Law & Order: Anthony Anderson Confirmed Not to Return for Season 22
Anthony Anderson’s encore as Law & Order‘s Det. Kevin Bernard has come to an expected end.
The actor will not be returning for Season 22, our sister site Deadline has confirmed. As TVLine previously reported in November 2021, Anderson had signed on for just one year of the NBC revival.
Bernard’s final appearance in the Season 21 finale (read our full recap here) found the NYPD cop working with his partner Frank (Jeffrey Donovan) to solve the murder of a fellow police officer. Both detectives enlisted SVU’s Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) to aid in their investigation.
Law & Order vet Sam Waterston, who also returned for the revival, as beloved DA Jack McCoy, similarly signed a one-year contract and has yet to renew.
The revival, which secured a Season 22 renewal earlier this month, also stars newcomers Hugh Dancy (Hannibal, The Path) as senior prosecutorial assistant Nathan Price, Oldelya Halevi (Good Trouble) as ADA Samantha Maroun and Camryn Manheim (The Practice) as Lt. Kate Dixon.
Showrunner Rick Eid previously opened up about his plans to do more with the series pending a renewal. “I’m excited about next season,” he told TVLine. “I think next year, we’ll get an opportunity to dig even deeper into the character stuff, which really excites me.”
Eid, who previously served as showrunner for SVU, Chicago P.D. and FBI, also alluded to additional cameos in Season 22, saying, “I’m sure next year you’ll see some.”
Does Anderson’s exit make you less likely to stay tuned to L&O?
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I do like Anthony Anderson I will miss him in the show.
Cosgrove will probably become the lead and will come out him and Bernard couldn’t work together anymore after their blow ups and Bernard switched departments or something
I like the boldness of Anthony Anderson character. . Even if the criminal needed to speak whether their race or background. He was willing to let things be known that this was the right or wrong way to handle a matter.Come back and stay on the show Anthony Anderson 💯
They balanced each other and I got they had different views but respected each other on a personal level. I thought it was a good off-setting pairing.
Anthony Anderson + Law and Order = Success!
I was reading where Anthony Anderson only signed for one season to support Dick Wolf. He was always going to leave after 1 season.
Damn …I knew he only signed on for 1 year but he was so excited about it getting renewed for an addition season a few weeks ago I was hoping that meant he chose to stay on for longer
Cancel this rendition of L&O. Bring Jeffrey Donovan back in a revived Burn Notice.
I think the show needs time to find it’s bearings.
or they could bring in Bruce Campbell to be his new partner on L&O
Or Gabrielle Anwar. 😎
Love this idea!
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Hi, I’m your new partner. Detective Chuck Finley.
LOL… love Bruce!
I was happy to see Jeffrey Donovan on the tv screen again, but oh man, I cringed with the lines that they wrote for him. The writing needs serious improvement.
ITA. Don’t like his character at all. Without Anderson’s input could’ve been even worse for Donovan’s character. Don’t like the 2 DA’s either.
“Other than that, it’s fine.” I’ve watched many of the original episodes multiple times, and most are still trenchant.
I watched the first episode of the new run, and it was enough.
Although I do like the Bruce Campbell/Gabrielle Anwar ideas.
SAME. I will not leave my house during holiday weekend marathons even though I’ve seen the old ones a thousand times. I get that it’s tricky rebooting with police violence issues, but taking out the one-liner at the beginning and trying to go overboard addressing those things rather than just focusing on the concept failed miserably. I couldn’t bring myself to watch any episodes after the first. I was SO excited for the reboot too
I concur 100%!!
That Darn DOG WHISTLE he used to get Anthony’s attention was definitely cringe worthy
YES! THIS!
I actively HATE his character!
Couldn’t stand him and his mama on To Tell the Truth either. I was afraid when they brought the series back it was going to be more of what we see everyday in real life.
Agree. His character is too much. Writers need to tone it down.
Too much what? Too black? The writers need to tone things down because of the ignorant and racist comments he responds to. If they weren’t there, he wouldn’t be responding in the way he does. I don’t know why they’re giving the partner and the lieutenant cringey and racist lines that reflect stupid internet comments more than they do real life, but thoselines are over-the-top bad. Anderson’s character is the one keeping things sane.
