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There's going to be a new authority figure in the Law & Order: SVU squad room this season.
Broadway actor Andy Karl, who has appeared in Jersey Boys and earned a Tony nomination for his headlining role in Rocky the Musical, will guest-star as Sgt. Mike Dodds, the son of Deputy Chief William Dodds (guest star Peter Gallagher). He will serve as No. 2 to acting commander Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay).
So, what does that mean for Finn (Ice T), Rollins (Kelli Giddish) and Carisi (Peter Scanavino)? Leaving aside the obvious nepotism of Dodds' son getting the job, the squad will have trouble taking orders from the new guy.
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"Finn has evidenced no desire to move up, Rollins still hasn't earned the trust of Benson, and Carisi just got there," executive producer Warren Leight tells TVGuide.com "It doesn't look like someone is going to pick up the slack, which mean these three detectives will have to have a new boss who doesn't know anything about the job they do. Finn has been there 17 years and will deal with someone who just got there giving him orders.. It'll be interesting watching the squad adapt or not adapt."
Karl, whose other Broadway credits include Wicked, Legally Blonde and Saturday Night Fever, will make his first appearance in an October episode.
Law & Order: SVU's two-hour Season 17 opener premieres Wednesday at 9/8c on NBC.