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Friday, April 27, 2012

Law & Order SVU “Strange Beauty” Episode Information


Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order SVU, “Strange Beuaty”


Law & Order SVU “Strange Beauty” Air Date May 16, 2012 (10 PM ET/9C Wednesday NBC)

A MISSING WOMAN LEADS ROLLINS (KELLI GIDDISH) AND THE SVU DETECTIVES INTO THE UNDERGROUND WORLD OF SELF-MUTILATION AND FETISHISM. DAVID EIGENBERG, PATRICK FISCHLER AND CONSTANTINE MAROULIS GUEST STAR.

While off-duty, Detective Rollins (Giddish) spots a young woman screaming in the back of a moving taxi. The SVU squad quickly identifies the victim as a rebellious teenager, estranged from her family and experimenting in the world of tattoos and self-mutilation. The case takes an unexpected turn when the Medical Examiner (Tamara Tunie) presents the detectives with a cleanly severed leg, reminiscent of a similar finding in an old unsolved case. The detectives are drawn into the psychological elements of self-mutilation and ritual amputation as they investigate two brothers (guest stars David Eigenberg and Patrick Fischler) in order to link the cases and find the missing woman. Also starring Mariska Hargitay (Detective Olivia Benson), Ice-T (Detective Odafin Tutuola), Dann Florek (Captain Donald Cragen) and Danny Pino (Detective Nick Amaro.)


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Strange Beauty" 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.

"Community " Features Law & Order Tribute Episode

In case you missed it, here is the episode of NBC’s “Community" which pays homage to Law & Order.  The episode is titled “Basic Lupine Urology” and it's quite entertaining. (This video may not be viewable outside the United States, sorry!)



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 26, 2012

Law & Order SVU “Father Dearest” Promo

Here is the promo for Law & Order SVU “Father Dearest” which will marks the return of BD Wong. The episode date has been changed to Wedensday, May 2, 2012: “Learning Curve” will move – again – to May 9.


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Father Dearest" 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 “Street Revenge” Recap & Review


It’s sex crimes meets comic book heroes in Law & Order SVU “Street Revenge. ” The case is about a neighborhood serial rapist and that same neighborhood’s vigilante “superhero” group taking matters into their own hands to eradicate the problem. It’s nothing like the serious real life situation of the Florida case of Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman; they only have a neighborhood watch as a common denominator. “Street Revenge” was more of a comic book look at the issue of vigilantism, featuring masked avengers and a perp who has his own comic book store. It was very hard to take the victims, and the vigilantes,  seriously.

It was hard to believe that Cragen, with all his years of experience, would have stepped over his own tongue so badly during the press conference. At least this gave Benson the chance to use her own years of dealing with rape victims in order to more tactfully explain to the crowd what the police were doing to solve the crime and catch the rapist.

This episode may go down in SVU history as having the highest number of hits by the detectives and highest number of hits/kicks by non-police in a single episode. While Benson’s reason for the slap and punch was work related, Amaro’s was not. Law & Order SVU has another male hothead detective with marital and anger issues (I am getting a feeling of déjà vu here). While Amaro is supposed to be out on the street working the case, instead he’s out on the street – and going out of the city – to follow his wife and confront the man with whom he thinks she is having an affair. Amaro is being painted as a perfectionist who can’t control his feelings of jealousy and anger.  But the question remains, who or what really ruined his marriage? It seems it was a combination of many things: his wife’s prolonged absence from home while she served overseas; Amaro’s suspicions and jealousy plus his move from narcotics to sex crimes; his wife keeping secrets. She proved him right that she could not be trusted as she wasn’t telling him everything about seeing a shrink or lunching with a friend, and he proved her right by personally doing surveillance on  her and then beating up on a man who he suspected was her lover. Amaro’s anger spills over to his questioning of a suspect at the end as he coaxed him to the edge of the rooftop, just as Amaro pushed his own marriage to the edge. One thing is clear, Amaro – like his predecessor Elliot Stabler – needs some help to control his rage.

It may be the result of watching too many Law & Order brand shows over the years, but I figured that the attacker was one of the people in the community group before the opening credits aired.



