Approach The Bench: Law & Order General Discussion Thread

[BW Manilowe]

I'm usually not one who gives a damn about an actor changing appearance - be it wrinkles or weight gain - as we will all be there eventually. And I sincerely hate to be catty or mean here, but HOLY SHIT about Jill Hennessy. My first thought was it was a mistake. The second was...why the hell don't these actresses stay away from butchering themselves?! (Assuming that is the cause, but in any case, there are definitely differences.)

I recall reading JH has a real-life twin, and I believe it was an identical twin sister. If so, I'm curious if she still looked like JH used to (albeit older). But how tragic. JH looked fine on Crossing Jordan too, so I have no idea what happened!

The other three look wonderful, though. Carolyn McCormick and S. Epatha Merkerson are on the other end of the spectrum, older women who seem to have allowed themselves to age naturally, and they look all the better for it. Dann Florek looks great, too. Speaking of which, I do like - for this - it was remembered that Florek/Cragen actually got his start on the Mothership. If only Cragen and Van Buren could have shared duties somehow! (Nothing against SVU; I just preferred early Cragen on the original L&O.)

With that all said, cute video.

Somehow, bad plastic surgery with Jill didn't cross my mind. Thank you for bringing it up. I just thought it was that she didn't age well naturally.

Whatever the cause, she definitely doesn't look now like she did on L&O, Crossing Jordan, or even the "crossover" eps involving Crossing Jordan & Las Vegas, back in the day. I get the show began 25 years ago (but she wasn't even the first ADA on it; wasn't she somewhere in the middle of the pack, so to speak?) & everybody ages over that long a time (or tries to prevent it & it doesn't work as well for some as for others), but damn...

And what was all that superfluous movement of her hands/arms? I thought she was acting like she was drunk/on some other substance. She was just so much more "out of it" than the others... You know?

I think it's kinda sad, whatever happened/is happening (I think I remember reading she had 1 or 2--or maybe more--issues with DUI's after Crossing Jordan ended, or at some other point, but I haven't read anything in the sort of recent past).

[FormerMod-a1]

From People.com: Watch this video mashup in honor of Law & Order's 25th anniversary.

It's Dann Florek, Carolyn McCormick, S. Epatha Merkerson, & Jill Hennessey (who has *not* aged that well, compared to the others--I didn't really recognize her at first) attempting to recite the voice over from the main title credit that airs before the episode "setup" scene & the actors' credits with the main title theme playing over them.

http://www.people.com/people/mobile/video/0,,20942283,00.html?xid=socialflow_twitter_peoplemag

 

This looks like a "mobile" link and it's not working on my laptop.  I just get a blank page (aside from the People logo in the top left).

 

ETA: Non-mobile link.

[GHScorpiosRule]

Hennessy looks awful.  Looks like too much sun, or very bad tanning spray. She looked a lot better more recently when she appeared on The Good Wife a year ago.

 

She wasn't on anything, she said she was trying to "vogue" instead of just reading or something.  At least, she came off normal to me-not drunk or high.

 

And they couldn't get Jack, Mike or Phil? Err, I mean, Sam, Chris, Paul? or heck, what about Paul, agh, I mean Richard? Ben/Michael--where is he these days? Or is he still Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs? Max/George--too bitter? 

Edited August 4, 2015 by GHScorpiosRule

[FormerMod-a1]

OK.  I was expecting something really bad.  She looks OK, I think.  Not great, a little "off", but not horrible.  I think it's the stringy hair and shiny skin that makes her look not so good.

[BW Manilowe]

This looks like a "mobile" link and it's not working on my laptop. I just get a blank page (aside from the People logo in the top left).

ETA: Non-mobile link.

Sorry about that. The original link is a mobile link. I'm stuck in bed due to illness & in my current condition it's easier to use my iPhone for Internet surfing & posting, so I end up posting mobile links.

