I’ve been a fan of Law & Order almost since its inception. Like most folks, my favorite characters over the show’s life are the two big ones, Det. Lenny Briscoe (Jerry Orbach, RIP) and EADA/DA Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston); part of that, probably, is that both actors have always struck me as people I’d enjoy knowing in real life, quite aside from the people they play. Also like most folks, my favorite character after those two was ADA Abbie Carmichael (Angie Harmon), whom I really wish had had a significantly longer run on the show (especially as I didn’t care for her replacement at all)—which meant it was a very pleasant surprise (dare I pull a Chris Matthews and say a thrill ran up my leg?) to read that she’s a fan of Sarah Palin:
I admire any kind of woman like her. My whole motto is to know what I stand for and know what I don’t stand for and have the courage to live my life accordingly and she does exactly that. The fact that this woman has made the decisions she’s made and literally lived her life according to that and takes heat for it is absolutely disgusting to me,” she added. “People cannot look at this woman. I really think they’re afraid of her and her morals, ethics and values and the fact that she hangs on them.
Of course, Fox News felt the need to conclude the article with a bunch of celebrities telling them how wonderful Barack Obama is and what a great job he’s doing; but Angie Harmon got the bulk of the piece to praise Gov. Palin (and also to express her dissatisfaction with President Obama, and with being accused of racism for not being liberal), and that’s an enjoyable little spark for the day.HT: Joseph Russo
Rob,
I started watching TV in 1949. Over the years I watched less and less and about ten years I pretty much quit. I watch maybe 2 or 3 hours a week now. All L&O. I have my DVR set to record the reruns, maybe 15 of them a week. It's gotten to the point where I catch one I haven't seen about 10% of the time.
Agree on Ohrbach and Waterston. Ohrbach was a very talented song and dance man and was a longtime Broadway institution.
The scripts are extremely high quality and have held up over the years.
Other favorites (names sometime escape me) the lady lieutenant and Fred Thompson. Thompson once said something to the effect "can't act? I convinced 20 million people that a Republican with a southern accent could be elected district attorney of New York County".
Roy
Agreed. It’s interesting that Lt. Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson) is now the longest-tenured character/actor on the show; she’s really been underutilized in what was written as a distinctly secondary role, which is why periodically they write a show to focus on her. Good line from Thompson, too–I hadn’t heard that one before, and it made me laugh. 🙂
Rob,
My father loved movies. He was fascinated with character actors. I am my father’s son.
The stars come and go. Remember Ina Balin? She was one of the last that the studio system tried to manufacture. Three flops and out. The good character actors have long careers. You never remember their names but you sure know their faces.
One of the best character actor movies of all times was “Twelve Angry Men”. That was probably Henry Fonda’s worst ever performances but the other eleven guys were superb. There were a couple couple, Lee J. Cobb and Jack Klugman, who achieved some prominence but many of them appeared in a lot of movies.
The “Dollar” series of “spaghetti” westerns made by Segio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood is particularly interesting. The third and last “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” actually starred Eli Wallach. He had more screen time and more lines than either Eastwood or Lee Van Cleef.
Roy
On “Twelve Angry Men,” I think you forgot Karl Malden. (I could be wrong, though, since my connection is bad and I can’t get any site to come up where I could double-check my memory.) I’ve never heard of Ina Balin, but I share your interest in character actors.
Rob,
Correctimante on Ina Balin – my point.
No Karl Malden but other notables were Marin Balsam, E.G. Marshall, Jack Warden and Ed Begley.
Roy
Jack Warden, right–I always get those two mixed up (not the people, but the names . . . you’d never mistake the faces); and I should have remembered E. G. Marshall. I’d never registered Ed Begley, though.