Let's be Law & Order (mothership only)

I'm the Lenny Line that leads into the opening credits.

I'm the gritty look at early '90s New York that became more slick as the city was Giuliani-fied.

I am Dennis Farina's/ Detective Fontana's enviable light blue jacket of dubious origin.

I am Julia Roberts.

I’m S. Epatha Merkerson who played the mother of a victim in season one, and returned in season 4 as Lt. Anita Van Buren

I am fired

I'm the worst actor in the history of television who got the job because I'm blonde.

I am the super cool Angie Harmon. The best ADA EVER.

I'm hot daddy detective Lupo.

I was a kid in Grand Canyon, a spoiled kid in Clueless, and had tits in this wierd thriller movie set in a boat.

I'm the ripped from the headlines story with a twist. In my universe The Menendez brothers really didn't do it/

I am Diane Weist and I may be in a coma- wait that is just my acting

I've been with them since the beginning.

I’m a Broadway dancer/singer/actor (in THAT order) and while my Law & Order credit in Playbill seems like a cliche, that job allowed me to eat that month. People forget that struggling actors will take any job to survive.

I am Jack McCoy's cross examinations, closing arguments, sly smiles. He is just the best thing about that show.

I am Fran Lebowitz, playing a no-nonsense judge.

I"m George Dzundza. Why does no one ever mention me?

When I walk in, Jack McCoy trembles.

My closing argument was Emmy worthy.

I'm the cast changes for the first 20 yrs.

I'm the extra who played the murder victim, the crime witness, the onlooker, EMT, the officer..and dreamed one day I would become the series lead.

I am Det. Curtis's barely concealed rage and disdain

I am Hudson University. We have a high number of dubiously deceased students.

R17. I'm the paper plates she brought to the wrap party.

I'm Annie Parisse. I think I only got the job because my brother is Sam Waterston's son-in-law.

I'm Connie Rubirosa. I'm a straight Latina out in to contrast with the blonde lesbian.

I’m “Ms Shambala Green” coming out of ben’s mouth as he wryly bobs his head.

I'm the Broadway dancer/singer/actor (in THAT order) who has missed rent since they cancelled the motherfucker.

I'm Patti Lupone. Don't use your goddam cell phone when I'm on screen!

I’m Profaci. I’m working the LUDs.

I'm the annoyed New Yorkers because Law & Order's shooting on the other block.

I'm the hapless tourist from Iowa who got more than I bargained for in the big apple.

I'm Elaine Stritch, playing ardent and honest feminist attorney Lanie Stieglitz. And never ONCE did I mention the Archbishop of Chicago.

A first for me.

I am diet coke, Lenny's drink of choice. except for that one night...

I'm George Dzunzda, quitting after one season in a huff.

I'm one of the actors portraying the dead body at the beginning. Will anyone recognize me?

I am my loins tingling on the rare times Det Green stops being the smooth, mild mannered, easy going cop and butches it up because he is ANGRY

I'm manorexic Benjamin Bratt. I share a jawline with Bethenny Frankel.

I'm Benjamin Stone, the original DA. Little did you know at the time that I was played by an alcoholic right-wing conspiracy theory loon.

I'm Sam Waterston and I'm leaving my wife for my law partner Martin Sheen...oh wait, wrong show...never mind.

I'm Paul Sorvino, quitting after the second season in a huff.

I'm Laura's gentleman caller. Waterson was Tom. Miss Hepburn was Amanda. I came first on L&O. I complained and drank everyday. I'm a better actor than Waterson. I have a Tony and and Emmy. I came first. Janet Reno had me fired. I drink.

I'm DA Borgia, choking on my own vomit in the trunk of a car.

I'm various cool women actors variously playing the cool ME.

excuse me r43, I am Assistant Chief Medical Examiner Elizabeth Rodgers, the only assistant ME that counts, and my attitude will make it clear that I am pretty much over your shit. now let me eat my lunch

I'm Anthony Anderson, I will lose the weight-ish and go on to star in my own sitcom. I will be set with residuals for life.

