Why did George Dzudza, Paul Sorvino and Dann Florek leave L&O?

[CRT©]

Why did George Dzudza, Paul Sorvino and Dann Florek leave L&O? Anyone
know?

[Michel Forest]

"CRTŠ" wrote:

> Why did George Dzudza, Paul Sorvino and Dann Florek leave L&O? Anyone
> know?

From what I remember, Dzunda didn't want to live in NYC all the time and
Paul Sorvino felt that open air shooting was bad for his voice (he sings
opera). I don't know about Florek, but I think it had to do with the
producers wanting to bring in more female characters. Can anyone confirm
this?

[DeAnne]

NCC-...@MINDSPRING.COM (CRT©) wrote:

>Why did George Dzudza, Paul Sorvino and Dann Florek leave L&O? Anyone
>know?

I found a FAQ page today that explains everyone's departure, at least
thru 9/11/96 which is the last date is was updated. It says:

"3.4.1 ...George Dzundza (Sgt. Max Greevey)?

"George Dzundza quit the show after its first season over a dispute
with the writers and producers over scheduling and script quality.
The series was originally set to film in Los Angeles, but when Dick
Wolf won his fight to shoot it in New York, Dzundza did not want to
relocate his family there, and thus had to divide his time between the
two locations. This argument reached a breaking point when the
producers threatened to sue him if Dzundza interrupted shooting to be
with his wife at the birth of their child. Dzundza's actual last
appearance is in "The Blue Wall," though his character, Greevey, makes
a shadowy appearance in the second season opener, "Confession" through
the magic of doubles.

"Sgt. Max Greevey's first appearance was in "Prescription for Death."
In his final episode, he was shot to death in the second season
opener, "Confession," by Daniel Madigan, Jr., who wanted to silence
his grand jury testimony on construction industry corruption.

"3.4.2 ...Paul Sorvino (Sgt. Phil Cerreta)?

"Paul Sorvino left amicably in the middle of the third season to
pursue his opera career, claiming that the brutal weather in the
winter outdoor shooting scenes was ruining his singing voice. Sorvino
has since pursued other roles, including that of Anthony Caruso in the
ongoing Perry Mason series, and currently owns his own restaurant
named "Sorvino's," appropriately enough, in New York. He made his
public singing debut in August, 1996, on PBS in his program entitled,
"Paul Sorvino: An Evening of Song."

"Det. Phil Cerreta first appears in the second season opener,
"Confession." He was wounded in the line of duty in "Prince of
Darkness" and decided in the next episode, "Point of View" that with
the lingering effects of his injuries, he would no longer be suitable
for street duty, and thus accepted the administrative desk position at
the 110th Precinct.

"3.4.3 ...Dann Florek (Capt. Donald Cragen)?

"Dann Florek was one of the two casualties of NBC's edict to break
down the "boys' club" and put women in the series. Nevertheless, he
returned to direct several episodes (among them, "Big Bang," "The
Pursuit of Happiness," and "Bad Faith") and did a guest appearance in
the fifth season episode, "Bad Faith." Among other things, Florek
appeared in guest roles on "Wings" and "Ellen" and was a regular cast
member in the Fox series, "Hardball." Florek also starred as Fred
Flintstone's boss, Mr. Slate, in the movie, "The Flintstones." Florek
makes his film directorial debut in "Standing in Between."

"Capt. Donald Cragen appeared from the beginning of the series until
his final episode at the end of the third season, "Benevolence." His
disappearance from the show was not mentioned in either the third
season ender or fourth season opener, and was not explained until the
fifth season episode, "Bad Faith," in which we learn that he heads the
Anti-Corruption Task Force.

Here are my sources:

http://members.aol.com/dwalheim/lawandorder/lofaq.html
This one is difficult to print, because it uses white text on
black background. But jump or scroll down to section 3.4, "What Ever
Happened to . . . "

http://users.aol.com/lomail/faqs/lofaq.txt
Another location that appears to have the same document as
above, but it can be printed. I recommend you save it as a text file
and print it from your word processor. When I tried to print it from
the screen, it didn't format properly.

