At this point, "Law & Order" should've rid New York of all crime
“Law & Order” begins its 38th season (give or take a couple of decades) tonight, against diminished competition thanks to you know what. Tonight, they’re unveiling two episodes and, rather than the tried-and-true torn-from-the-headlines episodes the show has always trucked in, “L&O” is offering up stories torn from old clips in newspaper libraries.
The first offers a variant on Jack Kevorkian’s controversial assisted suicides. Maybe it’s just me, but shouldn’t cops concentrate their efforts on the murders of people who didn’t want to die? What’s up with forcing people who don’t want to live to continue their miserable slog? Just think if everyone who’s suicidal were allowed to off themselves: Then the country could uncork a new tagline: “America – Now 30% More Cheerful!”
Tonight’s second episode spins the incident when Enron stuck it to California by pretending there wasn’t enough power then jacked up the rates by obscene amounts, only here, a murder is involved, and it’s karmic payback of some sort. (A lot of “L&O” shows based on true events offer a kind of wish-fulfillment justice.)
A couple of new developments for the new season. Jeremy Sisto joins the cast as Detective Cyrus Lupo (after this long on the air, they must be running out of credible names), Ed Green’s (Jesse Martin) new partner, and Sam Waterston seems to be getting less screen time now that he’s the newly appointed District Attorney (what with Fred Thompson glumly shlumping – er, stumping – for President). He’s basically consigned to scenes where everyone who’s doing the heavy lifting on the investigation comes in to discuss how tough the case is and then he says, “Let’s nail this bastard.” Or some variation thereof. It’s like he’s “Law & Order” Cast Member Emeritus, and not much is asked of him anymore.
There’s not much point in reviewing “Law & Order” anymore. Everyone knows the drill. They’re still doing it. You’ll still watch it.
- “Law & Order:” 9 and 10 tonight; NBC (Channel 4).
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About this blog
David Kronke was appointed Mayor of Television after a bloodless coup in 2000. Since then, he has improved infrastructure, championed greater educational opportunities and fought for reforms that have utterly erased corruption and incompetence from the television industry. Since Mr. Kronke has ascended to power, Television is a far better place.
I don't watch "L&O," but the only way I'd buy Jeremy Sisto as a police detective is if he has a secret second life as a Spanish Inquisition re-enacter, or maybe a Pippi Longstocking fetish.