i don't know if this has been covered, but....i just can't stand alicia witt. i hope this really is just a guest star thing and that julianne nicholson comes back soon from maternity leave. bleh. i don't know why but i've always found alicia witt really annoying. any thoughts.....

Well, since she's signed on to a contract for five episodes, you're just gonna have to put up with her for five episodes. Julianne Nicholson will be back when the show returns after its mid-season break and Logan and Wheeler will be reunited.

I think that we just don't like change. People blasted Julianne last season for everything from her freckles (like she's got a choice with that one) to being too tiny, to not old enough, you name it. Then magically they loved her by season's end. That, of course, was after spending a season hating Carolyn Barek. And no one liked Bishop who filled in for Eames when she was off having the baby in season three either.

My advice is patience for the rest of her stay. Watch Logan and Ross when they're on screen and pull a Joey Frost when Nola's on. Stick your fingers in your ears and scream "la la la" until she's done talking.

We haven't got a thread for her character started yet, but the moderators might just start one with a less mean title along the lines of "Alicia Witt/Det. Nola Falacci" since that's how we've been handling the character threads since for forever. Don't be surprised if that happens and your thread is moved there.

yeah, i'll probably just do the 'la la la' thing.....oh, and i quite like julianne's freckles ;-p i have nothing against redheads, seeing as i am one.... it's not really about having a hard time with change, i like all of the new characters who have been added over the years. alicia witt has just always really annoyed me, no matter what i've seen her in - '2 weeks notice' 'last holiday 'cybill' etc.

Is there a reason why people are quoting other posts but not writing anything? Are you having trouble posting or do you all just really dislike this woman? Just wondering.

I dislike the character she plays. I find her overbearing, bossy, disrespectful and unladylike in some of the things she says. I also believe they are trying to hard to make her into a female version of Robert Goran, a know it all. However, Goran pulls it off in a more desirable manner. He isn't so brusque, I just kind of take him as someone with a disorder or something like OCD or savantism.

Thank you kmfouts, for your opinion and insight into the character. All valid points with the overbearing, bossy... but I don't think they're trying to turn her into a female Goren. That was what they were attempting to do with Barek in season five and that fell flat as far as I was concerned.

I think they're trying to show that she's an "up and comer" trying to gain a reputation through her detective work. If she crushes toes in the process, well then someone limps for a while. A man in her position would be seen as being ambitious, a forward thinker, working out of the box. A woman is seen as overbearing, bossy, disrespectful and unladylike.

I like that she made Ross squirm and he's bonding with Logan as a result. It will be interesting to see how he responds when Wheeler returns later this season. Will he throw his arms around her in a totally inappropriate and awkward guy hug, slapping her on the back? Or will it be treated as other major changes in the L&O universe, with no fanfare whatsoever?

Goren an idiot savant? Not likely. Nor does he have OCD from how they've written him and D'Onofrio's played him. Attention to details and a good memory aren't symptoms of either of those profiles.


Welcome to the board and please introduce yourself in the Welcome thread. Read through the Rules and Regulations of board etiquette. And thank you for your post.

I don't like Alicia Witt in the role of a detective on a major case squad because she looks like she's 15, and I don't buy it. I'd prefer to watch Helen Mirren's Jane Tennison character over Falacci any day. I do understand the producers desire to appeal to younger viewers; that's a group they spend alot of money targeting with their advertizing dollars with the hope that they'll buy more "stuff".
I read that Ms. Witt has said Falacci is supposed to be 'unconventional', typified by her black fingernail polish, I suppose. Frank Serpico was also unconventional; he dressed unconventionally and refused to take money, which was the norm of the day. All his unconventionality got him was a bullet in the face.

Ditto on Tennison, Chris!

I'm just sick and tired of the targeting of the younger audiences by these media specialist who forget that it's the parents of these coveted demographics that have the real money to spend. If you're an 18-year-old male, you're probably not watching CI with your parents late on a Thursday night. They are trying to sell to a segment of the population that will watch USA Network when Steve-O is on; but, I can't imagine they're tuning in to see Goren, Eames, Logan or the partner du jour do much of anything.

Target the audience you've already got. Sell to the fans of the show that forgot the program was on last season because it only got zero advertising from NBC.

USA is kicking serious butt with their advertising campaigns and selling to the people they know are already the fan base. The ratings are proving it out too.

