[UPDATE: Producer Dick Wolf has just announced that Milena Govich, a star of Wolf's short-lived Convinction, will join the L&O cast, and that she'll play a cop, though it's unclear whether she's technically replacing Farina.]
The bodies have hit the floor: Law & Order (original recipe) is now short two cast members, as Dennis Farina, after playing Detective Joe Fontana for two seasons, is bowing out. The other opening is in the DA’s office: Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Borgia (Annie Parisse) died in the course of a murder investigation in the season finale. Being Jack McCoy’s assistant is a high-risk profession — though, to be fair, the untimely death of Claire Kinkaid (Jill Hennessy) wasn’t directly job-related.
So… who ought to be on deck to replace Dick Wolf’s fallen soldiers? I doubt anyone will ever truly replace the late Jerry Orbach, but let’s not shoot for perfection. In fact, it might be time to get away from the crusty-old-white-veteran model, and try pairing surviving L&O flatfoot Jesse L. Martin with a different sort of foil. Michael Imperioli’s name is being bandied about this office — he came in to sub for Martin during the filming of Rent, and he was back this season. I could see an interesting chemistry there. Failing that, I wonder if a female homicide dick would be out of the question? How about a hard-boiled dame pounding the pavement with Detective Green? How about — and I realize this is out of left field — Lily Tomlin?
As for the new ADA… well, we know by now that Jack McCoy isn’t going to hire anyone who isn’t a) female and b) easy on the eyes. Personally, I’d like to see him establish a highly combative relationship with a real hard-case, someone along the lines of Mary Lynn Rajskub, better known as Chloe of 24.
I’ll shut up before I start getting into the really off-kilter casting choices. (David Cross! Amy Sedaris! Why do I want to see anarchist comedians in the most "establishment" show on TV?) I turn it over to you. Brain-trust away! I want a prospectus and two solid gallows-humor quips on my desk in an hour.
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Didn’t they already announce one of the actresses / characters from ‘Conviction’ was coming over to ‘L&O’?
Lily Tomlin? Amy Sedaris? If that were the case I’d definately have to start watching L&O again. So crazy it just might work.
I think that this is the right venue for Jenny McCarthy’s return to television. I read on Ask Ausiello that the gal who was killed on L&O was let go because she wasn’t rhymes with “shuckable” enough. Well, according to Dalton Ross, Ms. McCarthy enjoys letting the world know of her shuckablilty, and we all know what a great actress she is. Bring it on.
And, if we’re going to go with MTV personalities with adult entertainment ties, I think that Simon Rex is clearly the best choice for the detective opening.
You know what would be better? Switch those – Simon Rex in the DA’s office & Jenny McCarthy shaking things up in the precinct. Okay, yeah, I love that idea.
EW should do an article: “L&O” and “L&O Criminal Intent”: can these be saved? Should they be saved?
Both are so tired, and are miles away from the energy in “L&O: SVU.” Maybe it’s time to pull the tv plug.
A female with Jesse L Martin would be good. But honestly: Martin’s performance is so wooden that Meryl Streep would have a hard time creating combustion.
Cynthia Nixon and Billy Campbell.
or
Susanna Thompson and Blair Underwood.
or
Ted Danson and Alfre Woodard.
I’d like to see Dominic West from the “Wire” in the Farina/Orbach role, and Gabrielle Union in the ADA role.
How about a switcheroo… let’s get a female detective in there, and a young male Assistant D.A.
for the female detective I’d like to suggest — Ally Walker the ex Profiler… who I miss on TV…
and for the young male Assistant D.A. I’d like to suggest myself… I always wanted to be on Law and Order, and I seem to be wasting my acting degree in the high rolling world wall street… (someone get me out!!!!)
Lily Tomlin is a positively inspired suggestion. I think Amy Sedaris is too old to be Jack’s second though. Gabrielle Union, as suggested above, would be good. If you are going for subversive, go with Sarah Silverman
How did Claire Kinkaid die? Out of the 892,000 eps that TNT has shown, I’ve never seen the one where she bites the dust.
And Scott, since you brought up David Cross, I want Jeffrey Tambor as George Bluth as the DA.
I know people are posting their off-kilter casting choices, but what’s the point? L&O has a formula that works for it, and it it hasn’t changed in the last 42 seasons that it’s been on the air, why would we expect it to change now?? The best we can hope is that, since they’re probably sticking to their prototypes, they cast interesting actors in these roles:
I liked Michael Imperioli on L&O, but I suggest William Fichtner (needs work after “Invasion”) pretty much ALWAYS an interesting guy to watch.
As for the young, pretty D.A.: I like Kate Mara (Brokeback Mountain, and 24 for a few episodes this past year).
Sarah-
Claire was killed when her car was rammed into by a truck running through and intersection while driving a drunk Lenny Briscoe home
I was going to say to bring back Kyle Secor’s Homicide: Life on The Street character–Bayliss…but I think they would have to rewrite history to make that work…but he would be great…and needs something to do now that Commander in Chief is cancelled.
