# Lennie's replacement, what's his story?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lennies-replacement-whats-his-story/265951>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [September 24, 2004, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lennies-replacement-whats-his-story/265951 "2004-09-24T22:17:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lennies-replacement-whats-his-story/265951/1 "2004-09-24T22:17:53Z")

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I missed the first\*\* L & O \*\* this week, so I didn’t see how they introduced Lennie Briscoe’s replacement played by Denis Farina? What’s the background on this guy(and name please) with the expensive shirts and car?

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**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lennies-replacement-whats-his-story/265951/2 "2004-09-24T23:09:23Z")

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Well, he carries his cash in a money clip. I think he wears a pinky ring. The implication is “mob background.” Det. Joe Fontana, played by the awesome Dennis Farina.

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**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lennies-replacement-whats-his-story/265951/3 "2004-09-24T23:16:30Z")

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I think he’s probably connected, although maybe not “made.” I’m sure they’ll keep the details delightfully vague, leading to many interesting plots.

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**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lennies-replacement-whats-his-story/265951/4 "2004-09-24T23:17:21Z")

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I haven’t decided yet whether I like the character; then again, Lenny’s bound to be a hard act to follow.

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**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lennies-replacement-whats-his-story/265951/5 "2004-09-24T23:33:14Z")

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Fontana said he transferred precincts because he didn’t get along with his Lt.

Det. Green also said (in private to Van Buren) that he didn’t know if Fontana was a cop or a wiseguy when they first met.

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**Author:** ![MonkeyMule](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@MonkeyMule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMule)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lennies-replacement-whats-his-story/265951/6 "2004-09-24T23:40:48Z")

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I do find it funny that Denis Farina is playing a cop, since he used to be one.