Law & Order has never been about the glitz or big names, it’s always been about the story, the case, the moral grey area. But even in a show that thrives on consistency, behind-the-scenes shake-ups happen. According to Dick Wolf, one original cast member almost stayed on… if not for a jaw-dropping pay raise that NBC simply couldn’t justify.

The number was reportedly so massive, it would’ve set a precedent that network execs weren’t ready for. So, instead of rewriting the budget, the show moved on, proving once again that no one is bigger than the brand.

NBC couldn’t afford Chris Noth’s “huge” Law & Order raise

Chris Noth’s days as Detective Mike Logan on Law & Order came to a sudden halt not because of on-set drama, but because NBC couldn’t match his worth.

Dick Wolf | Image by Angela George, licensed under Cc By-sa 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.