Is It Ever Too Soon for Stars to Play Different Characters in the Same TV Universe? (POLL)

Meredith Jacobs
13 Comments
Dylan McDermott as Richard Wheatley in Law & Order Organized Crime
Scott Gries/NBC

TV universes are growing and growing and growing as more spinoffs are made and crossovers join worlds (even on different networks, as seen with Dick Wolf’s One Chicago and Law & Order on NBC and FBI on CBS). So stars playing different characters on even tangentially connected shows seems inevitable. But is it ever too soon?

Soon after Julian McMahon announced his exit from FBI: Most Wanted after almost three seasons (with his last episode to air March 8), Dylan McDermott joined as the new lead (with his first episode set for April). Character details have yet to be revealed. The only problem, if you want to call it that? McDermott currently recurs on Law & Order: Organized Crime — connected to his new show via SVU via Chicago P.D. via FBI — as villain Richard Wheatley. (He was a series regular in Season 1 of Christopher Meloni’s spinoff.) It’s possible that McDermott could be on our TV screens as Richard Wheatley and the FBI agent he’ll be playing in the same month and even possibly the same week, depending on scheduling. (FBI: Most Wanted airs Tuesdays at 10/9c, Organized Crime Thursdays at 10/9c.) So is that kind of fun or too soon?

Here’s the thing: Just because someone watches Organized Crime doesn’t mean they also tune in to FBI: Most Wanted, but the shows are similar enough (and again, both part of Wolf’s universe) that at least some people are probably fans are both. And let’s be honest: McDermott’s Richard Wheatley is a very memorable character. He’s not just in Detective Elliot Stabler’s (Meloni) head. He’s the kind of character that stays with you, and that will likely remain true no matter how Organized Crime writes him out.

Also coming up: the return of Law & Order, for its 21st season. (It originally went off air in 2010.) Three series regulars from the NBC drama are currently full-time as different characters on Chicago Med (S. Epatha Merkerson) and FBI (Jeremy Sisto and Alana De La Garza). But years passed in the interim. That makes a difference.

Given how long some of these procedurals can last — and the spinoffs that can come about — it’s not too surprising that it happens. After all, there have been actors in the NCIS universe (and from JAG) who have played multiple memorable characters. (Mark Harmon’s son, Sean Harmon, played the younger version of Gibbs on NCIS before guest starring on Los Angeles as part of the team’s case-of-the-week.) But there does seem to be a difference when it’s a character in a few episodes and one that played a prominent role on the series or in an arc.

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So now we’re asking you: Do you think it’s ever too soon for someone to play different characters in the same TV universe? Let us know in the poll below.

FBILaw & OrderNCISOne Chicago



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  1. G

    GreenElephant

    Regarding an actor appearing as a different character in the same "universe", the whole point of acting is to play a part, to convincingly "become" the character on screen. When an actor appears as a hero or a villain, a victim or a predator, rich or poor, a doctor or a patient, the actor's task is to make the audience believe in the character being portrayed. If the actor is doing his/her job, he/she should be able to appear on an unlimited number of shows in a variety rolls without a problem.

    9

  2. G

    GoldAnchor

    In this case I am not happy. Dylan plays an evil, hauntingly horrible man currently. That is how I will see him when he replaces the kind, good man on FBI. I am very disappointed.

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  3. P

    PurpleBattery

    Actors want to work and the nature of the business is to move around.. I think it depends on the characters they play, if they're guest slots or recurring and whether their stories are wrapped up. Fans hate to be left hanging. When a Hawaii 5-0 actor recently showed up on NCIS playing a different character fans were quick to point out the same universe issue. The way H50 went out left loyal fans shocked and craving resolution for the characters....so it's really up to the writers to avoid fan blow back when they don't do they're job.

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    1. G

      GreenSushi

      I saw him and thought Whaaat! Not sure I liked it, I like him but I saw him as the other guy and was hoping he was playing him

  4. G

    GreenToast

    It's just a TV show.