I don't hate Falacci. She's only been on one episode and it's too early to form an opinion one way or the other. If I wind up hating her, she'll be gone in a couple more episodes anyway. She's a temporary fix to a happily temporary problem, and then Nicholson will be back. I don't buy that she's a detective either, but I'm willing to suspend reality for 47 minutes each week. Long enough to get my Logan fix and then it's back to Goren and Eames.

I've only seen one eps with Alicia Witt and I think she's going to be fine. I like that she's obnoxious and that Logan has to be the "diplomatic " one for a change. I don't think she's too young - she's in her 30's.
Nice too that she has a family. Loved Logan's response to her question whether he's ever wanted children.

I've said similar on the USA "CI" site. I think Miss Witt's a brilliant actress playing an emotionally complex mother of three whose been through several levels of **** for past misconducts and deeds. This isn't going to be a pretty finish for Nola. A harsh reality is coming. Perhaps, one last shot at redemption. Who knows what the writers have in mind?
I can just feel the tension building.
Alicia's doing a fine job.

I agree - I think she's a very good actress. This is a very different role from the usual romantic comedies I've seen her in.

I have liked her alot. She has more punch and panache than the 2 previous partners. I don't think she has hit her character stride yet. Unfortunately she may not ever get there with only 5 episodes. I think when Nicholson comes back, it is going to seem like things have gone from hot pink to beige.
Nila

I am a LOCI newbie that started watching reruns this past summer. I had grown comfortable with the most current crop of characters, and really liked the Wheeler/Logan partnership. When the first clips ran showing Falacci as Logan's new partner, I didn't realize that Nicholson was on leave. I wasn't sure I liked Falacci for all the reasons previously mentioned by other posters, but after last night's episode, I decided she and Logan are a good fit. As much as I like Wheeler, I would hate to see Falacci go after her stint is up. If the writers used the SVU format, they could just keep her around as a female Munch.

Over the years, on all the "L&O" series, the choice of actors has been damned good ones. People who leave a strong impression and enhance the show's overall feel. Some are not to meant be warm or charming. They each serve different purposes in finding new layers of those that surround them. That's why I watch with such loyalty. Even a, so called, weak "L&O" beats out the competition.

ITA. I like Barek, but she was too quiet, too tame for Mikey. I think the writers should have played up their differences, or some animosity while they just hinted at it.

I like Wheeler. I think she is a good balance for the aggressive side of Logan.

I think Falacci is a good addition because she is more goal-oriented than Logan. I can see Logan and Ross raising their eyebrows at her attitudes, but at the same time they have professional respect for her. I don't think she looks too young. I know many ambitious 30somethings at my place of work and don't feel offended by them, therefore I find the character realistic. I loved the "princess" coffee cup and that at the same time she can be tough and opinionated. I wished they could keep her. I can see her creating interesting situations with Goren and Eames too.

Hi Buzzwindrip and welcome to the NBC board. Please, introduce yourself in the Welcome thread and browse the Rules and Regs thread as well. We're a friendly lot when we can manage to get through the technical glitches on the board.

Lots of people discover CI during reruns and weekend marathons, when they can devote time to watching the show in concentrated bursts of interest. Those 12-hour weekend marathons were the best thing USA could do to boost ratings in my book! If it's not a show you could ever get into for any number of reasons, getting to know the characters that way makes it possible to let them grow on you. If you enjoyed season five so much, your head may explode if and when you've seen "classic" CI from the first three.

With Falacci leaving in three more episodes, I didn't want to get too invested in her character, but she's insinuating herself into my "like zone". The actress playing her doesn't want the weekly grind of the same character that comes with episodic television. Been there, done that, time to move on. Many people don't like Falacci and/or Witt, and I'm fine with that. I just don't want there to be a Nicholson backlash when she returns from her maternity leave. Wheeler is a totally different type of character, different vibe off of Noth's Logan and a comfortable fit for Logan, who has suffered through too many partner changes in his NYPD career.

