They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I don’t know how sincere it always is, but I definitely get the flattery part. How complimentary to know someone liked something enough to want to create their own version of it. But I think this might even be more true of spoofs or parodies. Possibly with greater sincerity too in a way, since there’s probably less financial incentive for spoofs than copies.

The following spoof on Law & Order is actually about two years old now, but I just found my way to it. Really Special Victims Unit stars Gregory Itzin (Fox’s 24), Richard Keith (Grey’s Anatomy), Chris Mackenzie, and Josh Lawson. Keith and Lawson also produced and directed the parody, in addition to sharing writing duties with Mackenzie.

For fans of the show, that telltale ‘doink-doink’ or ‘chun-chun’ sound effect is just a part of Law & Order. Instantly recognizable the second you hear it. In this cute little short, two detectives, and later their captain, set out to find out the who, what, where, and how of that distinctive sound. For in this spoof world, it’s not just the audience who can hear the famed sound effect. And it just gets too hard to ignore.

The answer they find also includes a neat little twist at the end. Let’s just say the casting of 24’s Itzin was perfect.

Link to previous posts on Law & Order