USA Sets April 19 Return for Criminal Intent, In Plain Sight

USA Network declares that "it is reclaiming Sunday nights" by pairing the venerable Law & Order: Criminal Intent with the fresher-faced In Plain Sight, starting April 19.

Season 8 of Criminal Intent will air Sundays at 9 pm/ET, followed by Season 2 of In Plain Sight (starring Mary McCormack as a U.S. Marshal working in the specialized branch of the witness protection program).

Criminal Intent, which this season replaces Chris Noth with Jeff Goldblum, was initially scheduled to debut in November 2008, just three months after Season 7 wrapped. In October, the cabler announced the series would instead return in early 2009, presumably so that all 16 episodes could air in a row. But come late January, USA further shuttled CI to "summer 2009." (Technically, April 19 qualifies as "spring.")

Not nearly as much drama has surrounded the return date for In Plain Sight, which last year was cable's No.1 new original series in two key demos.