Greetings,
I am going to say something that applies to all the shows in the Law & Order franchise. I love when I see a familiar face show up in those opening credits. And after having to wait an extra long time to get to Season 18, I was so overjoyed to get one in that first episode. Looks like it's time to talk about Cyrus Lupo.
Cyrus Lupo was portrayed by Jeremy Sisto from Season 18 to Season 20. Yes, I was quite excited about this, because I am from the era of Clueless. And he was in that, in case you didn't know. I actually had been a fan of Jeremy Sisto's and his entire body of work for quite a while, so I was looking forward to seeing him and Jesse L. Martin together. That's right. For the first time, we were getting two, young, male cops partnered together. Thank you, Casting Director. Of course, that did only last for about fourteen episodes, but I'll take what I can get. Moving on.
When Cyrus Lupo first showed up, he was not just thrown into working in Homicide at the 27th precinct. Actually, he had been working overseas investigating terrorists groups and was called back when his brother, Thomas, died of an apparent suicide, which was brought on because he was dying of cancer. When it was discovered that his brother had some Kevorkian-style help, Lupo wanted to assist in the investigation, though considering the circumstances it was a conflict of interest or something. Eventually, due to more assisted suicides, he was able to get involved. By the end of that first episode, Lupo was partnered with Green and working Homicide. Goodie.
I said this before, but I really liked the chemistry that Lupo and Green had. They sort of reminded me of frat brothers, but the responsible kind who aren't obnoxious. Do those even exist? Then, once Green left and he was partnered with Kevin Bernard, that same comradery continued on with that relationship. Even though, I think, on certain issues, it was clear that Lupo and Bernard were not on the same page. Still good partners though. And obviously, good friends.
Actually, this stint working Homicide was not the first time Lupo had worked in the 27th. Early in his police career, he was a patrolman, which I think is like a beat cop. It was during that time that he had the misfortune of walking into a devastating brutal murder scene. He ended up having PTSD, which led to a drinking problem. In fact, he even was drinking when he testified in court. On another occasion, he fell asleep due to a hangover whilst on patrol, which led to the death of his partner, as he was not there to back him up. Yeah, don't drink, kids. But Lupo was so affected by this he stopped drinking and got himself some much needed help.
Much like with more than a few of his law enforcement brethren, Lupo sometimes thinks that it is A-okay to bend the rules a bit. Like emailing himself the contents of someone's phone without their consent. Um, yeah, no. I'm pretty sure that is not admissible in court. And there was that one time when he and Green entered a building without a warrant. Though I think that was Cutter's fault. Still, never trust a lawyer, boys. Also, his judgement wasn't always the best around. There was one time where he got involved, if you know what I mean, with a female victim who ended up being the guilty party. So, you're a detective, right? Shouldn't you just get one of those gut feelings? Who am I kidding? Guys don't always lead with their brains. As long as he learned his lesson. And since Lupo was never involved with that kind of situation again, I'd like to think he did.
One more thing about Detective Lupo is that he was taking law school night classes so he can become a lawyer. I did not even know they had night classes for that, but then I remembered, it's New York. They have everything. So, since he knows more stuff about the law than maybe your average detective, he sometimes lets that creep into his dealings with the DA's office. It is not always met well. There were a few cases of "You do your job; I'll do mine", and I suppose I can understand that. But he's just trying to help. Of course, when the last episode rolled around, he was still doing police work, but I like to think that Lupo became a very good lawyer one day. Because I have hope.
In closing, I have to say that I really enjoyed my time with Cyrus Lupo, and that was probably because I tend to enjoy Jeremy Sisto. It's kind of nice to follow someone from early on in their career right up until he gets cast on the best show ever. I'm happy to report that he fit in perfectly. He upheld the standard of great acting and gave us a memorable character.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Law & Order Character Profile: Connie Rubirosa
Greetings,
It is difficult to be tasked with taking us back to the Golden Age of any long-running series. After several years with an ADA that many people were not fond of and a small stint with a timid but lovable one, we needed to bring back the more aggressive but admirable type of woman we grew to love in years past. This is why, at the start of Season 17, we clasped our hands together, looked to the Heavens and said "Thank You, Lord, for Connie Rubirosa".
Connie Rubirosa was portrayed by Alana De La Garza from Season 17 through Season 20. I don't even know where to start on what a joy this woman was to have around. Well, let me start with some basic info about the character. Connie Rubirosa has one of the most interesting character back stories of this series. Apparently, she was a kindergarten teacher, and, as someone who is not a kid person, I certainly understand how one can find dealing with criminals and whatnot less stressful than dealing with children. She joined the DA's office in 2004, pre-show, and served under Jack McCoy, who was still Executive ADA in Season 17. Then, when McCoy got promoted to actual DA, she got promoted to Executive ADA. Oh, wait. You'd THINK that's what would have happened, but she just got handed off to the person who actually got that job - a boy! Okay, to be fair, I like Michael Cutter and he probably had seniority over her, but still. Why not one extra moment of glory for the ladies?
Anyway, as a Hispanic woman, she is the first minority ADA we have had on this show since Paul Robinette. And, like with him, this was not even an issue on most days. Of course, certain cases would come up where ethnicity or race was a factor, and it couldn't help but come into play. That's something that Law & Order always handled quite well, and with Connie, it was no exception. Oh, also, the occasional jerk racist may have made comments about her ethnicity, as they do, but she always knew how to handle them. Not in a way that would have required the actor to use a stunt double, as I would have preferred, but she did fine, nonetheless.