They already released who would be taking over for Dennis Farina’s character…the chick from “Conviction”, Milena Govich, who played Jessica.
Now that leaves us with who should replace Annie Parisse, and I say let’s go with Angie Harmon (she was arguably the best foil for Mccoy. Her character went to Texas for a job, so just bring her back!)
I heard that the Conviction girl was taking over for Annie Parisse, not Dennis Farina…is that true?
Call me crazy, but I think all of Scott Brown’s recommendations ae pretty sound. Comedians doing stoic drama has a tendency to work.
Ally Sheedy.
Personally, I’d love to see Molly Price – Faith Yokas from the late, lamented “Third Watch” as Ed’s new partner. I don’t think bringing “Faith” – the character – over would be necessary, they can create a whole new for her, but I’d just love to see her working again – and she’s done a couple apperances on L&O before, and we know Dick Wolf isn’t afraid of casting “repeat offenders” as eventual regulars within the L&O universe (consisting of the 4 L&O series and Conviction) (see Jerry Orbach, S. Epatha Merkerson, Annie Pariese, Annabella Scioro, Diane Neal, Jordan Bridges, Courtney Vance…)
As for the new ADA, I really liked all of the ADAs from Conviction, so if they wanted to bring one over, that would be fine by me
Okay, I’m late. How did Annie die? I missed the season finale. As for my choices: seeing as how the new partner for Green has already been cast, I like Gabrielle Union or Angie Harmon for the new ADA.
Chris Noth and his plaid ties. Miss him on the regular L&O.
I haven’t really watched the show since Jerry Orbach died.
i think michael imperioli would be a great replacemnt
but for the far more interesting spot of the hot young ada
i think it would be great if dick wlf would dip into the conviction pool(great show that has soooo much potenital and was unfairly cancelled) and bring in hard ass new yorker jessica rossi (played by milena govich)for the spot of the new ada
I doubt if she could be persuaded back to regular television, or should even want to, but Gillian Anderson would make an amazing foil for Sam Waterston’s Jack McCoy. He’s used to pretty young subordinates; how about a more seasoned colleague with some bite.
Ben Shenkman (“Angels in America”) would also be a splendid ADA. He’s played a lawyer in the L&O universe before. He could bring the necessary intelligence to the role, not to mention a droll wit uncommon among McCoy’s better halves.
Ally Walker played an FBI agent splendidly on NBC’s underrated “Profiler,” and she recently held her own against a scenery-chewing James Woods in his Very Special Episode of “ER.” I think she’d be great in the DA role or as a partner for Det. Green.
Molly Ringwald for ADA, she needs a comeback. I don’t know why their getting rid of Dennis Farina, but I think Anthony Heald from Bostin Public would be good, or Clancy Brown, since they won’t be making him a regular on Lost.
I love the Michael Imperioli/Gabrielle Union suggestions. Both would be great. Lily Tomlin is fantastic in anything, but I think she would make a perfect replacement for Fred Thompson (if/when he ever goes) as the DA. Has the entire cast of “Oz” finally found homes on L&O series? Rita Moreno as a detective? Might work….
what about alexandra cabot? i’d love to see jane march come over from conviction.
Jesse L. Martin performances are not wooden. He is cool and calm. Just like all the other good detectives. What would you have him do?
All Brat Packer suggestions: yeah!
Ally Walker: yeah! (looove her!)
Jenny McCarthy: boo! (proven acting skills needed, not to be confused with goof off ability)
Male ADA: yeah!
Female Detective: boo! yeah!(done on the other L&O’s, but could be convinced with a fabulous casting decision)
Lily Tomlin: yeah!
Cynthia Nixon: yeah! (if we’re on the S&tC, Kim Catrall?)
Alfre Woodard: yeah! (looove the idea of an experienced female detective not needing to learn from her male partner)
Billy Campbell: yeah!
Blair Underwood: yum!
Jeffery Tambor as George Bluth: yeah! Anything to bring back a part of AD!
Gillian Anderson: yeah! but so unlikely
How about Andrew McCarthy? He was so good in a guest appearance on SVU. I think he could be slick in either role.
I would give anything to see Nicholas Lea (Krychek from the X-Files) back on TV.
i’m sad that milena is coming to L&O because it means NBC definitely isn’t bringing conviction back. Screw you NBC!!
SARAH JOY BROWN!!! She should play the next ADA. SHe has 3 Emmys and is an excellent actress. Her hair is not dark so she will fit the profile. This L&O also needs to do like SVU and get more personal with the characters. Also they shouldn’t hire the girl from Conviction, she couldn’t even keep that show on air.
I’d like to see Kathleen Turner as the detective and maybe Aiesha Taylor as the assistant DA – she can be sexy and tough (anyone remember Foxy Chocolate?).
I think Michael Imperioli should be a regular partner on “Law and Order”. The Sopranos are finishing in January. The timing is perfect. As for the ADA, bring back Angie Harmon or Carey Lowell. They were the best.