Question -- does anyone know where some more current FAQs are posted?

[Samuel Bethune]

CRTŠ wrote in message <3752d02d....@news.mindspring.com>...

>Why did George Dzudza, Paul Sorvino and Dann Florek leave L&O? Anyone
>know?

According to what I've read on the subject, Dzundza got the pink slip
because of his ego (thought the show should be centered around his
character), Florek was deep-sixed along with Richard Brooks because of a
network edict that the show add some female characters, and Sorvino quit
because he wanted to pursue an opera career and the location shots were
playing hell with his throat.

Sam

[jennifer...@gmail.com]

On Monday, May 31, 1999 12:00:00 AM UTC-7, CRT© wrote:
> Why did George Dzudza, Paul Sorvino and Dann Florek leave L&O? Anyone
> know?

I liked George Dzundza the most and he seemed like a New York type and I am glad they did not film this in L.A. All the street characters are typical NY types.

I thought George Dzundza left to appear in Michael Douglas movie with Sharon Stone, Basic Instinct.

[Martin Edwards]

On 09/04/2014 20:31, jennifer...@gmail.com wrote:

> On Monday, May 31, 1999 12:00:00 AM UTC-7, CRTŠ wrote:
>> Why did George Dzudza, Paul Sorvino and Dann Florek leave L&O? Anyone
>> know?
>
> I liked George Dzundza the most and he seemed like a New York type and I am glad they did not film this in L.A. All the street characters are typical NY types.
>
> I thought George Dzundza left to appear in Michael Douglas movie with Sharon Stone, Basic Instinct.
>

Further to that, why are many series putatively set all over the
subcontinent, but actually made in LA? McCloud was a particularly
egregious example, with about three stock shots keeping up the pretence.
By the time of House, the insertions were rather more skilful.

--
Myth, after all, is what we believe naturally. History is what we must
painfully learn and struggle to remember. -Albert

[D.F. Manno]

In article <1c2b0b42-0fc2-4ebc...@googlegroups.com>,
jennifer...@gmail.com wrote:

> On Monday, May 31, 1999 12:00:00 AM UTC-7, CRTŠ wrote:
>
> > Why did George Dzudza, Paul Sorvino and Dann Florek leave L&O? Anyone
> > know?
>
> I liked George Dzundza the most and he seemed like a New York type and I am
> glad they did not film this in L.A. All the street characters are typical NY
> types.
>
> I thought George Dzundza left to appear in Michael Douglas movie with Sharon
> Stone, Basic Instinct.

This may be a new record for necroposting - 14 years, 10 months, 9 days.

--
D.F. Manno | dfm...@mail.com
GOP delenda est!

[D.F. Manno]

In article <jur1v.162181$T32.1...@fx21.am4>,

Martin Edwards <big_m...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

> Further to that, why are many series putatively set all over the
> subcontinent, but actually made in LA?

Because L.A. is where the studios and many of the associated businesses
are located.

[the...@bigmailbox.net]

On Thursday, April 10, 2014 3:11:27 AM UTC-4, Martin Edwards wrote:

> Further to that, why are many series putatively set all over the
> subcontinent, but actually made in LA?

As DF Manno said, it's where the industry is. More physical plant and better weather. In the old days that meant sun because that's what they used to get an exposure. Although one of the first studios, The Black Maria, was built in NJ, because that's where Edison was.

Subcontinent?

Even Errol Flynn's turn in Sherwood Forest was shot in CA. And so was Keaton's The General. Cameron's Titanic didn't sink in the North Atlantic. Star Trek was filmed entirely on planet Earth. The Hobbit films are not shot in The Shire. A good portion of Dr. Zhivago was filmed in Spain, where Red songs made Franco's police suspicious. Apollo 13 came close to being on location though since parts were shot on the Vomit Comet for that genuine zero-g effect. 2001 was shot in the UK with a rotating piece of glass standing-in for zero-g. Full Metal Jacket never saw action in Vietnam but was made in the UK too.

