Friday, April 25, 2014

Law & Order SVU “Reasonable Doubt” Advance Photos

Here are advance photos for Law & Order SVU,“Reasonable Doubt” which will air on Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at 9PM ET on NBC. The photos feature Mariska Hargitay, Danny Pino, Kelli Giddish, Ice-T, Donal Logue, and guest stars Bradley Whitford (as Frank Maddox), Jeffrey Tambor (as Counselor Lester X. Cohen), Clare Foley (as Chelsea Summers-Maddox), Samantha Mathis (as Catherine Summers), Ann Curry (as herself), and Celia Keenan-Bolger (as Mavis Summers).


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Reasonable Doubt” can be found at this link.





Photos by: Michael Parmelee/NBC © NBC Universal, Inc.

















Photos by: Craig Blankenhorn/NBC © NBC Universal, Inc.




Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order SVU “Thought Criminal” Episode Information


Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order SVU, “Thought Criminal”; BD Wong guest stars.



Law & Order SVU “Thought Criminal” Air Date May 14, 2014 (9 PM ET/8C Wednesday NBC)

THE SVU PUSHES LEGAL AND MORAL BOUNDARIES TO PUT A SEXUAL PREDATOR BEHIND BARS. GUEST STAR B.D. WONG RETURNS.

Under the guidance of Lieutenant Murphy (Donal Logue), Sergeant Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and the SVU take an active approach to catching sex offenders - they target Simon Wilkes (guest star Joshua Malina), a well-regarded photographer with a secret life. An undercover investigation finds his graphic fantasies may have crossed the line into reality, at a child's expense. But the case becomes impossible when no evidence of a victim is found. Also starring Ice-T (Det. Odafin Tutuola), Danny Pino (Det. Nick Amaro), Kelli Giddish (Det. Amanda Rollins) and Raul Esparza (ADA Rafael Barba). Also guest starring Nia Vardalos (Counselor Minonna Efron), Brian Baumgartner (Gordon Montlieff) and Laura Benanti (Maria Grazie).

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My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Thought Criminal” can be found at this link.





Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order SVU “Post-Mortem Blues” Cast Interviews & Preview Clips

Here cast interviews and preview clips for Law & Order SVU “Post-Mortem Blues” which will air on Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at 9PM ET on NBC. The videos feature Mariska Hargitay, Danny Pino, Kellli Giddish, Ice-T, and Donal Logue.


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Post-Mortem Blues” can be found at this link.

Please note: The episode preview clips are available for a limited time only and may be removed at any time, so please catch them while you can!












Law & Order SVU Post-Mortem Blues Preview Clip 1 by tvwatchr


Law & Order SVU Post-Mortem Blues Preview Clip 2 by tvwatchr


Law & Order SVU Post-Mortem Blues Preview Clip 3 by tvwatchr



Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Law & Order UK “Hard Stop” Recap & Review


Law & Order UK “Hard Stop” may be one of the best episodes ever in all of the Law & Order UK series. It was also Paterson Josephs’ final episode, as his character DI Wes Leyton, is shot and killed within the first two minutes of the story. The episode was based on the original Law & Order episode “Criminal Law” (season 16, episode 9) - a memorable episode all its own - where lead characters were in danger but no lead was killed.  I enjoyed Paterson Joseph in this role and am sorry to see him go.  It will be interesting to see how the MIU team responds to another change in leadership.

This was an exceptionally well written story which delivered not only high drama, but also deep emotion. The beloved Ronnie Brooks, in an outstanding performance by Bradley Walsh, is clearly rocked by Wes’ murder, yet he keeps a stoic outlook and continues to soldier on and work the case without letting others know how, or if, it affected him. The final scene,  where we hear Ronnie’s voice reading the letter he wrote to Wes in the condolence book,  was a true tear-jerker, and I imagine that everyone watching felt their heart sink as Ronnie asked the store clerk for that bottle of vodka. (I heard myself saying "Ronnie, NO!")  After paying for the vodka and as he walked out of the store, when the clerk yells that he forgot to take the vodka with him and he keeps on walking, relief comes  over me.   It was a scene that brought both tearful emotion and fear, followed by a cheer for Ronnie as he walked away from the booze.  Bradley Walsh, along with the wonderful writers over the years for Law & Order UK, have made Ronnie Brooks into one of the few fictional characters that I actually care about.  In the long run, I think Ronnie will be just fine...at least I really hope so.

