WINTER 2014: NBC PLANNING 'CHICAGO P.D./LAW & ORDER: SVU' CROSSOVER EVENT

NBC isn't wasting any time in using a veteran TV show to boost one of its new midseason dramas.

The network has a crossover event planned for newbie Chicago P.D. and stable powerhouse Law & Order: SVU. Sophia Bush's Detective Erin Lindsay will appear on the February 26 episode of SVU to share a scene with Mariska Hargitay's Sgt. Olivia Benson. Following that appearance, Ice-T and Kelli Giddish (as Detectives Tutuola and Rollins) head over to Chicago P.D. for a visit.

No details have surfaced yet on what case will unite these two burgs. Both shows are produced by Dick Wolf, so expect some good storytelling and consistency.

WINTER 2014: ORIGINAL CAST MEMBER DANN FLOREK EXITING 'LAW & ORDER: SVU'

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is about to lose another veteran this season.

Dann Florek, who has portrayed Captain Donald Cragen since the show's inception 15 years ago, as well as six seasons on the flagship Law & Order show, announced he is leaving the procedural drama. The revelation occurred Monday via Twitter with Florek confirming the taping of his last scenes last Friday. No details were given regarding Capt. Cragen's final episode but it is scheduled to air in January on NBC.

Earlier this year, veteran Law & Order actor Richard Belzar became a recurring player after his character, Sgt. John Munch, retired.

FALL 2013: 'LAW & ORDER'S ADA CONNIE RUBIROSA HEADING TO 'L&O: SVU'

Fans of the Law & Order-verse will soon see a familiar face pop up on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Alana de la Garza will be reprising her role as Connie Rubirosa for a guest run on SVU. She first appeared on the original Law & Order in 2006 as an Assistant District Attorney (ADA). She remained on the show until its cancellation in May 2010, lasting for four complete seasons. In September 2010, Connie was transplanted to the short-lived Law & Order: LA as a series regular with a new role, Deputy District Attorney.

Apparently during the two-year gap from LA's cancellation to the present day, Connie returned to New York as a federal prosecutor and is now leading a joint task force on underage sex trafficking.

No official date or episode has been given for de la Garza's return.

FALL 2013: AFTER 21 SEASONS, RICHARD BELZER RETIRES JOHN MUNCH; DEPARTING 'LAW & ORDER: SVU'

Well nothing lasts forever...even on television. After 21 seasons on TV, Sgt. John Munch will be turning in his badge.

On Wednesday night's episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, it was revealed that Munch will be submitting his retirement paperwork along with his badge. The character will become recurring as actor Richard Belzer has decided to depart the long-running procedural drama. The move isn't too much of a surprise as Munch's role has diminished on the show in the past couple of years. The show is currently airing its 15th season and Munch has been a staple from its beginning back in 1999 when he was a senior detective.

Prior to joining Law & Order: SVU, Detective John Munch was a central character on Homicide: Life on the Street for all seven seasons. The police procedural centered on a Baltimore Police Department's homicide unit. Though Belzer's acting was still green during his run on Homicide, the show became critically acclaimed for its grittiness and ever-increasing portrayals of African-Americans on primetime television. Homicide had numerous cross-over episodes with the original Law & Order thanks to both being on NBC. John Munch became known in the Law & Order universe thanks to these cross-overs.

When Homicide ended its run in May 1999, Detective Munch retired from the Baltimore PD, taken his pension, and moved to New York to join a sex crimes investigation unit. By the fall of 1999, he was part of SVU.

Aside from the shared universe by the two crime dramas, John Munch has also appeared in numerous other TV shows as either a guest or cameo. He appeared in an episode of HBO's The Wire, which was also set in Baltimore. During the fifth season of The X-Files, Munch made a cameo in the episode "Unusual Suspects" where he was based out of a Baltimore police department. After relocating to New York City, Munch made an appearance on UPN's short-lived one-season wonder The Beat, which focused on the day-to-day occurrences of NYPD officers. Other shows that Detective, and later Sergeant, John Munch appeared in were Law & Order: Trial by Jury, Arrested Development, 30 Rock, and Jimmy Kimmel Live! It is interesting to note that the character crossed genres by appearing in several comedies.

Richard Belzer made television history with John Munch. The character has appeared in more television series than any other fictional character, and has also beaten the record for longest running character with 21 seasons. The record was previously held by Kelsey Grammer's Frasier Crane and James Arness' Marshal Matt Dillon.

It is speculated that Sgt. Munch's last episode of Law & Order: SVU will air on October 16.

FALL 2013: COMING TO TV TONIGHT (9/25)!

Tonight sees the return of ABC's comedies, CBS' dramas, and NBC tries out a different schedule.

New & Returning Premieres

The Middle kicks off its fifth season tonight and sees young Axl Heck heading to college. The entire Heck family tags along to help the oldest son move into his college dorm. Only antics and craziness could occur when the Hecks go out in public, right? 8 pm on ABC.

Revolution picks up where it left viewers this past spring. The repercussions of turning the lights back on will be explored and the world that we knew in season one will drastically change. Allegiances and attitudes change within the core cast. NBC is apparently taking a risk and putting sophmore drama Revolution to the test with this new time slot. It will certainly face an uphill battle against ABC's comedy hour and the reality shows on FOX and CBS. Will you be tuning in? 8pm on NBC.

Back in the Game has gained the coveted time slot between The Middle and Modern Family but that isn't necessarily a good thing. The comedy will have a lot to prove to maintain the ratings between the two veteran comedies, and unfortunately first previews have been mixed. Single mom Terry and son move in with her former pro-baseball player father. After her son and a group of unworthy kids aren't considered for a little league baseball team, Terry decides to form her own team a la Bad News Bears. The jury is still out if this old formula will work this time. Surefire it's not. 8:30 pm on ABC.

Modern Family starts off its fifth season with an hour-long episode. The Pritchetts and Dunphys enjoy the final days of summer, and the families deal with Manny and Luke entering their first year of high school. Oh and Cam is teaching again. That should be a riot. 9 pm on ABC.

The 15th season of Law & Order: SVU kicks off with an amazing two-hour premiere. (15 years already, really now?). NBC has spent the latter half of the summer promoting the #SaveBenson campaign. Benson remains missing and held captive. Will the other detectives find her in time? Also, a basement full of kidnapping victims is found thus activating a bunch of cold cases. Hmmm, this sounds recently straight from the headlines. 9 pm on NBC.

Criminal Minds begins its ninth season on the hunt for a killer in Arizona. The season premiere is a two-parter so be prepared for the cliffhanger and tune in next week for the resolution. 9 pm on CBS.

The second season of Nashville focuses on the repercussions after the season ending car crash last May, which was fueled by the revelation that Deacon is Maddie's biological father. Flashforward post-accident: Rayna is in a coma while Deacon is in jail waiting for his sentence. Maddie, however, makes the ultimate mistake and confides the whole drama to the wrong person. Any guesses? 10 pm on ABC.

Season 14 of CSI finds Morgan and Ellie kidnapped by a ritualistic killer. Can D.B. Russell and team find and save them in time? 10 pm on CBS.

Also on Tonight

Survivor: Blood vs. Water and The X-Factor go head-to-head with new episodes, meanwhile South Park returns to Comedy Central for a 17th season.