Some 'Hollywood' films are made in other places, Canada, London, to avoid labor costs.

For a while Bollywood was shooting in Europe. And I've heard that Japanese productions sometimes shoot in Canada.

> McCloud was a particularly
> egregious example, with about three stock shots keeping up the pretence.
> By the time of House, the insertions were rather more skilful.

Advances in blue and green screen tech and digital modeling all help.

Was Adam's office built with wild walls or not?

If you want to see reality you'll have to watch a documentary like Grass.

And before you know it we'll be arguing about William Friese-Greene.

[David Johnston]

On 4/10/2014 12:57 PM, the...@bigmailbox.net wrote:
> On Thursday, April 10, 2014 3:11:27 AM UTC-4, Martin Edwards wrote:
>
>> Further to that, why are many series putatively set all over the
>> subcontinent, but actually made in LA?
>
> As DF Manno said, it's where the industry is. More physical plant and
> better weather. In the old days that meant sun because that's what
> they used to get an exposure. Although one of the first studios, The
> Black Maria, was built in NJ, because that's where Edison was.

Actually much of the reason why most of the film industry ended up in
L.A. was because that was as far away as they could get from Edison.

[the...@bigmailbox.net]

Yes, there's that too, but if that were the only thing then Alaska might've been a better choice. I'm pretty sure the weather had something to do with it.

[Martin Edwards]

Some Bollywood films are pretty ridiculous in this connection. You are
in India, then a song starts and you are in Switzerland or London.
There are some brilliant films from the 50's, though, where local
singers or bands have obviously been drafted in where they were
shooting. If you ever get the chance see "Bandani". I believe that one
of the songs was the source for the Kinks' "See my friend". There would
have been an Indian cinema in Muswell Hill at the time.

--
Myth, after all, is what we believe naturally. History is what we must

painfully learn and struggle to remember. -Albert Goldman

[Martin Edwards]

Imagine the Troopers trying to dig a film crew out of a snowdrift.

--
Myth, after all, is what we believe naturally. History is what we must

painfully learn and struggle to remember. -Albert Goldman

[the...@bigmailbox.net]

On Friday, April 11, 2014 9:46:57 AM UTC-4, Martin Edwards wrote:
>
> Some Bollywood films are pretty ridiculous.

I think that needed a period.

> in this connection. You are
> in India, then a song starts and you are in Switzerland or London.

That's so cool.

I once saw a western musical film where they started singing on a sidewalk in London and ended up in some animated fantasy chalk drawing. It was super.

> There are some brilliant films from the 50's, though, where local
> singers or bands have obviously been drafted in where they were
> shooting.

But then the 60s and 70s came along and production everywhere went downhill a little bit.

> If you ever get the chance see "Bandani".

Do you mean this? Or some other film?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X83vDiZ5CsI

> I believe that one
> of the songs was the source for the Kinks' "See my friend". There would
> have been an Indian cinema in Muswell Hill at the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7et3IdqlUC0

[David Amicus]

Here's some info about when Sherwood Forest came to Chico, California. My grandmother went there to see the filming.


http://www.city-data.com/forum/california/1559885-when-hollywood-came-chico.html

[Martin Edwards]

On 11/04/2014 19:15, the...@bigmailbox.net wrote:
> On Friday, April 11, 2014 9:46:57 AM UTC-4, Martin Edwards wrote:
>>
>> Some Bollywood films are pretty ridiculous.
>
> I think that needed a period.
>
>
>> in this connection. You are
>> in India, then a song starts and you are in Switzerland or London.
>
>
> That's so cool.
>
> I once saw a western musical film where they started singing on a sidewalk in London and ended up in some animated fantasy chalk drawing. It was super.
>
>> There are some brilliant films from the 50's, though, where local
>> singers or bands have obviously been drafted in where they were
>> shooting.
>
> But then the 60s and 70s came along and production everywhere went downhill a little bit.
>
>
>> If you ever get the chance see "Bandani".
>
> Do you mean this? Or some other film?
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X83vDiZ5CsI
>

Yes.

