Oh! Do you know BBC American is now showing the first series on Friday nights (or is it Sunday nights?) I bought the DVD boxset for S1 when it first came out. While I watched the original L&O quite religiously back in the day, I haven't liked the show and its many US reincarnations for a long time. But like you said, I would get over that for Jamie too. I just need to find time to sit down and watch it.

Even without watching the series, I can just imagine how Jamie's diction impressed Anne Rice. One thing Jamie impressed me from the get-go is his articulation. I haven't seen any actor like him before and since!