Thanks Bubba

I already voted for him. it is just not the same without his wit and conspiracy theories to lighten up the mood and tension going on. He was what made the show entertaining in my eyes. I miss that. Heck I miss a lot...but that's a whole nother topic.

Thanks Bubba.

I will miss Munch as well the same for his wittiness and as well his acting

i voted for him.i would like to more of munch

The show doesn't feel exactly the same without him. It's still good and watchable. It just feels like something (someone) is missing. It feels a bit off.

the People's Choice Award voting is closed now, the results will be announced in about a month and rumor has it Belz won his category despite being relegated to the background

I think SVU needs to reverse some trends, like pare down the cast they now have a captain a sargent, 4 detectives, an ME, 2 shrinks, an ADA, a TARU tech and a CSI tech (or is it 2) and they need to get back to solving cases instead of trying to be the reincarnation of NYPD Blues or in other words a soap opera set in a police station. IF they want to emulate a great cop show from before their time they should try being like Homicide Life on the Streets oh and guess what? The should just ask belzer how to do that since he was on Homicide all 7 seasons.

This whole comment sums it up.

Executive Producer Neal Baer would not comment further. Although he told me last week Munch wasn't going anywhere, they have sure found screen time for Adam. I think every episode this season.

What have you got to hide, Neal Baer? This is so unprofessional of you! How dare you lie to the fans. I have never been more disappointed in you, especially when you announced that Belz actually said this to you.

Oh, and remember how you said Uncle was a Richard Belzer episode, but it turned out to be a Dani Beck one instead? How much can I bet to say that you probably lied to us again with your statement on Unorthodox? Will it turn to a Stabler episode? I suggest you quite deceiving the Munch who helped keep SVU on the air in its early seasons because it brought over the Homicide fans. We love Munch. We want Munch episodes like Remorse, Legacy, Manhunt, Painless, and Parts. If you can't deliver that to us, then get a new job. I have never been more angry at you than now. How dare you trick people, especially on your cast... do you not have any honor, dignity, and professionalism? Or are you just a scumbag, like the executives who won't promise the writers more profits from DVD and Itunes/episode sales?

Thanks Bubba. I really miss Munch. While I like Beach more than a lot of people seem to, I've really grown to love Munch's quirks and retorts. The show isn't the same when he's not there.

SO Belzer



Since Page Six noted that people are talking about the diminished appearances of actor Richard Belzer on the long-running hit Law & Order: SVU, fans are mobilizing and questions have multiplied.

What happened between the popular Belzer and his NBC Universal budget-cutting bosses who put him in 22 episodes last year but have now cut him back to 13? Belzer says he doesn't know what happened. He will only say, "It's mystifying to me. And I have to admit my feelings are slightly hurt. But I do feel flattered that my fans miss me!"

Perhaps the addition of Adam Beach as the new partner of Ice-T and the placement of Belzer inside headquarters has something to do with less exposure for Sgt. John Munch.

Law & Order, in all its three manifestations, is omnipotent on the air, appearing about 20 times a week. I never turn on TV, it seems, when one of its versions isn't playing. And the story goes in TV land that the various shows are now making more money than ever.

People come up to Belzer, who is a popular figure in New York and appears at almost any charity that needs him, saying, "We miss you, where are you?" He is especially mobbed in airports across the nation because he travels frequently to the West Coast and to Europe. One of this "tough guy" actors' pet charities is for needy dogs and cats - Huntington, Long Island's Little Shelter Rescue and Adoption Center. He also does work for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Belzer is busy with the 81-year-old Jerry Lewis on a musical version of The Nutty Professor. He also is working on a mystery novel called I Am Not a Cop, in which he will star as himself.

Rumor has it that both of the indispensable stars of L&O: SVU - Chris Meloni and Mariska Hargitay - were given a hard time during last year's contract negotiations. It looks as if NBC Universal might be out to kill its own golden geese.

