TheAgitator.com
The Sam Waterston Mystery Continues
Tuesday, November 19th, 2002So tonight I had beers with a female friend of mine. First, allow me to give you some background on this girl — only because it’s pertinent to my point. Background: She’s damn near flawless. Beautiful, intelligent, curious, funny, down-to-earth, sexy (no, I’m not flirting — I’m fairly certain she doesn’t read this site regularly) — pretty much the whole pecan pie. She’s also independent. Thinks for herself. Not someone you’d envision following the herd.
At any rate, she happened to bring up over the course of conversation that, last night, she watched not one, not two, but three — three — episodes of Law and Order, back to back to back.
I was awestruck, especially given that just today I read and posted on the Michael Kinsley column (see below), which detailed the bizarre fascination strong, professional women seem to have with the show.
My friend couldn’t explain why she liked the show. Her only comment was that she liked how each episode was self-contained — there was no pressure to tune in the next week. She also mentioned that she liked Sam Waterston — not physically per se — just that she enjoyed watching him.
Friends, I think we’re on to something here. Wait. Let me rephrase that. Male friends, I think we’re on to something here. I think the secrets to womanhood — those mysterious connundrums we men face regularly, and oftentimes resolve to ourselves that we’ll never figure out — are somehow all buried in the odd phenomenon that is Law and Order. I postulate that if we can get to the bottom of what drives women to this show, we’ll uncover all the frustration, glory and grandeur that is woman.
Consider this: Soon-to-be-former-Senator Fred Thompson has just taken on a permanent role on the show. Fred Thompson was once considered one of the most eligible bachelors in Washington. Now don’t get me wrong. As far as polticians go, I don’t think you can do much better than Fred Thompson (okay, he’s wrong on campaign finance — but he’s right on most everything else). But the guy isn’t exactly Adonis. Yet he still carries some compelling allure over women. He regularly shows up at D.C. galas with dates that’ll leave you speechless. I’d submit that Fred Thompson knows something the rest of us don’t. That’s why he gets beautiful dates. That’s why he’s on Law and Order. It’s all connected somehow.
Fellas (I’m still addressing only my male readers), I’m going to get to the bottom of this. And once I find out what’s going on — what the secret is — I’ll let you kn……wait a minute. I’m not telling you anything.
Once I find out what the secret is, I’m keeping it to myself.
Fend for yourselves.
UPDATE: Jesse Walker weighs in.
I really hope you don’t think the answers to what makes a woman tick are in a show!
AND! Even if by slim chance there might be some insight there, once you know the “secret”, we’ll change
Can’t you guys just blame it on hormones like everything else? Not that it matters. Like Angie said, once you figure it out, we’ll change.
Angie’s right.
And…I’ve never seen an episode of Law and Order. Is there something wrong with me as a woman?
I guess I’m too busy watching ESPN.
Jill:
Yes, I’m afraid so. There must have been an error during factory configuration. We’ll be sending along a kernel patch contaning, sugar, spice, and the first three seasons of L&O on DVD.
The only @#!$! thing I know is that my Wednesday “date night” always includes watching a minimum of 1 Law and Order episode. First, there’s the 6 p.m. showing on TNT. Then we eat dinner to Ed and then the Bachelor (I told you, it’s date night). Then the current Law and Order episode.
Since the Bachelor is 2 hours long (and boy, doesn’t watching that show make me feel big), we will probably have to tape Law and Order and watch it at 10.
I’m proud to say that I enjoy watching Law & Order. It has greatly increased sexual activity in my marriage. Like a wise man once told Tom Jones after his wife through her panties on stage - “I don’t care who pumps up the tires, as long as I get to ride the bike.” RB, if you would have told your “pecan pie” that you loved Law & Order, you might have been too worn out to blog today. Better luck next time.
Chris,
It’s a platonic friendship, unfortunately.
But thanks for putting the pleasant thought in my head.
__Radley
My theory is that what we have here is the “Clinton effect” at work. The ingredients are a) fundamentally liberal worldview allowing for guiltfree fantasy on part of target females, (especially in reallife in Waterston’s case) coupled with b) high power prosecutor position and take charge, agressive, practical intelligence as a strong aphrodisiac, and c) a bad boy past. Prior to the current crop of female assistants (who conveniently leave Waterston alone for the taking by said target audience while looking and acting fabulous thus validating self esteem) Waterston was known to have regularly slept with assistants.
“Clinton effect”? Wow. Not why I dig it, at least. Reasons one guy (and a few others in comments) like L&O appear here.
Take two. Appear here: http://bbaugh.blogspot.com/2002_11_17_bbaugh_archive.html#85699517
Hi,
All I know is that Sam Waterston/Jack McCoy is HOT! What else can we ladies say?
Both Sam and Jack are very smart (brains are always sexy!) and passionate about their work. Plus, Sam the man sure ain’t ugly lol.
The older he gets, the better he gets like aged wine.
Sorry guys! You’ll have to endure this L&O/Jack lust night every Wednesday (and when TNT deems to show them now since basketball has taken over)! We ladies know a sexy man when we see him and we love Sam/Jack :-)))
Peace,
Kath
I sure do agree with Kath and the other females comments concerning Sam/Jack. There is something so sexy, so passionate; you just want to be near him in the same room just to experience that luster of feelings surrounding him. Yes, I just admire and love Sam/Jack, and first starting watching Law & Order because of him. And yes, like a great wine, Jack just improves with age….. Judy
I agree with all of you guys! Sam/Jack is so sexy in Law and Order and not just because of his looks of course! I think its mainly of performance in the courtroom and he really puts on a show! I love Law and Order because of him:]
I would have to say that Kath said it best. I do not know why, I was never really interested in EADA Jack McCoy before, but he has mesmerized me in a way that I cannot quite put my finger on. He has invaded my dreams several times, and I have not really even had the occasion to think of him during my wake time. For the most part, at least as far as looks go, he is not my type. I would go for the tall blonde hair blue eyed Adonis. Not that Jack/Sam is a slouch by ANY stretch of the word. But since he has made a few appearances, and even had me acting like a “girly-girl” in one (I was crying and I am the UBER TOM BOY), I have been fascinated with this man named McCoy. He has a certain… je ne sais quoi.
Sorry guys, it’s nothing personal. I am sure that many of you have something special too, but you are not Executive Assistant District Attorney. That is another attraction. The power and authority. And he is VERY easy on the eyes.
As far as changing it once you find the answer, unfortunately that is just the way things go. Good luck though!!
Kay
Hi, I’m 28, young and attractive and attracted to the character Jack. He is what a man should be. Sometimes he’s cruel, but only to those who deserve it. Sometimes he’s rude, to those that do and do not deserve it. But it’s the passion in his courtroom appearences that just make a girl wanna explode. I watch L&O every night here in England and sometimes he’s like that uncle that you just love and know he would do anything for you. But I am waffling. I just wanna f**k him. What else is there to say. I’ve had more orgasms from watching him on TV than any real man!!!
London, England.