If you haven't seen the Bishop episodes from season three, she filled in for Erbe when she was pregnant with her son, that was a whole different kind of unkind. Poor woman didn't stand a chance to wriggle even the slightest empathy from the fans. Love and devotion to Eames was just too strong and people saw Bishop as an interloper. It's not like we didn't know that KE wouldn't come back. I didn't like her, but like what she did to Goren, nudging him out of his comfort zone. This season, Eames said, "My partner doesn't cope well with change." Man alive did we see that. And the discomfort was fun to watch and probably fun for D'Onofrio to play. By the end, when Eames had the baby in "FPS", I felt sorry for Bishop when Bobby takes the call that she had a boy, shares the news with Carver and Bishop just fades away while saying she'll take care of the paperwork so he can go to the hospital. Classy.

Again, welcome to the board.

Hello! I think she is alot,Witt, like Bobby. She has ambition and able to read people between the lines. She is also a little bit of a hot-head like logan, but not as bad, she handles herself like a woman detective should, get to the facts. IMO.

I don’t have an opinion about Falacci because I haven’t seen the First Logan episode yet, but I liked her in some of the movies and she was great in ¨Cybill¨, so I think she is going to do a great job while she is on the show, she is on it for just five or six epis right?
I just hope I don’t feel about Fallacci the same way I felt about Bishop, I didn’t hate her but I just wanted my Eames back!!!! Maybe I got that vibe from the way Goren felt about this new partner, he didn’t like the situation at all. He was all the time telling Bishop how things work with Eames, it was: Eames this, Eames that, Eames Eames Eames. He really missed her!!! And that was sooo cute!!! But poor Bishop...

I like Wheeler a lot, I think she is nice, Logan and her really make a good team, they have complementary attitudes and skills. It is nothing like Barek who was so dull!!! When she was on a epi I could barely stay in front of the TV till the end, I practically forced my self to see the whole episode, she was so annoying that I didn’t even care if I never found out how they break the cases or anything... I just couldn’t stay tune.

I feel the same way. When I saw she would be Logan's partner, I was bummed. I'm not a fan. She's got an irritating way of talking that I can't stand to watch. Loved Annabella, wish she was still on.

It looks like her and Ross butt heads this Thursday night. Im thinking Ross isnt going to like her which leaves Wheeler to return? Do we know when Julianne is scheduled to come back?

The original contract was that Alicia Witt would appear in six of the season's episodes and Julianne Nicholson would appear in the rest. Will there be an overlap of the two? That wasn't in the original information that was released back when Witt was named to fill in during Julianne's pregnancy.

With the strike they could very well rewrite if the extra time permits a smoother transition between the detective teams. This is just pure speculation on my part though.

I totally agree! She does have the most irritating way of talking I can't stand to watch either. I hope they replace her with someone else. She's pretty if she's not talking. Eames and Goren are the best. Logan is good but he needs a good partner.

Hi Members,

The Nola Falacci character is temporary, and scheduled to appear in only 6 of the Logan episodes. The Falacci part was created when Julianne Nicholson went on maternity leave. Julianne Nicholson is schedule to return this season.

PeachyBC

I didn't know in how many epis Witt was going to appear, I wasn’t sure if they were five or six... so, thanks for the info!. I’m sorry to say that I’ll have to disagree with most of you ... I actually like Falacci and I think it would be really fun to see her working with Wheeler, they are sooooo different!!! And Logan seems to very happy with this new parter, for they way in wich he took the news about his partner leaving on the season finale I thought things were going to be something like Goren-Bishop... But they totally get on with each other! I think it’s nice to see them working well toghether!

Tonight's episode has sealed the deal for me; I really like Witt's portrayal of Falacci. She seems to work well with Noth's Logan. I loved the exchange at the end of tonights episode.

I agree..she is so annoying it makes the show unwatchable...which is sad because I normally love CI. Why did they ever get rid of Annabella Sciorra? She was awesome.

I really think they need someone older and more mature in the role. Alicia Witt comes off like a prissy sorority girl trying to act tough.

I agree Buzz. I'm annoyed though that this episode read like it needed to be the first Falacci episode though. There were too many things that didn't ring true if she and Logan had already been working together since for however long has passed since the start of the season. I would expect that he would know that she was married and had kids by now and wouldn't necessarily be able to do out for a beer after work.

I think that Witt said in an interview that we were going to see how Logan and Falacci met or start working toghether not at the begining of the season but a little later. And she also said that the first ep they shot with Noth was about a Judge's wife murder... Maybe this is in fact the first episode in chronological order... I can't tell for sure because I haven't watched it yet... But for what you are saying I think it might be possible...