I agree. The writing is weird and creepy in a way no other show is, as far as I know. Donovan and Camrin Manheim both have cringey racist and/or ignorant lines that they don’t deserve to be stuck with. And do we really need to have silly grumbly complaints about “woke” on a grown-ass TV show?
No we don’t need or want them…Leave that crap for the bangers because who cares what they say to each other…
I hate when shows dont give a goodbye to a character and they just go mia between seasons,
Yes I know we were told before hand he just signed for 1 season, but still give him a proper goodbye so in last episode
That woman DA oh no! Too much of a milli toast. Agreed. Goodbyes should satisfy the viewer and make sense. I’ve loved L&O since Moriarity and Robinette!
YES!!! Watching them now on Sundance channel, WEtv, and BBCA (on differing days, but Sundance is still in like Season 1&2.. Logan is still on right now…)
BEST EPISODES EVER!!!
Reply to Zac . EXACTLY ‼️💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯.. Although I’m High key NOT pressed about A.A.’s character OR THE Actor himself Either. But I share your sentiment RE: Certain characters going M.I.A without being given aPROPER send off ,or Good-bye..bc I STILL Hella Salty about LISSETH CHAVEZ’s character (Det Vanessa Rojas) on C.P.D. After she was booted off the Show unexpectedly & Unceremoniously after Season 7‼️ SHE was A GOOD Streetsmart Cop, Was making a Niché for her character &Brand as a Dedicated law Official,and had the SMOKIEST 😁Craziest Chemistry with Fine@$$ DET ATWATER 💥💥💥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 .THEY LIT UP my Screen every Week. He was Low key starting to Fall for Her. And she was starting to feel Him Too.
Dick WOLF BRING LISSETH BACK‼️ THERANS Haven’t forgotten HOW YALL JUST LET HER GO A w/O a REAL EXPLAINATION‼️
Absolutely- Lisseth Chavez is one of very few young actors who display great talent. Although I haven’t seen her in many productions, she played her character 100% better than could be expected. Chicago PD’s
loss for a different & exciting storyline!
No, not less likely to watch. But, it’s a shame anyway. Leave door open for his return. He may realize the error of his ways.
Given that he was the primary reason why I didn’t watch the revival, this is some unexpectedly pleasant news.
Still holding out hope that this means a return of detective Ed Green!
Only way I’ll watch new season is w/ Det. Greene or B. Bratt comes back. Don’t like Donovan in the role at all nor the 2 DA’s. Like Sam and Camryn but they’ve been treated more like walk-ons for the time they get on the show.
Green can’t return. He was arrested on the show and written out
Green was arrested, charged, indicted and charges dropped. He was able to come back to the force but he chose to leave because he said he broke the rule book. So it was left open for him to return in the future if he chose to. Google it, Martin said he would be open to reviving his character if asked. He left L&O to go on Broadway.
This! I agree wholeheartedly. Detective Green, Briscoe and Logan were my faves.
YES!! MINE TOO!! Oh, and Jack McCoy, too! 😉
… and, Adam Schaffer and all his little expressions when the lawyers would do something wrong or crazy! LOVED THEM ALL!!! 🥰
He was the main reason I watched. Don’t care for Camryn or Hugh.
Loved him when he was originally on back in the day. I absolutely hated Anderson in this revival. It’s as if he is playing two totally different guys. I’m glad to see him go.
👍👍👍
I’m glad he’s leaving. I never liked the character.
I hope they tone down the anger on that show, so with him going, they can lighten it up with a new character. That same anger factor turned us off to Chicago Justice. Be intense, but relax guys. Dollars to donuts, the new Det. will be a woman.
I couldn’t agree more, very angry environment. They need to do a whole new cast because 80% of cast were either angry or terrible. Was very disappointed in this remake. Need to add some human emotions and bo ds and get rid of cold robot characters.
Doesn’t really make a difference, I will still watch Season 2. If I don’t like it after a few episodes, then I won’t watch it. Have to give it a chance !!