Here is the recap:

Cast:
Mariska Hargitay – Detective Olivia Benson
Ice-T – Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Richard Belzer – Sergeant John Munch
Dann Florek – Captain Don Cragen
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Danny Pino - Detective Nick Amaro

Guest stars:
Laura Benanti - Maria Grazie
Michael Rispoli - Henry
Hani Furstenberg - Leslie
Keir O’Donnell - Stuart
Dominic Fumusa – Jason
Veronika Dominiczyk - Clair
David Pittu – Henry’s Lawyer
Gavin Lee - Dennis Griscomb
Michael James Levy - Andy Chen


At a scene, Benson is questioning a woman who is being taken on a stretcher to an ambulance. A crowd watches nearby. Benson asks if she is sure it was a dark hoodie, and then says they will need to get in touch when they need to talk to her again. Amaro approaches Benson and says brown hair in his 20s, and asks if she is looking at victim # 5. Benson says he pushed the victim down from behind, he cut a handful of her hair and said “do you think you’re special, bitch.” Benson adds she was drunk but she thinks he was white and wearing a dark hoodie. Benson, commenting on the crowd, wants to know where these lookie-loos were there when it happened. Amaro said at home, in their lofts, west SoHo is a ghost town 11. A reporter approaches Benson and asks if she thinks the West SoHo rapist has struck again and do they have any leads and she tells him they are working the case and the victim is their top priority, He asks if that is a no, and she said that is a let them do their job. When she walks off, the reporter faces the camera and says once again the NYPD is stymied by the West SoHo rapist.

Back at SVU, Munch is listening to the TV reporter say that the police are still clueless. Munch has a sketch in his hand, and says you can’t sketch what you don’t see. Cragen is surprised there are still no phone calls and no witnesses, and wonders if the guy is invisible. Benson explains the only nearest subway is the 1 train, and Rollins thinks he may be driving as it was near the Holland Tunnel. Amaro says they are pulling videos and doing stop and frisks on white males, and Fin quips that is a nice change of pace. Munch adds too bad that hasn’t helped. Cragen suggests they flood the zone tonight and cover the subway and tunnel – he wants a noose around the area. He asks if anybody on the streets after midnight better have an NYPD pay stub on them. When they don’t move immediately, he asks them what are they waiting for, a hug goodbye? As they all move out, Cragen stops Benson, saying he saw the morning news and so did the commissioner, and he said she handled the reporter.  He tells her she is coming with him to a community council meeting for damage control. When she begins to object, he says it is not a request.

At the community council meeting, Cragen is asking the crowd to exercise caution and avoid going out late alone. A man (we later find his name is Henry) in the crowd calls out “so the rapist wins? These are our streets.” As the crowd shouts, Cragen explains not to make it easy for him (the rapist). When a woman (we later find is Leslie) asks if that means they are asking for it, the crowd get more vocal. Cragen says absolutely not, but a man thinks he is blaming the victims. Benson steps in and says they are only blaming the man who is committing these attacks and goes on to say they have posted surveillance throughout the neighborhood. As she continue to speak, we see police officers posting wanted signed. She explains there is increased police presence and some measures will be visible and some they will not disclose so the attacker can’t anticipate our methods, Henry shouts out that whatever they are doing, it is not preventing these attacks. Benson tries to calm the crowd by saying they are doing everything they can but are also asking that women to stay alert and she will promise them they will not stop until they catch him.

Despite this, another woman is being attacked, and the attacker says, “you’re mine, bitch.” But, another man comes from behind and shouts for him to get off of her, and he pulls the attacker away. He seems to be wearing a mask or helmet covering his head, and the woman watches as the man chases her attacker away.

Later, at the hospital, the woman, Clair, speaks with Amaro and Rollins and regrets being out alone and she had a few drinks. Rollins says it is not her fault she was attacked. Clair comments that Rollins has to say that. But Rollins tries to assure her and asks her to go through what happened. She explains her attacker had a knife and he knocked her down, and he did not rape her as another guy stopped him, adding that is who they should be talking to. Rollins tries to get back to the attacker, and the woman says the man wore a dark hoodie and a tan construction jacket. His voice sounded white, and he said “You’re mine, bitch.” She says her rescuer was wearing a crazy get-up like a downtown superhero, she thought she was imagining things. He punched the rapist in the face and chased after him. The ran towards Houston Street. She thinks the man really is a hero as he saved her.

