Television

Newcastle Herald

Saturday January 10, 2009

JAMES JOYCE

In televisions criminal justice system, the

viewers are serviced by two separate yet

equally important groups: the Law and

Order cops who investigate crimes and the

CSI cops who swab and tweezer them.

Law and Order was a casualty of the

ratings war last year when it was shelved

after just three episodes.

But the fast-paced police procedural has

been one of the salvations of summer TV.

Sure, its been banished to 9.30pm on

Friday nights, the prime-time equivalent of

being told to stay out of sight in the kitchen

during a dinner party.

But at least its actually on, not like the

finest crime show on US TV, The Shield,

which Ten has inexplicably warehoused.

Law and Order, now into its 18th season

on Ten and just beginning its 19th in the US,

has long since been eclipsed in ratings and

prestige by its showier spin-offs, Law and

Order: SVU and Law and Order: Criminal

Intent.

But the cornerstone of the franchise seems

to have found its feet again thanks to some

nifty casting by show creator Dick Wolf.

As Detective Cyrus Lupo, Jeremy Sisto has

brought heart and grit to the Law side of

things, elements missing since the glory

days of Jerry Orbach and Chris Noth.

British actor Linus Roache as assistant

district attorney Michael Cutter has been an

equally invigorating for the shows Order

half, his idealistic prosecutor taking things a

little more personally than predecessor Jack

McCoy.

Sam Waterston, though, is still there as

McCoy, now the district attorney.

His contributions dont yet have the feel

of those vintage days of Steven Hills tenure

as gruff DA Adam Schiff, but Waterstons

lived-in performance after 14 crusading

years in the courtroom lends much-needed

authority and familiarity.

Next through the revolving door of

Law and Order casting is Jesse L. Martins

smooth Detective Ed Green.

Martins replacement, chunky African-

American comedy actor Anthony Anderson, has

apparently miffed some Law and Order loyalists

in the US with too many Orbach-style wisecracks.

But the venerable shows just-the-facts-maam

format and ripped-fromthe-headlines stories

still look to have the legs for a 20th season, which

would see it deservedly tie with Gunsmoke

as televisions longest-running drama.

© 2009 Newcastle Herald

Back to News Index | Back to Home