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
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Friday, October 24, 2014
Top 100 Law & Order Episodes: 30-21
Greetings,
Welcome back. And now for Numbers 30 through 21 of my Top 100 Law & Order episodes.
#30. "Helpless" (Season 3) - I mentioned this episode when talking about the character of Dr. Elizabeth Olivet. I said she should have been a full-on, picture in the opening, main character. This episode is one of the reasons why. It is centered around her and her, let's say, ordeal whilst visiting her gynecologist. Yeah, you can guess what happened. Carolyn McCormack is fantastic in this, and she deserves more props than she gets.
#29. "Family Hour" (Season 17) - In this episode, Harry Hamlin plays this politician with a seriously messed up family. We're talking drugs, abuse, murder, the whole nine. And Jeffrey Tambor plays this judge who is kind of insane in this emotionally unstable way. I can't even describe it. But the strangest casting in this is that of Jeremy Sisto. He's playing the defense. Okay, what's wrong? Well, this is the final episode of Season 17. He is introduced as Detective Lupo in the Season 18 premiere. Maybe you can get away with that when there are several months in between, but this is an age of marathons and binge watching. People will be confused. Still entertaining though.
#28. "Innocence" (Season 20) - It's not good when your past catches up with you, and that is exactly what happens to the lovely Michael Cutter in this episode. He has to go up against a former law professor of his, played deliciously vicious by Amy Madigan, who works for an organization that helps get innocent people out of jail. I know that makes her sound not vicious, but her tactics are questionable and she drags in her students. Well, when threatened, she attacks back...intensely. Even career ruiningly. Yeah, new word there.
#27. "Sweetie" (Season 19) - The author of a very successful and provocative autobiography is murdered, and this leads to an investigation where his validity as a writer is called into question. Keep an eye on Vivica Fox in this one. She's pretty stellar, especially in the last few moments. Here's something weird, though. This story is based on an actual author whose book became a movie featuring Jeremy Sisto. Whoa, that's quite a paradox.
#26. "Thin Ice" (Season 11) - Did I mention that I hate sports? Because I do, and I do for a lot of reasons. One reason is that some people are insane where sports are concerned, even violent, even deadly. Of course, I understand that the latter of those things are the exception. They are good decent people who like and are involved in sports. But they don't make for good episodes of Law & Order. No, we need to focus on the folks who kill coaches for whatever reason. Funny thing, this is hockey we're talking about, hence the "ice" in the title, because sometimes we must be obvious. But isn't hockey from Canada and aren't all Canadians super nice? What is wrong with the world?
#25. "Bad Faith" (Season 5) - On several occasions, religion is the topic of choice for an episode. Here, it is Catholicism, and yes, they will dealing with exactly what you think. The reason this one stands out, though, is because it centers around Mike Logan, who was raised in the Catholic church. One of his friends dies of an apparent suicide, and all of this leads back to a priest who abused a bunch of boys that Logan knew, as well as Logan himself. We often get reasons as to why people are how they are. I think this may have had a serious affect on Mike Logan.
#24. "Persona Non Gratae" (Season 18) - Some people may refer to Law & Order as being cutting edge in some areas. For example, the plot is about people lying about who they are on the internet. That's right. They were dealing with people "catfishing" before "catfishing" was even a thing. Okay, to be fair, this was based on an actual case but with the standard twist we usually get. Although, the reason this episode stands out for me because of one thing - Melissa Leo. She is so good in this. She does straight-up crazy very well.
#23. "Homesick" (Season 6) - I'm all for women being able to do whatever they want in life. I think they can have a family or a career or both, if that's what they want. Of course, if you want both, you might need a little help. Enter a nanny, or, in this case, an au pair. Just make sure that she is...Okay, I'm going to stop dancing around this. We have a baby dying in this one again. That part, I hate, but the rest is good. So, baby passes on and top suspect is the nany. Oh, sorry. I mean, the British au pair. I never would have guessed. Pretty good twist in this one, though. Also, we get the magnificence of Patti LuPone. I wish she was playing a singing defense attorney, but I'll take it either way.
#22. "Life Choice" (Season 1) - Well, that's an interesting combination of words for the title of this episode, considering it's subject. Here, we are dealing with the very controversial subject of abortion. In fact, this is considered the first, and perhaps the most, controversial episode of the entire series. I consider myself pro-life, but when people decide to bomb clinics and kill doctors, it disgusts me. Needless to say, this causes much tension on the show, which is what makes it all so gripping. It's just a very, very well done episode.
#21. "Vendetta" (Season 14) - Remember back in 2003, when that guy tried to catch a foul ball at a Cubs game, and he immediately became a pariah, even though he wasn't the only one who reached for the flippin' ball? Remember that?! Well, here, a guy is killed in a bar fight, and he turns out to be someone who tried to catch a foul ball at a Mets game, which caused them to lose a very important game. As Lennie said, the suspect list was "the greater New York phone book". Funny, because he appears to be a New Yorker still upset the whole thing. Anyway, this dead guy had been harassed big time, but, as per usual, the plot twists us to a completely different motive for the killing. Still, there's another reason to hate the sports.
Join me next time.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Welcome back. And now for Numbers 30 through 21 of my Top 100 Law & Order episodes.
#30. "Helpless" (Season 3) - I mentioned this episode when talking about the character of Dr. Elizabeth Olivet. I said she should have been a full-on, picture in the opening, main character. This episode is one of the reasons why. It is centered around her and her, let's say, ordeal whilst visiting her gynecologist. Yeah, you can guess what happened. Carolyn McCormack is fantastic in this, and she deserves more props than she gets.
#29. "Family Hour" (Season 17) - In this episode, Harry Hamlin plays this politician with a seriously messed up family. We're talking drugs, abuse, murder, the whole nine. And Jeffrey Tambor plays this judge who is kind of insane in this emotionally unstable way. I can't even describe it. But the strangest casting in this is that of Jeremy Sisto. He's playing the defense. Okay, what's wrong? Well, this is the final episode of Season 17. He is introduced as Detective Lupo in the Season 18 premiere. Maybe you can get away with that when there are several months in between, but this is an age of marathons and binge watching. People will be confused. Still entertaining though.