    3 1

  5. C

    CyanPopcorn

    I watch FBI:Most Wanted. I watch SVU. On a couple of occasions I've been forced to watch Organized Crime because of a crucial point in a crossover event. I hate Organized Crime. Ever since Olympus Had Fallen, I've not been a fan of McDermott. Organized Crime did not help that feeling in the least. At this point, once Julian leaves, I won't be watching Most Wanted. It is far too soon to bring a notorious "bad guy" coming off a role as a REALLY bad guy in to play a good guy. It doesn't work for me and I will not even give him a chance.

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  6. P

    PurpleScooter

    Dylan McDermott is a villain, period. A sleaze on tv. He plays it well. He cannot play a good guy lead on FBI Most Wanted, it will ruin the show for me. I have faithfully watched every episode of the three FBI shows and the two Law & Order shows. It seems like a desperate move on the part of the show runners. What a waste of a good show.

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  7. P

    PurpleSubmarine

    Yes, it is too soon for viewers to believe Dylan McDermott as a good guy on FBI, even as a guest agent, much less a team leader. As a multi-episode bad guy Richard Wheatley, he got to be quite convincing. The FBI casting team should have realized this and chosen from a grand list of available likeable actors.

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  8. G

    GreenLobster

    The Fonz....who the hell is Dermot Mcdermot Mulroney? If you cant keep actors straight in your head no wonder you have issues with characters! Dylan McDermott wasnt on SVU, he was on OC. And since you don't like his character he must be a pretty good actor, so he'll be great in FBI Most Wanted.

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    1. P

      PurpleBottleOpener

      It was a joke. I never said I didn't like the character, I said he was awful on the show.

      1

  9. E

    Eryn

    I am an avid Dick Wolf-verse fan. I've loved each of his shows from the very first L&O up to present day. I think it was wonderful that the casting directors used amazing actors from when L&O went off the air and put them in the One Chicago shows. I honestly don't see a conflict with it and I've yet to see the reboot, but I assume that it will be using different actors to fill different roles, cuz one episode can take weeks to film and making an actor do 2 full time roles on a weekly show would burn them out and then they'd need to fill 2 new roles again.

    With regards to Dylan, he is fantastic at playing the sleaze/evil guy. But I recently heard that he is sick of being type-cast and jumped at playing a good guy. He is a very different kind of FBI agent though, which I absolutely love. Married to the job, excellent at the job yet a little footloose and fancy-free at the same time. I feel very, very sorry for people who do not give actors a chance when they decide to jump out of being type-cast and take on new roles. I'm fully enjoying watching Dylan's "Remy Scott" and you can literally feel the joy from Dylan relishing in his new role as a good guy.

    As for the fact that there's other actors filling roles in the same TV universes, you know what they say: everybody has at least one doppelganger in the world! (not counting identical twins, triplets, etc) I know that Dick Wolf prefers to offer roles to actors that he likes and appreciates first, just like many other show creators

  10. R

    RedBowtie

    I can't find the poll but yes! I am constantly annoyed at the other 3 you mentioned, even if it was a long break between roles and the L&O reboot makes it worse! I've just watched Most Wanted & discovered Julian left and Dylan's coming. I just finished complaining about it on another site for that very reason. I watch all the L&O shows, One Chicago and FBI's. (Although International is deplorable). What is Dick Wolf thinking and WHY does he keep doing it to me??? A one off guest role from years ago on connected shows is one thing, but a series regular on one show or both shows is a middle finger to the fans. It makes my blood boil. If you want to keep reusing the same actors, don't connect your shows! If you want a massive universe (which I love, especially One Chicago) don't ruin the lore and break the forth wall by using the same actors as different characters.

  11. P

    PurpleBottleOpener

    Yeah, not always, but dermot mcdermott mulroney was awful on SVU and I was hoping he'd be gone. Now he's going to a lead on my once favorite FBI? Say it isn't so

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