"Disorderly Conduct"
From Chicago Reader
By Lee Sandlin
October 20, 2006
excerpted ~
EVERYBODY AGREES THAT THE LAW & Order shows have become unwatchable lately -- that the whole franchise has finally, as the kids say, jumped the shark. But this dread TV epitaph doesn't really catch the way the three series (Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent) have gone bad. These days, I don't think they could muster enough creative energy among them to jump a crack in a sidewalk. They're more like zombies in a George Romero movie: bizarre and listless parodies of their former selves, shambling off aimlessly into the dark.
.....But worst of all is the Chris Noth problem. D'Onofrio now alternates episodes with Noth, who's been brought back from oblivion as Detective Logan, late of the original L & O. It apparently doesn't matter that this cuts the last rational supports out from under D'Onofrio's Method-actor shtick. The implicit premise of CI was that Goren's weird antics were tolerated because he was a Sherlock Holmesian genius. But now Logan, that lifer, solves exactly the same unsolvable cases with nothing more than his working-stiff charm. So why on earth would anyone put up with Goren?
submitted by Keiko
posted by lljudge @ 6:35 AM
27 Comments:
Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but I surely disagree here. I think the new season eps have all been good. Yes, maybe one hasn't been quite as exciting as the others, but I think they all have been excellent. Oh, well. If we all liked and disliked the same things, the world would be boring.
Blah,Blah, Blah! While this is a well written, gramatically correct, article...I think the person who wrote this on crack! I also tend to think that the critics of these shows go on hear-say and have really never sat and watched the Law and Order (any of them) Marathon's. This person is just using their writting skills as a vehicle to gather some disposable income.
Now if they could just ask this group about writing an article about LOCI (or any of them), then that could be an accurate article...this is not so much!
And as a member of the Goren fan club (is there one...if not, I'll create it now), I am rather upset about the anti-Goren comments. Perhaps that person in Chicago should stick to something they really know about...The WIND!
Alright, I'm done being mean for the moment...Go LOCI Go!!!
P.S. I did enjoy watching the episodes last night on USA...good times!
The writer has a point about the Logan episodes. If LOCI had a motivation beyond extending the L&O brand, it was in showing Goren's unravelling of the criminal. I like Chris Noth and I'm coming to like Logan, but his episodes need to have a reason for being.
As for LOCI not being political, what about episodes like STRESS POSITION? LOCI has consistently argued against unlawful procedures by the police and people in authority. I also read here a critic who really hasn't watched the show.
wardicus
Uh, let's see... because he's intellegent, intriguing, and irresistible?? Or maybe because he is beautiful, brilliant, and ballsy?
Who is this person? Why put up with Goren? He is original and interesting, unconventional. Oh yeah, he is smoking hot too.
... doh!!!!!
I went into this website and read the whole article-then I sent an e mail to this so called journalist-now says anyone ever heard of this guy-I haven't-and how many people have heard of Vincent D'Onofrio-and the gall to start off his article with everybody knows-everybody-did he poll everyone on earth-I guess somehow he missed us-and I am so upset about his descriptions of Vincent's acting-this guy is an unknown jerk-and let's face it, it's not like he's writing for the Washington Post or Newsweek-he's writing for a website that I never even heard of until know-what a jerk.
I say this year's season has improved further.
By the way, yes just loved the USA channel last night and the character insights were great except for no Vincent-Vincent you're killing us-I'm so grateful to the female interviewer who interviewed Vincent at the Pirates premiere, otherwise we would have nothing of Vincent being Vincent.
What IS this?! Total crap is what I say. Who IS this person?! And who is "EVERYBODY" who agrees that L&O is "unwatchable"?! Bah!
Apparently not EVERYBODY agrees, as the ratings on CI (in both the Goren and the Logan eps) are way, way up over last year, and the SVU eps are still ranking into the top 20 shows watched amongst viewers every week. This person should check some facts and watch some eps before voicing an opinion. I agree they are entitled to have one, I just think it should be a better informed one.
I do have to agree with _most_ of the article. and i managed not to get my panties in a bunch over the snide remarks about VDO. in fact, i must confess that the Christopher Walken comment made me laugh. i'll renounce my membership in the goren fan camp if anyone deems it an appropriate punishment.
excuse me?! i almost ran over a person with my bike, hurrying to get home to catch criminal intent or special victims unit on time and saying "unwatchable"??? sheeesshhh! what a dork!
Ok, I went and read the whole article. The Christopher Walken line was funny. The writer is just taking mean, tacky swipes at several of the actors. I am not happy about Sheridan leaving bit I am giving Bogosian time to develop his character. We are luck to have the caliber of an actor like VDO (even if it is every other week).