#28. "Innocence" (Season 20) - It's not good when your past catches up with you, and that is exactly what happens to the lovely Michael Cutter in this episode. He has to go up against a former law professor of his, played deliciously vicious by Amy Madigan, who works for an organization that helps get innocent people out of jail. I know that makes her sound not vicious, but her tactics are questionable and she drags in her students. Well, when threatened, she attacks back...intensely. Even career ruiningly. Yeah, new word there.
#27. "Sweetie" (Season 19) - The author of a very successful and provocative autobiography is murdered, and this leads to an investigation where his validity as a writer is called into question. Keep an eye on Vivica Fox in this one. She's pretty stellar, especially in the last few moments. Here's something weird, though. This story is based on an actual author whose book became a movie featuring Jeremy Sisto. Whoa, that's quite a paradox.
#26. "Thin Ice" (Season 11) - Did I mention that I hate sports? Because I do, and I do for a lot of reasons. One reason is that some people are insane where sports are concerned, even violent, even deadly. Of course, I understand that the latter of those things are the exception. They are good decent people who like and are involved in sports. But they don't make for good episodes of Law & Order. No, we need to focus on the folks who kill coaches for whatever reason. Funny thing, this is hockey we're talking about, hence the "ice" in the title, because sometimes we must be obvious. But isn't hockey from Canada and aren't all Canadians super nice? What is wrong with the world?
#25. "Bad Faith" (Season 5) - On several occasions, religion is the topic of choice for an episode. Here, it is Catholicism, and yes, they will dealing with exactly what you think. The reason this one stands out, though, is because it centers around Mike Logan, who was raised in the Catholic church. One of his friends dies of an apparent suicide, and all of this leads back to a priest who abused a bunch of boys that Logan knew, as well as Logan himself. We often get reasons as to why people are how they are. I think this may have had a serious affect on Mike Logan.
#24. "Persona Non Gratae" (Season 18) - Some people may refer to Law & Order as being cutting edge in some areas. For example, the plot is about people lying about who they are on the internet. That's right. They were dealing with people "catfishing" before "catfishing" was even a thing. Okay, to be fair, this was based on an actual case but with the standard twist we usually get. Although, the reason this episode stands out for me because of one thing - Melissa Leo. She is so good in this. She does straight-up crazy very well.
#23. "Homesick" (Season 6) - I'm all for women being able to do whatever they want in life. I think they can have a family or a career or both, if that's what they want. Of course, if you want both, you might need a little help. Enter a nanny, or, in this case, an au pair. Just make sure that she is...Okay, I'm going to stop dancing around this. We have a baby dying in this one again. That part, I hate, but the rest is good. So, baby passes on and top suspect is the nany. Oh, sorry. I mean, the British au pair. I never would have guessed. Pretty good twist in this one, though. Also, we get the magnificence of Patti LuPone. I wish she was playing a singing defense attorney, but I'll take it either way.
#22. "Life Choice" (Season 1) - Well, that's an interesting combination of words for the title of this episode, considering it's subject. Here, we are dealing with the very controversial subject of abortion. In fact, this is considered the first, and perhaps the most, controversial episode of the entire series. I consider myself pro-life, but when people decide to bomb clinics and kill doctors, it disgusts me. Needless to say, this causes much tension on the show, which is what makes it all so gripping. It's just a very, very well done episode.
#21. "Vendetta" (Season 14) - Remember back in 2003, when that guy tried to catch a foul ball at a Cubs game, and he immediately became a pariah, even though he wasn't the only one who reached for the flippin' ball? Remember that?! Well, here, a guy is killed in a bar fight, and he turns out to be someone who tried to catch a foul ball at a Mets game, which caused them to lose a very important game. As Lennie said, the suspect list was "the greater New York phone book". Funny, because he appears to be a New Yorker still upset the whole thing. Anyway, this dead guy had been harassed big time, but, as per usual, the plot twists us to a completely different motive for the killing. Still, there's another reason to hate the sports.
Join me next time.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Law & Order Character Profile: Arthur Branch
Greetings,
We have had some very memorable departures on Law & Order, but what of the introductions? Well, one of them immediately comes to mind. Jack and Serena are in his office and the subject of the new DA, Arthur Branch, arises. Jack mentions that he has met him on a few occasions already and that he is a "nice fella". Serena replies with a question of sorts - "And his politics?" McCoy's response? "Nice fella". Mm-hmm. Sound the alarms. Republican alert! Perhaps, the most prominent one of all, but with good reason.
Arthur Branch was portrayed by Fred Dalton Thompson for five glorious years. Yes, that's Senator Thompson, by the way. Maybe that's why they made his politics such a thing with him. He was a very not shy Conservative, and he was so good about it. So, if you have never heard him talk, I will tell you that Arthur Branch is a Southern man, from Georgia specifically, and he stays in New York mostly because his wife, Lillian, loves it there. How sweet. He was elected DA in 2002, and he felt it was because New Yorkers wanted someone who was very tough on crime so that they would feel safer. He was, after all, in favor of the death penalty, quite different from his predecessor. The interesting thing about him is that, even if you didn't agree with him politically, you still liked him. He was a very likable character. Or maybe it was because he was always putting Serena Southerlyn in her place. Heh, heh. Sorry.
To be fair, more than a few people took issue with him. Looking back, I think that sometimes it had little to do with his politics and more to do with the fact that he was very strict about the laws of the land. He pointed to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights quite a few times, just to say, "Yeah, there it is. That's our law. Deal with it". It was pretty concrete to him, whilst some of his colleagues saw it as rather bendy. You know who you are. But, just because he holds fast to the law and has strong personal beliefs, he always had the ability to look at things case by case and make informed decisions. Yes, he supports the death penalty, but if it's not the way to go for a particular situation, he looks for other options. Perhaps, this is why, despite disagreements, people do respect Branch. He sure seems to know what he's talking about concerning the law. He did go to Yale, after all. And Yale Law School. Then, he TAUGHT at Yale Law School. I'd like to think that counts for something. Of course, when all else fails, he would just throw out some of his Southern wisdom, and you sort of involuntarily nod in agreement. No matter what he says. It's practically hypnotic.