I'm Jessica Griffin, late of Oakdale, IL.

I'm the not-so-subtle flirtation from female characters over the course of seasons towards Det. Curtis.

I'm a tranny hooker.

I'm Milena Govich. I'm probably the all-time worst regular actress on the show.

I'm Larry Miller, starring in TWO episodes: in the first one, I get away with killing my first wife but, in the second, I'm convicted for murdering my second wife.

I'm the medical marijuana that Anita VanBuren smokes to help her after the chemo.

I'm megastar JULIA ROBERTS, slumming as a special guest star in a very special episode!

I am R3.

I am the nosy doorman who helped to solve the case, if not for my tips, they would never be able to piece together all the clues.

I'm Jeremy Sisto, a defense attorney one episode and an NYPD detective the next.

I'm the inimitable TOVAH FELDSHUH who had a small second career as lefty defense attorney Danielle Melnik.

R49, I'm Elisabeth Rohm, and I'M the worst actor in the history of the franchise ( any of the LAO franchises).

I'm the 90s headline they ripped for the show, our episode pulled great ratings, the same cannot be said to 2000s headlines, ripped too soon and everyone already knew what happened in details, thanks to internet and 24x7 cable news!

I'm Sam Waterson, relieved to be able to play something other than Lincoln.

I'm the payphone that was bugged by the police.

They don't make me anymore.

I am, Lenny's 'I hate when they do thatv whenever a perp starts running.

Lenny was already 60 years old when he first started on the show.

I'm the gay-baiting city councilman Det. Logan punches, earning his banishment to Staten Island.

speaking of det. Logan, I am his plaid tie; the only tie he owns.

I am me, rewatching a later season and having the realization of how weird it was that after more than a dozen seasons of Jack McCoy banging all of his female ADAs (either telling the viewers directly or by implications) that they cast his real life daughter in law as ADA.

I am the "contempt of court" thrown to Jack McCoy by the judges

I'm Shambala, the public defender of the first two season who speaks like she just graduated from Oxford and is passionate government employee.

I'm Denis O'Hare. Among my many outstanding guest spots was "Pro Se", for which I should have won an Emmy Award.

I'm the entire courtroom who get up two seconds after the verdict is read, when in reality they would probably be there another two hours.

Don't get the Elisabeth Rohm hate. I loved her, she had a strange cadence but I thought she was good here and in "American Hustle" & "Joy".

She was wooden and as believable as Don Jr. is as a diplomat.

R65 He only banged Jill Kinkade while on the show, though he made references to having relationships with previous ADAs before he was a character on the show. Jamie Ross referenced a serious boyfriend multiple times and announced her engagement to him towards the end of her character's run, and Serena Southerlyn was a lesbo.

I'm George Dzunda, who I find weirdly attractive and has major BDF. I thought this was was going to be a star vehicle for me. I had just costarred in Basic Instinct bitches.

[quote]She was wooden and as believable as Don Jr. is as a diplomat.

I'd agree to disagree but you're just wrong.

I am half the cast of the walking dead who all were on at one point or another including one episode with both Merle and Maggie

whoops, that is, not Maggie, that's the younger wife from sons of anarchy. I suck.

I'm Sarah Paulson. I played a young teenage slut involved in a love triangle with her stepdad who stands trial for murdering her mom. I'm the Long Island Lolita story transplanted to the Upper East Side.

I have hated her and her lispy speech impediment since that episode

some notable assistant ADAs

Claire - passionate and idealistic Jamie - self-constraint and conflicted Abbie - short tempered and headstrong Serena Southerlyn - ?

R71 I won't use the word "wooden" or not believable, but her character is indeed very bland and weak. Maybe it's the writing, or her acting or likely both, her portray of Serena was very forgettable, I hardly remember any notable moments of Serena in the series but I can list tons of Jamie or Abbie highlights on how they argue or pursue a case, and I believe that makes a different on acting, leaving a long lasting impression.

I'm criminal defense attorney Ruth Miller, a guest role that only requires one-dimensional and exaggerated acting, I was played by Patti LuPone and she did not blow it, not only that, she was actually quite good. For that, I am forever grateful!