As far as her politics go, she seemed to lean towards the Liberal side, and she was an advocate for women's right. On one occasion, though, (spoilers) an abortion doctor had been murdered and his procedural methods were being called into question. By "procedural methods" I mean he killed a newborn baby who had birth defects that were most likely life-threatening, at the request of the mother. McCoy did not want this information to be known by the defense, as they were prosecuting the killer. He expected Cutter, who leaned more towards pro-life, to possibly let the information out, but it was Connie who did it. I bring this story up because they used her character in this situation to exhibit what a perfect balance the show was politically. Despite her personal beliefs, you could see the inner struggle that Connie went through in this case. I give credit for how great this was to both the writer and Alana's acting.
Of course, even with all her good qualities, Connie made her share of faux pas over the years. Don't we all. I'd say the most glaring error was getting involved with former DA office worker, Marcus Woll. I already talked about him when I talked about an episode he was in. To refresh, he was pretty much the worst. Just an awful person. Not even close to being good enough for our sweet Connie. And she paid for her mistake. One payment might have been when she got duped - Yeah, I said duped! - into defending this really obnoxious guy who was clearly guilty. This put her at odds with the people she normally worked alongside, making them opponents. It was vicious. But, despite, the occasional oopsy, Connie Rubirosa was a shining example of what a lawyer can and should be. No wonder they let her move out to California for Law & Order:LA.
I will wrap this up by saying, once again, I love this character and I love the woman who played. For real, she is getting the slow clap. You know what I mean. The 80's and 90's sports movie slow clap? Oh, yeah. She is totally getting that. I, honestly, never failed to be entertained by her. She was a strong, intelligent, funny, beautiful woman, and she brought a special light to Law & Order that it needed.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
It is difficult to be tasked with taking us back to the Golden Age of any long-running series. After several years with an ADA that many people were not fond of and a small stint with a timid but lovable one, we needed to bring back the more aggressive but admirable type of woman we grew to love in years past. This is why, at the start of Season 17, we clasped our hands together, looked to the Heavens and said "Thank You, Lord, for Connie Rubirosa".
Connie Rubirosa was portrayed by Alana De La Garza from Season 17 through Season 20. I don't even know where to start on what a joy this woman was to have around. Well, let me start with some basic info about the character. Connie Rubirosa has one of the most interesting character back stories of this series. Apparently, she was a kindergarten teacher, and, as someone who is not a kid person, I certainly understand how one can find dealing with criminals and whatnot less stressful than dealing with children. She joined the DA's office in 2004, pre-show, and served under Jack McCoy, who was still Executive ADA in Season 17. Then, when McCoy got promoted to actual DA, she got promoted to Executive ADA. Oh, wait. You'd THINK that's what would have happened, but she just got handed off to the person who actually got that job - a boy! Okay, to be fair, I like Michael Cutter and he probably had seniority over her, but still. Why not one extra moment of glory for the ladies?
Anyway, as a Hispanic woman, she is the first minority ADA we have had on this show since Paul Robinette. And, like with him, this was not even an issue on most days. Of course, certain cases would come up where ethnicity or race was a factor, and it couldn't help but come into play. That's something that Law & Order always handled quite well, and with Connie, it was no exception. Oh, also, the occasional jerk racist may have made comments about her ethnicity, as they do, but she always knew how to handle them. Not in a way that would have required the actor to use a stunt double, as I would have preferred, but she did fine, nonetheless.
As far as her politics go, she seemed to lean towards the Liberal side, and she was an advocate for women's right. On one occasion, though, (spoilers) an abortion doctor had been murdered and his procedural methods were being called into question. By "procedural methods" I mean he killed a newborn baby who had birth defects that were most likely life-threatening, at the request of the mother. McCoy did not want this information to be known by the defense, as they were prosecuting the killer. He expected Cutter, who leaned more towards pro-life, to possibly let the information out, but it was Connie who did it. I bring this story up because they used her character in this situation to exhibit what a perfect balance the show was politically. Despite her personal beliefs, you could see the inner struggle that Connie went through in this case. I give credit for how great this was to both the writer and Alana's acting.
Of course, even with all her good qualities, Connie made her share of faux pas over the years. Don't we all. I'd say the most glaring error was getting involved with former DA office worker, Marcus Woll. I already talked about him when I talked about an episode he was in. To refresh, he was pretty much the worst. Just an awful person. Not even close to being good enough for our sweet Connie. And she paid for her mistake. One payment might have been when she got duped - Yeah, I said duped! - into defending this really obnoxious guy who was clearly guilty. This put her at odds with the people she normally worked alongside, making them opponents. It was vicious. But, despite, the occasional oopsy, Connie Rubirosa was a shining example of what a lawyer can and should be. No wonder they let her move out to California for Law & Order:LA.
I will wrap this up by saying, once again, I love this character and I love the woman who played. For real, she is getting the slow clap. You know what I mean. The 80's and 90's sports movie slow clap? Oh, yeah. She is totally getting that. I, honestly, never failed to be entertained by her. She was a strong, intelligent, funny, beautiful woman, and she brought a special light to Law & Order that it needed.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Law & Order Character Profile: Nina Cassady
Greetings,
For a show that has done so much for female characters, it's rather surprising that they only had one actual female detective on the original series. (Van Buren doesn't count because she was a lieutenant) So, when Season 17 rolled around, they decided to break from the tradition of the old dude/young dude partnerships and get a girl in there. For a little while. Welcome, Nina Cassady.
