Last episode for Jesse Martin on "Law and Order" airs tonight

The exits of major characters on "Law and Order" happen in one of two ways: they die or they quit.

It doesn't look like the former is true for Jesse Martin's Det. Ed Green on his final episode tonight, but let's hope they give the man a decent farewell. For whatever reason, L&O -- so understated when it comes to most other dramatic elements -- tends to heap it on when characters leave. Jill Hennessy's Asst. District Attorney Claire Kincaid died in a fiery car crash caused by a drunken driver. Elizabeth Rohm's A.D.A Serena Southerlyn made a bizarre confession of her homosexuality in her final seconds in the L&O universe. More recently, another A.D.A ended up dead in the trunk of a car. If it turns out Green was on the Grassy Knoll, shame on you, Dick Wolf.

But I've got hope.

Since its 18th season debuted in January with a few new faces in A.D.A. Michael Cutter (Linus Roache) and Jeremy Sisto's Det. Cyrus Lupo, the show feels invigorated. Martin will be replaced by Anthony Anderson (of the short-lived "K-Ville") as Det. Kevin Bernard, an ex-Internal Affairs detective.

"Law and Order" airs on NBC on Wednesday at 9 p.m.

-- Malavika Jagannathan, mjaganna@greenbaypressgazette.com