If the non-mobile link you posted doesn't/didn't work, try this 1--I *did* switch to the People desktop site to get it, so it should work OK everywhere (crossing fingers). The L&O video is the featured 1 at the top of the linked page. I think it's the homepage for the People Now daily video cast from the day they were on--which was, like, yesterday or in the last couple of days.

http://www.people.com/people/special/0,,20826806,00.html

[CoderLady]

OK.  I was expecting something really bad.  She looks OK, I think.  Not great, a little "off", but not horrible.  I think it's the stringy hair and shiny skin that makes her look not so good.

 

Except for the long straight hair, that's the look she had in René Balcer’s French cop series ‘Jo’ a couple of years ago when she played a nun. Her character didn't wear a habit, wore her hair Claire-length but sort of streaky wavy brown, and very obviously wore no makeup. If not for her very distinctive neck and shoulder line I didn't recognize her in her first scene. She's a bit browner in the mashup video but I think that must be what she wants to look like now.

[BW Manilowe]

Another video from People magazine's webcast, People Now. This has the same 4 actors from the earlier video (Dann, Carolyn, S. Epatha, & Jill) reminiscing about their favorite show memories (or something I can't remember now). This link should work for everyone; I remembered to switch to Desktop Version on the site before copying the link.

http://www.people.com/people/videos/0,,20943512,00.html

[whatsatool]

Anyone from Season One who is still alive!

[TV Diva Queen]

I've been on a Law and Order kick for the past 6 months and I haven't run into the episode on how Jack becomes the DA.  Just when I thought I was close to seeing the episode, either my DVR didn't pick it up or TNT jumped episodes.  Can anyone help me?  :)

[Maherjunkie]

I believe "Old Friends" was Stone's exit and "Second Opinion" was Jack's opening.  Nothing beyond a simple introduction.

[Ailianna]

Jack's first episode has the infamous conversation with Claire where he tells her he's only been involved with three of his assistants, and then Claire checks and he's only had three female assistants.

[mansonlamps]

Are we talking Jack becoming the DA or the ADA?

[WendyCR72]

I can only guess, but I think they meant ADA, as the late episodes are shown quite often. The earlier ones, not as frequently.

[TV Diva Queen]

I've been on a Law and Order kick for the past 6 months and I haven't run into the episode on how Jack becomes the DA.  Just when I thought I was close to seeing the episode, either my DVR didn't pick it up or TNT jumped episodes.  Can anyone help me?  :)

 

The DA.  

[GHScorpiosRule]

The DA.  

 

 

My memory isn't that good with the last couple of seasons, even though, with the addition of Linus Roache, the show got new energy, but Arthur Branch Foghorn Leghorn was gone by the premiere of the 18th season, and introduced Mike Cutter (Roache) and Jack was like, interim District Attorney, because Foghorn left or some such...at the end of the season, there was an election, I think, and we weren't sure if the show was coming back, and it ended with Mike, Jack and Connie, with snifters of whisky and celebrating their win, while waiting for the results of the election. Or maybe the election was in Season 19? Anyhoo...I think that's how it went, and since TNT just luuuuurves to air the later seasons, be on the lookout for Jeremy Sisto's first appearance (Season 18), as that's when Mike also joins the cast and Jack is suddenly DA. There might have been a throw away line.

[TV Diva Queen]

 

 

My memory isn't that good with the last couple of seasons, even though, with the addition of Linus Roache, the show got new energy, but Arthur Branch Foghorn Leghorn was gone by the premiere of the 18th season, and introduced Mike Cutter (Roache) and Jack was like, interim District Attorney, because Foghorn left or some such...at the end of the season, there was an election, I think, and we weren't sure if the show was coming back, and it ended with Mike, Jack and Connie, with snifters of whisky and celebrating their win, while waiting for the results of the election. Or maybe the election was in Season 19? Anyhoo...I think that's how it went, and since TNT just luuuuurves to air the later seasons, be on the lookout for Jeremy Sisto's first appearance (Season 18), as that's when Mike also joins the cast and Jack is suddenly DA. There might have been a throw away line.