Nina Cassady was portrayed by Milena Govich for only one season. She was brought in to replace Fontana, against the wishes of Lt. Van Buren, who had someone all picked out for the job. Someone with much more experience. Cassady had just been put in Homicide after she was involved in a shootout in a beauty parlor, causing many to dub her "Detective Beauty Queen". Because for what other reason are we on this Earth than to sell newspaper for others. Well, Cassady was not a fan of the nickname, nor the shades of condescension lingering over it. She felt as though she had a tough enough time as a female cop, and she didn't want anyone undermining her abilities. You'd think that Van Buren would be more understanding of this, and she is. But her problem with Cassady is not because she's a woman; it's because she was very quick tempered and, dare I say it, a loose cannon.
Yes, that is a title given to several cops on this show, and Cassady certainly earns it. Even in her short time on the show, she does lose her cool more than a few times, sometimes causing major problems with investigations. Okay, that's not good, but each time she reacted this way, I kind of understood. Although, I guess I did so more from the perspective of a woman wanting to be respected, but one must realize that keeping yourself in check for the good of putting away the bad guys and helping victims might be something for which we want to aim. I suppose I can see how some of her colleagues had issues with her, but Green seemed to be rather patient with her. As best he could, anyway. I, personally, am not qualified to stand in judgement of someone being quick tempered. Not at all.
All of this behavior continues off and on, right up until her last episode. She kind of provokes a suspect into losing his temper and throwing a chair at the window. And he broke it! Well, there you go, New Yorkers. Your tax dollars just paid for some criminal's temper tantrum. Moving on. Whilst Cassady does make a major faux pas that really ticked off her superiors, she kind of redeemed herself on the stand in court. She kept her composure and did very well. I admired the performance, both from the character and the actress.
Once Season 18 rolled around, Nina Cassady was nowhere to be found. She seriously just fell off the show, because they really never mentioned her again. Like, nothing at all, which is a little mean. But whatever, I guess. I'm also not sure that a lot of people had time to warm up to her, and I'm not sure why. Maybe they didn't like her being so sassy, maybe they didn't like the idea of her as a woman, which is lame. I don't know. Personally, I did like her. It took a few episodes for me to get used to her, but I eventually did. I'm sure that, had she been given more time, I would have liked her even more. Actually, she really endeared herself to me in her first episode, when she told Not Britney Spears to stop smoking around her baby. Because I think bad parenting needs to be called out...always. Anyway, I also really enjoyed the actress. It can't be easy coming onto an established show and stepping into a role that is usually filled by a man, but I think Milena Govich did a fine job. I found both her and her character very refreshing. Gotta love a character who has an attitude of "Yeah, I'm a girl. Whaddya gonna do about it?!" Girl power, indeed.
So, in closing, hats off to Nina Cassady and Milena Govich. In my opinion, this character brought something new to the series, and it helped that she was played very well. And no matter what any critic says, she's still the first and only lady detective, so they can't take that status away from her, and they never should.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
For a show that has done so much for female characters, it's rather surprising that they only had one actual female detective on the original series. (Van Buren doesn't count because she was a lieutenant) So, when Season 17 rolled around, they decided to break from the tradition of the old dude/young dude partnerships and get a girl in there. For a little while. Welcome, Nina Cassady.
Nina Cassady was portrayed by Milena Govich for only one season. She was brought in to replace Fontana, against the wishes of Lt. Van Buren, who had someone all picked out for the job. Someone with much more experience. Cassady had just been put in Homicide after she was involved in a shootout in a beauty parlor, causing many to dub her "Detective Beauty Queen". Because for what other reason are we on this Earth than to sell newspaper for others. Well, Cassady was not a fan of the nickname, nor the shades of condescension lingering over it. She felt as though she had a tough enough time as a female cop, and she didn't want anyone undermining her abilities. You'd think that Van Buren would be more understanding of this, and she is. But her problem with Cassady is not because she's a woman; it's because she was very quick tempered and, dare I say it, a loose cannon.
Yes, that is a title given to several cops on this show, and Cassady certainly earns it. Even in her short time on the show, she does lose her cool more than a few times, sometimes causing major problems with investigations. Okay, that's not good, but each time she reacted this way, I kind of understood. Although, I guess I did so more from the perspective of a woman wanting to be respected, but one must realize that keeping yourself in check for the good of putting away the bad guys and helping victims might be something for which we want to aim. I suppose I can see how some of her colleagues had issues with her, but Green seemed to be rather patient with her. As best he could, anyway. I, personally, am not qualified to stand in judgement of someone being quick tempered. Not at all.
All of this behavior continues off and on, right up until her last episode. She kind of provokes a suspect into losing his temper and throwing a chair at the window. And he broke it! Well, there you go, New Yorkers. Your tax dollars just paid for some criminal's temper tantrum. Moving on. Whilst Cassady does make a major faux pas that really ticked off her superiors, she kind of redeemed herself on the stand in court. She kept her composure and did very well. I admired the performance, both from the character and the actress.