Back at SVU, the annoying reporter, Dennis Griscomb, can still be heard on TV talking about the latest attack and Benson and Cragen walk in. Benson tells them to turn that noise off, and Cragen complies, saying screw him. Cragen comments he thought they were looking at security cam footage, and Rollins says she is on it. Cragen asks if anybody else is working the case besides the masked avenger. Benson replies that he can say what he wants about him, but he clocked the perp so hard that he left blood at the crime scene and adds that Fin is leaning on Warner. Munch states they have six rapes and a DNA hit but that’ a start, but Cragen counters that is assuming he is their serial. Benson thinks he fits the profile, they have the 3 AM attack; the victim. Clair Grant, is brunette, he pushed her down and he had a knife. Amaro adds these are all details they did not release. Rollins comments it’s not exactly the magic words, he was close and said “you’re mine bitch” instead of “you think you’re special. Cragen asks if he cut her hair, and Munch thinks he did not have time, he was interrupted. DNA hit aside, Cragen states they do not need vigilantes doing their job, and asks where are they on that. Rollins says there is no sign of him on video but shows them footage from t he Houston street IRT at 3:16 AM and shows a man with a tan jacket and hoodie. The metro card he used could have been charged. Cragen tells Amaro and Rollins to try to track it down.

At the NYC Department of Education Payroll Office, they ask a woman to match the metro card to a board of ed employee, and she is reluctant, Rollins tells her it is a police matter and to make the time. The woman says all she has to do is stay black and die. Amaro tries to sweet talk her and he is successful in getting her to look it up. She asks Amaro if he has Indian in him, and he says he gets that sometimes. She comments she can tell – it’s the cheekbones. She says this will take awhile and suggests he gets a coffee.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Law & Order SVU “Father Dearest” Episode Information

Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order SVU. “Father Dearest”; BD Wong returns! (Note: the air date has been changed to May 2.)


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Father Dearest" can be found at this link.


Law & Order SVU “Father Dearest” Air Date May 2, 2012 (10 PM ET/9C Wednesday NBC)

DR. HUANG (BD WONG) REUNITES WITH THE SVU SQUAD TO TRACK DOWN A TWISTED SEDUCER OF YOUNG WOMEN. JAMES VAN DER BEEK AND ERIC CLOSE GUEST STAR.

Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Amaro (Danny Pino) investigate the disappearance of a teenaged girl after her young brother calls 9-1-1. While Fin (Ice-T) and Rollins (Kelli Giddish) look into a possible abduction, they discover the girl had been searching for her biological father, an anonymous sperm donor. The investigation takes a startling turn when a suspect is found to be targeting several young, vulnerable women, all with the same personal connection. But the suspect isn’t what he seems, and Dr. Huang (Wong) must delve into his past to save the women. Guest Starring Eric Close and James Van Der Beek. Also starring Richard Belzer (Sergeant John Munch.)




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.

Mariska Hargitay Signs New Contract with Universal Television

The Hollywood Reporter has an exclusive report which states that Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order SVU) has signed a new contract with Universal Television. Before you do your happy dance, they also report:

“While a new contract for one of television's top stars could potentially spell good news for a 14th season of the Dick Wolf-produced crime drama, sources close to the show say it doesn't guarantee that the series will return in the fall. NBC is simply locking up Hargitay, who is said to make about $500,000 per episode, in case L&O: SVU is picked up.”


Read the full story here:  The Hollywood Reporter: 'Law & Order: SVU' Star Mariska Hargitay Inks New Deal With Universal Television (Exclusive)



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 19, 2012

Law & Order SVU “Street Revenge” Promo

Here is the promo for Law & Order SVU “Street Revenge” which will air on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at 10 PM ET/9C on NBC.

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Street Revenge" 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 “Valentine’s Day” Recap & Review


Law & Order SVU “Valentine’s Day” didn’t air around that holiday, but it certainly is an episode that fans should love watching. It appears that a crime has been committed - a rape and kidnapping of a businessman’s wife, Christine, from her home while her shocked husband watched helplessly via Skype, thousands of miles away. But it seems he was just a victim to his wife’s desire to have “play dates” with a delivery man. Not only is her husband in total denial, but she also uses the clueless delivery man to set up the whole scenario to cover her tracks. Of course, the entire problem could have been avoided if Christine would have just had her little play time before her husband returned – after all, he did have a 16 hour flight ahead of him. Instead, she concocts this elaborate story, possibly in order to swindle her husband out of some money in the process. She keeps up with her lies and is very practiced at lying, and she ultimately finds a way to ensnare a juror to have an ally in jury deliberations. Despite the story being predictable, this was an excellent episode with a great cast that complemented the story well. It was nice to have Diane Neal appear in the episode in more than just the usual cameos. As I am a huge Law & Order fan, I really appreciate it when SVU episode includes some courtroom drama.