As Page Six reported, Belzer is leading in online voting for "Favorite Scene Stealer" in the People's Choice Awards. His defenders seem to be everywhere yelling "Munch forever!" So how will his hardball-playing bosses feel when Belzer wins this particular award on Jan. 8?
President-plus

Jerry Seinfeld could probably provide his own powerful endorsement for a candidate if he was of a mind to do so. He has his own ideas about U.S. government. "Maybe I won't back anyone in our presidential race. What we should have is a panel of people; the idea of just one guy isn't particularly good because the world's too complicated."

http://svufiles.com/files/index.php?option...28&Itemid=2

i know he will win on jan 8

I just wanna know why they lied to us. I agree with munchkin25! munch brought the homicide fans over keep him on! I gaurentee that nbc will lose ratings if u take munch out permantly!! Don't lose him!! U got to have one crazy but loveable sweet and indifferent character!

He didn't win for Peoples Choice awards, but the scene from I guess the next new episode was very interesting. Some creature from another series got favorite scene stealing actor. I didn't like either of the other two. BUMMER!


SVU didn't make it for favorite Drama either. Rats.

That's how I feel.
I don't hate Lake, but my favorite character has always been Munch.

I miss Munch's obnoxiousness!

Thanks bubba for this information

oh man that's so sad, munch is a classic character and is so much better then beach!

We need more Munch and less Lake!! Face it John Munch is a classic !

Munch has been a great character since Homicide: Life on the Street (which was a great show in general) and it would be a shame to lose him.

Back then I remember thinking, Richard Belzer as a cop? Nah. I thought the same thing later about Ice-T. And then wouldn't you know it, not only did they both prove me wrong but they also ended up as partners on SVU. Go figure.

If they are phasing him out -- which would be a mistake IMO -- then they'd better come up with someone more interesting than Newjack. He's got all the personality of a shoe and that's not enough to fill the role.

LMAO! Couldn't have said it better myself.

I dont want to be down but we have just finished S5 over here in the UK so which season does he leave

Well, he hasn't exactly "left". It's just that so far in season 9, he has been in only a few episodes and he's not on there for very long when he is in an eppy.

Thanks DolphinPrincessBenson for the info it shows how much we are far behind you lol

Here's a petition I found to get John Munch back on the show!

Click here to sign it and post the link else where too!

Ready..... and sign!!!! Let's show Wolf and Baer we want our Munch back!!!

I know it's not official, but every little help counts.

Before I potentially go off the deep end, are we sure there isn't a good reason for his reduced appearance? Like, he's been sick, or wanted some time off or something?

Didn't I read somewhere that he was shocked at his reduced role? Did the writers do this or is this an executive decision? So far as I can tell, Lake isn't that much in the shows and I just don't "get" him. Maybe it's just me. I don't see that he's added anything to the show that we didn't already have. The man is a good actor, but he just doesn't "fit". As a recurring guest star, but not as a full member of the crew. Whatever they decided made him that great as a temporary wasn't given to him in the full role. IMHO

No reason was given. As far as I'm concern, Traci Galbraith talked to Belz himself while blogging her SVU recap and said that he was shocked at the sudden drop of episode the producers cut him from. He didn't understand why they did it. And also, he said he was hurt by the decision they made and grateful that his fans supported him. The producers and Neal Baer decline to comment further on the situation.

As of now, we still have no reason from the producers themselves as to why they decided to cut Munch out of the show, but I think it's like what Traci said. I smell Ageism is rampant in their deicision.

.

I am just guessing, but in order to keep everyone and stay under budget, he was dropped to a smaller role...not something he wanted, but something that was necessary to keep all actors on the show...

But they hired a new actor to be paired with Ice-T. Wouldn't that stretch the budget a bit more having a new actor starting out on the series than just keeping the original cast together and at their original positions?

And Adam Beach is a whole lot younger than Belz. But he doesn't have chemistry with Ice-T when they are partners. If it were a budget decision, Adam Beach wouldn't had been brought on to the cast. Maybe as a reoccurring guest star, but not as a cast member. IMHO, I think it would be less expensive that way.

