Today's column, noting the imminent "Law & Order" departure of Jesse Martin, looks back at some of the best and worst departures from seasons past. There's also news on "Sarah Connor Chronicles" getting renewed and "Scrubs" and "30 Rock" swapping timeslots.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
All TV: Leaving 'Law & Order': Memorable exits
Today's column, noting the imminent "Law & Order" departure of Jesse Martin, looks back at some of the best and worst departures from seasons past. There's also news on "Sarah Connor Chronicles" getting renewed and "Scrubs" and "30 Rock" swapping timeslots.
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12 comments:
I miss Profacci.
On the other hand, ABC's dramas come back with original episodes this week, and I would think "Ugly Betty" would be easier competition than "Grey's Anatomy."
Perhaps, but they've done well by this viewer. I was trying to decide between watching 30 Rock later online (and try to resist flipping over to it during Ugly Betty commercials), watching Ugly Betty later online (and try to resist watching the first half of it before 30 Rock) and actually getting DVR for the sole purpose of organizing my Thursday nights for the rest of the spring.
How many people who would rather watch the second half of Grey's Anatomy than 30 Rock wouldn't already be watching the entire episode of Grey's Anatomy instead of The Office and Scrubs? And how many people who would rather watch 30 Rock than the second half of Ugly Betty wouldn't already be watching Earl and 30 Rock instead of Ugly Betty? I feel like you'd have to actively dislike 30 Rock to flip over to Grey's after The Office. But some people who do like 30 Rock might just keep on watching Ugly Betty without thinking about switching.
...I'm overthinking this.
How time flies in TV land. Jesse Martin came to L&O from playing the boyfriend on "Ally McBeal". Was that show that long ago?
I guess Cassidy (Govich) is underexplained but I thought it was clear her departure was due to her inexperience, it was the source of ongoing tension throughout the season. It was not dramatic but she was not around long enough to warrant dramatic.
I was trying to think of L&O regulars who have longer tenures than ADA Garza who aren't in the opening credits walk. Since neither Doctors Olivet nor Scoda have paid a visit in quite some time, I guess that would leave the wry pathologist at the coroner's office as next most seasoned character. Some of her dialogue can be cringe-worthy, as she seems to be the vehicle for the writers to express their weird obsession with sodomy.
After the horrendous season of Grey's last year, I've opted to watch the NBCs comedies live and catch Grey's online later.
Re: Diane Wiest's exit
I thought it was stated in Fred Thompson's first episode that he beat her in an election because she was perceived as "too soft" in a post 9/11 world.
steven, Olivet has actually already put in a couple of appearances this season, so she's still in the regular rotation.
I've never understood fan antipathy toward Elizabeth Rohm -- Angie Harmon was far, far worse an actress and character; when Harmon and Wiest were on together, Sam Waterston had to carry the back half of the show all by his lonesome,
Did they explain DA Arthur Branch's (Fred Dalton Thompson) leaving? I am guessing he retired or something like that, per some mentions of Jack's being a seat filling position, but I don't recall anything specific about reasons.
For me, Elisabeth Rohm was by far the worst actress and character. And to add insult to injury, her tenure (in the improbably attractive string of ADAs) was the longest.
The cherry on top is the "lesbian" debacle. There's even an earlier episode where she mentions her boyfriend, which of course doesn't necessarily prove anything, but come on; they pulled that ending out from where the sun don't shine.
Arthur Branch has a Wikipedia page, and it says that it's confirmed on SVU (which I no longer watch) that Jack is serving out the rest of Branch's term, but no reason has been given for Branch's departure.
Wow, this is some serious L&O research, sure to be studied by generations to come! How long did this take you to compile?
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