The new arrivals to 'Law & Order: SVU' are getting some action on the job -- of the guns-blazing variety, naturally.

In this exclusive video preview of 'Russian Brides' (Wed., Nov. 9, 10PM ET on NBC), Kelli Giddish and Danny Pino talk about what it's like to draw their TV guns on a perp.

"For 'Russian Brides,' you get to see me shoot a dude," Giddish said. "We're at an outdoor cafe, we're hoping the bad guy shows up ... and he does and I get to shoot him. That was really fun in the midst of the rain and all that."

What, did you expect a TV cop to have any remorse for mowing down an extra in the line of duty? Watch the video below for more scoop from Giddish and Pino.

It's a rainy Friday afternoon in late September and I'm in The Crazy Horse Cabaret, a strip club in the Bronx. To my left is a man dressed like a bloody doctor, to my right is a taller gentleman dressed as a caveman.

We're not speaking, although it looks like we're deep in conversation. The doctor orders shots from the bartender. I'm handed a glass, but the clear liquid is not vodka; I'm doing a shot of water. Don't feel sorry for me though -- we're on set of the 'Law & Order: SVU' Halloween episode.


I got to experience the magic of TV firsthand as a background actor on the long-running NBC crime drama to get even more insight into how the show gets made, plus some time with the stars for one-on-one interviews.

Warren Leight is the new showrunner on 'Law & Order: SVU.' He wrote this blog post for us, in advance of tonight's Season 13 premiere, to help prepare fans for what's to come: the loss of Stabler, the introduction of two new SVU recruits and the change in Benson's attitude from confident to somewhat unsure.



After a 12-year run, Chris Meloni has chosen to leave the 'SVU' stages, which means Det. Elliot Stabler will be leaving the squad room.

All of his co-workers will feel the loss, but none more than Olivia Benson, his partner for that whole time. The SVU team will be adjusting to the end of that partnership for the first several episodes of the season.

'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' has already lost Christopher Meloni, and his fellow lead Mariska Hargitay's departure won't be far behind. But we've just learned that NBC has cast two new stars to take the lead.

The new recruits? Kelli Giddish, who starred as U.S. Marshal Annie Frost on last season's short-lived NBC drama 'Chase,' and Danny Pino, who was senior detective Scotty Valens on 'Cold Case' for seven seasons.

We're not yet sure when the two will first appear on the show, or whether or not they'll be acting as lead detectives or trainees, but expect more details soon.

For now, a few thoughts on the news from the head of NBC and 'L&O' bossman Dick Wolf ...

It's only been a month since Christopher Meloni stepped down from 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,' but producers are reportedly screen-testing his possible replacements in New York today.

Production on the upcoming Season 13 is due to get underway soon and, according to Deadline.com, 'SVU' creator/executive producer Dick Wolf and NBC have narrowed the field to a short list of five.

The actors, who have all doubtless just spent a sleepless night in the Big Apple rehearsing their lines, have been named as: Danny Pino ('Cold Case'), Kevin Alejandro ('True Blood,' 'Southland'), David Conrad ('Ghost Whisperer'), Michael Raymond-James ('Terriers') and Rhys Coiro ('Entourage').

Each one will test today with Meloni's co-star, Mariska Hargitay, who plays Det. Olivia Benson on the drama. Both Alejandro and Raymond-James recently guest-starred on 'SVU,' so could be feeling like they've got the edge.

This was the season finale the next-to-last episode Cold Case for the season, but next week could be the series finale. We'll find out at CBS' upfront presentation in a couple of weeks. But if it does serve as the series finale, at least you had the music of Pearl Jam to play it out! I always think it's weird when the show has a cold case from three or four years ago. That's not cold, that's slightly nippy. But I guess Nippy Case would have been an entirely different type of show.

Danny Pino, who plays Det. Scotty Valens on CBS' Cold Case, became a father this week. His wife, Lily, gave birth to the couple's first child on Wednesday.

They named their son Luca Daniel Pino. He was a healthy-sized baby, weighing 8 pounds, 3 ounces. A spokesperson for the new family says everyone is doing well.