Now, Arthur Branch's departure from the show was not as memorable as some of the other cast members. I don't even think it was mentioned in his final episode. Although, the last time he is seen talking to McCoy, he asks if he'll ever run for DA, and McCoy says that he's not a politician. Branch tells him that that's what everyone says. I bring this up because, whilst Branch's departure was nothing to shake a stick at, in real life, it was rather unique. In case you didn't know, Fred Thompson left the show in order to run for president. I don't think that has ever happened in Law & Order world. And, yet, I said many times that I hoped he would run for president one day. Then, he did...for a while. Yeah, before I had the chance to vote for him, he dropped, as many people have done. At least, he gave me a couple of months to dream. Thank you, sir.
I'll end now by saying this - I absolutely love Arthur Branch. He was such fun to have around, and I know it's weird when I say that about a show like Law & Order, considering it revolves around murder and all that. But I can't help it. He made me smile a lot. Maybe because he reminded me of a cross between my grandpa and Johnny Cash. No lie. And to this day, I still love Fred Thompson as well. Again, can't help it. Love how he talks, love what says, just love how he is. For what more could I ask.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
We have had some very memorable departures on Law & Order, but what of the introductions? Well, one of them immediately comes to mind. Jack and Serena are in his office and the subject of the new DA, Arthur Branch, arises. Jack mentions that he has met him on a few occasions already and that he is a "nice fella". Serena replies with a question of sorts - "And his politics?" McCoy's response? "Nice fella". Mm-hmm. Sound the alarms. Republican alert! Perhaps, the most prominent one of all, but with good reason.
Arthur Branch was portrayed by Fred Dalton Thompson for five glorious years. Yes, that's Senator Thompson, by the way. Maybe that's why they made his politics such a thing with him. He was a very not shy Conservative, and he was so good about it. So, if you have never heard him talk, I will tell you that Arthur Branch is a Southern man, from Georgia specifically, and he stays in New York mostly because his wife, Lillian, loves it there. How sweet. He was elected DA in 2002, and he felt it was because New Yorkers wanted someone who was very tough on crime so that they would feel safer. He was, after all, in favor of the death penalty, quite different from his predecessor. The interesting thing about him is that, even if you didn't agree with him politically, you still liked him. He was a very likable character. Or maybe it was because he was always putting Serena Southerlyn in her place. Heh, heh. Sorry.
To be fair, more than a few people took issue with him. Looking back, I think that sometimes it had little to do with his politics and more to do with the fact that he was very strict about the laws of the land. He pointed to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights quite a few times, just to say, "Yeah, there it is. That's our law. Deal with it". It was pretty concrete to him, whilst some of his colleagues saw it as rather bendy. You know who you are. But, just because he holds fast to the law and has strong personal beliefs, he always had the ability to look at things case by case and make informed decisions. Yes, he supports the death penalty, but if it's not the way to go for a particular situation, he looks for other options. Perhaps, this is why, despite disagreements, people do respect Branch. He sure seems to know what he's talking about concerning the law. He did go to Yale, after all. And Yale Law School. Then, he TAUGHT at Yale Law School. I'd like to think that counts for something. Of course, when all else fails, he would just throw out some of his Southern wisdom, and you sort of involuntarily nod in agreement. No matter what he says. It's practically hypnotic.
Now, Arthur Branch's departure from the show was not as memorable as some of the other cast members. I don't even think it was mentioned in his final episode. Although, the last time he is seen talking to McCoy, he asks if he'll ever run for DA, and McCoy says that he's not a politician. Branch tells him that that's what everyone says. I bring this up because, whilst Branch's departure was nothing to shake a stick at, in real life, it was rather unique. In case you didn't know, Fred Thompson left the show in order to run for president. I don't think that has ever happened in Law & Order world. And, yet, I said many times that I hoped he would run for president one day. Then, he did...for a while. Yeah, before I had the chance to vote for him, he dropped, as many people have done. At least, he gave me a couple of months to dream. Thank you, sir.
I'll end now by saying this - I absolutely love Arthur Branch. He was such fun to have around, and I know it's weird when I say that about a show like Law & Order, considering it revolves around murder and all that. But I can't help it. He made me smile a lot. Maybe because he reminded me of a cross between my grandpa and Johnny Cash. No lie. And to this day, I still love Fred Thompson as well. Again, can't help it. Love how he talks, love what says, just love how he is. For what more could I ask.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Law & Order Character Profile: Serena Southerlyn
Greetings,
Oh, I have to talk about Serena now, don't I? This one may be a bit...difficult. And maybe a little different.
Serena Southerlyn was portrayed by Elisabeth Rohm from Season 12 to the middle of Season 15. Okay, I'm going to discuss Ms. Rohm and her acting later, but let's get to her character first. I want to make sure I am separating the two, because I have different things to say about them. I was never, ever a fan of Serena's. Like ever. I have never even met anyone who liked her. I'm sure the people who enjoy her do exist, but I have never come across them. "Inept" was a word I've often heard used, as well as "robotic". Yeah, she was not a good character. I'm sorry.
I think I have to dive right in to talking about her politics, since this was a stepping off point for some of her problems. Now Serena was a hardcore Liberal, which made her get along with Nora Lewin. Once Nora left, however, she was alone with McCoy and Arthur Branch. They did not agree often, if ever, especially when it came to the death penalty, since both guys were for it. The problem is this. Whilst there has always been conflict in the DA's office, what with people having disagreements on many issues, it was also done in a very adult, articulate manner. Everyone, even those you thought were wrong, at least sounded intelligent and they made valid arguments for their side. When Serena tried to pose an argument, she just came off sounding like a bratty teenager, annoyed when her parents were trying to tell her what's what. She just always seemed very young, but in the bad way. And this is how they wrote her. I don't get why they made her character this way. I just do not. Explain, someone, explain.
