No Respect

Some people just get no respect. While the term may be associated most commonly with comedian Rodney Dangerfield, the same could also apply to Sam Waterston, the very talented star of the highly acclaimed and long-running crime drama "Law & Order", which is now entering its 11th season on NBC this fall.

Sunday night was the Emmy Awards, and NBC’s "The West Wing" took home a record nine Emmys, and deservedly so. However, "Law & Order", which has only improved with the passage of time and its nearly annual cast changes, has received comparatively little recognition. Other than Best Drama Series a couple of years ago, I do not recall it winning Emmys in any major categories.

While I have been impressed with the various cast members that have graced the show over its first ten years, my favorites have clearly been Sam Waterston and Jill Hennessy for different reasons – and not just because of the electricity that sizzled between Jack McCoy and Claire Kincaid.

Sam plays Jack McCoy with great intensity and passion. He is downright fun to watch and his performances are often compelling. Jack McCoy doesn’t see things as cut and dried as his predecessor Ben Stone (played by Michael Moriarty) did. In watching him reach some of his conclusions, you had to agree with Adam Schiff (played by Steven Hill) that perhaps McCoy had been riding his motorcycle without a helmet. He went after his cases with great passion, intensity and zeal. Like any prosecutor, he didn’t always win his cases. He keeps his cards close to the vest in preparing for trial, sharing with the other side no more than the canon of ethics absolutely requires him to.

The magic of having Jill Hennessy on the show for three seasons, two of them with Sam, was the beauty and complexity of her character, Claire Kincaid. Claire was not only beautiful, she was also one heck of a bird dog. She could sniff out irregularities in just about anything that crossed her desk, whether they be financial records, witness statements or something said in court by an accused.

She was also there as part of Jack’s conscience in ensuring that he provided all exculpatory evidence to opposing counsel. She provided an exceptional sense of balance and complement to the loose cannon aspect that is so much a part of Jack’s personality. In more than one case, she provided the difference between a conviction and an acquittal. While Jamie Ross (played by Carey Lowell) brought her strengths to the show the two seasons she was on, she didn’t contribute anywhere near as much as Jill did. Claire Kincaid was an exceptional character for the show, and she helped Sam’s character shine.

The arrival of Abby Carmichael (played by Angie Harmon) has added a new dynamic to the show that has been thoroughly enjoyable to watch. Unlike Claire, who opposed the death penalty, Abby has a "hang ‘em all" mentality when it comes to dealing with the bad guys. Though not as good a bird dog as Claire, she is improving and I look forward to her character developing and to Angie growing more and more comfortable in the role. A good ‘ol girl from Texas, Abby doesn’t take flak from anybody and doesn’t waste time in her pursuit of justice, often Texas-style.

Each of these people have not only added to the success of "Law & Order" as an American institution, but they have improved the skill and ability of who I would have to consider the finest character actor in America today, and that is Sam Waterston.

Perhaps he will one day win the Emmy he so richly deserves. His character Jack McCoy resonates with more people than liberals in this country would be comfortable in admitting. And it’s his passion for his work that has made the show so much fun to watch.

He has played Abraham Lincoln among his stage roles and has been nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar ® for his role in "The Killing Fields". His role in "Serial Mom" (yes, I admit watching it) was absolutely hilarious – especially given that it was so out of character in comparison to his other work.

If I ever get the chance to meet him and have the chance to ask just one question, I would ask him why he took the role of Kathleen Turner’s husband in "Serial Mom". The movie drove my wife nuts. I not only laughed myself silly, I watched it multiple times when she wasn’t around.

In addition to his work on television and the movies and stage, I have a lot of respect for Sam because he doesn’t show up on police blotters for public misconduct. He lives in Connecticut with his wife and family and is in a stable marriage – something that is not all that common in the entertainment business.

For that and for all that he has contributed to the profession, Sam deserves the respect of all of us.

You can e-mail your comments to Timothy at trollins@idirect.com.

Copyright © 2000 by Timothy Rollins.
All Rights Reserved.

-Published with permission