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Shrek

(4,086 posts)
Fri Feb 23, 2024, 10:40 AM Feb 2024

Big quitter Sam Waterston departs Law & Order after measly 400+ episodes

This is kind of funny:

https://www.avclub.com/sam-waterston-leaves-law-order-after-measly-400-epis-1851280668

Waterston's Jack McCoy departed his TV courthouse for good tonight after just 30 years of Law & Order

In a move we can only deride for displaying a cowardly, and frankly embarrassing, lack of gumption, Sam Waterston quit his job at the Law & Order factory tonight, after making a measly 405 episodes of television for the long-running series. (Guess somebody was paying attention on the set of The Dropout, huh?) Waterston ended his tenure on the Dick Wolf-created show a scant three decades after beginning it—and that’s counting the gap between the show being canceled in 2010 and then revived in 2022—ending what is, yes, technically one of the longest tenures as a single character in television history, and what does he want, a medal? (We just checked, and Waterston already has several awards for his run on the series, including once being designated a New York “living legend” with his late co-star Jerry Orbach, so he should presumably be good on that score.)

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Big quitter Sam Waterston departs Law & Order after measly 400+ episodes (Original Post) Shrek Feb 2024 OP
LOL hlthe2b Feb 2024 #1
I'd bet Mariska Hargitay's "Liv" has the record for longest running character. oldsoftie Feb 2024 #2
It was an okay episode Shrek Feb 2024 #3
I didn't watch it, but I'm glad they didn't do that. Aristus Feb 2024 #4
thanks for the reminder... Layzeebeaver Feb 2024 #5
I like the actor but hated his character jimfields33 Feb 2024 #6
Wait, he was doing that at the same time he was doing Grace and Frankie? tanyev Feb 2024 #7
Law & Order had an 11-year hiatus from 2010 to 2021 Shrek Feb 2024 #8
Ah, thank you. Yes, most of it was. tanyev Feb 2024 #9

oldsoftie

(13,526 posts)
2. I'd bet Mariska Hargitay's "Liv" has the record for longest running character.
Fri Feb 23, 2024, 10:43 AM
Feb 2024

25 yrs with NO breaks.
I remember back in the 90s it was "Fraiser'; combining his run in Cheers & Fraiser together.
If last nite was his last nite I HATE that I missed it!

Shrek

(4,086 posts)
3. It was an okay episode
Fri Feb 23, 2024, 10:49 AM
Feb 2024

But not really all that gripping for his finale.

At the end I was kind of hoping they might do some kind of montage of his greatest moments but no such luck. Still a great character who will be missed.

Aristus

(68,214 posts)
4. I didn't watch it, but I'm glad they didn't do that.
Fri Feb 23, 2024, 10:53 AM
Feb 2024

If there's anything I dislike, it's "very special" final episodes. Tears, hugs, marriages, funerals, earnest sincerity; blech.

Layzeebeaver

(1,861 posts)
5. thanks for the reminder...
Fri Feb 23, 2024, 11:10 AM
Feb 2024

...my ex sister in law ended up in a relationship with Mr. Wolf - I only know that much. two wives and many years ago - different country now. Weird.

jimfields33

(18,538 posts)
6. I like the actor but hated his character
Fri Feb 23, 2024, 11:33 AM
Feb 2024

He won too many times. Always knew he’d find something to cause him a win in the last ten minutes.

tanyev

(44,420 posts)
7. Wait, he was doing that at the same time he was doing Grace and Frankie?
Fri Feb 23, 2024, 01:18 PM
Feb 2024

I never watched Law and Order. I assumed when he showed up on Grace and Franke that he was no longer doing L & O.

Shrek

(4,086 posts)
8. Law & Order had an 11-year hiatus from 2010 to 2021
Fri Feb 23, 2024, 03:46 PM
Feb 2024

I'm guessing Grace and Frankie may have been during that interim.

tanyev

(44,420 posts)
9. Ah, thank you. Yes, most of it was.
Fri Feb 23, 2024, 05:09 PM
Feb 2024

Maybe Waterston likes staying busy, but he's at an age where I certainly would want to take it a little easier.

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