Thank you!!!  I thought I had missed an episode where Foghorn left and Jack was chosen to be DA.  L&O is known for their throwaways for story advancement, I should have known better.  :)  PS. - LOVE  your strike-through.  Funny stuff.  

[GHScorpiosRule]

Thank you!!!  I thought I had missed an episode where Foghorn left and Jack was chosen to be DA.  L&O is known for their throwaways for story advancement, I should have known better.  :)  PS. - LOVE  your strike-through.  Funny stuff.  

 

You're welcome!

 

Yes, the show was great at throw away lines as well as being good at referring to characters who had left the show, be it a death or just leaving, like Max, Mike, Ben...

 

When Pod!Paul returned, pretending to be the real Paul, he threw out using Ben as a witness...and Schiff said something about how Ben was traveling or out of the country or something, so they couldn't ask him to come in to contradict the "shenanigans" in the DA's office. Of course, Moriarty had left acting and was in...Ireland? I think. I don't know if they ever said why Schiff left. I think they had Nora, say something about it..

 

The strike throughs are fun! just typewhateveryyouwantstrickenhere[backslash s]

[Maherjunkie]

I think he lives in Canada, on a bar stool.

[TV Diva Queen]

In a DVR'd TNT episode last night, Jack was on the phone, grinning ear to ear like a teen age girl.  After he hung up, he told Cutter that he was just on the phone with Adam and Adam is in Africa with Jimmy Carter.  Jack's grins were because Adam was going to endorse Jack on his DA run.  

Funny line in last nights DVR TNT episode when Jack got off the phone and told Cutter it was Adam...he then went back to discussing the case, Jack told Cutter he wanted cut a deal, and Cutter said you "now really sound like Adam"  I cracked up.  My non internet using husband looked at me and said "why is that funny".  I explained to him how we make fun of Adam on the interwebs about always wanting to "make a deal".  

[crowswork]

http://subtletyinexcess.tumblr.com/post/399630541/snl-law-and-order-acting-class

Hilarious.

[Moose135]

I hadn't seen that before - that was outstanding!

[TV Diva Queen]

Didn't Community do an entire episdoe spoof of Law and Order?  I think they had credits rolling during the whole show.  

[GHScorpiosRule]

Didn't Community do an entire episdoe spoof of Law and Order?  I think they had credits rolling during the whole show.  

 

Yes. And Rodgers was the ME doing the autopsy on the...sweet Potato? Yam? It was SO SPOT ON and Hilarious!

[WendyCR72]

Looks like ION - as of September - is the designated de-facto Law & Order network. It already airs L&O: CI, but there was a commercial about SVU coming on 9/25. I went to the site and besides CI and SVU, voila, the Mothership is now also listed among the programming, beginning on 9/23. Both will air at 9:00 a.m. ET and will, I predict, air in marathon form here, too, since that is how ION rolls with its shows.

[BW Manilowe]

Looks like ION - as of September - is the designated de-facto Law & Order network. It already airs L&O: CI, but there was a commercial about SVU coming on 9/25. I went to the site and besides CI and SVU, voila, the Mothership is now also listed among the programming, beginning on 9/23. Both will air at 9:00 a.m. ET and will, I predict, air in marathon form here, too, since that is how ION rolls with its shows.

WE recently started airing L&O: CI as well.

[Raja]

 

 I think. I don't know if they ever said why Schiff left. I think they had Nora, say something about it..

 

 

She said he was working with Simon Wiesenthal and the Holocaust Project in her introduction as interim DA

[BW Manilowe]

She said he was working with Simon Wiesenthal and the Holocaust Project in her introduction as interim DA

Nora didn't say it; Jack did, to Nora & then-Mayor Giuliani, who made a cameo appearance in the ep to escort Nora to her first day of work for some reason I still haven't figured out--other than maybe he was a fan of the show & the producers could get him (his ex-wife [1 of his exes?] Donna Hanover, an actress & TV personality, also made at least 1 appearance on the show as a Judge... But I forget what episode she was in).

