A shelved episode of Law & Order: SVU that was originally set to feature Timothy Busfield in a guest role will see the light of day after a recasting.
David Zayas (Dexter) will step into the guest role in the episode, titled “Corrosive.” It had initially been set to air Jan. 15. NBC pulled the episode after police in New Mexico issued a warrant for Busfield’s arrest on allegations that he sexually abused two child actors on the set of the former Fox/Warner Bros. TV series The Cleaning Lady.
The SVU episode also has an airdate of Feb. 26, which will be the first episode back for the show after a break for NBC’s Winter Olympics coverage. Give Me My Remote first reported Zayas’ casting and the new airdate.
The logline for “Corrosive” reads, “An attempt on a respected judge’s life is connected to an anonymous video posted to the SVU tip line. Rollins (Kelli Giddish) tries to help a victim come to terms with their abuse.”
A warrant for Busfield’s arrest was issued in early January following an investigation into allegations that he inappropriately touched two boys on the Cleaning Lady set, where he directed several episodes. The actor and director has maintained he is innocent and was released from custody in Albuquerque pending trial on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse.
In the wake of the allegations, Busfield was dropped by Innovative Artists as a client and edited out of Amazon MGM Studios’ forthcoming romantic comedy You Deserve Each Other.
Zayas reprised his Dexter role as Angel Batista in the sequel series Dexter: New Blood and Dexter: Resurrection. His recent credits also include The Running Man and recurring parts on The Bear and Blue Bloods.