Ice T Explains Fin Is on ‘SVU’ Less This Season Due to Kelli Giddish’s Return
What To Know
- Ice T’s character Fin appears less frequently in Law & Order: SVU Season 27 due to budget constraints following Kelli Giddish’s return as a series regular.
- Ice T clarified he is not leaving the show and will continue to make appearances throughout the season, emphasizing his commitment to reaching Season 28.
- He expressed appreciation for fans noticing his absence.
Don’t worry: Ice T isn’t going anywhere. Despite his reduced appearances in Law & Order: SVU Season 27, the star promises that doesn’t mean that the show is “getting rid” of him.
Season 27 kicked off with Sergeant Odafin “Fin” Tutuola (Ice T) being attacked on his way home from Cragen’s wake; he thought he was interrupting an assault in progress only to discover he’d been played. That led to a conversation about trust between Fin and Captain Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) when he didn’t tell her about his gun being taken and she found out from Sergeant Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish, back as a series regular in Season 27). He then missed episodes to recover, popped up to be part of Octavio Pisano‘s farewell as Joe Velasco, and returned to the squad in Episode 7, only to take a bit more time off. But he’ll be back, Ice T promises in a new interview with TMZ.
“It’s just basically business. They brought Kelli back, and at the end of the day, they couldn’t really keep both of us on full time, as far as budget-wise,” Ice T explained. “They said, ‘Ice, we’ll have you come in and out this year.’ That way we could bring — everybody wanted Kelli back. We’ve got new cops and stuff like that. But I’m not leaving the show. I’m more concerned with going to Season 28. So, this year, they said, ‘Ice, we’re going to work you a little less.’ Everything was cool with me. I understood. I said, ‘Are you getting rid of me?’ They said, ‘No way. We can’t imagine Law and Order without you.’ I’ve been on this show for 27 years. I am not going to say anything negative about this show. They have taken care of me for so long. I just want to get to Season 28.” (The series has yet to be renewed.)
Ice T has been with SVU since Season 2; the only one there longer is Hargitay, since the series premiere. And because of that, fans are obviously taking note when he’s not in an episode. But he’s “kind of glad the fans are upset” when they notice him missing, he admitted.
“Because what if I was missing and nobody cared? That would be something to worry about. But the fact that the fans wanted to see a little bit more of Fin, that’s good. But I’m going to be sprinkled throughout this season, let’s just say that,” he added to TMZ.
It was in Episode 7 that Fin returned to work and insisted to Benson that he had “never felt better” physically, bragging about how his recovery was going. “I’m prepared, period,” he told her when she noted he was talking about being ready to be back physically. But later in the episode, Fin admitted he thought that even a couple years ago, he “would have been faster, caught on quicker, definitely wouldn’t have lost my gun,” and so, “I just think I need a little bit more time before I come back, just get my head around it.” She assured him that he could take all the time he needed and there would always be a place for him on the squad.
That’s an easy way to explain his reduced presence on the show, and something tells us that with Ice T saying he’s “sprinkled throughout this season” that even when he returns, it won’t be for a long run of consecutive episodes.
Law & Order: SVU, Thursdays, 9/8c, NBC
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P
Not liking this at all! From a loyal follower of L&O SVU I love all the new officers but do not like trading less Finn for more Amanda!
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G
If the wanted to cut they could have cut the other captain that came from I A and not hired the other detective
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F
Yeah, I don't dislike Curry, but having another captain on the squad, and doing footwork at that, is ridiculous. And I wish they had kept Velasco and Silva, and forgotten about New Guy.
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S
It's nice to have kelli back, but i want ice back. Love him on the show and his crazy comments. Bring him back!!!!
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B
Sorry but this is very wrong!! Ice T is an icon mainstay of SVU knuckle heads! Nice to have Kelli back but far as I’m concerned get rid of Curry or the other captain she’s got spying! Don’t piece mill our Ice T. He’s way too important. 💖💖💖💖💖💖
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T
So they take a long time actor in the show and put in a actress that can barely act? And on top of it who missed her character? Not me!They shouldn't have brought her back in the first place!
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T
You have the same feelings I do! She's a horrible actress and her storyline is so stupid! They never should have hired her back and gotten rid of Ice-T !
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G
Would much rather watch Finn than Amanda and her facial expressions!
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T
Boy, isn't that the truth?! I'd rather watch Finn any day over. Amanda! Her character is just ridiculous
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T
As soon as they announce they were bringing Amanda back, I groaned and told my family no way. I can't watch another season of her! Her storyline is ridiculous. She adds nothing to the plot of the show. Please get rid of her and bring back. Finn!
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N
Strangely enough, Fin is the only character who has never been annoying. The show needs him full time. I don't need more of Kelli or of Peter's idiot accent or Mariska Bruce Jenner and her channeling of Adam West in "Batman": "Rollins. Let's talk to. The. Mother. And....see. if. Maybe. She....knows. more. Than. She's...letting on."
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L
The Show Needs To Put Ice T Back On Full Time! Not A Good Look For His Character! I Don’t Care What Excuse Is Given! Put Him Back On Full Time
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P
I watched L&O SVU from the beginning in my 20’s and my daughter 22yrs old is a fan. She learned the intro by heart (mandatory) along with homework assignments 😎. We all remember what they did to Stabler? It seems any cast member can be in jeopardy 🤨
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J
Why take a LONGTERM employee cut his hours to Non Existing who has added to the show for 25yrs and the viewers appear to Love him and yet you replace him with NEW actors, and a returning actress that most viewers could do without. SVU has no loyalty to their Cast let alone to their viewers😔 that's why I stopped watching them
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H
Never liked the Amanda character - wish she would go away and stay away from this show. Send her back to that school she was supposed to be teaching at and keep here there, or...she can be done in and that would be that. Losing even one episode with Ice is wrong. To me and my family/group that all watch SVU, Ice is our favorite character and we really all look forward to what he is up to next.
Whoever came up with this ridiculous idea has a screw loose and is way out of touch with the TV audience that watches every week.
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