[Ailianna]

Around the same time (I believe) he also did a cameo for Mad About You--I think he was getting more out of it than the shows were, as both shows (and both were NCB shows...) cast him in a positive light.

[GHScorpiosRule]

Nora didn't say it; Jack did, to Nora & then-Mayor Giuliani, who made a cameo appearance in the ep to escort Nora to her first day of work for some reason I still haven't figured out--other than maybe he was a fan of the show & the producers could get him (his ex-wife [1 of his exes?] Donna Hanover, an actress & TV personality, also made at least 1 appearance on the show as a Judge... But I forget what episode she was in).

 

 

No. Hanover played a recurring judge. She appeared more than once.

[BW Manilowe]

No. Hanover played a recurring judge. She appeared more than once.

Like I said, I remembered she was on at least once; I couldn't remember if she was recurring or not. And I'm fairly sure she was Mayor Giuliani's wife/estranged wife at least most of the time she was on the show.

[Cobalt Stargazer]

Looks like ION - as of September - is the designated de-facto Law & Order network. It already airs L&O: CI, but there was a commercial about SVU coming on 9/25. I went to the site and besides CI and SVU, voila, the Mothership is now also listed among the programming, beginning on 9/23. Both will air at 9:00 a.m. ET and will, I predict, air in marathon form here, too, since that is how ION rolls with its shows.

 

Just as a note, Wendy, ION will sometimes run episodes out of order. They also air Criminal Minds, and I'm kind of wondering what will happen to that if the channel starts running SVU and the Mothership, and every so often they skip ahead. You just have to keep track of their website.

Edited September 8, 2015 by Cobalt Stargazer

[WendyCR72]

 

Just as a note, Wendy, ION will sometimes run episodes out of order. They also air Criminal Minds, and I'm kind of wondering what will happen to that if the channel starts running SVU and the Mothership, and every so often they skip ahead. You just have to keep track of their website.

 

Oh, I know, @Cobalt Stargazer. I watch the Friday Law & Order: Criminal Intent marathons it shows and when ION restarted showing it in mid August after a 4-month break, it started at S3 and then inexplicably jumped to S8 (but was shown in order in S8-10.) Once S10 ended this past Friday, it went to the middle of S1.

 

Not sure if it is about licensing of episodes being up or whatever (as S1, for example, had been shown completely before), but I can see the same thing happening to both the Mothership and SVU eventually. But probably not for quite a while. I think, depending on how many seasons ION got, a few cycles will run uninterrupted before any skipping begins.

 

But I guess we'll see.

 

ETA: Well, I guess the Mothership is skipping big time right out of the gate. I just checked ION's site and the first episode to air for the Mothership on the channel is from S13, "American Jihad". I don't get it, but there it is.  L&O: SVU, on the other hand, is airing its pilot.

 

ETA 2: This may explain a lot per their episode guides: L&O: SVU on ION lists Seasons 1 through 5, then 13 through 16. L&O: CI has all 10 listed (and then errors with the Mothership seasons listed with it). The Mothership only has seasons 13 through 16 listed as of now. With both WE and TNT airing it, maybe there were licensing issues, but then again, other channels air SVU and CI, too. So I have no idea why ION has so few seasons of the Mothership as of now.

[jjj]

Just cried a little watching "Expert" (8.12), when the officers were going through receipts for a suspect on a certain date and said, "Wherever she went, she had a full tank of gas.  Eighteen dollars at the gas station."  (ETA:  wow, that's Vera Farmiga in the episode!)

 

depending on how many seasons ION got, a few cycles will run uninterrupted before any skipping begins..

WE TV and Sundance has been running and re-running a lot of seasons 5-10 this summer (a little of 1-4  and 11-12 from time to time) -- hope ION will go for some other seasons.  I had not seen the show for a while, and it has been fun remembering the plots and guest stars.

Edited September 8, 2015 by jjj

[Maherjunkie]

I want me some Max Greevey!  Hope they start from the beginning.