I was also thrilled to see a story line which gave Peter Davison more to do than having Henry Sharpe give his usual bluster. Henry clearly is stressed by the threat to his own life, and, unlike Ronnie, Henry loses his cool in a very visible way.

“Hard Stop” was a phenomenal episode and there simply aren’t enough superlatives to describe it...although the first word that comes to my mind is "perfection."



Here is the recap:


Cast:
Bradley Walsh - DS Ronnie Brooks
Ben Bailey Smith – DS Joe Hawkins
Paterson Joseph - DI Wes Leyton
Dominic Rowan - Jacob Thorne
Georgia Taylor - Kate Barker
Peter Davison - Henry Sharpe

Guest cast:
Mark Bonnar - Mark Glendon
Elinor Crawley - Abby Glendon
Adelayo Adedayo - Kayla
Rachel Atkins - Cleo Finch
Priyanga Burford - Martine Leyton
Gerry Cowper - Hope Corday
Bradley Hall - Adam Glendon
Julia Hills - Hayley Ashburton
Alexander Perkins - Pete
John Rowe - Judge Silverton
Matt Sapsford - Armed Police Officer
Pip Torrens - Philip Nevins
Lauren Trickett - Cashier



At MIU, the detective and whole team celebrates DI Wes Leyton’s birthday. Wes’ wife Martine arrives to take him to a surprise. Ass Wes and Martine leave, she won’t spill the surprise. In the parking garage, a motorbike pulls up behind their car and blocks their exit. The rider steps of and steps up to Wes’ car window. When Wes asks “Yes mate, what’s the problem?” the rider pulls out a gun and shoots twice, point blank, at Wes. Martine screams.

Later,  Wes’ body is zipped into a body bag as forensics comb the scene. Ronnie speaks with Martine, sitting in an ambulance, who explains what happened. She is devastated and she sobs.

Ronnie speaks with Joe and finds there are no witnesses. Joe speculates if it was a carjacking; Ronnie says it was just a bloke on a motorbike. Joe gets a phone call and then  tells Ronnie that shots were fired in Dalston at the flat of another police officer. Ronnie thinks this is not a robbery, it’s an execution.

Ronnie and Joe leave MIU to find many reporters waiting for them. They don’t answer any questions as they race to their car.

At the home of Archie Morris in Dalston on Thursday, November 27, Ronnie, Joe, and other officers enter Morris’ flat. They find him dead in his bed. Ronnie hears a noise and they find his wife, hiding in the closet.

Later, outside, Joe tell Ronnie Morris’ wife hid as soon as she heard the shooting start so she saw nothing.

On Friday November 28, while walking on Bow Street, Joe tells Ronnie about a motorbike seen cruising near Morris’ home last night but not plates have been IDd. Ronnie, who is on the phone, stops in his tracks and asks the person on the phone if they are kidding him. He sighs as Joe asks what?

Later, with forensics at the scene of another shooting, there is a body of a woman, shot in the head, in a car park. Forensics confirms there were 9mm casings, The woman’s ID says her name is Susan Lewiston who works at Domestic Violence Services, a refuge worker. Her car was parked outside the office.

That same day, inside Greenwood Women’s Aid in Friday, they speak with a manager who said Susan worked late, and she heard and saw nothing. They deal with women with abusive and controlling men. Susan has not received any recent threats. She had been shot before, about 4 years ago. She had been walking a woman to a car and her husband walked up and started shooting. Susan was injured but the woman was killed. Susan gave evidence at the guy’s trial and he was put away for it. She asks if he is still in jail, and Joe says they will follow up. Joe asks to see Susan’s recent case files. As she looks for the files, Ronnie, agitated, comments that a woman gets shot in their car park and lays in the car all night dead…and Joe tries to cut him off but Ronnie continues and asks that no one heard anything? Joe tells Ronnie he’s got this.

Outside, Ronnie wonders if it is an aggrieved husband why shoot Wes and Morris? Joe wonders if it is random but Ronnie says the scenes are the same and the casings are wiped down and thinks this is not your average nutter, this was planned. Ronnie thinks that the killer was parked nearby and waited for her to leave then drives into the car park and pulls up next to the car…and Joe adds “bang.” Joe sees a nearby camera and suggests they get the footage to see if they are right.

