I hate the way they Wrote out Munch in SVU

Submitted by FreshmenMan t3_110pdy2 in television

John Munch was a character was Originally on Homicide: Life On The Street, then after the show ended, Munch went on Special Victims Unit.

I always thought Munch was one of the best characters on SVU and his insight and partnership with Fin Tutuola were just golden. Then starting Season 9, Munch's role was diminished and only appear for half a season to both Belzer and the audience's confusion. still Belzer stayed on until out of the blue, he was retired in the 5th episode of Season 15.

I've heard multiple reasons as to why Munch's role diminished, Belzer not wanting to rock the boat or the fact that Munch is an expensive character and that David Simon gets a paycheck every time Munch appear on Screen. It also saddens me that he was let go very early in Season 15, with only an explanation that it was due to Mandatory retirement that was announce when Dann Florek announce his departure.

I found this article that was publish near the end of season 14, was renewed for season 15.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/law-and-order-svu-season-15_n_3314321

"I'd be a fool to say I didn't want to do it anymore and I'm certainly not bored with the character because the writing is so good," Belzer told The Huffington Post. "He's very close to how I would be if I were in that situation, so it's a dream."

Belzer really doesn't indicate that he wanted to retire John Munch. It really just adds to the confusion to me.

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Comments

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-kOdAbAr- t1_j8aj4rp wrote

I think munch also still holds the record for playing the same character on different TV shows. The only one I can think of right now is X-Files

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DMPunk t1_j8am2zf wrote

Homicide: Life on the Street

Law & Order SVU

Law & Order

X-Files

Arrested Development

Sesame Street

The Wire

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[deleted] t1_j8au8e7 wrote

[deleted]

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DMPunk t1_j8b7obm wrote

Well these are appearances of Munch as an in-universe person, not just Munch generally.

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-kOdAbAr- t1_j8beb1p wrote

Ok, so I googled it. 18 different shows, including a Muppet version, and one voice acting credit on American dad.

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shewy92 t1_j8dkedz wrote

All part of the Tommy Westphall Universe

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mrhelmand t1_j8coe3m wrote

He also gets namechecked in an episode of Luther (wonder if anyone showed Luther a picture of Stringer Bell)

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DrRexMorman t1_j8dqx39 wrote

He was (also) on:

30 Rock

American dad

Arrested development

The Beat

the Simpsons

Unbreakable Kimmy Smidt

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Pvt_Wierzbowski t1_j8anrso wrote

At least he got an ending. He could have been shipped off to Mandyville without an explanation.

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tagen t1_j8b98tc wrote

Definitely my favorite character on the show, he’s a natural comedian who can really play the dramatic and tear-jerking bits too

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SamuraiJackBauer t1_j8baqy9 wrote

I wish we had Homicide on streaming.

I Videotaped all of it back in the day.

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MackinawCity2000 t1_j8c6bl9 wrote

IIRC, Belzer had terrible auditions for L&O. So bad that Belzer himself didn’t want to do the show.

But the producers loved him and believed in him and pushed him to take the role. I think it’s cool that he had that much longevity after bombing so hard from the start.

ETA: "Barry Levinson, executive director of Homicide, said Belzer was a "lousy actor" during his audition when he first read lines from the script for "Gone for Goode", the first episode in the series. Levinson asked Belzer to take some time to reread and practice the material, then come back and read it again. During his second reading, Levinson said Belzer was "still terrible", but that the actor eventually found confidence in his performance."

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SuspendedInKarmaMama t1_j8b7rjd wrote

Around the time there were reports about Belzer's age becoming really apparent with his mind. That he had trouble acting and remembering lines.

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Ashmeadow t1_j8bwvwk wrote

If it helps, Belzer is a pos conspiracy theorist who has been in Alex Jones show.

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JoshFlashGordon10 t1_j8dg6y4 wrote

David Lynch was a guest on Infowars but that didn’t stop me from watching the last season of Twin Peaks.

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rocketsauce2112 t1_j8d7btj wrote

> "George Burns was right. Show business is a hideous bitch goddess." -- Bart Simpson

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rvonbue t1_j8ntakr wrote

Watching this show rots your brain.

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