I am Dr Elizabeth Olivet. I have the hots for Det. Mike Logan.

I am also Det. Logan, and I have the hots for Dr. Olivet.

We both wish we were on a 2010's streaming series, where we could have a steamy sex scene or two.

I am New York in the early '90s. I miss me.

I'm Dr. Elizabeth Rodgers the medical examiner who appeared in 263 episodes on all four "Law & Order" series: Law & Order (1990), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999), Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001), and Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005).

[quote]I'm megastar JULIA ROBERTS, slumming as a special guest star in a very special episode!

Truth be told, "Law & Order" was a big deal, an Emmy winning Outstanding Drama Series and featured NY's finest actors. The old joke was if you hadn't done a Law & Order, you weren't an actor. Julia wasn't really slumming, she ended up with an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series and oh she was fucking Benjamin Bratt.

I'm the yapping lap dog who discovers the corpse in the park.

I'm my old apartment building where Sgt. Greevey and Det. Logan looked for clues in a rape case that turns out to have been done by Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

Episode "The violence of summer" R86.

Speaking of the mothership, I think that one of the OTA channels runs mothership episodes all day, one day a week.

Anyone know which channel that is?

I'm the steady cam operator who spent every working day walking backward because no witness ever took the time to stand still and talk to the detectives.

R88 that would be ION tv

Thank you, R90!

I was looking for it.

Not any longer, r90. Ion only runs the mothership episodes Wednesday and Thursday mornings. SVU is run all day Saturday. Bounce TV runs mothership episodes in the late morning weekdays. Ion has the later years, starting with Briscoe (Orbach) and Green (Martin). Bounce has the early episodes.

Thanks, R92.

I like the early episodes.

It seems that the later episodes are shown more often.

I'm the ridiculous wig that covers S. Epatha Merkerson's beautiful natural hair.

But I'm not as awful as the wigs that public defender Emmet (Viola Davis) wore on SVU

Trying again

Exhibit B

R93, Seasons 1 and 2 of the mothership series are available streaming on Amazon Prime. It's not free - $2/episode, $20/season - but well worth it if you love the early seasons.

Remember that those early years were SDTV. It's a bit disappointing to see how grainy they seem compared to more recent series.

[quote]It's a bit disappointing to see how grainy they seem compared to more recent series.

They aren't remastered. All day WE on Sundays airs episodes that are remastered and look gorgeous, even the first season.

if you live on the edge, there exists out in the wild a torrent with the entire universe up to the point of the torrent being created (so missing the most recent svu years). it's like 3000+ episodes, one season has dutch subtitles. you could just pick and choose by checkmark what ones they download

[quote]I'm Dr. Elizabeth Rodgers the medical examiner who appeared in 263 episodes on all four "Law & Order" series: Law & Order (1990), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999), Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001), and Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005).

"All FOUR?"

Poor Bebe Neuwirth, she gets the lead in the new "Law & Order: Trial By Jury". Thinks she hit the mother lode. The pilot even featured Angela Lansbury and Alfred Molina in a two part L&O crossover. Candy Bergen as a judge for three episodes, Orbach, other L&O regulars guesting and it goes a whopping 13 episodes.

Speaking of Alfred Molina, R101, did you see him in that horrible L&O: Los Angeles as a DA. I really wanted to like it (I was living in LA at the time) but it was horrible. I did like watching that Johnny Depp clone Skeet Ulrich.

I'm Judge Morris Torledsky who was in 27 episodes portrayed by David Lipman who did three pornos before he did legit work.

Warning: Explicit heterosexual pornography, have your smelling salts ready girls. Lipman scene begins 48.25

Judge Morris Torledsky

Thanks, r98. I wasn't aware WeTV aire L&O.

And I was wrong when I posted that Ion's episodes started with Briscoe (Orbach) and Green (Martin). They start with Fontana (Dennis Farina) and Green.

I am Mafia princess Katherine Masucci Beigel, giving Christine Baranski an appearance in a two-parter in which Stone tries to take down a Manhattan crime family.