MARISKA HARGITAY, ICE-T, DANNY PINO AND KELLI GIDDISH OF “LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT” TO HOST “NO MORE EXCUSES” MARATHON ON USA NETWORK





USA Network Press Release
April 24, 2014

MARISKA HARGITAY, ICE-T, DANNY PINO AND KELLI GIDDISH OF 
“LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT” 
TO HOST “NO MORE EXCUSES” MARATHON ON USA NETWORK

NEW YORK – April 24 , 2014 – In an effort to increase awareness and help stop domestic violence and sexual assault, USA Network has teamed up with Mariska Hargitay’s Foundation, Joyful Heart, the NO MORE campaign, and the cast of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” to hold a 16-hour “No More Excuses” marathon on Sunday, April 27 from 10am-2am ET. Mariska Hargitay, Ice T, Danny Pino and Kelly Giddish will host custom wraps throughout the marathon, which will also feature star-studded PSAs that say “NO MORE” to domestic violence and sexual assault.

“I am grateful to USA for their courage, vision and generosity in joining us to say NO MORE to domestic violence and sexual assault,” said Mariska Hargitay. “Being part of NO MORE from the beginning has been a great privilege. Society continues to misplace shame and blame on survivors – both women and men. That has to end. NO MORE confronts the myths and excuses that perpetuate domestic violence and sexual assault. I am filled with confidence and renewed determination that, together, we can and will put an end to this violence.”

NO MORE is a public awareness movement focused on sexual assault prevention. Supported by the major national and local organizations working to address these urgent issues, the goal of the NO MORE PSA campaign is to help normalize the conversation and break the social stigma surrounding domestic violence and sexual assault. By increasing visibility and fostering more dialogue, NO MORE seeks to change social norms, improve public policies, and generate more resources dedicated to prevention. More information is available at www.nomore.org.

In addition to the current cast, former and guest “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” stars appearing in the televised spots include: Shohreh Aghdashloo, Maria Bello, Andre Braugher, Dann Florek, Marcia Gay Harden, Peter Hermann, David Marciano, Chris Meloni, Debra Messing, and Blair Underwood. [See the promo listed below.]

The 16-episode marathon will address various themes including domestic violence, sexual assault in the military, teen dating violence and child sexual abuse. During each episode, viewers will be encouraged to seek out additional information and resources online, including national help hotlines to speak with trained counselors and advocates. Throughout the day, USA, the Joyful Heart Foundation, and NO MORE also will use social media platforms to encourage conversation and inspire greater action to stop and prevent domestic violence and sexual assault.

Created by Emmy Award-winning producer Dick Wolf, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” now in its fifteenth season, is the longest-running primetime drama currently on television. This hard-hitting and emotional series from NBC's "Law & Order" brand chronicles the life and crimes of the Special Victims Unit of the New York City Police Department, an elite squad of detectives who investigate sexually based crimes. The series stars Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Danny Pino, Kelli Giddish and Raul Esparza.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" is a Wolf Films production in association with Universal Television. Dick Wolf is creator and executive producer; Warren Leight, Julie Martin and Peter Jankowski are executive producers.

The Joyful Heart Foundation, created by Hargitay, has a mission is to heal, educate and empower survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse, and to shed light into the darkness that surrounds these issues. For more information, please visit: http://www.joyfulheartfoundation.org/

Monday, April 21, 2014

Law & Order UK “Repeat To Fade” Episode Information



Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order UK, “Repeat To Fade". (Update April 30, 2014: ITV is rescheduling this episode; the new air date has not been announced as yet. Stay tuned!)

UPDATE May 29, 2014:  ITV announced today that this episode has been rescheduled to June 11, 2014. 



Law & Order UK “Repeat To Fade” Air Date June 11, 2014  (9 PM ET/8C Wednesday ITV)

After a fatal stabbing in a crowded market place, the pressure is on to make Londoners feel safe again. But with a new boss and Ronnie’s effectiveness as a detective being questioned at every turn, is it the end of the road for his career?

Ronnie (Bradley Walsh) and Joe (Ben Bailey Smith) have a new boss to contend with. DI Elisabeth Flynn (Sharon Small) is determined to put her stamp on the MIU, declaring her own personal crackdown on knife crime. It is horribly embarrassing for her then, that the first case to come in under her rule is a stabbing. Under pressure from all sides, Ronnie and Joe struggle to gather enough evidence to charge the youth they believe to be responsible: Bobbi Washington (Kasey McKellar). However, when Bobbi inadvertently confesses to Ronnie, he thinks he’s got him – but with the confession uncorroborated by anyone else, Ronnie begins to realise that his honesty is in question. Can he prove to DI Flynn that he is no "dinosaur?" Guest starring Colin Salmon and Tony Gardner.

