Can ‘Law & Order’ outlast ‘Gunsmoke’?

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Wolf likened Anderson to the late Jerry Orbach, who delivered one-liners with a wink as Detective Lennie Briscoe from 1991-2004.

"He has the ability in terms of his wry observations to bring the same type of rhythm to certain scenes that Jerry did," he said. "And not to compare them as actors, but it's great to have somebody who has mastered the art of comic timing."

But while Orbach's Briscoe was warm and comforting, Anderson's Bernard can be cool and combative.

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"There's something innately likable about him and, at the same time, innately tough and innately `cop,"' said executive producer Fred Berner. "And that combination is kind of fun to watch and dangerous all at the same time. As a human being and an actor, he's a total joy. And as a character, he's beginning to find his sea legs."

His chemistry with the understated Sisto is a plus.

"The secret of partners is always to have ideally one be the yang to somebody else's yin, and I think that they are really very complementary to each other," Wolf said.

Wolf also sees a good yin-yang balance between De La Garza, 32, and new hire Roache, who has shown off Cutter's cocky side.

"He's a huge find," Wolf said of the British actor, who has big shoes to fill following Waterston. "He has really brought Alana into a whole other level. The dynamic between the two of them is terrific."

‘I'm not killing the bull every week’
Waterston, meanwhile, has settled nicely into his new gig as district attorney. Initially, he wasn't so sure he'd enjoy the upgrade after standing up to the lions of injustice for 13 years as Jack McCoy.

"I pretty categorically had said I was never going to (accept the job)," said Waterston, who envisioned he'd portray the Executive Assistant District Attorney as long as the show ran or until he wanted out.

He also thought McCoy himself might disapprove, given the character's strong moral compass and disdain for the politics that come with the high-level position.

But Wolf and executive producer Rene Balcer persuaded him to take the bigger office.

"They were both extremely generous and very smart with me," Waterston recalled. "They said that it was up to me, I could do whatever I wanted. And then they sort of dangled the enticement of more free time in front of me and made it sound like that might be kind of nice."

When asked if his seniority had anything to do with his promotion, Waterston laughed and said: "The word 'age' didn't cross anybody's lips."

Wolf said it's a natural progression for McCoy — and for Waterston.

"(He) said, `I don't know. I'm not killing the bull every week,"' Wolf recalled. "But I said, `Look, Sam, it's the same thing that all of us face at some point. It's intergenerational. It's believable.' You know, I think playing that note is incredibly interesting. It's handing over power to the next generation."

CONTINUED : Squad room is the true star of the set

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