THE TV CROSSOVER HALL OF FAME: DECEMBER 2006

As promised, I'm breaking my hiatus for the TV Crossover Hall of Fame.

It's December, and the last month in our year-long salute to the characters of 'Law & Order' for the Hall.

Usually for December, we choose a character with some kind of tie-in to the season or the holidays - Santa Claus, Ebenezer Scrooge, Mrs. Claus, Bob Hope, Dick Clark.....

There's no such character from the world of 'Law & Order', of course. But instead of Jack Frost, we have Jack McCoy - the Executive ADA and one of the most important characters ever to have toiled in this corner of the TV Universe.

He's also one of the longest-lasting. McCoy took on the job of Executive ADA after the departure of Ben Stone in 1994, and there are no signs (so far) that he's ready to move on.

Jack comes with some baggage - two ex-wives, a daughter he never sees, and a reputation for relationships with his assistants that led to an harrassment charge at least once.

He's also not above twisting the letter of the Law to his advantage in order to win a case and that has put him in hot water numerous times. In fact, as things stand now, he may have disbarrment proceedings still hovering over him.

As played by Sam Waterston, Jack McCoy has appeared in nearly 300 episodes of 'Law & Order' and has guest starred in almost all of the other shows in the 'Law & Order' franchise'. He also made several crossovers with NBC sister show 'Homicide: Life On The Street' back in the 1990s and showed up in the TV movie "Exiled" which gave an update on Detective Mike Logan after his departure from the main series.

So instead of tipping our hat or raising a glass, we arch an eyebrow (as he is wont to do) in salute to Jack McCoy for capping off our tribute to 'Law & Order' and its place in the TV Universe.

TV SERIES
'Law & Order'

TV MOVIES
"Exiled"

GUEST ROLES
'Law & Order: Trial By Jury'
'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'
'Homicide: Life On The Street'

I do have a dream crossover for ADA Jack McCoy. I'd love to see him cross networks and appear in an episode of 'Boston Legal', crossing paths with Alan Shore from Boston's law firm of Crane, Poole & Schmidt. As it is rumored that Nia Long will be playing a lawyer from the New York branch of CP&S in three upcoming episodes, that hope lives! At the very least, should Alan have to go to NYC for a case, they should at least refer to the character of Jack McCoy.

You hear me, DEK?

And since we've now concluded the year's inductions, here is the complete list of the 2006 honorees:

January - Lennie Brisco
February - Anita Van Buren
March - Donald Cragen
April - Mike Logan
May - Jamie Ross
June - Elizabeth Olivet
B'day Honors - Faith Yokas of 'Third Watch'
[For my birthday, I was being contrarian in choosing her; making sort of an anti-'L&O' statement.]
July - Rey Curtis
August - Ed Green
September - Dick Wolf
October - Emil Skoda
November - Arthur Branch
December - Jack McCoy

BCnU!
Tele-Toby