I am a beloved long-time day player from [italic]Sesame Street[/italic] being called to the stand to testify in a trial.

I'm Richie Coster who should have won an Emmy for 'Bodies' -- the best episode ever.

Karen Allen in Survivor...the plot was so twisty and the scam so brilliant I had to watch multiple times. Karen Allen should have won an Emmy.

R86 That's The Violence of Summer....also starred Samuel L. Jackson.

I am someone being interviewed by Lenny and his younger partner.

I am just [italic]too busy[/italic] to sit down to talk to them, even though this is part of a murder investigation. So I am up and working--hauling boxes, trimming a patio garden, cleaning the apartment--as they talk to me and I answer their questions.

I'm S. Epatha Merkerson, rolling my eyes yet again as Briscoe informs me what those crazy privileged white people up in Gramercy Park are up to this time.

I am bickering tourists from Sheboygan, MI trying to find their way to Carnegie Hall in the opening minutes of the show. What they don't realize is that their squabbling will in just moments be broken off as they discover... [italic]a body![/italic]

I'm the squad room desk covered with takeout boxes surrounded by Lenny, Rey, and the Lieutenant while they eat MooGoo with chopsticks and further the plot-line. My brother is the desk in Jack McCoy's office; this is where Jack and his assistant eat whatever the deli delivery guy brings them. McCoy always pays the guy. His pussy assistants never pay.

I am a well-known actor. You might even know my name. The moment I appear on screen, you know I am the murderer because why else would I be there?

R115 You might be there to make repeat appearances as a defense attorney (Elaine Stritch, Patti Lupone, Ron Leibman come to mind). I like the episodes where the now-famous actors had little-itty-bitty roles (wienie vendor, witness).

R116, true. I was thinking of actors less famous than that who show up in the opening scenes - the Hey It's That Guy actors who stand out from a crowd of lesser-known faces but aren't big stars. They're often the murderer, or the parent/spouse who's shielding the murderer.

I'm Anne Twomey appearing in 3 episodes and always bringing humor and a touch of class to her roles.

I'm Benjamin Bratt's thick, sumptuous hairy cock!

Idris Elba shows up as a nightclub manager, r116. He's playing a minor character. Right now I'm watching Jerry Orbach as a criminal defense attorney representing Shirley Knight, who murdered her rotten husband who'd left her for some young girl and hid assets, throwing her out like a piece of used furniture.

[quote]Right now I'm watching Jerry Orbach as a criminal defense attorney representing Shirley Knight, who murdered her rotten husband who'd left her for some young girl and hid assets, throwing her out like a piece of used furniture.

What are you watching???

R121, he's watching L&O, Season 2, Episode 2, "The Wages of Love". Originally broadcast September 24, 1991. Orbach guested as a defense lawyer.

[quote] And I was wrong when I posted that Ion's episodes started with Briscoe (Orbach) and Green (Martin). They start with Fontana (Dennis Farina) and Green.

Nope, you were right the first time. ION starts with season 13 starring Orbach and Martin, two seasons before Farina replaced Orbach because of his prostate cancer.. I'm so grateful BOUNCE has just started over with Season One with Noth and Dzundza because I haven't seen those episodes since they were first broadcast. They're great. Oddly, BOUNCE ran season one up until the second episode of season two with Paul Sorvino but this week BOUNCE went back to the opening episodes of Season One. Whatever. Glad to see those early episodes again.

^ Oddly, it seems that seasons 1 -12 and seasons 13 -20 are syndicated separately as different packages.

I'm the divine Linus Roache, as A.D.A. Michael Cutter.

The show should never have been cancelled when it was. It had the best overall cast it had had in several years and the ratings were going up. No one was expecting the cancellation which is why there was no real finale. To make a very long story short, Dick Wolf got greedy and demanded too much money from NBC to bring it back. The NBC suits called him on it.

I'm the takeout Chinese food containers out of which McCoy eats while he's talking -with his mouth full of beef lo mein - during a late-night strategy meeting. His speech is just as slurred and incomprehensible as it is when he's not actually eating food.