Chicago P.D. Casts Nicole Ari Parker for Season 8 Police Reform Storyline
Chicago P.D. is exploring a timely subject matter with its newest addition: Nicole Ari Parker (Empire) will recur during Season 8 of the NBC drama as Deputy Superintendent Samantha Miller, TVLine has confirmed.
Originally from Atlanta, the deputy superintendent is “a progressive, ardent proponent of police reform,” per the official character description. “She wants to help Voight and Intelligence adapt to the new reality, but will not tolerate breaches of the new police guidelines and protocols.” The character will make her debut in the season premiere.
Parker’s casting comes after the news that Lisseth Chavez, who played rookie Intelligence officer Vanessa Rojas, will not return for Season 8. (The actress has landed a new full-time gig on The CW’s Legends of Tomorrow.) Elsewhere in the world of #OneChicago, Fire‘s Daniel Kyri (aka firefighter Ritter) was promoted to series regular for Season 9, while his co-star Annie Ilonzeh (paramedic Emily Foster) will not be back.
In addition to her most recent role on Empire, Parker is also known for her five-season run on Showtime’s Soul Food. Her other TV credits include Time After Time, Rosewood, Murder in the First and Revolution.
P.D.‘s seventh season was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic, with Episode 20 serving as the unintentional finale. The show is slated to return for Season 8 on Wednesday, Nov. 11, once again airing at 10/9c on NBC after Chicago Med and Chicago Fire.
#OneChicago fans, hit the comments with your thoughts on P.D.‘s new addition!
Well, CPD is the show with the biggest problem in showing cop violence. We’ve been way past the point where it was tolerable.
I just hope they don’t make her character some sort of villain (considering they’ve always made people who want police reform some kind of villains). It should really improve this show.
Sorry Lucas if you believe that you should not be watching PD. They literally deal with the scum of the earth and I have no problem treating them like the monsters they are. They are great cops especially Hank Voight!
Love Hank he’s the best please don’t replace him I can’t imagine the show without him
Except with PD it’s part of the point of the show. So it will make it very interesting how they get along. Though Voight has been leaning more towards being a better person-since Hayley went rogue.
I actually want to see some accountability this season with this show. All of the officers have been corrupted by Voight. They don’t even see their actions as questionable anymore. Unfortunately the lack of accountability is mirrored in the real life CPD.
I’m of two minds as to accountability. As much as I want them reflecting on their actions and being held accountable for them, I also wonder if their being held accountable in a fictional world would make it easier for accountability in the real world to be ignored – maybe the show shouldn’t be holding them accountable so as to better reflect the reality instead of hiding it. Maybe they should only change the implication that their actions are somehow justified – don’t hold them accountable, but also make it clear on screen that they should have been – reflect the reality.
So, Olinsky going to jail and sying in prison isn’t being held accountable for his actions even though the circumstances surrounding his imprisonment is suspect? What about when Voight reamed out Uptown for her tactics with a suspect when he said he didn’t want her turning into him? What about Burgess losing her unborn child following her fighting a suspect and saving a girls life. This show has nuances that are subtle and deep and carries other implications with the men and women of this show.
Of all the cop shows currently running, Chicago PD has never been shy about painting its officers as flawed in many ways: impulsive, corrupt, violent, biased, and certainly with a disdain for protocol. As much as they nod to the mistakes and wrongdoing of the team, though, their actions are usually painted in a sympathetic light.
In general, the message has been that justice outweighs the letter of the law, so it will be interesting to see how they react to this new shift in the national discourse (both the specific characters and the message of the show as a whole).
Traditionally, every authority figure who comes in on this show has been an antagonist, but the writers will have to tread carefully with this one, in order to strike the right tone.
Nice!!
I just started watching Chicago Fire in reruns. Given how Voight is introduced, he seems utterly irredeemable and I can’t really see why I would want to watch a show about an unrepentant dirty cop, or why they wanted to make one.
The Voight introduced in Fire is different from today’s Voight. He has evolved. With PD, we got a much better understanding of what makes him tick. I don’t condone everything he does but I understand a lot of his decisions.
He’s not a dirty cop apparently you didn’t pay attention….he exposes dirty
Cops why don’t you watch everything
Before commenting….SMH
He absolutely is a dirty cop. Him exposing others doesn’t change that he himself is one.
Voight is not “dirty”… U should watch more of CPD itself to get a more well rounded viewpoint. I like to learn lessons in life by watching others (I’m disabled)so it’s nice look at TV with an open mind, discarding any preconceived ideas. You’d be surprised at how much more enjoyable TV is when you actually FEEL what the show is telling you!
Well Voight is a complicated person. It’s part of the show though. He comes in from being in prison. He goes about things in a not so shiny light. But again it is the point of the show. Unless you want all shows to only show pristine cops, doing good deeds-even though that’s not reality??
I wish people would lighten up. Chicago PD is a television show. It is not reality. It isn’t even a reality tv show. If a cop is influenced by what he/she may see on Chicago PD then shame on him and shame on his department for hiring him/her. I know that this might not be a popular point of view and I apologize if anyone is offended. It’s just my opinion.