Alright, let's discuss the one thing that always comes up where Serena Southerlyn is concerned - her departure from the show. Major spoilers for the episode "Ain't No Love", by the way. So, in this episode, a young man was accused of a crime, and Serena felt he wasn't guilty. She made it known, and then some. At the end of said episode, Branch called her into his office and told her that she would be better suited to being a defense attorney because she seemed more passionate about helping people legally that way. Never insulted her skills as a lawyer, in general. Just said she was being the wrong kind of lawyer for her talents. Still, he was firing her. Her response: "Is this because I'm a lesbian?" His response: "No, of course not". Audience response: "WHAAAAAAAAAAT?" I don't believe that a single fan of this show was not stunned by what she just revealed. I know I said that this show has never centered around the characters' personal lives, but we still knew things about them. This seems like a thing we would have known. But, OH, NO! It was never even hinted at, in my opinion. And I don't mean that in the moment I couldn't think of anything. No, I went back and watched her episodes. Nothing. I mean, did I miss something? I don't know. This makes me have the sneaking suspicion that they did this just to get people talking. If that was plan, mission accomplished, because we are still talking about it.
Okay, now let me say something about Elisabeth Rohm. I did agree with many people in my dislike of Serena, but some people took that dislike and transferred it to the real world. So, poor Elisabeth got the brunt of people's disapproval. I don't feel this way. I do not think that she is a bad actress. I have seen her in other roles, and she is more than capable. In fact, I watched her in a TV movie called Amber's Story, and she was very, very good in it. I just think the show messed up with the character, and everyone ended up blaming Elisabeth Rohm. It wasn't her fault; it was her job.
So, since I was not quite nice to Serena Southerlyn in this post, I will stop now whilst I am giving her portrayer some well-deserved, and probably overdue, compliments.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Oh, I have to talk about Serena now, don't I? This one may be a bit...difficult. And maybe a little different.
Serena Southerlyn was portrayed by Elisabeth Rohm from Season 12 to the middle of Season 15. Okay, I'm going to discuss Ms. Rohm and her acting later, but let's get to her character first. I want to make sure I am separating the two, because I have different things to say about them. I was never, ever a fan of Serena's. Like ever. I have never even met anyone who liked her. I'm sure the people who enjoy her do exist, but I have never come across them. "Inept" was a word I've often heard used, as well as "robotic". Yeah, she was not a good character. I'm sorry.
I think I have to dive right in to talking about her politics, since this was a stepping off point for some of her problems. Now Serena was a hardcore Liberal, which made her get along with Nora Lewin. Once Nora left, however, she was alone with McCoy and Arthur Branch. They did not agree often, if ever, especially when it came to the death penalty, since both guys were for it. The problem is this. Whilst there has always been conflict in the DA's office, what with people having disagreements on many issues, it was also done in a very adult, articulate manner. Everyone, even those you thought were wrong, at least sounded intelligent and they made valid arguments for their side. When Serena tried to pose an argument, she just came off sounding like a bratty teenager, annoyed when her parents were trying to tell her what's what. She just always seemed very young, but in the bad way. And this is how they wrote her. I don't get why they made her character this way. I just do not. Explain, someone, explain.
Alright, let's discuss the one thing that always comes up where Serena Southerlyn is concerned - her departure from the show. Major spoilers for the episode "Ain't No Love", by the way. So, in this episode, a young man was accused of a crime, and Serena felt he wasn't guilty. She made it known, and then some. At the end of said episode, Branch called her into his office and told her that she would be better suited to being a defense attorney because she seemed more passionate about helping people legally that way. Never insulted her skills as a lawyer, in general. Just said she was being the wrong kind of lawyer for her talents. Still, he was firing her. Her response: "Is this because I'm a lesbian?" His response: "No, of course not". Audience response: "WHAAAAAAAAAAT?" I don't believe that a single fan of this show was not stunned by what she just revealed. I know I said that this show has never centered around the characters' personal lives, but we still knew things about them. This seems like a thing we would have known. But, OH, NO! It was never even hinted at, in my opinion. And I don't mean that in the moment I couldn't think of anything. No, I went back and watched her episodes. Nothing. I mean, did I miss something? I don't know. This makes me have the sneaking suspicion that they did this just to get people talking. If that was plan, mission accomplished, because we are still talking about it.
Okay, now let me say something about Elisabeth Rohm. I did agree with many people in my dislike of Serena, but some people took that dislike and transferred it to the real world. So, poor Elisabeth got the brunt of people's disapproval. I don't feel this way. I do not think that she is a bad actress. I have seen her in other roles, and she is more than capable. In fact, I watched her in a TV movie called Amber's Story, and she was very, very good in it. I just think the show messed up with the character, and everyone ended up blaming Elisabeth Rohm. It wasn't her fault; it was her job.
So, since I was not quite nice to Serena Southerlyn in this post, I will stop now whilst I am giving her portrayer some well-deserved, and probably overdue, compliments.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Law & Order Character Profile: Nora Lewin
Greetings,
By Season 11, Law & Order was pretty much cemented as an iconic part of pop culture, not to mention that it had been as acclaimed as a show could be. So, it takes a special actress to come along to make the audience say "Wow, they got her to be a regular!" Such was the case when the character of Nora Lewin was introduced.
