Actually, I too initially loathed the Lennie Briscoe character, mainly because I hated to see Sorvino go I think. But I warmed up to him. This was more or less the pattern with many of the character substitutions on L&O. Initial loathing, fading to acceptance, then fondness. Some, like Angie Harmon, I grew to accept but never love. But I gotta love Orbach. And I'm not enough of a fan of Amercan musical theater of the 1970's to expect him to break into song.
Wasn't it strange how Dianne Weist (sp?) didn't last as the DA? After Hill was the DA forever, it seemed like Weist was in and out in no time.