So, I’ve actually been watching “Law and Order” in its 18th (!) season since the premiere on 1/3/08 (ok, actually, I missed an episode), since I wanted to see how Sam Waterston’s Jack McCoy would do as the (acting? interim?) DA, while Fred Thompson’s DA Arthur Branch was… actually, I’m still not clear on Branch’s fate, since it wasn’t made apparent on-screen (although, we all know that Thompson was trying to be a presidential candidate; wonder what will happen to Thompson now that the presidential candidate gig’s over and – eventually – once the writers’ strike ends? Will he back on L&O?).
Anyway, note that I haven’t sat for a whole L&O episode in years and I don’t practice criminal law. So, watching full episodes turned out to have been strangely entertaining. The ripped-from-the-headlines plots are starting to feel unintentionally funny (I had laugh out loud moments at rather inopportune moments, particularly when I recognized from what headline the plot was ripped from). McCoy as the DA is kind of interesting – he’s appointed to the position, he’s dealing with a balancing act, and he’s got more power than he really wants – plus, the folks of the DA’s office are starting to realize his age (kind of sad when it’s a blackout and the female ADA notes that they’d have to drag out McCoy’s ancient typewriter to work on something). Jesse L. Martin as Detective Ed Green is still a looker; and S. Epatha Merkerson as the Lieutenant – well, thumbs up; she’s got the acting chops, even if I find the writing silly.
The new castmembers:
Jeremy Sisto’s Detective Cyrus Lupo manages to have more character backstory than just about every other L&O character in only his first ten minutes. He’s not so bad, once you get over the whole “I was away from the precinct, and now I’m back!” circumstance for his character.
McCoy’s replacement as Executive ADA, Michael Cutter, is played by Linus Roache – yet another British actor playing American, which I didn’t realize until I checked imdb.com. Note that Roache played Thomas Wayne in “Batman Begins” – the doomed dad to Bruce Wayne and Gotham City crime victim. Roache plays Cutter as a Blackberry addict who has a weird New York/New England accent (well, Roache did play Robert F. Kennedy at one point); I think he’s easy on the eyes (well, I am a sucker for the Brits who play Americans well).
I agree with TV Guide’s Matt Roush – L&O is feeling refreshed:
Jeremy Sisto brings a solid, no-nonsense gravity to new detective Cyrus Lupo, brought onto the beat with an assisted-suicide case that hits close to home. (This episode ends with a courtroom twist that may be a first in the show’s nearly 400-episode history.) More notable this season, because of Sam Waterston’s longevity, is Jack McCoy’s promotion to top DA, making way for Linus Roache as enjoyably scrappy and impulsive new prosecutor Michael Cutter, who ruffles Jack’s composure: “What do you do for fun, Mike, juggle chain saws with my neck on the line?”
This TV Guide article acknowledges the re-energized L&O, but seemed to forget what Roush notes: Roache as Cutter. Yeah, Mike’s the ace in the hole – he managed to almost botch the blackout kidnapping/murders case by letting Green and Lupo do a search without a warrant (Mike Cutter making Jack McCoy feel sick – see quote above), can’t seem to lose his Blackberry, but pulls off a compelling closing argument in this week’s episode. Thumbs up!
So, even the NY Times is covering how the Big Law Firms have to reform billable hours. Does this, as Lisa Belkin writes, make the firms cuddlier for addressing work/life balance? But, really, they wouldn’t have done this unless their clients started to become resistant about paying for over-paid law firm associates (well, overpaid compared to us public service/public interest lawyers who aren’t making anything in comparison for work in the public interest).
The NY Times does a fascinating profile of Judge Margarita Lopez Torres, after the US Supreme Court ruled against her case New York State Board of Elections v. López Torres.
The legal problems of Filipino nurses, who face a dilemma in being desired as employees but then don’t get fair treatment as employees (the irony is palpable). Yes, you owe a duty to your patients/clientele, but what is an employee to do when avenues to negotiate for better labor conditions aren’t working?
And, speaking of tv and not law, this article further explains the changes on what was once “Masterpiece Theatre,” which was made apparent on the “Masterpeice” website. No more “Mystery!” – as it got pulled into the “Masterpiece” umbrella. No more majestic theme song. What’s really left then? “Quality”? Let’s hope so, for the combined sake of “Masterpiece” and PBS.
This NY Times article by Melissa Clark on fondue made me want to eat warm gooey cheese.
Oh, and since I’m on L&O and I seem to have great timing: the reviews are out for “Come Back, Little Sheba” – and they’re raving for S. Epatha Merkerson in her role as Lola, who lost the cat Little Sheba and, more importantly, is a Desperate Houswife in a truer sense than those one Wisteria Lane. I’ve admired how the cast of L&) have been able to go back and forth with screen (big and small) and stage – it shows a love of the art and their strengths as actors. Sounds like this version of “Little Sheba” has great stuff with Merkerson and Kevin Anderson, who plays her alcoholic chiropractor husband (to whom TV hasn’t been as kind, at least not ABC when they treated the show, “Nothing Sacred” so badly – Anderson was the priest who had – umm – issues… people back in the 90’s weren’t keen on shows that had “quality” and took on issues of faith and public interest, oh well…)
The sad passing of former American ice skater, Christopher Bowman – the story of decline despite having been a showman on skates.
Last but not least – the passing of actor Heath Ledger – I haven’t seen a lot of Ledger’s work – haven’t gotten to “Brokeback Mountain,” “A Knight’s Tale” still on my movies to watch list (that one kind of matches my not-great taste in movies), and I’m eager for the next “Batman” movie, where Ledger played the Joker (sad that that gets to be the last role – it may not be the bet way to go? But, if it works well as “art,” perhaps that’s not so bad?). Ledger’s appreciation for NYC – Brooklyn, in particular – is something to salute.I hate the media circus that’s covering his death; I do admire the appraisals from the movie critics, which were respectful and evoked a person and artist who’s gone too soon for a full career of potential.