Nora Lewin was portrayed by Dianne Wiest for Seasons 11 and 12. Yeah, two-time Academy Award winner Dianne Wiest. You know, I always imagined that, if she ever got into an argument with anyone on the show, she could just win by saying "How many Oscars do YOU have? That's what I thought". Okay, she probably didn't do that, but she was an impressive get for the show. Not that we weren't impressed by some of those legendary boys, but, again, girl power and all that. Anyway, Nora Lewin came in after Adam Schiff left to be the New York City District Attorney. She was the only woman to ever hold the title on the show, which is a step farther than reality since NYC had never had a woman DA, apparently. Gee, New York, I thought you were progressive. What's up with that? Now, Nora was a law professor before this job, so some people assumed she wasn't qualified, saying that, while she was knowledgeable, she had no hands on experience. I suppose I can understand that, since teaching law and practicing law in that setting is a bit different. Although, if memory serves, Rudy Guiliani walked her into the office on her first day. That has to be worth something. Especially considering their differences politically.
Yes, Nora was a Liberal, something that caused disagreements with her colleagues, like Abbie Carmichael and even Jack McCoy every now and then. So, you know she had to be hardcore, and she was. Still, it never was to an obnoxious degree. She was one of the best examples of how Law & Order kept things balanced very well politically. One thing that was brought up on occasion was Nora's opposition to the death penalty. However, she was forced to face making a decision in its favor, mostly because of the case and for the hopes that her office would not look as though it was easy on crime. Once that label gets attached to you, the criminals start getting ideas. I really liked that particular episode because you could see how conflicted she was about it. Nora was one for standing up for her beliefs, but you see her truly realize that it's not always just about her. She was representing the people of an entire city, working for their safety. I think the toughness of these types of decisions may have been why she left.
After Season 12, Nora departed the DA's office, deciding not to run for the office, as she was an interim appointed by the governor. They never actually addressed why she left. She just kind of fell of the show, as they say. But Dick Wolf mentioned in one of his books (yes, apparently, there are tie-in books) that she just didn't want to to it anymore. Understandable. Dianne Wiest kind of went through the same thing in real life, deciding that she was done with the role and wanted to move on. Understandable as well.
I have to say that, despite our many differences, I had to admire the character of Nora Lewin. She made her voice known and did her best not to back down from what she thought was right. Even if I thought she was wrong, at least she stood by her convictions. Better than apathy. And, I mean, come on! It's Dianne Wiest, for crying out loud. Do you think she was ever not great in her weekly performances? Yeah, that's right. I consider it an honor that, even for a short time, she graced us with her presence.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
By Season 11, Law & Order was pretty much cemented as an iconic part of pop culture, not to mention that it had been as acclaimed as a show could be. So, it takes a special actress to come along to make the audience say "Wow, they got her to be a regular!" Such was the case when the character of Nora Lewin was introduced.
Nora Lewin was portrayed by Dianne Wiest for Seasons 11 and 12. Yeah, two-time Academy Award winner Dianne Wiest. You know, I always imagined that, if she ever got into an argument with anyone on the show, she could just win by saying "How many Oscars do YOU have? That's what I thought". Okay, she probably didn't do that, but she was an impressive get for the show. Not that we weren't impressed by some of those legendary boys, but, again, girl power and all that. Anyway, Nora Lewin came in after Adam Schiff left to be the New York City District Attorney. She was the only woman to ever hold the title on the show, which is a step farther than reality since NYC had never had a woman DA, apparently. Gee, New York, I thought you were progressive. What's up with that? Now, Nora was a law professor before this job, so some people assumed she wasn't qualified, saying that, while she was knowledgeable, she had no hands on experience. I suppose I can understand that, since teaching law and practicing law in that setting is a bit different. Although, if memory serves, Rudy Guiliani walked her into the office on her first day. That has to be worth something. Especially considering their differences politically.
Yes, Nora was a Liberal, something that caused disagreements with her colleagues, like Abbie Carmichael and even Jack McCoy every now and then. So, you know she had to be hardcore, and she was. Still, it never was to an obnoxious degree. She was one of the best examples of how Law & Order kept things balanced very well politically. One thing that was brought up on occasion was Nora's opposition to the death penalty. However, she was forced to face making a decision in its favor, mostly because of the case and for the hopes that her office would not look as though it was easy on crime. Once that label gets attached to you, the criminals start getting ideas. I really liked that particular episode because you could see how conflicted she was about it. Nora was one for standing up for her beliefs, but you see her truly realize that it's not always just about her. She was representing the people of an entire city, working for their safety. I think the toughness of these types of decisions may have been why she left.
After Season 12, Nora departed the DA's office, deciding not to run for the office, as she was an interim appointed by the governor. They never actually addressed why she left. She just kind of fell of the show, as they say. But Dick Wolf mentioned in one of his books (yes, apparently, there are tie-in books) that she just didn't want to to it anymore. Understandable. Dianne Wiest kind of went through the same thing in real life, deciding that she was done with the role and wanted to move on. Understandable as well.
I have to say that, despite our many differences, I had to admire the character of Nora Lewin. She made her voice known and did her best not to back down from what she thought was right. Even if I thought she was wrong, at least she stood by her convictions. Better than apathy. And, I mean, come on! It's Dianne Wiest, for crying out loud. Do you think she was ever not great in her weekly performances? Yeah, that's right. I consider it an honor that, even for a short time, she graced us with her presence.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Top 100 Law & Order Episodes: 40-31
Greetings,
Welcome back to the Top 100 Law & Order episodes, in my opinion. Let's continue with Numbers 40 to 31.
#40. "Punk" (Season 9) - I like this episode because it has a good amount of Abbie Carmichael. Here, an inmate she got convicted is a suspect in the death of a corrections officer. Her defense is that he was abusing her regularly, but Abbie seems to brush off her excuse, as though she doesn't even believe it. This episode is one of those wherein we get to go beneath the surface with one of the main characters, and it is superb.
#39. "Doubles" (Season 4) - So, what would have happened if Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan were tennis players rather than figure skaters? This episode, that's what! Although, we should probably also throw that whole Monica Seles thing in there, too. Then again, maybe we'll get two red herrings as the plot carries on. Frankly, the most memorable thing about this episode is the guest starring role by a great actress named Stacey Moseley, who I remember from a little show from my youth called Swan's Crossing. A show on which she had a small rivalry with a character played by Mira Sorvino, whoses dad is Paul Sorvino, who used to be on this show. Yeah, that's right.