Once Season 18 rolled around, Nina Cassady was nowhere to be found. She seriously just fell off the show, because they really never mentioned her again. Like, nothing at all, which is a little mean. But whatever, I guess. I'm also not sure that a lot of people had time to warm up to her, and I'm not sure why. Maybe they didn't like her being so sassy, maybe they didn't like the idea of her as a woman, which is lame. I don't know. Personally, I did like her. It took a few episodes for me to get used to her, but I eventually did. I'm sure that, had she been given more time, I would have liked her even more. Actually, she really endeared herself to me in her first episode, when she told Not Britney Spears to stop smoking around her baby. Because I think bad parenting needs to be called out...always. Anyway, I also really enjoyed the actress. It can't be easy coming onto an established show and stepping into a role that is usually filled by a man, but I think Milena Govich did a fine job. I found both her and her character very refreshing. Gotta love a character who has an attitude of "Yeah, I'm a girl. Whaddya gonna do about it?!" Girl power, indeed.
So, in closing, hats off to Nina Cassady and Milena Govich. In my opinion, this character brought something new to the series, and it helped that she was played very well. And no matter what any critic says, she's still the first and only lady detective, so they can't take that status away from her, and they never should.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Monday, October 27, 2014
Top 100 Law & Order Episodes: 20-11
Greetings,
Welcome back to the Top 100 Episodes of Law & Order list. We are slowly, but surely inching our way to the top today with Numbers 20 through 11.
#20. "Fame" (Season 17) - Okay, let's get this over with. "Hi, Britney and Kevin". Yeah, not even attempting to be vague this time, something fierce. But, look on the bright side, former Mr. and Mrs. Ferderline. At least you two were never accused of murder. As far as I know. Anyway, this plot revolves around a pretty, blonde starlet and her on-again-off-again wannabe rapper husband, being called into question for a lot of things. Their parenting, for one, which is nothing new for them, but also their possible involvement in a shooting. So, I guess things in real life could have been much worse.
#19. "Rumble" (Season 19) - Rumble? Look, I know we're in New York here, but we're not in West Side Story. Trouble starts when a man drops dead after having been involved in a group fight thing. A Fight Club, I guess. Not that you heard it from me. Of course, the police get some evidence because no one can't record things and put them on the internet. Well, the one fight leads to a bigger one with even worse consequences, not to mention some creative prosecution. Also, we get an appearance from one of my favorite, underrated actors, Pablo Schreiber. As per usual, he does not disappoint.
#18. "Charity Case" (Season 17) - In this episode, the husband of a famous actress is murdered on the street, and it all leads back to her shady adoption of a kid from another country. Who could that "actress" be? Anyway, we find out that the adoption got even shadier, to say the least, once they returned back to the States. This is also another cautionary tale - or is it? - concerning who we leave our children with and do we leave our children with others so often that we don't even recognize them when we see them again. That's not a joke. That's a plot point.
#17. "Swept Away-A Very Special Episode" (Season 11) - I remember watching The Real World, a show I had to stop watching once I was too old to be on it. Because...you know. If you ever did watch it, you'll know that there was always that one roommate. THAT ONE! Well, as a "Real World-like but not called that" reality show is being taped in an apartment, one of the roommates - that one - goes flying off the roof of the building. There are many suspects, because everyone hated him, but even when they find the guilty party, he might not be the only one to blame. Oh, and if you really hate Hollywood types who only care about money and ratings and whatnot, you might want to stay away from walls when you watch this. You will feel the need to punch one.
#16. "Panic" (Season 10) - This episode terrifies me. Why? Because a writer gets shot. NO! Okay, she gets shot, but her agent gets shot and killed. Everyone believes she was the intended target, and they are right. All of this leads to some revealing secrets about her personal life. I tell you, though, the thing that really makes this episode special is the stellar guest cast. We get the great Tom Berenger, Linda Emond, who has brilliantly played countless characters in the Law & Order universe, and the wonderful Ruthie Henshall, best known for her theater work and - wait a minute. In this Top 100 list, I have talked about guest appearances by Judy Kuhn, Patti Lupone and now Ruthie Henshall. Apparently, a criteria for getting on this show is being able to sing "I Dreamed a Dream" better than Anne Hathaway. Darn! I knew I should have auditioned.
#15. "Sixth Man" (Season 15) - I really don't know what went through the minds of the people behind in this episode. I mean, an arrogant, pro-athlete with some serious temper problems getting charged with a crime? Wow, writers, why don't you just go work for The X-Files with that nonsense? Kidding aside, I don't know exactly how much of this is based on an actual story, but I think it's safe to say that, if nothing else, it teaches us what can happen if people are constantly allowed to get away with things.
#14. "Bogeyman" (Season 18) - In this episode, a man is convinced that a cult he and his wife were once a part of is coming after them, trying to ruin their lives. Is that what the cult is doing? Maybe. Probably. I don't know. All I do know is that this episode features an actor by the name of Daniel London. I love this guy and when I hear the word "underrated", he is one of the things that comes to my mind. Seriously, a lot of what makes this episode great is his performance.
#13. "Killerz" (Season 10) - What is up with the spelling in some of these titles? Well, this is about kids, and kids can't spell apparently. You know what they can do, though? Kill other kids. Sadly, we do have kids killing kids in this one, and it's awful. I did learn one thing, though. It would seem that it is frowned upon to diagnose children with sociopathy. Um...why? I understand that we all tend to grow and change as we get older, both physically and mentally. But there's being immature, and then there's killing people. Yes, maybe spotting this early is a good idea. I mean, I am not a fan of undisciplined children, and this is rather beyond that.
