December 29, 2004
A Doink Doink Salute
I'm sitting here watching Law & Order and drinking scotch (Highland Park 12) in honor of the passing of my favorite alcoholic TV detective Lennie Briscoe today. Jerry Orbach is probably one of the most recognized faces out there, and his corny wisecracks at the opening of each episode are legendary:
With his hangdog puss and loose-limbed gait, Orbach was unmatched at playing the street-smart tough guy. A quintessential New Yorker, he personified his city's well-worn but implacable edge, embodying the Big Apple like few other actors.
I've been a big fan of Law & Order for years; I've watched hundreds of episodes, and the 12-year veteran Jerry Orbach was Law & Order to me—and I know I'm not the only one, either. The Unofficial Jerry Orbach fan club home page is down today due to high traffic.
If this was your typical Law & Order episode, Lennie would have some terrible joke about his own death as he shook his head and walked away just before that canonical theme music played. Instead, I'll just say, Lennie, we'll enjoy your reruns for many years to come. I'm not entirely sure, but I'd guess there's still an episode or two out there I haven't seen.