#38. "Called Home" (Season 18) - This is our first episode featuring Det. Cyrus Lupo. Yay! After the body of his brother is found, dead from an apparent suicide, Lupo is "called home" to deal with everything. Initially, he is not there to come and work on the case, as he is related to the victim and is not permitted to do so, but eventually, the case expands so he can help get justice for his brother. But, wait, you're thinking. Justice for a suicide? One word - Kevorkian. Yeah, they used that story again, but very well, obviously. And am I the only one who just kept calling the doctor "Dr. Chucky"...because it was Brad Dourif? I hope not.
#37. "Red Ball" (Season 16) - Best thing about this episode is that Det. Green comes back after a short absence. So, thumbs up there. Actually, this episode is one of the "I'm Jack McCoy and I do what I want" installments. A young girl is kidnapped, and they manage to find the perpetrator fairly quickly. They do not, however, find the girl, because he has an accomplice, and he will only tell where to find her if he gets full immunity. Not everyone wants to go along with this, bur some do. All I have more to say is that we get a priceless deus ex machina ending from the judge. Thank you, your honor.
#36. "Mushrooms" (Season 1) - Do you enjoy movie previews? I do, and here we get something of the equivalent. What we get is a preview of the marvelous time we would eventually be having with S. Epatha Merkerson. In this episode, she plays the mother of two shooting victims. Do I even have to tell you that she's brilliant? No. Just watch the episode.
#35. "White Rabbit" (Season 5) - I sure do like Alice in Wonderland and the Jefferson Airplane, so, of course, this one stood out for me. I'll assume that this title was chosen because the episode is about some anti-war hippies, albeit from the '70s not the '60s, getting their comeuppance after twenty some odd years. It does raise the valid question concerning whether or not a person should be punished the same for a past crime if they have made a 180 change for the present. The answer is yes, by the way.
#34. "3 Dawg Night" (Season 12) - Yeah. D-A-W-G. Let's move on. So, if an actress was ever needed to play Jennifer Lopez, who should be the lucky lady? If you said Kerry Washington, you should watch this episode. No lie, this episode is about a shooting in a NYC night club, wherein an actress and her rapper boyfriend get pulled into the investigation. Subtle! Of course, this does end differently than in real life. I mean, I doubt any celebrity would hire the guy from Star Trek: Insurrection to be their lawyer. Oh, wait. I already made an Insurrection joke on one of these lists. How about if I mention he was in The Good Son? Seriously, though, Daniel Hugh Kelly is a fine actor. So is Idris Elba, and he's in this, too. Gee, why didn't they point the finger at him? As the guys from Cinemasins said, "Heimdall did it!"
#33. "For the Defense" (Season 20) - As I've mentioned, there have been a plethora of nerve-getting-on defense attorneys over the run of this series. I think that Marcus Woll is one that I most love to hate. And he was only on the show like two times. He outdid himself here, though. A former prosecutor, he once worked with Connie Rubirosa on a case wherein the key witness disappeared. He treats her pretty crappy, but she holds her own and then some, as women on this show are oft to do. By the way, this Woll guy is played by a lovely actor named Jonathan Cake. I don't hate HIM.
#32. "Absentia" (Season 13) - Darn it, Mandy Patinkin. Why do you want me to hate you? I'm not kidding. He plays this really obnoxious character, who, when put on trial for a crime, gives the stangest excuses for his behavior. I don't know if it was hubris or insanity or dumbness. I guess you could pick either of the last two if he happened to be reprising his role from Yentl. What is wrong with you?! Barbra Streisand did not look like a little boy, you weirdo. But I digress. In all seriousness, I do really like Mandy Patinkin, and I thought he gave an amazing performance.
#31. "Illegitimate" (Season 19) - The plot of this episode is so strange that I never would have guessed it was actually based on a true story, though many plots are. First, there are hostages, then someone is killed, then we're dealing with stolen old documents, and finally, the piece de resistance, Christopher McDonald pops up trying to claim he is the illegitimate son of - wait for it - JFK. I just...what?! You know what the really crazy thing is? If you look at Christopher McDonald, he could probably pass for a Kennedy man, so good casting on that one. Also, on a sentimental note, we get one of the final performances of the legendary Rue McClanahan. It's a good way to go out.
Join me next time.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Welcome back to the Top 100 Law & Order episodes, in my opinion. Let's continue with Numbers 40 to 31.
#40. "Punk" (Season 9) - I like this episode because it has a good amount of Abbie Carmichael. Here, an inmate she got convicted is a suspect in the death of a corrections officer. Her defense is that he was abusing her regularly, but Abbie seems to brush off her excuse, as though she doesn't even believe it. This episode is one of those wherein we get to go beneath the surface with one of the main characters, and it is superb.
#39. "Doubles" (Season 4) - So, what would have happened if Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan were tennis players rather than figure skaters? This episode, that's what! Although, we should probably also throw that whole Monica Seles thing in there, too. Then again, maybe we'll get two red herrings as the plot carries on. Frankly, the most memorable thing about this episode is the guest starring role by a great actress named Stacey Moseley, who I remember from a little show from my youth called Swan's Crossing. A show on which she had a small rivalry with a character played by Mira Sorvino, whoses dad is Paul Sorvino, who used to be on this show. Yeah, that's right.
#38. "Called Home" (Season 18) - This is our first episode featuring Det. Cyrus Lupo. Yay! After the body of his brother is found, dead from an apparent suicide, Lupo is "called home" to deal with everything. Initially, he is not there to come and work on the case, as he is related to the victim and is not permitted to do so, but eventually, the case expands so he can help get justice for his brother. But, wait, you're thinking. Justice for a suicide? One word - Kevorkian. Yeah, they used that story again, but very well, obviously. And am I the only one who just kept calling the doctor "Dr. Chucky"...because it was Brad Dourif? I hope not.
