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Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Wendy Talks TV

For all of you still suffering from Election Hangover, I thought we'd make the Bat Cave a tiny oasis of non-political-ness today. Instead, let us talk television and how insanely happy Wendy is that Law & Order (the original) is back for lucky number Season 19, starting tonight. Which means the execs over at NBC decided to pull their heads out of their asses and moved the show back to Wednesday night. I love me a rut, and Law & Order on Wednesday is just about the most comfortable rut there is.

This is where I'm going to encourage lapsed L&O watchers that they really need to give the show another shot. I know, after the untimely death of Jerry Orbach (who was all around awesome), it got rocky. I didn't loathe Dennis Farina like some, but when they started pairing up Detective Green with female partners, even my obsessive loyalty took a hit. Then word came down before season 18 that Jack McCoy was now going to be the DA, instead of the ADA...and well, I had my doubts.

Turns out, it was just the ticket. They also dumped the idea of having a female cop (Lt. Van Buren kicks so much ass, that another set of ovaries just mucked up the works), and brought in character actor, Linus Roache, to play the new ADA Michael Cutter. It's really revitalized the show. After so many years playing the wild card, Jack McCoy now finds himself playing politics and the dynamic between the McCoy and Cutter characters recall the golden days of Schiff and McCoy.

Trust me, it's like a rebirth. And I'm desperate people. Honestly, I watch so little non-foodie, non-sports related TV these days that I'm clinging to the few scripted television shows that remotely interest me. Plus I still haven't forgiven y'all for getting Dirt cancelled. I have much bitterness to still work through, and if L&O gets cancelled - well....

I'll probably start throwing knives. Or rocks. And really, nobody wants it to come to that.

11 comments:

Kati said...

Thanks for the reminder, Wendy. I'll set my DVR. After last night's bedtime of 1:45AM, no way will I be awake, but I'll watch for sure.

I love L&O. It's so reliable, isn't it?

Liza said...

I've never really watched any of the L&O shows on a regular basis. I'm still mad that they gave Women's Murder Club the axe. I have the last several episodes on my tivo so I can still get my WMC fix.

Wendy said...

Kati: In my old age I TiVo almost everything past 9PM. Seriously, I'm old.

Liza: I seem to recall that WMC was doing well until the writer's strike killed it. Damn writer's strike! A shame too, since I really wanted to see Angie Harmon back on TV. She was, quite possibly, my favorite female ADA on L&O.....

azteclady said...

If I still watched any tv at all, I'm sure I would agree with you on all counts, and watch it.

Barbara said...

I was at one time addicted to Law & Order. But yeah, after Jerry Orbach past on, the show just didn't seem the same. I do once in a while I will catch an episode or two of Criminal Intent. But I'll admit I'm not a huge T.V. buff.

Lynn/Elsandra said...

I was happy that NBC decided to put L&O back on Wednesday nights were it belonged! I don't love the show as much as I did when Lennie Briscoe was there but I really do like Jeremy Sisco's character, I haven't made a decision on Bernard yet. He's better than Beauty Queen though! The writer's strike kind of killed television for me except The Closer, I don't even watch House with any regularity. Tonight's episode was good on L&O.

Wendy said...

Lynn: Ugh, I know! That Beauty Queen chick was terrible! I'm not entirely sold on Bernard yet, but I think he's got potential.

I still have to watch last night's episode. It's sitting on my TiVo :)

Tracy said...

Oh I used to love the old L & O. Watched it religiously for years. I was so sad when Jerry Orbach died. It did kind of do something to the show. Then when they started all the take-offs it took another kind of dump.

I'll have to set the tivo and see if I can't get into it again. Considering I don't watch tv anymore this out to be interesting. :)

Alie said...

I love me some old school L&O. I still watch the reruns on Bravo!

MoJo said...

See, I'm so far back with L&O that I remember when Ben Stone was the EADA and Paul Robinette (who occasionally shows up as a defense attorney now) was his ADA.

I mean, after Mike Logan went, I just decided to roll with its M*A*S*H-like cast rotations and take them all on their faces. And I did like Farina.

Claire Kincaid was my favorite of Jack's ADAs.

I'll admit that the idea of Jack playing politics instead of actively begging for disbarment and/or imprisonment just kind of blows my mind.

Wendy said...

Mojo: Oh, how I loved me some Mike Logan. They brought him back for a few seasons on L&O:Criminal Intent, and he was the only reason I started watching that show religiously. Sadly, he departed last season.

I didn't start actively watching L&O until the Benjamin Bratt/Jerry Orbach years - but since then I've gone back and pretty much watched them all. They need to bring back Paul Robinette for another guest spot - he's done a couple of good ones!

Yeah, watching Jack try to navigate the political landscape is a kick in the pants to watch. I was worried when they announced the change in his storyline, but it's made for some really good episodes so far.