WATERSTON RETURN ROILS LAW & ORDER CAST
SAM WATERSTON’s return to Law & Order has thrown the set into chaos, with fellow stars Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni irked because he’s acting like he’s king of the hill, say sources.
The 81-year-old Sam returned in his role as prosecutor Jack McCoy for the unprecedented three-hour crossover of Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU and Law & Order: Organized Crime and it turned into a huge headache for Mariska, 58, and Chris, 61.
He’s throwing his weight and opinions around, and Mariska and Chris are finding it hard to bite their tongues,
sources dish.
“There’s lots of drama behind the scenes,” tattles an insider. “Shooting the crossover episode was torture for them.
“Sam is highly respected, his professionalism is sterling, and producers feel lucky to get him back, but his ego is enormous, and his work ethic is stodgy.
“Mariska and Chris feel they’ve been in this business long enough to know their cues and don’t appreciate Sam’s bossy ways, which they find patronizing and even condescending at times.
“They agreed that Sam is an old fuddy-duddy. He stays so focused between scenes even when his co-stars try to have fun and chitchat. He’s extremely serious all the time.”
People also say Sam “gives the impression that he doesn’t approve of Mariska and Chris’ flirty friendship,” adds the source.
As GLOBE previously reported, Mariska and Chris’ near-kiss at the Emmys and their after-show piggyback ride raised a few skeptical eyebrows.
“You’d never see Sam doing that with anyone on his team,” insists the tipster.
“He’s an old-fashioned guy and while there’s nothing wrong with that, Mariska and Chris think he could lighten up a little.
“Trouble is that bosses want more show crossovers and that’s got Mariska and Chris on edge.”