I don’t own a TV, and have never watched an actual episode of Law & Order, however I live in Hell’s Kitchen where they often film the show.  This show has caused a strange surreality for some of us New Yorkers since many out-of-town persons associate New York City as Law & Order-land.  One visiting friend (a big L&O fan) even went so far as carefully trying to hide her diamond engagement ring while walking on the street in case someone tried to rob her of it!  There are fashionistas talking on $600 iPhones, carrying $2,000 Prada purses while walking around in their impractical $1000 Jmmy Choo shoes with 4-inch stilettos in every block of my neighborhood.  A single ring isn’t much of a prize for ‘muggers’. 

I can sleep at night with my door unlocked - my neighbors are all friends, yet the perception is that we’re all drug dealers and crack whores from a single TV show. (Yes, they filmed in the apartment upstairs from me - #2W - last season… no, there isn’t a meth lab up there…) It would be lovely if they painted the reality of my neighborhood instead of scaring the hell out of everyone.

Anyhow, when I walk by the Haddaad’s trailers and perhaps catch a glimpse of Christine Lahti, I’ll be sure to nod a hello.  (Oh!  I think I already do that!) 

I am a L&O SVU junkie; have never missed an episode and have seen all of them more than once. I’m also a contributor to Mariska’s Joyful Heart Foundation, which supports survivors of abuse. I love Christine Lahti’s character. Obviously, I already loved the show, but Christine adds to the show.  I also loved her on Chicago Hope.  By the way, is that her voice on the Oil of Olay commercials?

I have admired CL for years, certainly for her many film roles but best for the arc of her characters as a doctor "Chicago Hope" and the mother in "Jack & Bobby". It is certainly no great stretch for Dick Wolf to create a recurring role for her in L&OSVU.

I couldn’t disagree with Shera  more about the writing on L&O. With L&O and its spin-offs, DW has created a brand, along with others like the CSI’s, that are uniquely American; they are the USA’s "mangas", the twenty-first century answer  to the last century’s  comic books and centuries pasts morality plays. They have included women of all shapes, shades, stripes and sizes, the evil along with the elegant, the chaste with the chased (sorry about that!).

I had the great good fortune of working on a long forgotten sit-com or pilot with CL’s husband TS; not remembering which show it was I IMBD’ed him. Not finding it, my mind turned to the fact that his filmography was so huge I pondered how they had managed to have three kids and a life! Back to IMBD and CL, and there it was! Like an elaborate Tango, weaving in and out, working together for a while then off on their own projects; oh, what an enviable life!

Bless you CL, hope you get more SVU! Bless you Smith, Bergen and Company, you gals rule!

I’m a big fan of Law & Order, and Law & Order SVU. I even like the doink doink.

I’ve enjoyed Christine Lahti’s work for years.

Christine Lahti fits right in on "Law & Order." She’s in the great tradition of some of the multi-franchise series’ best guest stars: Elaine Stritch as a tough, fashionista attorney; Fran Lebowitz in a recurring role as a curt, funny judge; "Take Me Out" co-stars Fred Weller and Daniel Sunjata, each playing multiple roles; Mariette Hartley and Shirley Jones as attorneys going at each other hammer and tongs; Richard Thomas as a demented killer.

Lahti’s assistant DA is ballsy, belligerant and — as we just saw —  vulnerable; she and Chris Meloni are already setting off sparks.

And Mariska Hargitay as Meloni’s partner is quite simply the best actress on TV. Period. Her gaze holds the camera and draws us to her in the manner of the greatest film actresses.

Has anyone seen Falconetti in Dreyer’s silent "Passion of Joan of Arc"? That’s the kind of simple, unadorned, hypnotic acting I’m talking about.

Dear New Yorker:  I live in Oregon and I have sublet in NYC twice, once for a month (Hell’s kitchen) and another time for 3 months (10th & Hudson) while attending Fordham on teaching grants.  Both times I enjoyed my visits immensely, New Yorkers are as friendly as anyone else any where! Building neighbors outgoing and helpful, grocery store folks the same as in Oregon…sometimes harried sometimes talkative, but not rude.  Lots and lots of lovely people walking dogs and stopping to chat and having coffee with kind strangers sharing tables at wonderful shops. The subway at midnight might be intimidating to a visitor but most of the riders are either going to or from work and just want a restful ride. You are right, from my experience, NY is an exciting city but also home to a vast majority of lovely friendly hard working people.  I adore L&O and I watch and re-watch the episodes, the cast is fantastic and the stories are timely and fascinating.  Not everyone thinks that all of NY is like L&O every day of the week.  Even those of us way out on the west coast know that hookers, murderers, robbers, kidnappers etc…are in every city in every state and my state of Oregon is no exception.  NY is fantastic and you are fortunate to live there.  BTW: my son and his wife are on West 113th, Columbia and NYU grad students. They are loving the city!