I hadn’t watched much of the original Law and Order, I got hooked at the start of SVU. I’m a fan of Jeffrey Donavon from Burn Notice and loved Camryn and Sam from a number of shows so I gave it a try. I thought the writing was pretty bad. Probably won’t watch next season unless I hear really good things.
I wish mr.Anderson would stay on I really like him as a actor and that’s one of the reasons I watch the show I’m a law and order fan all around I watch al three like clockwork please mr.Anderson stay
I hope they keep Jeffrey Donavan, Sam Watterson, Odelya Halevi, Hugh Dancy and Cameron Manheim, bassicaly the core actors in this revival. I have been a fan of Law and Order for years and I think this latest revival is great. Could they bring back Chris Noth to reprise his character Mike Logan? I think this would be a good move to link this great sereies with its historic past and greatness.
Guess you don’t know about Chris Noth & the sexual assualt accusations? He won’t be on Law & Order again.
Accusations, not convictions – so far. Never say never.
He was dropped from his agency & killed off of The Equalizer immediately, & if his character wouldn’t have already been written to pass away on the SATC reboot, they would have written him out, as well…L&O won’t touch him with a ten foot pole.
Just keep Chris off a Peloton.
And women.
🤣
I agree bring back Chris! Allegations not convictions!
When your colleagues of 25 years don’t support you publicly, you’re in “Big” trouble…pun intended. 😜
They need to bring back Ed Green, Rey Curtis, and Abbie Carmichael (or some combination thereof)
Without Anderson, plus Waterson’s and Manheim’s miniscule roles, and not liking Donovan in his role nor the 2 DA’s — I’ll pass on viewing the reboot next season and watch “Young Sheldon.” Only way I’ll watch now is if they bring back B. Bratt or Detective Greene.
I am so sorry to see this. Anthony Edwards was one of only reasons I still watched! Loved Jeffere in Burn notice but his character here is cringe worthy.
Also same for Camron, writing just very disappointing. I ca nnot warm up to Hugh charactet what so ever & his assistant DA started out great but went down hill.
Cindy, I’m glad you watched L & O but the correct name for the actor that’s leaving and you’re going to miss is Anthony Anderson, not Anthony Edwards. Anthony Edwards was the White actor that played Dr. Mark Greene on the show ER maybe 15-20 years ago.
Anthony Edwards is Dr. Greene from ER. You mean you like Anthony Anderson. 😀
I hope Jesse L. Martin returns to L&O and be Cosgrove’s partner.
Me too. 😀
Jesse L. Martin’s been cast in another series, so it’s doubtful he’ll come back.
Lay off the political crap! Just a good homicide or kidnapping. Have these writers even watched the previous 20 seasons? I watch TV to get away from the things on the news not to see it hashed out on tv shows.
Kari, have you even watched the previous 20 seasons? It will always be “ripped from the headlines.”
It seems to me that they used to take a story ripped from the headlines and put their riff on it to create an intriguing plot line. Nowadays it seems they often take a news story and write a script around it purely to drive home a political viewpoint.
Anderson has added a lot to the show. Guess there’s another show that I won’t watch.
This L&O reboot has been a mess it rates low too. NBC really needs to just cancel it after next season and do a different L&O spin-off or put a 4th Chicago show there.
No, sorry to see him go, but I’m glad the show came back. I plan to continue to watch it.
Awe sad I love Detective Barnard
I hate Anothy Anderson is leaving. I liked him on the original, but this character he is playing now is not the same. I’m really hoping they will bring back Green or Pratt. So far I haven’t been able to get into the new show. I really don’t like the Prosecutor. He is really creepy.
The show is bigger than any actor, I’ve watched every single Law & Order ever broadcast in English, including the UK one which I loved (originally being from England myself), was eagerly awaiting Law & Order: Cape Town which was announced in 2012 but for some reason it never progressed.
I’ve watched every episode, every spinoff, loved them all, fair to say I’m a bit of a Dick Wolf fan as also really love Chicago PD/Fire and the FBIs.