How ‘Law & Order’ Wrote Out Jeffrey Donovan’s Cosgrove & Introduced Reid Scott’s Riley
Spoiler Alert
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for the Law & Order Season 23 premiere “Freedom of Expression.”]
Detective Jalen Shaw (Mehcad Brooks) has a new partner in Law & Order Season 23 in Detective Vincent Riley (Reid Scott), after the exit of Jeffrey Donovan over the hiatus. But given that the Season 22 finale didn’t set up his exit, how was Detective Frank Cosgrove’s absence explained in the premiere?
It’s a third of the way through the episode that Riley asks Shaw what happened with Cosgrove, sharing he knew him a little back in the day and calling him a good cop. “Great cop, just got jammed up,” Shaw says. On? “Being too honest about things people aren’t too honest about these days.”
“Yeah, it is not a great time to have an opinion, is it?” Riley asks.
It was in November 2023 that it was announced Donovan would not be returning; he was with the show since its return in 2022 for Season 21. Shortly after, it was revealed Scott had joined the cast in the series regular role of a new detective.
“[Riley] has a sort of a redemptive path that Shaw finds out about a little later, which causes for some amicable conflict if you will, but there’s a wonderful relationship that the two characters have,” Brooks told TV Insider of that new dynamic.
Lieutenant Kate Dixon has “known [Riley] for a long time. He’s been on the force for a long time. She’s actually been trying to get him over there, and it’s just been due to a lot of darker circumstances. It’s been a challenge, but that all comes to light in Episode 4,” Camryn Manheim shared.
Virginia Sherwood/NBC
We get a taste of all that right from the start in the premiere, with Riley’s comment about it being his first homicide case in almost 30 years, him later telling Shaw not to play the hero again on his tab (after Jalen steps in and disarms a man who won’t put down a knife), and Dixon telling Vince she’s glad he’s there and his gratitude for her “looking out.”
Later, again facing a man who refuses to put down a weapon (in this case a gun), Shaw and Riley try to talk him down. This time, the man, knowing what would happen, points his gun in Shaw’s direction. Riley shoots, and the man dies. After, he tells Shaw he’d never shot anyone before.
What did you think of the explanation for what happened to Cosgrove?
Law & Order, Thursdays, 8/7c, NBC
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Comments are closed on this story.
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G
I hate that Jeffrey Donovan is off of Law and Order. Crummy way of explaining his absence
21 1
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F
As I understand it, Jeffrey Donovan chose to leave the show. I think he was silly to do so because the part was perfect for him. But I really do like the new guy. I will never stop watching!
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B
I think L&O needs to do a better job of explaining his absence. Loyal viewers are too smart to accept what was given us tonite. There are so many ways to have given a valid scenario, like, he requested a transfer in order to be home more for a sick/ailing spouse or child. That's more plausible than what was given tonite. I've watched L&O since the Michael Moriarty, George Dzundza (sp) days, and I'm disappointed, but, I'll continue to watch.
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G
Nope...not a good explanation. Too cloudy
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R
I liked Cosgrove and I think viewers deserve a better explanation of why he's absent. I hope this new guy isnt terrible...so far he seems OK.
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B
I think the actor deserved better.
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C
I liked Jeffrey very much and he will be hard to replace. I hope they gave his character a good send off. Ive always liked L&O but he was the main reason along with Sam Waterson to watch again.
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G
Riley seems fine but on the whole, I'm not good with this. In 20 years I never watched that - or any of these shows - Jeff Donovan tipped the scales for me. I've liked him since he played the brother in Pretender. Not happy at all.
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C
Donovan’s character (Cosgrove) was one of the only “gumshoe” detectives on modern TV. Hope the programming wizards at NBC (or somewhere) realizes this and gets him his own series (OK to change the name/place but keep the character).
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G
I liked Cosgrove. It's too soon to evaluate the new detective yet. But the original Law & Order is the best of the three shows.
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A
I loved Donovan in Burn Notice, but the character of Cosgrove was a real pill and I won’t miss him. Yes the department has to be serious, but a cynical amusement goes a long way to making life with murder and mayhem bearable. That is why the character of Lenny Briscow was such a delight.
7 3
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O
Goodbye again Law & Order. I only started watching again because Jeffrey Donovan was on the show. What I saw of his replacement tonight stinks.
6 3
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O
Bad move all around. I've always liked Jeffrey and hope to see him return somewhere.
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G
Weak, pay him what he wants and bring him back. Tired of changes.
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C
Horrible explanation
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G
All of the reasons given are dumb and stupid!! Start with getting actors who we know have talent, but will commit to a contract and character and the show!! It's not about what reasons they give. It's about casting a show that intends to go forward for many years with the same characters for a while. We should not have to get a new this or that every year.
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O
I think they should of left Jeffery Donovan on L & O, the new guy (Reid) is not a good actor, find someone else!!!
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O
I was really surprised, a little shocked that he was let go. Good actor who was an asset to the show
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P
I’m a Jeffrey Donovan fan and will miss him on L&O. I hope he resurfaces in something else soon. This being said, I was ok with explanation they provided. If he left during hiatus due to creative differences, it was always going to be some writing device to explain it. Why not say he got jammed up with the brass for having an unpopular opinion? Sounds like that’s what happened in real life that caused him to leave the show..
Law and Order has regularly replaced favorite actors/characters and we fans are used to it. Just wish JD had lasted longer. The new guy Reid Scott is fine. Law and Order only hires good actors. I enjoyed him playing the Johnny Carson inspired character on The Marvelous Mrs Maisel and wish him the best here.
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C
I think Dick Wolf needs to find more creative ways to cut costs than cutting a talent like Jeffrey Donovan for a trailer park rummage sale 2 bit player that replaced him. As loyal as I've been to all the franchises, this is the straw that breaks the camel's back. Wolf can suck it.
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O
Any particular moves that you question?
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O
Cops do get jammed up therefore the NYPD fired him.
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B
I never liked this Jeffrey character. He was always trying to be the old fashioned bully cop who tries too hard to get the bad guy. Law and Order should know by now that cops have to follow laws too and apprehension and interrogation techniques have also changed due to newer training and scientific studies. Cop shows need to get rid of the overly emotional cop stereotypical cop who wants to beat the pedophile senseless because of his moral outrage. It comes off as lazy and stupid.
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O
i am not watching no more i like Jeffrey so much better , chemistry so much better done with that tv show they always ruin the good ones
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