Vincent D'Onofrio is Back as Detective Bobby Goren

The powers that be at Law and Order: Criminal Intent, have heard our prayers and the news is that our favorite Law and Order detective, Bobby Goren, played by Vincent D'Onofrio, will return for one final season.

Jeff Goldblum who played Detective Zach Nichols throughout the 9th season is leaving. The USA Network has announced that talks are underway to bring back Kathryn Erbe as Goren's partner, Alexandra Eames.

The last time we saw Goren and Eames, in the Season 9 two part premiere, "Loyalty." Captain Ross (Eric Bogosian) was murdered when he was made in an FBI undercover operation. Eames was supposed to be made new captain and her first assignment was to fire Bobby Goren! After a gut-wrenching meeting with Goren, Eames decided she could not go on and quit.

So obviously, bringing Bobby Goren back will involve unfiring him. Just about all the characters from Bobby Goren plotlines are now dead: his mother, Frances, died after being unable to confirm one way or another whether serial killer Mark Ford Brady was Bobby's father and Brady was executed. DNA evidence later confirmed that Brady was indeed Goren's father. His brother, Frank, was killed by Bobby's nemesis, Nicole Wallace, and Nicole, in turn, was killed by Declan Gage, Bobby's mentor.

Now there's just Donny Carson, his brother Frank's son. Goren also has a great-aunt named Connie and a niece whose name we don't know. He referred to these relatives in the episode "Faithfully," from the 8th season. They live in the mid-West.

"Only time will tell if this is a fond farewell or a renaissance for Detective Robert Goren," said executive producer Dick Wolf, "but everyone is ecstatic about going back to work on a show that's a passion for all of us."

Ha! Last year, Dick Wolf was singing an entirely different tune: "I'm a firm believer that the Law & Order audience, in a sense looks forward to these casting changes."

There were a bunch of comments on my article, Coming Soon: Law and Order: CI Without Detective Goren, reporting the departure of the much loved detective, saying without Vincent D'Onofrio, they would never watch L&O: CI again.

Guess the hue and cry over Goren and Eames, and the flagging ratings, changed his mind.

A diligent search of what they are paying Vincent D'Onofrio to return turned up nothing so far, but if I find out, you'll be the next to know.

Sources:
(9/25/09)
Law & Order: Criminal Intent Loyalists Unleash Deadly Fluffalanche (10/9/09)
USA Network