Dick Wolf already has a crossover planned for 'FBI' and spinoff 'FBI: Most Wanted'

PASADENA, Calif. – The Dick Wolf TV formula already is already working like a charm for his expanding "FBI" franchise on CBS.

Little more than a year after the successful launch of "FBI," spinoff "FBI: Most Wanted" (Tuesdays, 10 EST/PST) opened last week as the most-watched series premiere of this TV season. Capturing 9.7 million viewers over three days, "Most Wanted" surpassed the seven-day audience numbers of the previous top premiere, ABC's "Stumptown" (9.1 million), CBS said, citing Nielsen data.

Wolf announced the next familiar element Sunday at a Television Critics Association panel: As in his "Law & Order" and "Chicago" franchises, the second- and first-year "FBI" shows will have a crossover event this season. 

"We will be doing a crossover in the spring. We've had pretty good luck with them in the past. I would anticipate this will be a barn burner," he said. 

While "FBI" (Tuesday, 9 EST/PST) focuses on two agents in New York, "Most Wanted" centers on an elite mobile unit of agents who search for most-wanted fugitives across the country. That changes the storytelling structure, Wolf said, but the shows "are inextricably linked in terms of attitude (and) will lend itself to crossovers."

The back-to-back scheduling of the shows means the crossover episode plot will start on "FBI" in New York and expand into the "Most Wanted" episode that follows, Wolf said.

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Julian McMahon ("Nip/Tuck"), who plays Fugitive Task Force chief Jess LaCroix, said "FBI" focuses on New York while "Most Wanted" is a "road-trip drama. Everything outside the five boroughs (of New York City), we're going to take care of." The show, which films in New York, has upcoming missions set in Canada, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida, he said. 

To that end, is there any chance the "Most Wanted" unit could conduct a manhunt in Chicago and feature character crossovers with any of Wolf's "Chicago" police, fire or medical shows, even though they air on rival NBC? Wolf, whose success has given him great industry clout, slyly responded, "Stay tuned." (But don't hold your breath.)