#37. "Red Ball" (Season 16) - Best thing about this episode is that Det. Green comes back after a short absence. So, thumbs up there. Actually, this episode is one of the "I'm Jack McCoy and I do what I want" installments. A young girl is kidnapped, and they manage to find the perpetrator fairly quickly. They do not, however, find the girl, because he has an accomplice, and he will only tell where to find her if he gets full immunity. Not everyone wants to go along with this, bur some do. All I have more to say is that we get a priceless deus ex machina ending from the judge. Thank you, your honor.
#36. "Mushrooms" (Season 1) - Do you enjoy movie previews? I do, and here we get something of the equivalent. What we get is a preview of the marvelous time we would eventually be having with S. Epatha Merkerson. In this episode, she plays the mother of two shooting victims. Do I even have to tell you that she's brilliant? No. Just watch the episode.
#35. "White Rabbit" (Season 5) - I sure do like Alice in Wonderland and the Jefferson Airplane, so, of course, this one stood out for me. I'll assume that this title was chosen because the episode is about some anti-war hippies, albeit from the '70s not the '60s, getting their comeuppance after twenty some odd years. It does raise the valid question concerning whether or not a person should be punished the same for a past crime if they have made a 180 change for the present. The answer is yes, by the way.
#34. "3 Dawg Night" (Season 12) - Yeah. D-A-W-G. Let's move on. So, if an actress was ever needed to play Jennifer Lopez, who should be the lucky lady? If you said Kerry Washington, you should watch this episode. No lie, this episode is about a shooting in a NYC night club, wherein an actress and her rapper boyfriend get pulled into the investigation. Subtle! Of course, this does end differently than in real life. I mean, I doubt any celebrity would hire the guy from Star Trek: Insurrection to be their lawyer. Oh, wait. I already made an Insurrection joke on one of these lists. How about if I mention he was in The Good Son? Seriously, though, Daniel Hugh Kelly is a fine actor. So is Idris Elba, and he's in this, too. Gee, why didn't they point the finger at him? As the guys from Cinemasins said, "Heimdall did it!"
#33. "For the Defense" (Season 20) - As I've mentioned, there have been a plethora of nerve-getting-on defense attorneys over the run of this series. I think that Marcus Woll is one that I most love to hate. And he was only on the show like two times. He outdid himself here, though. A former prosecutor, he once worked with Connie Rubirosa on a case wherein the key witness disappeared. He treats her pretty crappy, but she holds her own and then some, as women on this show are oft to do. By the way, this Woll guy is played by a lovely actor named Jonathan Cake. I don't hate HIM.
#32. "Absentia" (Season 13) - Darn it, Mandy Patinkin. Why do you want me to hate you? I'm not kidding. He plays this really obnoxious character, who, when put on trial for a crime, gives the stangest excuses for his behavior. I don't know if it was hubris or insanity or dumbness. I guess you could pick either of the last two if he happened to be reprising his role from Yentl. What is wrong with you?! Barbra Streisand did not look like a little boy, you weirdo. But I digress. In all seriousness, I do really like Mandy Patinkin, and I thought he gave an amazing performance.
#31. "Illegitimate" (Season 19) - The plot of this episode is so strange that I never would have guessed it was actually based on a true story, though many plots are. First, there are hostages, then someone is killed, then we're dealing with stolen old documents, and finally, the piece de resistance, Christopher McDonald pops up trying to claim he is the illegitimate son of - wait for it - JFK. I just...what?! You know what the really crazy thing is? If you look at Christopher McDonald, he could probably pass for a Kennedy man, so good casting on that one. Also, on a sentimental note, we get one of the final performances of the legendary Rue McClanahan. It's a good way to go out.
Join me next time.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Monday, October 20, 2014
Law & Order Character Profile: Ed Green
Greetings,
I've noticed over the years that certain shows have felt the need to do musical episodes. When it comes to most of them, I have no idea why. Law & Order is a show that I always wanted to have a musical episode of. Why? Because there are a few musical people who have roamed the hallowed halls of this series. We've had Paul Sorvino, Jerry Orbach, Jill Hennessy and, of course, the actor who played the character who is our subject today, Ed Green.
Ed Green was portrayed by Jesse L. Martin from Season 10 to Season 18. He showed up to replaced Rey Curtis and was partnered up with Lennie Briscoe. Let me just say this right off the bat. Of all the cop couplings on this show, I think that Briscoe and Green had the absolute best chemistry. I loved them together so much. Of course, don't take this to mean that they didn't have their differences and always got along. They had their troubles, but they seemed like such good friends, despite all the teasing about age and other things.
From his very first episode, we learn that Green has a thing for the gambling. And he must be good at it because he's always got a Rolex on his wrist. We also learn quickly of his style when it comes to interrogation, and how flip-floppy some of his colleagues are. No lie. In his first episode, he got scolded for being a little too rough with a suspect, then, the next time, he got scolded for being too nice to this little girl he was trying to get a story out of. Seriously, people. Grow the heck up and choose a demeanor. Of course, Green probably ended up swinging a bit more towards the side of being aggressive. Not necessarily physically, but sometimes verbally. That gave us some memorable moments, and ones we'd get used to. I know I always looked forward to when he was alone in the room with some racist suspect. We all knew we were SO going to get a good line out it. Best one was when they were questioning some scientist who just, out of the blue, turned out to be racist. He learned quickly that one does not mess with Ed Green.
Anyway, as I said, Green and Briscoe had a great relationship, which led to him taking it hard when Briscoe retired. He was able to move on, though, to three more partners. I think he may have the distinction of having the most of any cop, but I'm not sure. That requires me to do math, and...no. So, after Briscoe, came Joe Fontana, who it took him a bit to warm up to. Same went for everyone there, I think. Then, he was partnered with Nina Cassady, making him now a Senior Detective and the only guy in the original show to have a female teammate. And, finally, he was put with Cyrus Lupo, and, next to Briscoe, I think I liked these guys together most. So, of course, we only got them together for like ten episodes or something. Thanks, Show.
