Conference call highlights:

Wolf and Anderson on the easy transition from Jesse L. Martin to Anthony Andrews:

WOLF: It was really kismet. I don’t think that there was a plan that we were going to do the overlap. But when Jesse requested to leave, and this was something we were discussing after by about the last six or seven months, he had made it very clear a year ago that he was feeling kind of burned out and he was going into his ninth season and he would like the option of leaving. I don’t feel that, especially when people do the type of work that Jesse has done, you keep them under a ball and chain, even though we had a deal with him this year. I said, "Look, you know, let’s do this in a timely intelligent basis." Then the strike came along and it put things even more into perspective for him. So when we knew he was going to leave, we decided let’s do it this season because it would be an opportunity to do something we haven’t done before. Rene came up with I think a fantastic story for this episode. It’s very compelling and it seemed like a natural thing to do. I don’t think we’re going to try to duplicate it in the future. Most of the transitions have either been a mention or walk in and this was just an opportunity after nineteen years to do something differently.

ANDERSON: First and foremost I’d like to say it was all organic how it all came together. From my meeting with Dick during the strike when he asked me to come on board to stepping on the sound stage here in Chelsea Piers. My first day of work, I stepped into a well oiled machine and they were so welcoming and open to me. it was just [like] we were family. And very seldom does one get to join a cast that way. Everybody was at peace with the decisions that have been made and Jesse handed this off to me and I’m taking it and I’m gonna run with it.

Anthony Anderson on his character:

"He starts out in Internal Affairs, where he did not volunteer for the job. He was recruited straight out of the academy, so it’s not like he’s a turncoat who wanted to police the police. His dream was to become a homicide detective, but he has to serve two years in IAB before that can happen. He’s straightforward. You might think he’s a by-the-book guy because he comes from Internal Affairs, but he knows how to get around certain things without cutting too many corners to get the job done."

Anderson on whether he had reservations about joining a workplace show as compared to a character driven drama:

"No reservations at all. You know, this show is going to go down in history. I don’t know about you, but in my life and my circle of friends, we all want to make and be a part of history. So when I got the call from Dick Wolf to come on , I jumped at the opportunity because of the history the show has made and the history that the show will continue to make and join a long list of some of the most talented people who have worked and are working in our industry. So to be mentioned in the same breath as the longest running show in television history, which I’m very confident the show will become, it’s definitely a feather in my cap. There was no trepidation or second guessing on my part whatsoever."

Dick Wolf on taking Law & Order to the big screen:

"It’s been suggested numerous times over the years. But I’m one of these - this may sound strange - I’m really happy being a TV guy I think and I hope I don’t live to regret the words. I mean, feature films are always fun. I would not know in a sense where to begin in terms of who I would want in the feature. For better or worse, I have over two dozen incredible actors on the show and which iteration do you take? Do you have Sam come back as the prosecutor? There are so many questions that are begged by the very concept of a feature, I’d just rather go for forty years."