#12. "Couples" (Season 13) - Four homicides and a kidnapping in one episode! Now that's what I call a day at the office. It's amazing. We get the cops driving around a drunk guy, a woman running over her ex with her car and Lennie delivering a baby. And that was just scratching the surface. Just...thank you. I say "thank you" both for the episode and for cops who probably have to go through this for real.
#11. "Reality Bites" (Season 20) - I think the writers of this episode had a fight, because one of them wanted to do a Jon and Kate Plus Eight story and the other wanted an Octomom story. And it was draw because we got both. So, Jim Gaffigan (Yes, we get some awesome Jim Gaffigan) is the father of several adopted children with special needs. His wife is murdered, and he becomes a suspect, of course. Another suspect is a women with ten kids that she had "naturally". And she is played hilariously by Nina Lisandrello. Why is she a suspect? Well, the two families were competing for a reality show. Yes, we are talking about reality television again. Why not? That's where the crazy people are. Apparently.
Join me next time for the final installment.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Welcome back to the Top 100 Episodes of Law & Order list. We are slowly, but surely inching our way to the top today with Numbers 20 through 11.
#20. "Fame" (Season 17) - Okay, let's get this over with. "Hi, Britney and Kevin". Yeah, not even attempting to be vague this time, something fierce. But, look on the bright side, former Mr. and Mrs. Ferderline. At least you two were never accused of murder. As far as I know. Anyway, this plot revolves around a pretty, blonde starlet and her on-again-off-again wannabe rapper husband, being called into question for a lot of things. Their parenting, for one, which is nothing new for them, but also their possible involvement in a shooting. So, I guess things in real life could have been much worse.
#19. "Rumble" (Season 19) - Rumble? Look, I know we're in New York here, but we're not in West Side Story. Trouble starts when a man drops dead after having been involved in a group fight thing. A Fight Club, I guess. Not that you heard it from me. Of course, the police get some evidence because no one can't record things and put them on the internet. Well, the one fight leads to a bigger one with even worse consequences, not to mention some creative prosecution. Also, we get an appearance from one of my favorite, underrated actors, Pablo Schreiber. As per usual, he does not disappoint.
#18. "Charity Case" (Season 17) - In this episode, the husband of a famous actress is murdered on the street, and it all leads back to her shady adoption of a kid from another country. Who could that "actress" be? Anyway, we find out that the adoption got even shadier, to say the least, once they returned back to the States. This is also another cautionary tale - or is it? - concerning who we leave our children with and do we leave our children with others so often that we don't even recognize them when we see them again. That's not a joke. That's a plot point.
#17. "Swept Away-A Very Special Episode" (Season 11) - I remember watching The Real World, a show I had to stop watching once I was too old to be on it. Because...you know. If you ever did watch it, you'll know that there was always that one roommate. THAT ONE! Well, as a "Real World-like but not called that" reality show is being taped in an apartment, one of the roommates - that one - goes flying off the roof of the building. There are many suspects, because everyone hated him, but even when they find the guilty party, he might not be the only one to blame. Oh, and if you really hate Hollywood types who only care about money and ratings and whatnot, you might want to stay away from walls when you watch this. You will feel the need to punch one.
#16. "Panic" (Season 10) - This episode terrifies me. Why? Because a writer gets shot. NO! Okay, she gets shot, but her agent gets shot and killed. Everyone believes she was the intended target, and they are right. All of this leads to some revealing secrets about her personal life. I tell you, though, the thing that really makes this episode special is the stellar guest cast. We get the great Tom Berenger, Linda Emond, who has brilliantly played countless characters in the Law & Order universe, and the wonderful Ruthie Henshall, best known for her theater work and - wait a minute. In this Top 100 list, I have talked about guest appearances by Judy Kuhn, Patti Lupone and now Ruthie Henshall. Apparently, a criteria for getting on this show is being able to sing "I Dreamed a Dream" better than Anne Hathaway. Darn! I knew I should have auditioned.
#15. "Sixth Man" (Season 15) - I really don't know what went through the minds of the people behind in this episode. I mean, an arrogant, pro-athlete with some serious temper problems getting charged with a crime? Wow, writers, why don't you just go work for The X-Files with that nonsense? Kidding aside, I don't know exactly how much of this is based on an actual story, but I think it's safe to say that, if nothing else, it teaches us what can happen if people are constantly allowed to get away with things.
#14. "Bogeyman" (Season 18) - In this episode, a man is convinced that a cult he and his wife were once a part of is coming after them, trying to ruin their lives. Is that what the cult is doing? Maybe. Probably. I don't know. All I do know is that this episode features an actor by the name of Daniel London. I love this guy and when I hear the word "underrated", he is one of the things that comes to my mind. Seriously, a lot of what makes this episode great is his performance.
#13. "Killerz" (Season 10) - What is up with the spelling in some of these titles? Well, this is about kids, and kids can't spell apparently. You know what they can do, though? Kill other kids. Sadly, we do have kids killing kids in this one, and it's awful. I did learn one thing, though. It would seem that it is frowned upon to diagnose children with sociopathy. Um...why? I understand that we all tend to grow and change as we get older, both physically and mentally. But there's being immature, and then there's killing people. Yes, maybe spotting this early is a good idea. I mean, I am not a fan of undisciplined children, and this is rather beyond that.
#12. "Couples" (Season 13) - Four homicides and a kidnapping in one episode! Now that's what I call a day at the office. It's amazing. We get the cops driving around a drunk guy, a woman running over her ex with her car and Lennie delivering a baby. And that was just scratching the surface. Just...thank you. I say "thank you" both for the episode and for cops who probably have to go through this for real.