Edited September 9, 2015 by Maherjunkie

[WendyCR72]

So I can't sleep. I was on ION's site again. Effective 9/23, the Mothership will be on all day and night on Wednesdays into Thursday mornings, from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. (CI will be on the same pattern [starting on 9/24] on Thursdays into Friday mornings and SVU [starting on 9/25] will be Friday into Saturday mornings.)

 

We literally have a quasi L&O network for 72 hours weekly.

[WendyCR72]

Adding to the above, ION released the schedule for next Saturday, the 26th, and all 3 L&O shows will air that day starting with CI from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., then SVU from 4 to 11, then the Mothership from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m.

 

So if you're looking for something to watch in between the usual weekend plans, it's an option.

Edited September 16, 2015 by WendyR72
Edited because this Saturday is not the 26th, but the 19th!

[Maherjunkie]

SVU?  Oh fuck, the whole day.

[BW Manilowe]

There's also, at least normally, a Mothership "bingeathon" on the WE channel on Saturdays, from 5PM-1AM Eastern Time (now followed by some CI eps), plus the TNT Mothership marathon, which should be from 6AM-about Noon (or later) Eastern Time. So there should be a choice of marathons Saturday.

[FormerMod-a1]

Sundance has a L&O marathon every Monday and Friday.  And this Thursday and Friday they are doing a marathon of L&O Emmy winning episodes.  

[Maherjunkie]

Logan I want! Logan, Logan, Logan!

[WendyCR72]

Logan I want! Logan, Logan, Logan!

 

The law of averages, based on all the marathons, and adding in CI, means you should see enough of him somewhere!

[GHScorpiosRule]

Sundance has a L&O marathon every Monday and Friday.  And this Thursday and Friday they are doing a marathon of L&O Emmy winning episodes.  

 

 

I don't recall when they started winning Emmys, but I really hope "Life Choice" and "Indifference" is featured in that marathon.

[jaytee1812]

I don't know why but the channels that show Law & Order in the UK either show the really early seasons or the last few. Which is no good to me, I want my Lenny Briscoe fix!

[WendyCR72]

I don't know why but the channels that show Law & Order in the UK either show the really early seasons or the last few. Which is no good to me, I want my Lenny Briscoe fix!

 

The opposite here in the US, at least where the truly early seasons are concerned, i.e. pre-Briscoe. I haven't seen S1 or S2 on TV (aside from DVDs) in forever. It's like the stations pretend there weren't other guys before Lennie. (And hey, Orbach was in a S2 episode as a lawyer, too! Show it!)

[Maherjunkie]

They probably won't, GH, they left Max in the dust.  Too much is never enough!

[FormerMod-a1]

Sundance often shows seasons 1-2.  In fact the Thurs/Fri emmy marathon starts with some of the early eps.  (If you click the T/F link I provided you can see the whole line up - you may have to scroll down a little).

[GHScorpiosRule]

Sundance often shows seasons 1-2.  In fact the Thurs/Fri emmy marathon starts with some of the early eps.  (If you click the T/F link I provided you can see the whole line up - you may have to scroll down a little).

 

 

Phoeey! No "Indifference" or "Life Choice."

 

Buuuut, we do get the Betty Broderick story--"Wages of Love" at least. 

[WendyCR72]

Buuuut, we do get the Betty Broderick story--"Wages of Love" at least.

 

And a Ceretta episode. Will wonders never cease? Pretty good early episode.

[GHScorpiosRule]

And a Ceretta episode. Will wonders never cease? Pretty good early episode.

 

 

And Lennie Jerry Orbach as Betty's defense attorney!!!!

[WendyCR72]

 

 

And Lennie Jerry Orbach as Betty's defense attorney!!!!

 

Yes! Not-Lennie, Frank Lehrman. Shirley Knight's character...I guess I should have felt sorry for her, but she just annoyed me. And how many times did she say, "We were married for 25 years!"