While the detectives work the case, Nick Amaro has some time with his wife who has been home for only a short time. He senses that something is going on with her that she’s not sharing with him. Working the case and seeing how Christine’s husband Boyd seemed oblivious to the glaring evidence that his wife was a cheat and a liar, Nick takes to following his own wife and sees her enter the apartment of a strange man. Is it an innocent meeting or is there something else going on? It certainly does not look good for Nick’s marriage as trust issues are clearly brewing. I have to admit that while I really don’t care too much for the storyline of Nick and his wife, I thought that the coverage was just right.



Here is the recap:
Cast:
Mariska Hargitay – Detective Olivia Benson
Ice-T – Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Richard Belzer – Sergeant John Munch
Dann Florek – Captain Don Cragen
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Danny Pino - Detective Nick Amaro

Guest stars:
Diane Neal – ADA Casey Novak
Chloe Sevigny – Christine Hartwell
Laura Benanti - Maria Grazie
Rich Sommer – Boyd Hartwell
Ron Rifkin – Marvin Exley
Jenna Stern - Judge Elana Barth
Shawn Hatosy – Kevin Fahey
Josh Randall – Justin Geld
Matt LoGuercio – Juror Number Seven
John Solo - Brad Hayes
Carsey Walker Jr. - Darel Jefferson
Angel Pai – Lien
Gameela Wright – Jury Foreperson
Lucy Fava – Madison Hartwell


At the Hong Kong airport, Boyd Hartwell is getting ready to return home. He’s on the phone with someone talking about a business deal and tells the caller that  his wife wants to video chat before he boards the plane. He calls on Skype and reaches his wife Christine. They make small talk and she tells him their daughter Madison is at their mother’s house. He tells her that he canceled his London trip and she is coming straight home, and adds “Happy Valentine’s Day.” She seems happy that he will be home tomorrow. When she says she didn’t get him anything, he talks about what he likes – the see through thing with garters that he got her. She talks about the lingerie she is wearing now. He asks her to take it off and she vamps for the camera. The doorbell rings and she comments on the nice timing, saying it is the cleaners. She glances back at the web cam and he reminds her to come back as he checks his phone. But when he hears her sound as if she is in trouble, he looks to the computer screen and sees a man dressed in back holding a gun to her and she pleads and calls for help. Boyd uses his phone to take a photo form the screen and yells for somebody to call 911 in New York. The attacker pushes her against the counter and holds the gun to her head, saying to the web cam if he calls the cops she will be dead, and he shuts the web cam down.

On the scene with Benson, Amaro says the alleged victim is Christine Hartwell, her husband Boyd says he saw someone break in and rape his wife and witnessed the whole think on V-chat. He was at Hong Kong International and he called his mother and told her not to call the police, but she couldn’t sleep and called them an hour ago and when the unis got there, Christine was not there. Benson notices there is no sign of forced entry as both doors look untouched and wonders if it was someone she knew. Amaro thinks maybe not, the video camera is out. He thinks she opened the door, the attacker pushes her in, there is a struggle. Amaro says Christine’s daughter Madison, who is five, stayed with her grandmother last night. Benson sees clothes laying on the kitchen floor and asks an officer to get CSU in there, and also TARU to see if they can get an image off the laptop. Amaro notices blood on the counter. The attacker raped her in full view of the screen, and Amaro says it was to show he means business, as if it was deliberate and personal. Benson comments that he forced her to leave with him, and Rollins enters with Fin and says the neighbors did not see a thing, Fin adding they saw no one came in or out of the house last night. They have not heard of a ransom demand. They have not heard from his as his plane does not land until noon. Amaro comments about the 16 hours, saying it will be the longest flight of Boyd’s life.

At a playground while Madison plays, her grandmother speaks with Amaro and Benson. She is worried she did the right thing by calling the police. She last saw Christine yesterday afternoon when she dropped off Madison and she seemed fine. Boyd works a lot but his family comes first. She claims they are still in love after 10 years of marriage.

