Is another return in ‘Order’ for Sam Waterston?
Q: I know that Sam Waterston has left “Law & Order.” Is there any chance that he might come back for guest appearances as Jack McCoy? – Ken Betts, via e-mail
A: As long as the actor is still available and willing, there’s always a chance. However, if that were to happen, we wouldn’t bet on it being soon, since he’s sure to be respectful of Tony Goldwyn having the time and space to settle in as his successor on the NBC drama.
Waterston himself wanted that sort of leverage when he first joined the show in 1994, which he made clear at the time. He also wanted to be mindful of his “Law & Order” forerunner, Michael Moriarty, whose character Ben Stone preceded McCoy. After he was hired for the series, Waterston didn’t want to address his work there until had a chance to get situated on the program and into the mindset of McCoy. Always known as someone of personal and professional conviction, Waterston would be sure that all the circumstances were right before he re-entered the “Law & Order” universe … though executive producer Dick Wolf and the show’s other makers undoubtedly would love to have him back in any way, much as they did when the series made its return in 2022.
Q: When will “Superman & Lois” be back? – Casey Smith, Galveston, Texas
A: Its fourth and final CW season is being planned to air this fall. The network’s entertainment president, Brad Schwartz, recently said that it could have been ready for this summer upon the completion of the extensive special effects. However, he prefers to have it compete against other networks’ new offerings when those are ready to go when the traditional broadcast-television season starts.
The show’s final round will consist of 10 episodes and a reduced cast of regulars, suggesting that certain characters may not survive until the end of the series. Elizabeth Tulloch, who plays the series’ Lois Lane, has indicated that there are “very, very high stakes” in the upcoming chapters that may indeed see some co-stars exit the adventure-drama in advance of the last fadeout.