#11. "Reality Bites" (Season 20) - I think the writers of this episode had a fight, because one of them wanted to do a Jon and Kate Plus Eight story and the other wanted an Octomom story. And it was draw because we got both. So, Jim Gaffigan (Yes, we get some awesome Jim Gaffigan) is the father of several adopted children with special needs. His wife is murdered, and he becomes a suspect, of course. Another suspect is a women with ten kids that she had "naturally". And she is played hilariously by Nina Lisandrello. Why is she a suspect? Well, the two families were competing for a reality show. Yes, we are talking about reality television again. Why not? That's where the crazy people are. Apparently.
Join me next time for the final installment.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Law & Order Character Profile: Nick Falco
Greetings,
This post might be rather short. Very short. Why? Well, this "main character who got his name AND picture in the opening credits" was only that for four episodes. Okay, he also came back a season later for another, but it doesn't count. So here's a question: What the heck was up with Nick Falco?
Nick Falco was portrayed by Michael Imperioli for the tail end of Season 15 as a temporary replacement for Detective Green who got shot/Jesse L. Martin who was filming Rent. And that, apparently, warranted him a "starring" role. I am convinced that Dick Wolf called in a favor so that he wouldn't have to get a relatively unknown actor to temp for him. Although, that is exactly what he did when Eames went off to have a baby on Criminal Intent, but I digress.
Okay, what do I know about Nick Falco? Not much. He had two kids, bit of a loose cannon cop but not too much, and he was studying to become a lawyer. I guess if we want to count that extra fifth episode when he was no longer a main character, I can tell you about him being investigated for the murder of a woman who was found dead in his apartment. He was desperate to help with his own investigation to prove his innocence, which they did not allow. So, to be clear, we are not living by the philosophy of The Ministry in The Avengers ('98, BTW). Of course, he didn't listen much and almost wrecked the whole thing. As you do. And that's about all I know about Falco.
Look, as far as I know, most people were not fond of this character. I don't know how one forms an opinion based on such a short run. To me, he was just a guy who was there until Green came back. I didn't dislike him, but I also had to opportunity to get to know. But I will credit where it's dues, as always. Michael Imperioli is a fine actor, and he did a fine job with what he was given. So, I'll end this by saying "Thank you" to Mr. Imperioli. He stepped in when he was needed and did a nice thing so Law & Order could continue. Good man.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
This post might be rather short. Very short. Why? Well, this "main character who got his name AND picture in the opening credits" was only that for four episodes. Okay, he also came back a season later for another, but it doesn't count. So here's a question: What the heck was up with Nick Falco?
Nick Falco was portrayed by Michael Imperioli for the tail end of Season 15 as a temporary replacement for Detective Green who got shot/Jesse L. Martin who was filming Rent. And that, apparently, warranted him a "starring" role. I am convinced that Dick Wolf called in a favor so that he wouldn't have to get a relatively unknown actor to temp for him. Although, that is exactly what he did when Eames went off to have a baby on Criminal Intent, but I digress.
Okay, what do I know about Nick Falco? Not much. He had two kids, bit of a loose cannon cop but not too much, and he was studying to become a lawyer. I guess if we want to count that extra fifth episode when he was no longer a main character, I can tell you about him being investigated for the murder of a woman who was found dead in his apartment. He was desperate to help with his own investigation to prove his innocence, which they did not allow. So, to be clear, we are not living by the philosophy of The Ministry in The Avengers ('98, BTW). Of course, he didn't listen much and almost wrecked the whole thing. As you do. And that's about all I know about Falco.
Look, as far as I know, most people were not fond of this character. I don't know how one forms an opinion based on such a short run. To me, he was just a guy who was there until Green came back. I didn't dislike him, but I also had to opportunity to get to know. But I will credit where it's dues, as always. Michael Imperioli is a fine actor, and he did a fine job with what he was given. So, I'll end this by saying "Thank you" to Mr. Imperioli. He stepped in when he was needed and did a nice thing so Law & Order could continue. Good man.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Law & Order Character Profile: Alexandra Borgia
Greetings,
Okay, I mentioned that when a few new people came on Law & Order, they had a tough act to follow. But I think is the only occasion where someone was going to be loved no matter what just because she wasn't the girl who came before her. That's right. We're talking about Alex Borgia.
Alex Borgia was portrayed by Annie Parisse from the middle of Season 15 to the end of Season 16, making her the ADA with the shortest lifespan on the show. Now, if you're wondering why she came in mid-season, it's because she was replacing Serena Southerlyn. As you may recall, a lot of the Law & Order audience was not crazy about Serena. So, basically, Alex could have just sat in a corner doing crossword puzzles and people were going to enjoy her because she was not Serena. Thankfully, she did not do that, and I legitimately did enjoy her, even without comparisons.
I often speak of the strong women of Law & Order, but Alex Borgia was a bit different. Yes, she was strong when she needed to be, but it was also in a more timid and quiet way. I think it was because she generally came of as non-confrontational. For the most part, she did what she was told, never adding to the tension that could permeate through the DA's office. Still, if Alex had something to say she said it. In fact, due to her successful work and preparation in previous cases, she had earned a ton of respect from police officers and lawyers alike. So, she was not be messed with.