Cast list
DS Ronnie Brooks - Bradley Walsh
DS Joe Hawkins - Ben Bailey Smith
Jacob Thorne - Dominic Rowan
Kate Barker - Georgia Taylor
Henry Sharpe - Peter Davison
DI Elizabeth Flynn - Sharon Small
Zana Washington - Pippa Bennett-Warner
Bobbi Washington - Kasey McKellar
Doug Greer - Colin Salmon
Commander Douglas Stone - Tony Gardner



# # #



My recap and review of Law & Order UK “Repeat To Fade” can be found at this link.


Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order. Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Friday, April 18, 2014

Law & Order SVU “Post-Mortem Blues” Advance Photos

Here are advance photos for Law & Order SVU “Post-Mortem Blues” which will air on Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at 9PM ET on NBC. The photos feature Mariska Hargitay, Danny Pino, Kelli Giddish, Ice-T, Donal Logue, Robert John Burke, Lily Pilblad, and Michael Potts.


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Post-Mortem Blues” can be found at this link.

















Photos by: Michael Parmelee/NBC © NBC Universal, Inc.



Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.


Law & Order SVU “Reasonable Doubt” Episode Information


Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order SVU, “Reasonable Doubt”.



Law & Order SVU “Reasonable Doubt ” Air Date May 7, 2014 (9 PM ET/8C Wednesday NBC)

A CHILD IS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A FAMOUS COUPLE'S NASTY DIVORCE

Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Murphy (guest star Donal Logue) question renowned television producer Frank Maddox (guest star Bradley Whitford) when he's accused of molesting his 8 year-old daughter Chelsea (guest star Clare Foley). Maddox’s estranged wife, actress Catherine Summers (guest star Samantha Mathis), wants justice for her daughter but refuses to cooperate, leading the cops to suspect the accusation was a ploy to win the public's favor. With Catherine’s young sister Rose (guest star Emma Bell) engaged to Maddox and accusations flying back and forth in the media, Benson strives to help a child by discovering the truth. Also starring Ice-T (Detective Odafin Tutuola), Danny Pino (Detective Nick Amaro), Kelli Giddish (Detective Amanda Rollins) and Raúl Esparza (ADA Rafael Barba). Also guest starring Jeffrey Tambor (Counselor Lester Cohen), Celia Keenan-Bolger (Mavis Summers), Aida Turturro (Judge Felicia Catano), Geraldo Rivera (as himself) and Ann Curry (as herself).



# # #


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Reasonable Doubt” can be found at this link.






Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order UK “Bad Romance” Recap & Review


Law & Order UK “Bad Romance” was a close copy of the original Law & Order episode on which it was based: “Denial” (season 8, episode 2).  The detectives and CPS have a case of apparent murder of a baby by two young kids,  but there’s one big problem: there is no body. At least not at first. By the time the body of the baby is found, all involved have had plenty of time to create just enough confusion with their stories that it’s a field day for the defense. At first, Kate Barker seems smitten with a handsome nemesis of Jake Thorne’s - Maitland Cosby - who is representing the two defendants. Once she sees him in his full smarmy and sleazy persona, she doesn’t want to have anything to do with this “posh boy” from “poshville.” Clearly, Jake was more than annoyed at Cosby, apparently having unpleasant – and for Jake, unsuccessful – cases with him before. In the previous episode (“Customs”), Jake and Kate were at odds, and in this episode, they seemed very comfortable together again.

I was a little confused about the timeline for this episode, as it relates to this series to date. The season started showing they were working a case in January, and the cases in the following episodes in the series  proceeded chronologically.  The episode which preceded “Bad Romance” (“Pride”) took place in March and April. In “Bad Romance”, we jumped all the way to October and November. I don’t know if this episode was aired out of sequence or if there was an intentional huge jump in the timeline. It will be interesting to see the dates in the next episode.

As the episode followed the original Law & Order story line very closely, it lacked the drama and suspense that Law & Order UK usually delivers. But the episode had many amusing points and dry humor peppered throughout which made it quite enjoyable.  Law & Order UK does drama well, but they also have a great cast that can really pull off the funny bits and make them seem very natural.