I actaully like Witt, I find her refreshing and witty from a dry standpoint. I like to see female cops who can dish it out as good as the men and stand their own ground. She is also a good addition to Noth, I think she gives him a run for his money......I love a good banter amongst co-workers.

Hi copshowjunkie and welcome to the LOCI board.

I like Witt as well. I think she Noth have good chemistry together. Witt has one of the hardest jobs on TV -- coming in as a temp replacement, with a short period of time to make an impression and make your character stand out. Witt was given a feisty role and she'd done well with it.

PeachyBC

Law & Order: CI's Alicia Witt Says She May Return
By MEGAN WALSH-BOYLE
TV GUIDE

Excerpt:

"We're just starting to get used to Logan's new partner… and she's just about to go. After tonight's Law & Order: Criminal Intent (10 pm/ET, USA), only two more episodes are left (one on Dec. 13, the other slated for early 2008) for Alicia Witt's brassy Det. Nola Falacci — who has left her stamp on the Major Case Squad. We chatted with Witt about her time on CI and some other interests.

TV Guide: What happens tonight?

Alicia Witt: I have a feeling this is going to be my favorite, because Falacci really butts heads with [Capt.] Ross in a huge way. She doesn't like to be antagonistic for the **** of it — she's doing it because she's right.

TV Guide: What is it you like about playing Falacci?

Witt: I'm still discovering her. She's somebody I believe the audience will either love or hate, which I much prefer to playing somebody who is just your run-of-the-mill conservative detective. She's very mature yet still has enthusiasm for everything, even if it's the darkness of solving a grotesque murder.

TV Guide: You've been filling in for Julianne Nicholson while she's on maternity leave, but if **** Wolf asked you back, what would you say?

Witt: They've sort of discussed it a little — not in any official terms — to maybe come back for an episode or two at some point [and] I'd love to do that. I'm not keen to do a series as a regular because I find that I get really stir crazy...."


http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/tvguide/341575_tvgif29.html

PeachyBC

Wow, I'm surprised so many people don't like Witt. I think she's one of the best cast changes to any L&O since they brought Chris Noth back to the L&O franchise.

I started watching CI again when they split up the episodes giving Noth one every other week, because going against the majority here again, I watched it part of the 1st season and found I am not a Goren/Eames fan although I do watch the reruns sometimes on USA if there's nothing else on. I DO love Det Mike Logan from the original L&O and always try to catch any of his episodes on CI or L&O reruns.

Sadly I've been really disappointed with Barek or Wheeler as his partner, but when USA started airing the promos for the new season with Falacci as his partner I felt casting FINALLY got a real partner for Logan. After seeing the first Logan/Witt episode I was loving the combo almost as much as Lenny and Logan. I was so sad when I found out it was only for 6 episodes, I almost don't want to watch them now because it will be such a let down when Wheeler comes back.

Alicia Witt Talks 'Law & Order: CI

From sitcomsonline.com

Excerpt:

Alicia Witt is not just another pretty face. After being discovered by director David Lynch at the age of seven, she was featured in "Dune." Lynch went on to utilize her talent in the quirky TV show "Twin Peaks." She also played Zoey in the TV series "Cybill" and has been featured in other television and movie roles, most recently "Law and Order: Criminal Intent."

And

"Now you are in "In Law and Order: CI." Did it start out NBC like the others?

The way it works is that it is on USA this season, and NBC, where it had been last season, is going to air the new episodes in mid-season, because they are both owned by NBC Universal. The show is the same and USA went nuts promoting it because it was new to them. It probably got more attention, like the billboards all over New York, because of that.

Are you anything like your character, Nola Felacci?

(laughs) I love her! She's awesome! She also has a really good sense of humor and I love the rapport she has with Logan (Chris Noth). I like her honesty, and I like the fact that she is fully aware that she is offending people a lot of the time. That's her way of getting the truth out of them. She doesn't have time for chit chat. In terms of interrogation, her idea is that as long as she just tows the line of being appropriate, she can get the information out of people.

You were lucky to get a part like that. She is a great role model.

I agree. When I first heard that the part was available, I was really excited, but I also made sure that she wasn't just going to be a shadow at Logan's side. If she had been bland and by the books, that would have been really uninteresting. The format is such that each of the episodes is self-contained, so you don't have to watch the entire series to know what is going on. But at the same time, within that episode, there can only be a tiny bit of character development. She has a strong personality to begin with, so you get more of a feeling of who she is.