>> I believe that one
>> of the songs was the source for the Kinks' "See my friend". There would
>> have been an Indian cinema in Muswell Hill at the time.
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7et3IdqlUC0
>
>

[David Amicus]

On Monday, May 31, 1999 12:00:00 AM UTC-7, CRT© wrote:
> Why did George Dzudza, Paul Sorvino and Dann Florek leave L&O? Anyone
> know?

Channel surfing I came across this episode. I did not watch it. But could it be the reason Florek was written out?

http://lawandorder.wikia.com/wiki/The_Blue_Wall

[the...@bigmailbox.net]

My recollection is that Cragen wore a wire and got his old buddies arrested. Is that the one where one of the cops swallows his gun?

[eugene...@gmail.com]

The 1st season cast - especially George Dzundza and Dann Florek - were the best. It was a shame Dick and George couldn't get along, and that some reasonable accommodation couldn't be made for George. It's a shame that PC reared its ugly head and caused Dann to be fired from a role he was perfect for, to be replaced by someone not half as good. A crying shame.

[David Johnston]

On 4/27/2015 9:06 PM, eugene...@gmail.com wrote:
> The 1st season cast - especially George Dzundza and Dann Florek -
> were the best. It was a shame Dick and George couldn't get along, and
> that some reasonable accommodation couldn't be made for George.

Dzundza's issue was that he wanted to be the star of the show and didn't
like the cross-country commute. I can't think of any way those issues
could have been accommodated.

It's
> a shame that PC reared its ugly head and caused Dann to be fired from
> a role he was perfect for, to be replaced by someone not half as
> good. A crying shame.
>

Ultimately a minor enough role that it didn't matter who did it.

[Martin Edwards]

On 28/04/2015 04:06, eugene...@gmail.com wrote:
> The 1st season cast - especially George Dzundza and Dann Florek - were the best. It was a shame Dick and George couldn't get along, and that some reasonable accommodation couldn't be made for George. It's a shame that PC reared its ugly head and caused Dann to be fired from a role he was perfect for, to be replaced by someone not half as good. A crying shame.
>

My memory is hazy. What was the PC bit?

[the...@bigmailbox.net]

On Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at 3:40:58 AM UTC-4, Martin Edwards wrote:
> On 28/04/2015 04:06, eugene...@gmail.com wrote:
> > The 1st season cast - especially George Dzundza and Dann Florek - were the best. It was a shame Dick and George couldn't get along, and that some reasonable accommodation couldn't be made for George. It's a shame that PC reared its ugly head and caused Dann to be fired from a role he was perfect for, to be replaced by someone not half as good. A crying shame.
> >
> My memory is hazy. What was the PC bit?

My memory is hazy too, but IIRC TPTB wanted a woman in the role. Not so much about 'diversity' but a hope for better ratings. Part of the reason why Richard Brooks (Paul Robinette) was let go too, IIRC.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_%26_Order#Casting_and_characters

"Also introduced on a recurring basis in Season 2 was Carolyn McCormick as Dr. Elizabeth Olivet, a police psychologist brought in on a case-by-case basis. NBC had been pushing for the producers to add female characters to the all male cast."

"By the end of Season 3, NBC executives still felt the show did not have enough female characters. On the orders of then-network president Warren Littlefield, new female characters had to be added to the cast or the show would face possible cancellation on its relegated Friday night time slot."

"Though producers initially claimed the firings, especially Brooks', who was said not to get along with Moriarty, were for other reasons, Wolf confirmed that the firings were on the orders of Littlefield."

[jack]

On Friday, April 11, 2014 at 2:43:33 PM UTC-4, David Amicus wrote:
> Here's some info about when Sherwood Forest came to Chico, California. My grandmother went there to see the filming.
>
>
> http://www.city-data.com/forum/california/1559885-when-hollywood-came-chico.html

The silent version of The Ten Commandments was shot on a particularly sandy part of the coast north of Los Angeles. Weather is much better for outdoor shooting on the West Coast.

