Why Does Law And Order Change Actors So Much? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

isiahthomas · 07-11-2009, 04:38 PM

I get tired of this show changing actors so much. I get used to seeing the actors i like and the next thing i know, they leave the show. What's up with that? I hope Anthony Anderson can stay on for awhile. When is the new season of Law And Order coming on with Anthony?

lucyandethel · 01-28-2010, 09:12 PM

I think there are several reasons. One, Dick Wolf is more concerned with the story than the character. This is one of the great things about Law & Order, it has always been about the story. There really are no "stars" per se in Law & Order, it is an ensemble, but the roles are easily replaceable. Likely, if an actor starts demanding a higher salary, they can be nixed much easier this way. Quite frankly, the only "vital" cast member in all the years of Law & Order was Jerry Orbach. He probably had the most popularity of any of the actors, but as you see, the show has continued for six more seasons after his death.

Second, the come and go cast has basically helped the show last this long. If it were all the same cast from 20 years ago, it probably wouldn't even be on right now.

But one thing I would like to say....I DO NOT like Anthony Anderson or Jeremy Sisto. They don't make a good team...Anderson is just always mad....

Mr. Television · 01-28-2010, 11:54 PM

Law and Order should have ended when Jerry Orbach died. I watched it for a few years after when Dennis Farina was on but I just can't get into it anymore. The only L&O Show I still watch is SVU and that's because the actors don't change.

70s show watcher · 02-05-2010, 09:25 PM

also by most accounts producer/ creator dick wolf is more of a jerk to his actors than he needs to be and after a few years working with him alot of the actors become tired of him and his legendery tiraides and also his well earned rep for cheapness and penny pinching

Dr. Thong · 02-06-2010, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70s show watcher

also by most accounts producer/ creator dick wolf is more of a jerk to his actors than he needs to be and after a few years working with him alot of the actors become tired of him and his legendery tiraides and also his well earned rep for cheapness and penny pinching

One of the ex L&O actors (I think it was Michael Moriarty, the original DA) referred to him as "Wolf the Dick" on a radio interview I heard back in the mid-nineties.

catlover79 · 04-17-2010, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

One of the ex L&O actors (I think it was Michael Moriarty, the original DA) referred to him as "Wolf the Dick" on a radio interview I heard back in the mid-nineties.

That sounds like Michael Moriarty, for sure!! Read this article and watch this video if there are any doubts!!

http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/mm...law-and-order/

http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/39535...er-too-liberal

Dr. Thong · 04-17-2010, 01:05 PM

I wonder if part of the reason for the frequent cast changes is that some of the actors see L&O merely as a stepping stone.

Maybe they figure they'll do L&O for a while and move on to feature films or a show of their own where they're the sole star that the show is built around.

catlover79 · 04-17-2010, 05:46 PM

^ Good point, but most of the L&O actors who have left really haven't done anything big after leaving (notable exceptions being Ben Bratt and Jill Hennessy).

Mr. Television · 04-17-2010, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

^ Good point, but most of the L&O actors who have left really haven't done anything big after leaving (notable exceptions being Ben Bratt and Jill Hennessy).

and Chris Noth.

catlover79 · 04-17-2010, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood Fan

and Chris Noth.

How could I have forgotten him??

He only went to become a cult sex symbol on Sex & The City before returning to the role of Det. Mike Logan on CI. Thanks, Sonny!!

Dr. Thong · 04-18-2010, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

How could I have forgotten him??

He only went to become a cult sex symbol on Sex & The City before returning to the role of Det. Mike Logan on CI. Thanks, Sonny!!

And he's currently starring as a very bad husband on the new show, The Good Wife.

Mr. Television · 04-18-2010, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

And he's currently starring as a very bad husband on the new show, The Good Wife.

and he's great on that show too.

catlover79 · 04-18-2010, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

And he's currently starring as a very bad husband on the new show, The Good Wife.

I've never seen that show. Sounds like I should check it out!!

Dr. Thong · 04-19-2010, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I've never seen that show. Sounds like I should check it out!!

I only watched the first couple of episodes, but Chris Noth is playing the type of character that Mike Logan would have gone after with a vengeance.

catlover79 · 04-19-2010, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

I only watched the first couple of episodes, but Chris Noth is playing the type of character that Mike Logan would have gone after with a vengeance.

I loved the Mike Logan character, especially when he was paired with Jerry Orbach's Lenny Briscoe. Those were the days!!!!!

07-11-2009, 04:38 PM	#1
isiahthomas Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Aug 20, 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 10,704	Why Does Law And Order Change Actors So Much? I get tired of this show changing actors so much. I get used to seeing the actors i like and the next thing i know, they leave the show. What's up with that? I hope Anthony Anderson can stay on for awhile. When is the new season of Law And Order coming on with Anthony?

01-28-2010, 11:54 PM	#3
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	Law and Order should have ended when Jerry Orbach died. I watched it for a few years after when Dennis Farina was on but I just can't get into it anymore. The only L&O Show I still watch is SVU and that's because the actors don't change.
	__________________ Sonny

01-28-2010, 09:12 PM	#2
lucyandethel Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 18, 2009 Location: Los Angeles CA Posts: 435	I think there are several reasons. One, Dick Wolf is more concerned with the story than the character. This is one of the great things about Law & Order, it has always been about the story. There really are no "stars" per se in Law & Order, it is an ensemble, but the roles are easily replaceable. Likely, if an actor starts demanding a higher salary, they can be nixed much easier this way. Quite frankly, the only "vital" cast member in all the years of Law & Order was Jerry Orbach. He probably had the most popularity of any of the actors, but as you see, the show has continued for six more seasons after his death. Second, the come and go cast has basically helped the show last this long. If it were all the same cast from 20 years ago, it probably wouldn't even be on right now. But one thing I would like to say....I DO NOT like Anthony Anderson or Jeremy Sisto. They don't make a good team...Anderson is just always mad....

02-05-2010, 09:25 PM	#4
70s show watcher Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 20, 2008 Location: between point place and studio 8 h Posts: 4,549	also by most accounts producer/ creator dick wolf is more of a jerk to his actors than he needs to be and after a few years working with him alot of the actors become tired of him and his legendery tiraides and also his well earned rep for cheapness and penny pinching

04-17-2010, 01:05 PM	#7
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	I wonder if part of the reason for the frequent cast changes is that some of the actors see L&O merely as a stepping stone. Maybe they figure they'll do L&O for a while and move on to feature films or a show of their own where they're the sole star that the show is built around.

04-17-2010, 05:46 PM	#8
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	^ Good point, but most of the L&O actors who have left really haven't done anything big after leaving (notable exceptions being Ben Bratt and Jill Hennessy).