Facebook
Twitter
RSS
I’m working at home today, with “Law and Order” reruns on in the background to numb my pain from the cancellation of my favorite show, and took a minute to Google cast information about “Law and Order: Los Angeles,” NBC’s new fall entry in Dick Wolf’s canon of procedurals. I came across this fine story by The Wrap’s Adam Wright, suggesting a bevy of talented souls as possible cast members for the new show, the existence of which will not fill the void of the New York original and its gritty, gumshoe goodness. But whatever. We move on.
http://www.thewrap.com/blog-entry/my-dream-cast-law-order-los-angeles-17738
Wright’s picks include some excellent choices like Liev Schreiber, Broadway vet, comic movie baddie (“Wolverine”), indie-loving documentary narrator and veteran of a weird, brief and beautifully plotted stint on “CSI” and “24″‘s Annie Wersching as cops, and “Alias”‘s awesome daddy of vengeance Victor Garber as the D.A. I’m not sure about “Prison Break”‘s Robert Knepper as the A.D.A. and Elisabeth Rohm as famously (or infamously) fired A.D.A. Serena Southerlyn, but with a promotion to Executive Assistant D.A.
Rohm was long the weak link of the regular cast on the Mothership – I wrote a piece about how she bugged me, which caught the attention of the show’s publicists, who then made sure to give me a one-on-one during my visit to the set in 2003. I was incredibly nervous, but Rohm was very cool. Her dog, on the other hand, sloppered on my shirt and left a nasty spot (Doggie justice!)
Knepper, on the other hand, is an unknown quantity to me, as I watched about three episodes of “Prison Break” before I just wanted them to just go on and break out of prison already. I know he was a white supremacist named T-Bag, and all the scenes I remember of him proved him to be bristling with intensity and pretty convincingly creepy. He’s exciting – I’d be interested in what he could do playing someone on the other side of the law.
Besides’s Wright’s suggestions, I’ve got a few of my own:
— Benjamin Bratt as Det. Rey Curtis: The former straight-arrow detective came back this season to bury his wife, who long suffered from MS, and to say hello to departing Lt. Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson). I was hoping that Rey, who had moved to L.A., would be the new Lt. when the show’s 11th season started this fall. (Moment of silence) I’m OK. So since Rey already lives in L.A., why not make him the new boss? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a little bit of the magic of the original to help ease viewers into the new show?
— Stephen Schnetzer as the D.A.: A theater and soap veteran, he’s already logged courtroom time as “Another World”‘s smooth attorney Cass Winthrop, as well as some work on “Law and Order” – he was a fiendish kidnapper whose confession Det. Fontana (Dennis Farina) had to coerce by stuffing his head in a toilet. He’s got a great, distinctive speaking voice and projects a wily authority.
— Gloria Reuben as the A.D.A.: She was impressive as a do-gooder public defender on TNT’s defunct “Raising The Bar” and she retains that grounded emotion she brought to “ER”‘s Jeanie Boulet (Am I the only person who missed her dearly on that show’s finale? I can’t be.)
What do you guys think?
First off I want to thank you for referencing my piece. Glad it got the reaction it did.
Your picks are great too. Bratt makes so much sense, I feel like an idiot for forgetting about him haha.
Gloria also is a nice pick. Not sure if I agree with Stephen though.
As for my pick of Rohm, it was definitely my most controversial pick. But I picked her because of her no-non-sense style. Paired with Knepper, who would play an ultra-cock, even snaky A.D.A, I thought it was a cool dynamic. And besides, maybe L.A. changed Serena?
Anyways, great piece, and thanks again!
I would like to see this cast for LOLA:
Cops Side:
Jesse L. Martin
Michael Imperioli
Benjamin Bratt
For the ADA:
Alana De La Garza
Elisabeth Rohm
For the DA:
Denzel Washington
S. Epatha Merkerson
For the Leuitanent
Lorraine Toussaint
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE FOLLOWING ON L.O.L.A.
1. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE JIMMY SMITS AS THE D.A.
2. FRED SAVAGE
3.JENSEN ACKLES
4. JAMES MASTERS
5. MICHAEL IMPERIOLI
FOR THE COPS SIDE
1. RODRIGO SANTORO
2. ESAI MORALES
3. BENJAMIN BRATT
4. LUIS GUZMAN
THE LADIES
1. KATHERINE MOENNIG
2. LESLIE BIBB
3. CARA BUONO
4. SANAA LATHAN
5. LAUREN VELEZ
WHO IS IN CHARGE OF CASTING ???
HERE ARE SOME VERY LA ACTORS !!!
Adam: Thanks for reading! I did enjoy your piece…and who knows? Maybe Serena would be older and wiser.
And Kimba…those are excellent, excellent picks! I adore Lauren Velez – a very strong actress. Sanaa was on my short list – don’t even know why I left her off! And you had me at Esai Morales!
Michael Rosenbaum as one of the ADAs. With hair.
Sam Jones III as one of the cops.
i would love to have jesse l martin at the lt.and adam beach for detective,and more black people on the show
I love the idea of Stephen Schnetzer!! I loved him as Cass on A.W. and love to hear his voice on the voice-over commercials he does.