Has the show been effected by the writer's strike?

Oh, yeah. I've got the rest of the year off, and I don't know when I am going to be back at work. I have one episode remaining to shoot out of 6 and that will probably be at the beginning of next year. I am the temporary replacement for Julianne Nicholson, who is on maternity leave..."

Full interview:
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showth...060#post3731060

PeachyBC

Me too, She's nasty, ignorant, rude, bossy (as mentioned before). I dunno but when I see her, I get mad. Eames is so much more sweet compared to her. I even prefered Logan's first partner (I think Anna was her name) before. I'm so glad She's not Bobby's permanent partner. I think even Bobby would have gotten frustrated with her after a while. My niece tells me it's her character, but it sucks really bad. I never saw her on any other show, and dont think I will waste my time watching any.

I want to know is it just me or does anyone like Mike 's new partner.

I much perfer Wheeler his last partner. I think his new partner is too over confidence & full of herself.

They should had kept Wheeler, her new replacment appears to be a know it all.

What is she a female Goreen ?

Alica Witts character is just to over the top for me cleary she is not a people person.

They could had done a lot better with casting.

Alicia Witt is playing her character quite well. She was given a character who isn't politically savvy, is brusque and lacks tact. Alicia has jumped into the character and brought her to life in a very short time frame. That's not easy to do in a temporary role. So, her character may not be all that likable but I think she's played the part well.

PeachyBC

Hi mbutler and welcome to the board.

One thing is for certain the Falacci character has gotten people's attention.

We have a thread dedicated to the Falacci character and the actress Alicia Witt, who plays her. I will merge your post into that thread in a bit. So don't fret if you see your thread is gone -- it's not. Your post will just be merged into the existing thread.

PeachyBC

I agree completely. I think the whole point of her character is to be bossy, tactless and un-PC. You're so right. Alicia Witt has done a terrific job in a very short time and I hope they bring her back. I think she's been Logan's best partner to date.

I totally agree with you guys! I think Falacci is really funny actually! But I also miss Wheeler a little... I think that the three of them (Logan, Falacci and Wheeler) would make a very good team, maybe we can see them working together at Falacci's last ep when Wheeler comes back.

Alicia Witt rules and is red hot! That chick needs to stay on here forever. Great acting but man, is she gorgeous or what, keep her!!!!

I think she works as an emotional liability. As in the viewer feeling a sense that she's going to get hurt and thinking stuff like "don't go in there, lady!" "don't mess with that situation!" Her cute looks of course would seem to play on that. And complements the less invulnerable Logan as well, gives those eps a certain dynamic different from the Goren/Eames ones.

Alicia Witt
Star of 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent'
By VARIETY STAFF
Alicia Witt, who plays Detective Nola Falacci on 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent.'

"Book I'm reading:
"God Is Not Great" by Christopher Hitchens and "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand (one of those great classics that I somehow never read before).

Total number of books I own:
A lot

Three books that mean a lot to me:
"Geek Love" by Katherine Dunn
"The Guide to Getting it On!" by Paul Joannides and Daerick Gross

Last film I saw: "There Will Be Blood," directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. My favorite movie of 2007. I love that the first ten minutes of it are completely free of dialogue and that you already are fully invested in Daniel Day Lewis' character before he opens his mouth to speak..."


http://www.variety.com/article/VR111798148...yid=14&cs=1

PeachyBC

I loathe all of Logan's other partner's on CI! Falacci is the only one I can stand to watch, and as soon as she's gone I'll just have to go back to not watching Logan's episodes again.

It's a shame that she was only commited to 6 episodes. She and Logan worked so well together.

We don't yet know how she will leave the show. There's always the chance that they'll leave the door open for her to return for guest appearances at some future time. Nicole Wallace, Frank Adair, Wally Stevens, Seamus Flaherty have all had recurring roles. Why not a popular (with some folks) detective?

To me, she will always be the little girl in David Lynch's movie "Dune."

"My brother is coming... with many Fremen warriors!"

:-D

As a detective character, I don't know, she's fine, I guess. Doesn't break any new ground or bring anything wildly exciting to the show, but it's hard to do that in a sidekick role anyway.