You have enough money to hire a new actor, but not enough to keep everyone at their original positions without the newbie. It doesn't make sense. At least Belz is third-paid actor, if they go by the order in the opening credits which really counts for something in the biz. Could that have something to do with it?

Not Necessarily...Even if they hired a new actor, they could still be saving money by dropping the Belz's character to part time...he could be making less money than Belz would if he were full time...

I don't know... I still think the Ageism is more plausible than a budgeting problem with the actor salaries and such. I mean, TV has this nasty habit glamorizing reality. Look at how old Beach is. It would be different if they got someone in the same age range as Munch, but they got someone totally younger. Besides, hasn't something similar happened before? You could be a damn good actor, but because you're too old and perhaps a liability (break a bone, pulled something, or injured himself while doing something the wrong way on the set), they get rid of you for some younger face in hopes of bringing in new viewers to the show? SVU has never reached the 16 million mark since S6, always averaging 11-12 million viewers for the past few seasons.

Technically, his role wasn't dropped to a lower status. He still has the same status as he started out on S1, but they just cut his episodes. Baer said that he'd agreed to dropped to reoccuring character in an interview with TV Guide and Belz said he had no idea Baer did that. So Baer lied in order to keep the Munch fans hanging on to the show.

That is because season 6 had the last of the great episodes....from season 7 on sucked....but in a way you could be right...I know my uncle was asked to retire because he was too old, too white, and too male...but who really knows why they cut his role...same goes with the African American Atty. on CI...why did he leave...who knows why the producers and everyone do what they do

I think it's like a build up to a bigger event going to happen. From the way the producers and Baer have been acting, it's like they hope he gets fed up with his role being so small as it is and he retires from the frustration. It's like they don't wanna come out directly and ask him to retire because everyone seems to love him on the set and he's got a large fanbase too. It would be a major upset for the fans and they would probably lose a whole lot more viewers that way.

Law and Order has a reputation of changing cast members...mostly for the better...(ex. Jefferies for Fin..not including all the mothership cast changes)...I don't know, but I guess we will find out soon enough....

I don't know. After trying to fill in the shoes of Lenny Briscoe on the mothership, that's a task in itself cause there's no one else like him. Same with Munch. Getting rid of Munch for someone "better," ain't no one like Munch. And trying to find a replacement like Munch is like trying to find one for Lenny. They made the shows what they are and gave them that demension they needed. Why try to replace a character everyone likes and adores? I think at the time Jerry left LAO he was sick, so that's understandable, but Belz still looks pretty damn healthy to me.

Personally, I can relate to Munch more than Benson or Stabler combined! I think it's a suicide mission to do such a thing. Besides, it took Belz nearly twenty years to make it where he is today (he spent the 70s and 80s on the comic strip, watching all his friends rise in fame before he caught his break on HLOTS in the 90s), so let him enjoy it a bit more while he still has the health to do so and let it be on his own accord that he leaves, not someone trying to push him to go.

Besides, he's appearing on the French version of LAO: CI sometime soon. Read about it on another board I moderate. And he might actually speak French (makes sense since Belz goes there all the time and Munch took the course in high school and sounded pretty good - HLOTS: Kaddish S5). So while Benson and Stabler get dubbed over, we still (hopefully) get the authentic Munch speaking a different language.

Click here for the information and click here to read the article with information about this appearance.

Huh. Well in that case I'm going back to being offended by the way they're treating him. Munch is a great character and always has been, even before SVU.

I take it you've watched Homicide, AKA "The Best Damn Show on Television?"

i have never seen belzer from previous shows, but i say he should be given more scenes in each svu episode. he is so funny when he comes up with sarcasm.

I am with you...I have never seen Belzer anywhere but on SVU...I enjoy his sarcasm and miss his conspiracy theories.....

And Lenny Briscoe was probably the best character on any of the Law ans Order Shows...He made the mothership....God Rest his soul.....

