The eighth season of the USA crime procedural will premiere in early 2009

Sorry, " Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and Jeff Goldblum fans. You'll have to get your fix of crime procedurals and intensely quirky actors elsewhere for now.

USA Network is pushing back the start date of the eighth season of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" to the first quarter of 2009, the cable network announced Wednesday.

This will allow the new season to run uninterrupted for 16 episodes. No other reason for the postponement was given.

Oscar nominee Goldblum joins the established cast as Det. Zach Nichols, stepping into the vacancy left by the departure of Chris Noth, who played Det. Mike Logan. "L&O: CI" also boasts the talents of Vincent D'Onofrio as Det. Robert Goren, Kathryn Erbe as Det. Alexandra Eames, Julianne Nicholson as Det. Megan Wheeler and Eric Bogosian as Cpt. Danny Ross.

The eighth season was previously set to return on Friday, Nov. 7.