If I am forced to make a comparison, especially when it comes to politics and faith, I'd say Alex a gentler version of Abbie Carmichael. So, she is very Conservative, and, while her personal beliefs do not get involved in her work much, she does not think that any criminal is beyond redemption. Not that it stops her from going to battle with a defendant she thinks is guilty. Still, if I had to pick a word for her, I would choose compassionate. Alex, though always holding fast to the law, was very much willing to go to bat for victims. It's another thing that gains her a lot of respect. But, besides all that, she just seemed so polite and nice and sweet. Some people with whom I've spoken felt as though she had a little sister-y vibe to her. Like we all wanted to protect her and not let anyone mess with her. Ever. And that makes what happened to her all the more tragic.
The reason that Alex Borgia departed at the end of Season 16 is because she was murdered. And it was downright awful. First, she got kidnapped, and everyone was working their tails off to find her. Well, Green and Fontana did find her, but not the way they wanted to. I won't go into details too much, but it was brutal and terrible. I don't know if anyone was expecting that. Of course, that pushed everyone into high gear to get the people who did this do her, especially Jack McCoy. Though the circumstances were different, you could see that this was giving him flashbacks to when Claire passed away. I almost think he felt better this time, because at least he had someone to blame and punish for it. I know Alex wasn't on the show for long, but it was still a tearjerker for me.
As I said before, due to the circumstances, Annie Parisse could have come in, rested on her laurels and been okay, but she did not. She did a great job with the limited time she was given. And she managed to create a character that held up the tradition of strong women, but, nonetheless, a woman who was strong in a unique way. If you ask me, that's worth quite a lot.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Okay, I mentioned that when a few new people came on Law & Order, they had a tough act to follow. But I think is the only occasion where someone was going to be loved no matter what just because she wasn't the girl who came before her. That's right. We're talking about Alex Borgia.
Alex Borgia was portrayed by Annie Parisse from the middle of Season 15 to the end of Season 16, making her the ADA with the shortest lifespan on the show. Now, if you're wondering why she came in mid-season, it's because she was replacing Serena Southerlyn. As you may recall, a lot of the Law & Order audience was not crazy about Serena. So, basically, Alex could have just sat in a corner doing crossword puzzles and people were going to enjoy her because she was not Serena. Thankfully, she did not do that, and I legitimately did enjoy her, even without comparisons.
I often speak of the strong women of Law & Order, but Alex Borgia was a bit different. Yes, she was strong when she needed to be, but it was also in a more timid and quiet way. I think it was because she generally came of as non-confrontational. For the most part, she did what she was told, never adding to the tension that could permeate through the DA's office. Still, if Alex had something to say she said it. In fact, due to her successful work and preparation in previous cases, she had earned a ton of respect from police officers and lawyers alike. So, she was not be messed with.
If I am forced to make a comparison, especially when it comes to politics and faith, I'd say Alex a gentler version of Abbie Carmichael. So, she is very Conservative, and, while her personal beliefs do not get involved in her work much, she does not think that any criminal is beyond redemption. Not that it stops her from going to battle with a defendant she thinks is guilty. Still, if I had to pick a word for her, I would choose compassionate. Alex, though always holding fast to the law, was very much willing to go to bat for victims. It's another thing that gains her a lot of respect. But, besides all that, she just seemed so polite and nice and sweet. Some people with whom I've spoken felt as though she had a little sister-y vibe to her. Like we all wanted to protect her and not let anyone mess with her. Ever. And that makes what happened to her all the more tragic.
The reason that Alex Borgia departed at the end of Season 16 is because she was murdered. And it was downright awful. First, she got kidnapped, and everyone was working their tails off to find her. Well, Green and Fontana did find her, but not the way they wanted to. I won't go into details too much, but it was brutal and terrible. I don't know if anyone was expecting that. Of course, that pushed everyone into high gear to get the people who did this do her, especially Jack McCoy. Though the circumstances were different, you could see that this was giving him flashbacks to when Claire passed away. I almost think he felt better this time, because at least he had someone to blame and punish for it. I know Alex wasn't on the show for long, but it was still a tearjerker for me.
As I said before, due to the circumstances, Annie Parisse could have come in, rested on her laurels and been okay, but she did not. She did a great job with the limited time she was given. And she managed to create a character that held up the tradition of strong women, but, nonetheless, a woman who was strong in a unique way. If you ask me, that's worth quite a lot.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Law & Order Character Profile: Joe Fontana
Greetings,
When new characters arrive on Law & Order, no matter how great they are, some of them have tough acts to follow. I don't think anyone had to deal with this more than Joe Fontana.
Joe Fontana was portrayed by the late, great Dennis Farina for Seasons 15 and 16. Which means he came in when Lennie Briscoe/Jerry Orbach left, after an eleven year run. And he was much loved during those eleven years. So, whomever they got to replace him was going to have a hard time. The good news is they didn't just get anyone; the bad news is that even another legendary actor needed time for the audience to warm up to him. Personally, I've always loved Dennis Farina. He just always seemed like a regular guy, and I mean that in the best way. But even I had to get used to somebody knew. It didn't take too long for me.