I agree, ratings will plummet. If i want political correctness I would watch CNN
This has nothing to do with politics shove yourself opinion up your ass or don’t watch Steve
No….you pc robots shove your opinions
iup your self righteous butts and stay the F away from those who enjoy the show.
I was talking to the other person black Tracy I like the show
I agree with you! It’s DRAMA people! It’s TV! It’s not going to be realistic all the time. Even reality TV shows are not reality. It’s all hyped up to increase, what? THE DRAMA!
I agree. Chicago PD is only a drama show and not a real like show. I like drama shows. This show is no worse than some of the video games kids play on x-boxes n the like.
I know that’s right! Thank you
Ojalá que regrese Lizeth Chávez, me encanta como detective, ojalá que Voight siga siempre en la serie, Atwater y Ruzek son increíbles!!!
I love Chicago PD. I love Voight and the crew. Not sorry the newest actress is gone. I know they will have to alter it abit but let’s not revamp the whole show.
Haley will return in s8 lol she was temporarily gone
No one mentioned Hailey. Vanessa is the newest character. She’s leaving.
Legend was just adding an “aside” note and not saying that Haley was the newest! And TY Legend bc I was wondering if Haley was coming back S8! She’s my fav beside Erin Lol
When her character caused Darius to be killed I haven’t like Haileys character since.. I thought Darius would have been a good character addition to the show.
Darius was just a guest character that wasn’t going to be around long Sandra
police reform is good in a way depending on what is done but do not take the power away from our police they are there to help us
I sure hope the writers don’t take on “the progressive” story line! I know many fans watch PD for Voight and his crew “ getting the job done”! If PD is shackled by a progressive story line, I’m out!
Heres hoping they wont go too “P.C.”
You break the law, you pay the price. Its just a TV show, however
Voight always does what needs to be done to take out the trash while protecting his team, and yes sometimes it gets a little “rough”….so be it!!!
Chicago PD is a good drama show. It has good actors and actresses on it. That is another reason why I like watching it. But then Chicago is a rough city.
😅😂🤣
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“You break the law, you pay the price.”
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Unless you’re the cops on the show breaking the law on a consistent basis. The law doesn’t care about your intentions (most of the time).
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☎️🎶
📞
“Hello Hypocrisy? Yeah, one of your sheep wandered away from the flock again. Can you come get it? No, it’s fine. I distracted it with a bag of Cheetos and put on Tantrum Tucker to keep ’em busy.”
☎️
🙄
Love, love, love Nicole Ari Parker! This should be interesting to see her in this type of role! I wish her all the best, she’s a beauty and a wonderful actress! Sorry to see the other 2 ladies leave, I forgot their names, but one is from PD and the other actress is from Fire. They were both great actresses!
It’s going to be very interesting to see how Hank has to change his way of doing business on GPD And please no more story lines about Adam and Kim he goes from one bed to another
Cant wait to see the new episode I have watch all the reruns but happy 😃 Love Voight & his crew
When are they going to finally promote Voight?? Look at Olivia Benson from SVU.. she is already a Captain while Vought is still a Sergeant.
Olivia benson is a lieutenant not a captain.
actually she is captain
she got promoted when donald left
Wow! I love to watch Chicago PD. I am a big fan. I can’t wait for season 8 to start. I watch the reruns over and over. I wish I can be a stand-in in the show or watch a casting. Its just entertainment to me. It’s no different than any other show that’s on television or played at the movie theater. Hurray for Chicago PD, Voight, Burgess, Ruszek, Atwater, Halsted, Platt & the rest of the crew!!!
Again? We’ve already done this on this show, it lasted a couple of weeks & then it was business as usual.
This show really needs fresh eyes & a fresh showrunner.
This is totally unrelated to her role on the show, though it sounds extremely fascinating, and will probably offend a bunch of people because 2020, but I’ve always thought Nicole Ari Parker has such beautiful eyes. I remember being an itty bitty J. B. and seeing her for the first time in “The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love” (a great film btw) and being memorized. I think the last thing I saw her in was the very short lived show “The Deep End”. Though I watched a season and a half of “Revolution” I can’t recall her character.
There is a reason why the show has lasted 7 seasons and got renewed for an additional 3, the major majority of viewers like Voight. Changing up a tv show to make political social points never works well.
Great show I just hate change but killed off very popular characters still morning al Oriskany as for Lindsay end that story line the door is open for her to come back but she won’t. Looking forward to this season coming up.
I Love Chicago PD and excited for the retu.
I think it will be great cannot wait for the new season . Love these show great actors.
If any of the Dick Wolf series goes politically correct especially changing Chicago PD and Hank Voight who literally deals with the scum of the earth I am done! I know alot of people who feel that way too. Don’t do it Dick!!
No need for the scolding. There’s nothing wrong with doing Dick.
Bring back Al. Write it like he was in Witness Protection. Now get him back
Sorry but anyone who has a problem with how the cops do their jobs on Chicago PD should just turn off the TV. They are great cops who deal with the worst of the worst and I have no problem with anything they do especially Voight.
If the dynamic of the show — and the overall ethic — changes, you will lose the guts of your fans. If it is not broken, please do not fix it! No PC BS please. just keep on keeping on. Thank you.