I should probably bring up a little predicament Green had to go through in Season 15. That predicament is that he got shot and almost died. Well, it's a cruel world out there. Oh, and this was a crossover with Law & Order: Trial By Jury, so, if you didn't watch the episode of THAT that went along with THIS, you most likely sweated out the entire summer, wondering if Green made it. Anyway, he was out of commission and the show for about the last five episodes of the season. Apparently, this was written into his story arc so that Jesse Martin could go and be in the movie version of Rent. Well, I certainly hope that was worth almost giving me a heart attack thinking that Ed Green was going to die on me. Again...THANKS!
When he returned, Green was back for another two and a half seasons. Well, more like two and a quarter. Sixteen, seventeen and half of eighteen, which was only half a season so...Oh, crap! Math! Green's departure was not unexpected, as we had all gotten the news in the real world. It was quite emotional, though, and so much stuff came out about Green that we were not aware of. After Briscoe left and then passed away, he had started gambling again. Then, in this episode, he was getting charged with shooting some guy he used to know. And there was this woman who was a friend of his involved. I touched on this when I talked about the specific episode. Yes, it was a lot to take in. Still, very powerful, though, and a good way for him to go out, certainly from an acting standpoint.
So, thankfully, we got a good eight and half years with Ed Green. Very good. I certainly had an enjoyable time with him, and I loved watching such a complex character grow and change and learn over the years. Sure, he was a flawed man, but he was a good man. As far as I'm concerned, the only really unforgivable thing he did was be a vegetarian. Okay, fine. Since it's him, I'll let it slide. And I'm sure that one of the biggest reasons I warmed up to Green was because of Jesse L. Martin. I had known him from previous work, and I was so glad to see him to such a stellar job here with a character that was very different. That's what a fine actor can do, and so that is exactly what he did.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I've noticed over the years that certain shows have felt the need to do musical episodes. When it comes to most of them, I have no idea why. Law & Order is a show that I always wanted to have a musical episode of. Why? Because there are a few musical people who have roamed the hallowed halls of this series. We've had Paul Sorvino, Jerry Orbach, Jill Hennessy and, of course, the actor who played the character who is our subject today, Ed Green.
Ed Green was portrayed by Jesse L. Martin from Season 10 to Season 18. He showed up to replaced Rey Curtis and was partnered up with Lennie Briscoe. Let me just say this right off the bat. Of all the cop couplings on this show, I think that Briscoe and Green had the absolute best chemistry. I loved them together so much. Of course, don't take this to mean that they didn't have their differences and always got along. They had their troubles, but they seemed like such good friends, despite all the teasing about age and other things.
From his very first episode, we learn that Green has a thing for the gambling. And he must be good at it because he's always got a Rolex on his wrist. We also learn quickly of his style when it comes to interrogation, and how flip-floppy some of his colleagues are. No lie. In his first episode, he got scolded for being a little too rough with a suspect, then, the next time, he got scolded for being too nice to this little girl he was trying to get a story out of. Seriously, people. Grow the heck up and choose a demeanor. Of course, Green probably ended up swinging a bit more towards the side of being aggressive. Not necessarily physically, but sometimes verbally. That gave us some memorable moments, and ones we'd get used to. I know I always looked forward to when he was alone in the room with some racist suspect. We all knew we were SO going to get a good line out it. Best one was when they were questioning some scientist who just, out of the blue, turned out to be racist. He learned quickly that one does not mess with Ed Green.
Anyway, as I said, Green and Briscoe had a great relationship, which led to him taking it hard when Briscoe retired. He was able to move on, though, to three more partners. I think he may have the distinction of having the most of any cop, but I'm not sure. That requires me to do math, and...no. So, after Briscoe, came Joe Fontana, who it took him a bit to warm up to. Same went for everyone there, I think. Then, he was partnered with Nina Cassady, making him now a Senior Detective and the only guy in the original show to have a female teammate. And, finally, he was put with Cyrus Lupo, and, next to Briscoe, I think I liked these guys together most. So, of course, we only got them together for like ten episodes or something. Thanks, Show.
I should probably bring up a little predicament Green had to go through in Season 15. That predicament is that he got shot and almost died. Well, it's a cruel world out there. Oh, and this was a crossover with Law & Order: Trial By Jury, so, if you didn't watch the episode of THAT that went along with THIS, you most likely sweated out the entire summer, wondering if Green made it. Anyway, he was out of commission and the show for about the last five episodes of the season. Apparently, this was written into his story arc so that Jesse Martin could go and be in the movie version of Rent. Well, I certainly hope that was worth almost giving me a heart attack thinking that Ed Green was going to die on me. Again...THANKS!
When he returned, Green was back for another two and a half seasons. Well, more like two and a quarter. Sixteen, seventeen and half of eighteen, which was only half a season so...Oh, crap! Math! Green's departure was not unexpected, as we had all gotten the news in the real world. It was quite emotional, though, and so much stuff came out about Green that we were not aware of. After Briscoe left and then passed away, he had started gambling again. Then, in this episode, he was getting charged with shooting some guy he used to know. And there was this woman who was a friend of his involved. I touched on this when I talked about the specific episode. Yes, it was a lot to take in. Still, very powerful, though, and a good way for him to go out, certainly from an acting standpoint.
So, thankfully, we got a good eight and half years with Ed Green. Very good. I certainly had an enjoyable time with him, and I loved watching such a complex character grow and change and learn over the years. Sure, he was a flawed man, but he was a good man. As far as I'm concerned, the only really unforgivable thing he did was be a vegetarian. Okay, fine. Since it's him, I'll let it slide. And I'm sure that one of the biggest reasons I warmed up to Green was because of Jesse L. Martin. I had known him from previous work, and I was so glad to see him to such a stellar job here with a character that was very different. That's what a fine actor can do, and so that is exactly what he did.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
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