[David Johnston]

On 4/28/2015 3:10 AM, the...@bigmailbox.net wrote:
> On Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at 3:40:58 AM UTC-4, Martin Edwards
> wrote:
>> On 28/04/2015 04:06, eugene...@gmail.com wrote:
>>> The 1st season cast - especially George Dzundza and Dann Florek -
>>> were the best. It was a shame Dick and George couldn't get along,
>>> and that some reasonable accommodation couldn't be made for
>>> George. It's a shame that PC reared its ugly head and caused Dann
>>> to be fired from a role he was perfect for, to be replaced by
>>> someone not half as good. A crying shame.
>>>
>> My memory is hazy. What was the PC bit?
>
>
> My memory is hazy too, but IIRC TPTB wanted a woman in the role. Not
> so much about 'diversity' but a hope for better ratings.

They wanted a couple of female characters so Wolf recast the two least
important regulars. It worked too, not so much because of the
replacement lieutenant but because Kinkaid was adorable. Of course that
was less about P.C. than marketing. They wanted some female viewers.

[the...@bigmailbox.net]

But maybe they got more male viewers. She was adorable. Deliciously adorable and she's still alive. Still alive. Still alive!

[Martin Edwards]

Thanks.

[tpopp...@gmail.com]

Dann Florek didn't really leave Law & Order because his character went to Law & Order SVU.

[David Johnston]

On 6/11/2016 8:30 PM, tpopp...@gmail.com wrote:
> Dann Florek didn't really leave Law & Order because his character went to Law & Order SVU.
>

George Dzundza left because he had issues with the scripts (mostly his
very small part in the scripts) and because he didn't want to relocate
his family to New York.

Paul Sorvino left amicably to pursue opera. He didn't figure the open
air shoots were good for his throat.

Dann Florek was booted because the suits had a problem with the "not a
single female character" thing. The audience was overwhelmingly skewing
male.

[pbri...@orcutt-schools.net]

Main Street Beach in Guadalupe, California.

[borderlin...@gmail.com]

On Monday, May 31, 1999 at 3:00:00 AM UTC-4, CRT© wrote:
> Why did George Dzudza, Paul Sorvino and Dann Florek leave L&O? Anyone
> know?

Dan Florek transfered to L&O SVU

[David Johnston]

No he was booted because the network wanted to make the show something
less than a total sausage-fest then brought back a few years later for
SUV.

[jack]

So this zombie tread lurches out of the graveyard once more; 18 years and counting.

[jlguy...@gmail.com]

All three answers are dead on

[Beetl...@msn.com]

On Monday, May 31, 1999 at 3:00:00 AM UTC-4, CRT© wrote:
> Why did George Dzudza, Paul Sorvino and Dann Florek leave L&O? Anyone
> know?

Not sure about the first 2, but Florek was let go to bring in more female leads.

[jack]

Is this a game? Once a year someone pulls this thread again to see who repsonds? Whoops, I guess I did just now.

[ljd...@gmail.com]

Dann florek left to do law and order svu

[David Amicus]

On Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at 4:09:59 PM UTC-7, ljd...@gmail.com wrote:
> Dann florek left to do law and order svu

But didn't L&O:SVU come a few years later than the Mothership?

[Martin Edwards]

Actors' careers move on. Especially in a long running series like the
Mothership, you can't expect it to have the same cast for its whole life.

[David Amicus]

Except for Olivia on L&O:SVU

[Martin Edwards]

Just so, but you can't expect it to have all the same cast.

[reich...@aol.com]

On Monday, May 31, 1999 at 12:00:00 AM UTC-7, CRT© wrote:
> Why did George Dzudza, Paul Sorvino and Dann Florek leave L&O? Anyone
> know?

Liked Dzundza the best, then Orbach of all the L&O cops.

[the...@bigmailbox.net]

I think I liked Orbach best too, but for me Sorvino comes in second.

[rachel...@gmail.com]

Orbach hands down was the best. I even read an article after he passed away in which NYC beat cops were quoted, saying Orbach was by far the most realistic cop on the show and a true-life New Yorker.