And Denise, your last line calls the writer a dork, I would change two of the letters in that word.
We all adore watching Goren 'cos he's tall, dark, handsome, intelligent, intuitive & intriguing - and absolutely nothing like the author of this latest print dribble!!!
To this author I say "Grow a pair"
I agree that LOCI has been a major disappointment this year, but I think the other two series have been quite good.
i guess my watching loci series wasn't counted in one of this writer's rating log books. but take it from me, loci rules!
i merely enjoyed the shows on USA last night, though!
I bet the writer prefers unrealistic shows that take place in realistic settings, like Grey's Anatomy or Criminal Minds. Both shows are guilty pleasures of mine, but they are far from realistic.
The Law & Order series are three great realistic, yet very, very entertaining shows. It's amazing how you can treat your mind, yet be on the edge of your seat at the same time.
So yeah... Lee Sandlin has a talent for writing, but his opinions on the Law & Order series are wrong. And him being wrong is not an opinion, that's a fact. ;)
The article's benevolent. This person has a great skill as a writer.
However....
Stating us not watching the Law and Order franchise, was completely untruth. To inform this writer, that the rest of the WORLD, also watches Law and Order shows. So he/she can't just come out of the mouse-hole and say such unpleasant things, especially about Vincent.
As for the LO:CI; you have my love and support all the way!
I went into Mr. Sandlins blog and read the entire article. Its not just LOCI and VDO he is blasting but the whole Wolf series of LO. Sandlin is spouting his own views not that of the loyal fan base. After all he is a noted hysterical oops historical writer.
to swimfish1: there is a fantastic group LOCI/ VDO with 269 members. Its premis is for the dicussion of VDO's films and LOCI. In fact, many of the members post here in this blog and sing its praises.
I'm quite sure I've never met Lee Sandlin, nor has he ever sought my opinion about LOCI, so the line about 'Everyone agrees etc' can hardly include me!!! Perhaps he'd like to go back to watching Sesame Street as it may be less taxing for his intellect.
C.I. rules and Vincent rocks my world!
LOL Cvlsrvnt. I happen to agree with your comment. I also found parts of the full article funny and some of the observations and critisms were valid. I've found the storylines in Season Six CI to be rather flat so far.
So, no need to renounce your membership. Either that or we're both going to be stoned out of the club together! lol :-)
i think all the law and orders are great but loci is the best one on tv unwatchable im afraid not vincent is the best
I received an e mail from the Chicago Reader asking if my e mail to them was available for publishing and I e mail back and said certainly-but I just checked their website and it is not on-if they do post it, I will let everyone know.
I'm an ER fan and I constantly hear about how it's gone downhill from early days and so on.
Well, hubby and I probably like it more than ever now even though, yes, concepts are recycled.
These shows have been around a LONG time, that alone is testimony to their quality. CI may not get the life-span of the original. But to say they are all failing is absurd.
Nothing can hang around this long (such as the original L&O and ER) and not shift focus, characters, style, and as a result, audiences. I never watched ER in it's early days (GAWD that preening Clooney dude!) I've actually found myself returning to the original L&O after a two-season hiatus.
I agree on the Noth thing to an extent. But only to an extent. All these crime shows have seemingly "unsolvable" cases. Whether it's Bobby, Det. Stabler, CSI Grissom, or even the fluffy ADA who stumbles upon the little bit of information that breaks the case, it's how it's written and filmed that I care about. Not about whether or not it's Holmesian or "Beat Cop" or forensic in nature. Not to me, anyway.
Though I do have a soft spot for the forensics. :)
peachy - thank god! this is the only group that'll have me :)
I'm glad i'm not alone in thinking the writing hasn't been up to par this season. i like that we've gotten a more intimate look at our favorite detectives, but it shouldn't be at the expense of story.
lo:ci isn't unwatchable - on the contrary, i was just as riveted to the first two goren/eames eps as most of us here. but i'm tired of being able to spot the perp in the first 15 minutes. it's never been quite that bad before, at least not this often in a single season.
I agree that I too have been figuring out the perps early in the show. (I certainly have been watching all 3 LO so unwatchable is just not true.) While I do think they could make the cases harder, remeber two things. Sometimes CI comes out and tells us the perp and the point is to watch the detectives solve it. And ... the learning curve. How long have we been watching these shows? I have been a Law and Order watcher for 12 years and I watch all 3 incarnations. I'm pretty good at figuring out the perps anyway. Avid LO watchers are better at it. Its part of the fun.
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