Dennis Farina Joins Law & Order

[Ash]

I've always liked Farina as an actor...he's played some pretty good parts.
I also contemplated for a long time as to who could successfully take Jerry Orbach's place on the show.
Farina is definitely it!
He brings similar traits to the show like Orbach did with jokes but is a little more subdued in his approach.
He and Jessie Martin make a good pair.

HERE'S MORE INFO ON FARINA IN LAW & ORDER

If you're a huge Law & Order junkie like me I think you'll agree.
I recently picked up the three newest DVD box sets of the show....
Law & Order: the 14th Season
Law & Order Special Victims Unit: Season 5
Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Season 3

If you like the show I highly recommend these box sets....great stuff!
Each set has over 20 riveting episodes on 3 discs with the exception of SVU which has 4 discs.
I picked up each at Wal-Mart for around $45 each.

Any of you big into this show like I am?
Who do you think is/was the best detective?
Who do you think is/was the best D.A. and Assistant D.A.?

My vote for detective is Jerry Orbach hands down as Lennie Briscoe...Vincent D'Onofrio as Det. Goren runs a very close second.
My vote for best male A.D.A. is a tough choice...I liked Michael Moriarty but Sam Waterston has that certain something that Moriarty lacked.
Best female A.D.A in my opinion is a toss-up between Jill Hennessy and Angie Harmon.

Have any of you seen Farina's performances in the new L & O season?
Whaddaya think?



Post Edited (10-03-04 17:59)

[trekgeezer]

Hey Ash, I want  to know how they are going to explain the money, expensive car, and expensive tailor made Italian clothes.  I like the comment  Green made to the Lt. right after meeting him, "I didn't know if he was a cop or a wise guy ."

The Lt. also told Green that "I had no choice." on taking him.  I am interested to see how this little mystery pans out.

I really like D'nofrio's character, kind of a cross between Columbo and Monk.  Did you see the one with the guy that played Larry on Perfect Strangers as the obssessive compulsive insurance guy who was signing bums up for big policies and then having them killed so he could collect  the money?  I remember Goren's partner shaking her head watching the two of them with all their ticks.

Lennie Brisco was the best  and I liked Stephen Hill  as Adam Schiff  the DA. He like Lennie had an appropriate smart ass response to most situations.

Lennie will be back in "Law and Order : Trial by Jury"  as an investigator for the DA's office.  Bebe Neuwirth will star as a tough Manhattan prosecutor. NBC hasn't announced an airdate for the show yet.

[peter johnson]

They're making Farina a bit of a jerk right off the bat -- good!  More tension --
The episode you mention with D'onofrio & Mark Lynn Baker -- see "My Perfect Year", with Peter O'Toole playing a barely-disguised Errol Flynn, for more of Baker -- is one of my all-time favorites.  
There is little doubt that D'onofrio is playing a polyglot of barely-medicated mental problems, including but not limited to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, and Panic Attacks.  In our house, we call him "Bendy-Boy" for his from-the-waist/in-your-personal-space style of pursuing the bad guys.  He's a brilliantly observational actor who has spent some time either in the company of the mentally ill or has watched an awful lot of video about them.  I'm just fascinated by what he'll do next.
peter johnson/denny crane

[Ash]

Unfortunately, I missed the first episode of the season starring Farina.

Can you fill me in on the backstory?

[JohnL]

I couldn't find an episode guide that gave a detailed description of the season premiere, but I did find this site;

Law & Order Shows

Which has info, guides and more for all the Law & Order shows. Unfortunately, they haven't updated the guides to cover the most recent episodes yet.