tyson would have admitted some wrong doing and changed his view towards women, MAYBE he could stay and there’d be no issue. But Tyson has yet to do this. And SVU casting him is strictly stunt casting (Ice-T and he might be “friends”, but Ice doesn’t make casting decisions; Jon Strauss & Warren Leight do) and to bring in ratings, money, and publicity – which SVU has lacked majorly since Meloni left (I’m glad he’s gone though).
Warren Leight needs to follow suit, the episodes [still] suck (period point blank), they aren’t about SVU cases anymore, and they are focusing on Liv’s personal life TOO much. Leight is trying to fuse SVU’s old formula with Law & Order: Criminal Intent’s and it’s not working it makes the episodes worse than they already are. And Leight has basically booted Diane Neal and Stephanie March, but in a way I’m not complaining, Raul Esparza is doing a shockingly good job as ADA Rafael Barba (probably the best decision made under Warren Leight). Either Warren Leight needs to take a look back at earlier seasons of SVU and take note, or he needs to leave the show. It’s that simple, and after this Mike Tyson casting debacle, I wish he would just leave anyway. Leight is selfish, arrogant, and only cares about himself and his crew.
And poor Mariska, she was “very quiet”, we ALL know Mariska’s lively with the guest stars. I just would not be shocked in the slightest if it were announced that she was departing at the end of the season. Same goes for Danny Pino, he’s been quiet as of lately on Twitter. Ice is really the only cast member tweeting on a daily basis.
And another thing, stop comparing Ice-T to Mike Tyson, that is so stupid. Ice might have rapped about cop killing, but he’s never been convicted of a major felony such as rape, kidnapping or murder.
I couldn’t agree more. If Tyson had come out at some point in the past and acknowledged what he has done (rape, and spousal abuse) and apologized for it, I don’t think there would be nearly as much uproar. His comments about how he likes to hurt people, women especially, there is just no room for him on this show. Any other show out there fine.
I do think they are trying to turn the show into Criminal Intent, which was the only one in the franchise I never liked. When it comes to Stephanie March and Diane Neal I would like to see them back on occasion. What is strange is WL has said repeatedly that neither want to, but its funny that Diane Neal consistintly tweets that she would love to go back, she just has to be asked back first.
I also agree that it would not be a surprise if Mariska does not come back after this season. Which I would hate because she has been one of my favorite actresses for years. I just don’t think the quality of the show is what it used to be. I know a show on as long as this one does tend to go down hill some, but this is no where near as good as it used to be. I can only count a few episodes in last season and this that I would say are as good as some of the ones in the past. I think the actors do a wonderful job and are doing the best they can with the material they are given.
Your post reveals your agenda,which is nothing to do with TYSON,just some kind of obsessive lobbying against leight.I think its you that has the problem, not the show. Move on and get a life…or do you have delusions of grandeur that you can somehow sack people.I dont think anyone is listening to you.
There is no stunt casting by the way. Tyson is a longtime friend of ICE T…same as the actor of Hayden was a friend of Mariska.
Nice balanced interviews by Andre Baugher and ICE T on NBC about all that.
What an over reaction to something no one has seen.
Showrunner of “The Following” consulted a serial killer in prison for advice on his character of a serial killer.
Very little reaction to that though.
The showrunner on The Following was doing research and not putting that serial killer on the program as a character. That’s a big difference.