TV News Vanessa Sibbald Zap2It Online Best known for her roles on the TV series "Bull" and "Angel," Elisabeth Rohm was introduced as the latest assistant district attorney on the hit drama "Law & Order" to reporters Thursday during the annual Television Critics Association Press Tour. Rohm's character on the series, Serena Southerlyn, will be introduced in the first episode of the season as a researcher on a case Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) becomes involved in. "I guess I shine and Jack sees similarities in me and he wants to give me an opportunity," Rohm explains. "I don't just show up and I don't just have the job -- you actually see me on my feet earn it." In real-life, Rohm was still attached to the TNT Wall Street series "Bull" when she was approached about joining "Law & Order." "I think we actually knew ['Bull'] was over and done with toward the end of production because of the fact that we only aired 11 [episodes]," she says. "When this came around it was a catalyst for them to release me. It was all pretty simultaneous." Dick Wolf, creator and executive producer of "Law & Order," says it was Rohm's performance on "Bull" which caught his attention. "I thought Liz's work on 'Bull' was quite extraordinary and projected edge and intelligence," he says. Although the show's first assistant district attorney was played by male actor Richard Brooks, Wolf says he switched to casting women in the role after receiving advice from a well-placed NBC executive. "Warren Littlefield, at the end of the third season, said, 'If you don't put women in the show, I'm giving you a cancellation notice a year early.' And Warren was right. That's when 'Law & Order' started to grow," Wolf recalls. Rohm is the fourth woman to inhabit the role after actresses Jill Hennessey, Carey Lowell and Angie Harmon. While some shows, such as "ER," try to hold onto original cast members, Wolf says the changing cast has helped draw audiences. "I think people actually look forward, at least on 'Law & Order,' to seeing who the new cast member is. We used to get letters saying, 'I'll never watch the show again,' but I found it was the same handwriting on it each year. This article is the intellectual property of Zap2It Online and its author. It is transcribed simply for fan purposes. No copyright infringement is intended. :: Back up ::       2008 Rohm with a View. Rohm with a View (lis-rohm.net) is an independent publication and is not endorsed by Elisabeth Rohm, her management or any related companies. Opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of Elisabeth Rohm or her management.