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« Roush Dispatch
A Dramatic Exit for Jesse L. Martin
Jesse L. Martin as Detective Ed Green by Virginia Sherwood/NBC Photo
The least that a key team player can expect when his (or her) time comes to depart the unstoppable Law & Order is a memorable farewell. No slinking off into the sunset for Jesse L. Martin. No “Is this because I’m a lesbian?” nonsense, as befitted the hapless Elisabeth Rohm (arguably the most inept cast member in its 18-season history). Martin’s character of Ed Green, who bridges the past as the last detective to serve alongside the late Jerry Orbach’s legendary Lenny Briscoe, hangs it up tonight in a powerful episode that unearths some disturbing secrets—at least one harking back to how he coped with losing his partner—behind Green’s typically professional demeanor.
I’m truly sorry to see Martin go at this juncture of the show’s history. After a number of seasons of uneven cast chemistry—I pretty much bailed during the “dark years” of Rohm, Fred Thompson and even Dennis Farina (who seemed too much like a “TV character” for my taste)—this season righted itself with the strong additions of Jeremy Sisto as Green’s new partner, the war-haunted Cyrus Lupo, and Linus Roache as scrappy new ADA Michael Cutter, working under the often dubious supervision of newly promoted DA Jack Mc Coy (Sam Waterston). The show, which even in its off years was never less than intelligent and compelling, has felt newly re-energized of late, and it’s too bad we couldn’t have enjoyed at least one full season of the refreshed stability.
But it’s now Martin’s turn to go through Law & Order’s notorious revolving door, which leaves us, rather remarkably, with a core cast that’s comprised half of freshman newbies: Sisto, Roache and K-Ville refugee Anthony Anderson (who appears tonight as an Internal Affairs cop itching to move to the other side) joining long-timers Waterston and S. Epatha Merkerson as well as Alana De La Garza, who’s only in her second season as ADA Connie Rubirosa. This may help account for Law & Order’s longevity. The franchise is the star, and while the actual costars may not exactly be expendable, they are replaceable, though not always with actors of equal merit. (It may be a while before we can gauge Anderson’s suitability, as there will undoubtedly be tension in inviting a former Internal Affair rat into the mix before his character of Kevin Bernard comfortably fits in.)
Martin’s many fans can take some solace in the fact that he has been given a strong showcase in his final case, which at first appears to be a routine murder of a man in the wrong place at the wrong time. Green’s in good humor, joking with his partner and his boss, until the victim’s gambling past intersects with skeletons in Green’s own closet. The case takes an even darker twist that puts the detective in the crosshairs of Internal Affairs and a possible grand jury indictment. As the story plays out, it becomes evident just how much everyone in the precinct and the prosecutor’s office wants things to go right for their friend. “We thought you were worth saving,” Cutter says at one point. It’s a fitting tribute to a fine actor, a strong character and a durable show that will honor him by continuing to do its job for the foreseeable future.
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Apr 23, 2008 11:42 AM
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Thanks Matt for your post. I have always enjoyed L&O. I am probably the only one who liked Dennis Farina on the show. I am very sad to see Jesse go but I am grateful he remained a part of this cast for so very long. He will be missed.
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Apr 23, 2008 1:21 PM
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I have been a fan of Jesse for a long time. I hate to see him leave Law & Order since I have seen every last episode and he, Lenny and Logan were my favorite detectives.
I wish him well in the future.
Great dispatch Matt
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Apr 23, 2008 1:59 PM
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I wish they would have thought about bringing Logan over from L&O:CI to take the vacant spot. I am going to miss Jesse and having the great Chris Noth take the place would have been great. Nothing against Anthony Anderson, whom I like, but I don't know about him in this role. I guess time will tell.
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Apr 23, 2008 2:18 PM
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Isn't it starkly revealing that a character who was actually a prosecutor in real life for many years would find disapproval from Matty for playing the exact same part?
I know it is.
Get a day job Matt, and keep it.