Mahoney had it coming. How's that for an answer?

But God, his sister, Georgia Rae, she was something else. I loved it when in S6 Gee declared "war" on her and everyone got suit up (even taking out shot guns!) to take her out. Course, was it Junior Bunk (???), shot Ballard, Gharty (I never liked him too much though), and a unie, but I don't think he didn't make it though. She ended getting busted or killed, if I remember right. It's been a while.

LuvDenise and Irisheyes, you would've loved Munch on Homicide. So many things happened to Munch on that show, it's hilarious. He ran his own bar with two other detectives, had plenty of girlfriends (one occasion he slept with his date's girlfriend), went skiing in Vermont and ended up sleeping with somone (actually implied, but anything can happen after a nice glass of wine), and was just downright awesome in The Box! I know they air it noon on WGN, I think on certain weekdays, but I don't remember exactly which. For some reason, Thursday keeps coming to mind. They also have it on Sleuth channel, but you need digital or satellite to get the channel.

And yes, God bless Jerry Orbach/Lenny Briscoe. Vive le Briscoe!

Man, whatcha' do that for? Now I have to go buy the DVDs. I haven't seen it in years, either, but I do remember it being the best cop show I'd ever watched. Great characters, great writing... heck, even the camera work was exciting.

I blame you for the purchase I'm about to make.

Courtney Vance left CI (supposedly) because CI is filmed in New York and his wife just had twins in LA and he didn't want to commute. I think he asked to be let go so did Jamie Sheridan Captain Deakins because of the commute to NY. Ageism wasn't a factor in those.

I agree that they had no business cutting down Belzers role.

That isn't what I heard about Courtney Vance....I heard that he was sueing the show because they had no reason to let him go...(read on CI board)...

I'm sorry! '

That's what I read too, Irisheyes.

Hey I have a question about "John Munch" and thought this was probably the best thread to post in....

I was at the grocery store earlier and picked up the new Tv Guide (the one w/ the info about Liv's undercover prison gig) and was flipping through when I saw a pic of RB in the 'Cheers & Jeers' section. He got a "cheers" for playing the same character on 8 different shows and I want to know...When was he ever on The X-Files?!?!?!?!?!?! My God, I am like a super hardcore geek for that show, and for the life of me, I cannot remember ever seeing him on that show. I'm thinking that maybe it might have been from a really early season, when Mulder and Scully had to travel to Baltimore, but I just absolutely cannot remember. So, anyone know?

Also, was he on CI? I thought that CI and SVU haven't had any crossover eps. At least not yet. And if they did, well that sucks. I am bummed I missed it. Were Benson & Stabler part of it?

Thanks!!!!!

Hey I have a question about "John Munch" and thought this was probably the best thread to post in....

I was at the grocery store earlier and picked up the new Tv Guide (the one w/ the info about Liv's undercover prison gig) and was flipping through when I saw a pic of RB in the 'Cheers & Jeers' section. He got a "cheers" for playing the same character on 8 different shows and I want to know...When was he ever on The X-Files?!?!?!?!?!?! My God, I am like a super hardcore geek for that show, and for the life of me, I cannot remember ever seeing him on that show. I'm thinking that maybe it might have been from a really early season, when Mulder and Scully had to travel to Baltimore, but I just absolutely cannot remember. So, anyone know?

The title of the episode was the Unusual Suspects from the fifth season or 1997. The episode was about the forming of the Lone Gunmen.
---------------------------
Also, was he on CI? I thought that CI and SVU haven't had any crossover eps. At least not yet. And if they did, well that sucks. I am bummed I missed it. Were Benson & Stabler part of it?

CI is not on the list of shows with Munch. These are:
The Wire
L&O:SVU
Arrested Development
L&O:Trial by Jury
The Beat
Law & Order
Homicide :Life on the Street
The X Files

I forgot about L&O:Trial By Jury. I guess my real question was what episode of The X-Files was he on?

The eppy name is Unusual Suspects as Det. John Munch

Thank you!