Here is the recap:

Cast:
Bradley Walsh - DS Ronnie Brooks
Ben Bailey Smith – DS Joe Hawkins
Paterson Joseph - DI Wes Leyton
Dominic Rowan - Jacob Thorne
Georgia Taylor - Kate Barker
Peter Davison - Henry Sharpe

Guest cast:
Lacey Bond – Linda
Philip Rosch – Alan
Anna Marie Cseh - Magda
Svetlana Bida – Ioana
Nicola Sanderson – SOCO Joy
Steve Furst – Edward Blanchard
Adelayo Adedayo – Kayla
James Wilby - Charles Hutton
Joanna Brooks – Marsalee
Emma Campbell-Jones - Camille Hutton
Lucy Boynton - Georgia Hutton
Nicholas Jones - Edmund Rintoul
Greg Austin - Rufus Barton
Paul Bentall - Harold Maysby
Adjoa Andoh - Lilly
Alice Sanders - Poppy
Nimmy March - Elizabeth Rawls
Janet Dibley – Karen Hannay
Joseph Milson - Maitland Cosby
Karen Archer - Justice O'Neill


At Lord Darnley Hotel in Shepherd’s Bush on Monday, September 29, two women from housekeeping who are having fun barging into people’s rooms discover a bed covered with blood. Later, DS Ronnie Brooks and SOCO Joy and her team are on the scene. The amount of blood may indicate a laceration or ballistic trauma. There is no body, the victim either walked or was moved. There is no blood trail. The hotel owner, Mr. Blanchard, who arrives with DS Joe Hawkins, complains about when he can have the room back. Joe says the occupant of the room checked in as CP Hutton, and he paid cash but left his credit card details as security. He did sign in, and Joe takes a photo of the log. Hutton seemed about 20. Joe explains there is only on CCTV camera covering the entrance and corridor but someone stuck a piece of chewing gum over the lens.


Back at MIU, Ronnie and Joe confer with DI Wes Leyton about there not being a body. Based on the look of the room, Ronnie is sure there is a victim. Wes informs them of a memo from above, which is printed on paper, saying they are striving for a paper free office and he cautions them that anything that doesn’t need to be printed doesn’t get printed. Kayla brings in a document which she announces that she printed for Ronnie. They find that CP Hutton is Charles Peregrine Hutton who is 50 years old and a company director, and that’s 30 years older than the guy who checked into the hotel.

At Hutton and Fellowes on the same day, Ronnie and Joe speak with Hutton who did not realize his credit card was missing. He thinks he last used it months ago and last night he was at a dinner at a club. Joe asks for the info on the club and Ronnie asks for something with his signature. Joe compares the signature and there is no match. His wife would not have used his card, and Hutton worries if his wife will know about this, she already thinks he is a fool when it comes to looking after money, Ronnie replies they will let him break that bad news.

Back at MIU, Joe says they can’t confirm Hutton’s alibi as the doorman at his club refused him entry. Joe hands Ronnie a police artist’s sketch of the man who checked into the hotel. Kayla is checking the credit card transactions and finds credit card charges from a music store. She also finds a large charge in a kinky attire shop.


Later, at the shop, Ronnie and Joe find out what the guy purchased and show the shop worker the police sketch. She doesn’t recognize him as the order for the item was from the Internet. After Ronnie asks, she angrily gets him the delivery address which is in Holland Park. She says if they see any of her merchandise there, get it back.


Afterwards, at the Hutton home, Ronnie and Joe discuss with Hutton the fact that the items were shipped to his home and the fact his alibi can’t be verified. They show him the police sketch and Hutton plays dumb. His wife and daughter walk in as he says he did not use that card for the hotel. He tells her it is about a missing credit card and she says he is hopeless. She also denies using the card, and the detectives ask to speak with their daughter.

Ronnie and Joe speak with Georgia Hutton who doesn’t understand why she would use the credit card. They show her a photo of the person who used the card and she says she does not know him. When Ronnie mentions this could be about a murder, she says she can’t help them. Hutton tells them they are done here. Ronnie asks for a list of anyone who works the house and a list of Georgia’s school friends, and her mother informs them Georgia doesn’t have guests, she is doing six A levels. She goes to St. Sebastian’s Upper School. When Joe comments that is nice, Hutton asks him if he knows people there. The look on Joe’s face changes, and he says no.


At St. Sebastian’s Upper School that same day, they speak with the headmaster who says Georgia’s father was an old boy there but implies he wasn’t much and rode on his old family money. He doesn’t know anything about Mrs. Hutton. He thinks Charlie married below stairs. Georgia will be off to Oxford. Ronnie sees a poster for auditions for “West Side Story” and the headmaster says Georgia tried out for it but it wasn’t her finest hour but she was expecting a leading role. He adds that young people today have such pathological self-belief. Ronnie shows him the police sketch and the headmaster says, “Goodness.”