Fontana was from Chicago, where he was once a cop. Apparently, he left to do some conflict with someone he worked for. Wow, a lot of people on this show has issues with authority. Odd, considering how many people see them as authority. He also worked in The Bronx in Homicide before he started at the 27th Precinct. Immediately, he came across as quite different, not only from his predecessor, but from most cops. This was mainly due to his financial situation. And that situation was that he had very many finances. Whilst most cops on the show would classify themselves as blue collar, Fontana was rich, basically, and he was not afraid to show it off. For one thing, he had a Benz, and, on one occasion, he manged to get some blood on his $300 Italian shirt. His attitude to that was just "Oh, well. Whatever". And don't even get me started on the Gucci loafer incident. Of course, everyone was quick to assume he was shady or crooked or anything else they can think of, even Detective Green. It became obvious, though, that he just happened to have a lot of money. Personally, I think he was just a rich businessman, who woke up one day and thought, "I'm bored. I think I'll start being a cop". Why not?
We didn't learn a whole lot about Fontana during his time on the show. Most of it was in passing, more so than with most characters. He was a very proud and 'in touch with his roots' Italian, and he enjoyed hunting occasionally. Yeah, that went over really well with some of his co-workers. He also seemed to have a very protective nature when it came to everyone, from the victims to his own partner. He was very angry and emotional when Green was shot, and seeing how it affected him showed how close they had become as friends. I think it was that attribute that made it easier for people to embrace him.
Still, Fontana's mission to come to the rescue of victims could sometimes get a little out of hand. Most notable was the incident where he, in order to get a confession, may have put a guy's head in the toilet...a few times...ish. Look, he was just trying to keep the tradition of kind of rogue but still good-hearted cops on this show alive and kicking. Good job. Plus, he was pretty old school. Not just with his policeman techniques, but also with his choice of insults. You tell me where else on TV you can hear someone use the words "little jerk" and "big dummy" with such poise and finesse. Nowhere! Good times, indeed.
At the end of Season 16, Joe Fontana left the show with the simple explanation of retirement. In reality, Dennis Farina just wanted to move onto other things. And he certainly did. He did some more movies, one of which being a fantastic performance in Authors Anonymous, and he also did some more TV, like a recurring role on New Girl. Sadly, in 2013, Dennis Farina passed away. It was sad and a little unexpected. He was only 69, which I consider relatively young, but you never know. Still, he had a wonderful legacy to look back on, and you could certainly see how much respect people had for him as an actor and a person. I am truly grateful that, within that amazing resume, he decided to put in some Law & Order. And I still enjoy what he brought to it.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
When new characters arrive on Law & Order, no matter how great they are, some of them have tough acts to follow. I don't think anyone had to deal with this more than Joe Fontana.
Joe Fontana was portrayed by the late, great Dennis Farina for Seasons 15 and 16. Which means he came in when Lennie Briscoe/Jerry Orbach left, after an eleven year run. And he was much loved during those eleven years. So, whomever they got to replace him was going to have a hard time. The good news is they didn't just get anyone; the bad news is that even another legendary actor needed time for the audience to warm up to him. Personally, I've always loved Dennis Farina. He just always seemed like a regular guy, and I mean that in the best way. But even I had to get used to somebody knew. It didn't take too long for me.
Fontana was from Chicago, where he was once a cop. Apparently, he left to do some conflict with someone he worked for. Wow, a lot of people on this show has issues with authority. Odd, considering how many people see them as authority. He also worked in The Bronx in Homicide before he started at the 27th Precinct. Immediately, he came across as quite different, not only from his predecessor, but from most cops. This was mainly due to his financial situation. And that situation was that he had very many finances. Whilst most cops on the show would classify themselves as blue collar, Fontana was rich, basically, and he was not afraid to show it off. For one thing, he had a Benz, and, on one occasion, he manged to get some blood on his $300 Italian shirt. His attitude to that was just "Oh, well. Whatever". And don't even get me started on the Gucci loafer incident. Of course, everyone was quick to assume he was shady or crooked or anything else they can think of, even Detective Green. It became obvious, though, that he just happened to have a lot of money. Personally, I think he was just a rich businessman, who woke up one day and thought, "I'm bored. I think I'll start being a cop". Why not?
We didn't learn a whole lot about Fontana during his time on the show. Most of it was in passing, more so than with most characters. He was a very proud and 'in touch with his roots' Italian, and he enjoyed hunting occasionally. Yeah, that went over really well with some of his co-workers. He also seemed to have a very protective nature when it came to everyone, from the victims to his own partner. He was very angry and emotional when Green was shot, and seeing how it affected him showed how close they had become as friends. I think it was that attribute that made it easier for people to embrace him.
Still, Fontana's mission to come to the rescue of victims could sometimes get a little out of hand. Most notable was the incident where he, in order to get a confession, may have put a guy's head in the toilet...a few times...ish. Look, he was just trying to keep the tradition of kind of rogue but still good-hearted cops on this show alive and kicking. Good job. Plus, he was pretty old school. Not just with his policeman techniques, but also with his choice of insults. You tell me where else on TV you can hear someone use the words "little jerk" and "big dummy" with such poise and finesse. Nowhere! Good times, indeed.
At the end of Season 16, Joe Fontana left the show with the simple explanation of retirement. In reality, Dennis Farina just wanted to move onto other things. And he certainly did. He did some more movies, one of which being a fantastic performance in Authors Anonymous, and he also did some more TV, like a recurring role on New Girl. Sadly, in 2013, Dennis Farina passed away. It was sad and a little unexpected. He was only 69, which I consider relatively young, but you never know. Still, he had a wonderful legacy to look back on, and you could certainly see how much respect people had for him as an actor and a person. I am truly grateful that, within that amazing resume, he decided to put in some Law & Order. And I still enjoy what he brought to it.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
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