Benjamin Bratt would be a good choice for the Detective and Jimmy Smits would make a great D.A. I like Knepper, but not sure if he would be a good A.D.A. or not. He was great on Prison Break, hence the problem. All I see is T-Bag when I see him in anything.
I would like to see Dennis Franz as one of the Cops, and Michael Imperioli as the other I would like to see, James Gandolfini as the LT.As the DA I would like to see James Woods. and as the two working for the DA I would like to see,David Morse and Jill Hennessey
DreamCast: Detectives: Vincent D’Onofrio and Kathry Erbe and alternate detectives Benjamin Bratt and Annabella Sciorra, Captian: Jamey Sheridan, ADA: Jesse L Martin, Executive ADA: Elizabeth Rohm, DA: Fred Thompson, Forensic Psych: Alicia Witt and Carolyn McCormick. Build on the character histories to land them in LA w…ith more education or whatever. I promise, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!!
I simply love the whole Law and Order franchise from Dick Wolf. However, I don’t agree with any of the comments from the previous people about casting some of the old cast members. This is just my opinion, but I would like to see an entirely new cast. We’ve seen what the previous individuals have to offer, and not taking anything from them, but I think they’ve run the gambit as far as their contributions because I don’t think they have anything new to add to a new show. Just because this is an old premise, it doesn’t mean that it can’t mean a new show; and one of the ways to make it new is to bring in new characters. I would have difficulty in seeing LO-LA new without a whole new cast. I look forward to seeing Mr. Wolf’s new ideas – after all, he hasn’t failed us yet.
I think it would be a good idea to bring back some of the old Law & Order cast. Jill Hennessey would be a great one haven’t seen her since Jordan went off. Bejamin Bratt a definite yes also, and why not bring over most of the L&O cast,if you were like me you cried when it went off and I think they would bring new ideas and be a great cast for this new show. But like everyone else this is just my opinion. Thank you for letting me share my ideas.
Alyssa Milano as the ADA
Chris Noth as Detective
Michael Madsen as a Detective Mike Logan
Elpidia Carrillo as an ADA
Ernie Hudson as the Lieutenant
Jim Metzler as the DA
Alyssa Milano as the ADA
Chris Noth as Detective Mike Logan
Michael Madsen as a Detective
Elpidia Carrillo as an ADA
Ernie Hudson as the Lieutenant
Jim Metzler as the DA
This is my third reply (hopefully the site administrator will remove the first two). Took me a second to get my thoughts together.
Alyssa Milano as the ADA
~She is beautiful and smart. I think she would make an excellent ADA.
Chris Noth as Detective Mike Logan
~Anyone who saw him on Criminal Intent or the original L&O would understand this selection.
Michael Madsen as a Detective
~He is this big tough guy who would pull off playing a detective marvelously.
Elpidia Carrillo as an ADA
~From Predator to her TV work, I have always been fascinated with her. She was also on an episode of L&O: SVU as a victim. I think it is time she had a long term role.
Ernie Hudson as the Lieutenant
~Excellent in The Crow, Ghostbusters, and many other fillms and TV shows. He is a commanding prescence who would pull off playing the “Loo” nice.
Jim Metzler as the DA
~Sorry. He looks like a DA.
Charles:
Brilliant list!!!
Ernie Hudson and Keith David would be a great pair as DA and Loo, wouldn’t they? Both are due their own show! (And I just love Keith David’s voice. Can you imagine him ripping into a Jack mcCoy-like Rant of Righteous Indignance? He guested on L&O as the Bronx DA back in the Nora Llwelyn era. And he was wrong, mad, bad and dangerous to piss off. With right on his side? Unstoppable.
My dream cast for L&O:LA is as follows:
LAW side:
Skeet Ulrich (Det. Winters) replaced Jimmy Smits (Sr. Det.)
Selwyn Ward (Jr. Det.)
Theresa Russell (Lt.)
ORDER side:
Ted Atherton (EADA)
Alycia Purrott (ADA)
Ted Shackelford (DA)
All roles (except Lieutenant) had many picks. For LAW, I thought of Marc Gomes(Sr. Det.) and Archie Kao(Jr. Det). For ORDER, I thought of Tom Hallick and Corbin Bernsen(EADA), Lark Voorhies(ADA) and Christopher Walken. Yes Christopher (actor extraordinaire) Walken was my 1st and then only thought as DA.
Much was made of L&O:NY being cancelled, but who knows? This could be the #1 blockbuster we’ve been waiting for!
Id like to see Michael Ironside as Sr.Detective
Keith David would be a good Lt
Brian Denehy as DA
I think that they [being the casting staff] are slipping hard. Why in the world are they going to soure these actors for a show that takes place in cali. I mean seriously there aren’t even any hot women with leading roles. And then– lets not even mention that Terrance Howard is the DA? Seriousy WTF is that. I really hope that the scenes from the show arent like in the ghetto or something stupid.
I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own weblog and was curious what all is required to get set up? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny? I’m not very web smart so I’m not 100% certain. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Appreciate it