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Apr 23, 2008 2:49 PM
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Oh my god first off det. bernards introduction was okay I think I'll like him but mainly I can't stand everyone always ragging on Elizabeth Rohm in my oppion she was the best A.A.D.A they ever had and the whole "Is this because I'm a lesbian" do you people even know that she requested her departure to be something like that, and on another note Elizabeth is also the longest lasting A.A.D.A on the series unless Alana stays on for two more years which is fine by me, so stop your crappy complaining and get over it, it was three years ago
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Apr 23, 2008 11:35 PM
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Good article! Jesse Martin will be missed. I really enjoyed watching him play the character Ed Green. I liked him as much as I liked Jerry Orbach's character Lenny. I hope that L & O continues to shine w/out him.
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Apr 24, 2008 12:15 AM
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This is a great article. I am glad to know Jesse is going to be doing Broadway. Frankly, I still miss Jerry Orbach -- I saw him so many years ago on Broadway in "Chicago." Just loved that actor . . .
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Apr 24, 2008 8:05 AM
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OMG, shut up about Elisabeth Rohm already. Did she run over your dog or something? She's been off the show for YEARS now and STILL you bitch about her on a monthly basis. I'm not the president of the Rohm fan club or anything, but this is seriously, seriously, seriously tired.
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Apr 24, 2008 10:07 AM
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I watched the episode last night and agree with you Matt. It was incredible. I am often times impressed with the show, but rarely does it blow me away like last night. It's sad to see Jesse Martin go, but alas the show will go on.
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Apr 24, 2008 10:26 AM
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I’ll miss Jesse Martin. I remember when he was on Ally McBeal. I still dearly miss the late Jerry Orbach. I loved his remarks when he first saw a victim before the opening credits rolled. I never thought I would get over loosing Mike Logan then of course Chris Noth showed up on SATC and I was happy again. Logan/Briscoe and then Green/Briscoe were my favorite pairing. I know the show does not get into the personal lives of the characters but I always thought it would have been a fantastic tribute to address Lenny Briscoe’s passing and show Logan & Rey Curtis going to his memorial service. I guess I’m in the minority too when I say I liked Dennis Farina. Jack McCoy is the heart & soul of that show. They should have brought in Kathleen Turner to be the new ADA and have a male being her junior but of course Jack being the DA. Just like they brought in Van Buren to rule over Logan & Briscoe. Of course wouldn’t it be great if Frank Pembelton (from Homicide) moved his family to New York and he replaced Ed Green. Andre Braugher & Jeremy Sisto would be a perfect pair!! Dick Wolf read this post!!!
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Apr 24, 2008 4:22 PM
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Last night's episode was a fantastic episode for Jesse Martin. It was one of the best episodes of Law & Order ever and this whole season has been great. I wish we could have more of the Green/Lupo team. Hopefully the Bernard/Lupo team will be good.
I also loved that Det. Green mentioned Lenny and how his death affected him. It was just an incredible episode. I will so miss Jesse on this show.
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Apr 24, 2008 7:48 PM
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I'm with MiniMarie and Aquerus regarding Elisabeth Rohm. I don't think she was bad at all and the strength of the scripts more than made up for any flaws in her acting - if in fact there were many at all.
I also liked Fred Thompson and Dennis Farina. I find the criticism of beng "too much like a TV Character" to be somewhat inconsistent with some of the oraise heaped on other actors and characters in this column. What the heck do you think Barney Stinson or any of the Desperate Houswives characters are?
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Apr 25, 2008 2:51 AM
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I'm just glad they didn't do something "over-the-top" by either killing him or having it turn out his character was a corrupt cop.
Some shows go to such extremes when a character leaves the show, and I'm glad L&O did not resort to that.
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Apr 25, 2008 1:28 PM
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I have been a L&O junkie for over 15 years now, and the show keeps getting better. I miss Jerry Orbach - he was the backbone of the show for so many years - but the exit that Jesse L. Martin got last night was classy and leaves the door open for him to return.
I agree with the comments about Rohm, Farina and Thompson - they were probably not the best in the bunch we've seen, but it's time to leave it alone.
I was hoping that they would bring back the Abby Carmichael character to be the Executive ADA on the show, but I guess it was too much to hope for.
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Apr 25, 2008 4:50 PM
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