Back at SVU, Benson and Amaro bring Cragen up to speed. Christine has been missing for 12 hours and the only witness is in the air. There is no activity on her credit cards. Cragen thinks it may be somebody she’s crossed paths with. Rollins explains that Boyd and his partner Justin Geld started a hedge fund years ago and Christine is a stay at home mom. Fin adds they do the regular rich people mambo. Rollins states there were a few complaints about the hedge fund filed against Boyd’s partner and the company paid some fines and admitted no wrongdoing and the complaints were withdrawn. Benson says that Christine had lunch with Geld on Friday and a month ago her husband was in Brazil and there was another lunch. Cragen asks Fin and Rollins to check on Christine and her lunches and tells Benson and Amaro to meet Boyd’s plane at JFK so as to not give him a chance to go rogue.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Mariska Hargitay Attends NBC Summer Press Day (Photos)

Here are photos of Mariska Hargitay at the Law & Order SVU session of the NBCUniversal Summer Press Day 2012. (The photos include Mariska with Jenny McCarthy, CeeLo Green, and Carson Daly.)







Photos by: Chris Haston/NBC © NBCUniversal, Inc.














Photos by Getty Images North America


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.


Saturday, April 14, 2012

Law & Order SVU “Street Revenge” Episode Information

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

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Street Revenge" can be found at this link.


Law & Order SVU “Street Revenge” Air Date April 25, 2012 (10 PM ET/9C Wednesday NBC) (Update April 16, 2012: air date changed to April 25 by NBC) 

THE SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT MUST CONTEND WITH A NEIGHBORHOOD VIGILANTE GROUP

A string of rapes in West Soho inspires a group of vigilantes to organize against both neighborhood crime and the NYPD. While Reporter Dennis Griscomb (guest star Gavin Lee) takes every opportunity to publicly criticize police efforts, the SVU squad struggles to find a lead in the case until one of the vigilantes is attacked. As the other detectives fight for control over the investigation and angry citizens, Amaro (Danny Pino) is distracted by the suspicion that his wife (guest star Laura Benanti) is seeing another man (guest star Dominic Fumusa.) Also starring Mariska Hargitay (Detective Olivia Benson), Ice-T (Detective Odafin Tutuola), Dann Florek (Captain Donald Cragen), Richard Belzer (Sergeant John Munch), and Kelli Giddish (Detective Amanda Rollins).






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 13, 2012

Law & Order SVU “Valentine’s Day” Sneak Peek Videos

Here are 4 sneak peeks from Law & Order SVU “Valentine’s Day” which will air on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 (10 PM ET/9C) on NBC. The videos feature Mariska Hargitay, Danny Pino, Ice-T, Kelli Giddish, and guest stars Chloe Sevigny, Rich Sommer, and Shawn Hatosy.


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Valentine’s Day" can be found at this link.


Cast interviews and behind the scenes videos are posted here:
Law & Order SVU “Valentine’s Day” Cast Interviews, BTS Videos


Please note: These video clips are available for a limited time only and must be removed shortly after the episode originally airs, so please catch them while you can!











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 “Valentine’s Day” Cast Interviews, BTS Videos

Here are cast interviews and a behind the scenes video from Law & Order SVU “Valentine’s Day” which will air on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 (10 PM ET/9C) on NBC. The videos feature Mariska Hargitay (in the BTS footage), Danny Pino, Ice-T, and guest stars Diane Neal, Chloe Sevigny, Rich Sommer, Shawn Hatosy, and Ron Rifkin.

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Valentine’s Day" can be found at this link.

4 sneak peeks are posted here (they have a limited life):
Law & Order SVU “Valentine’s Day” Sneak Peek Videos




















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 “Valentine’s Day” Promo

Here is the promo for Law & Order SVU “Valentine’s Day” which will air on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 (10 PM ET/9C) on NBC. The promo features Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Danny Pino, and guest stars Chloe Sevigny and Rich Sommer.


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Valentine’s Day" 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.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Law & Order SVU “Justice Denied’ Recap & Review


Law & Order SVU seemed to be on hiatus for so long I was worried that viewers would forget about it. “Justice Denied” was an episode that was clearly worth the wait. It begins with a flashback taken from the episode “Quarry” that first aired in January 2005 (from a 2004 case). While this dialog was taken from “Quarry,” I do not believe that “Justice Denied” is an actual revisiting of the primary case in “Quarry”. I am sure there are nitpickers out there who can help confirm or refute this.

It seems the entire season so far has been building to this episode. This was a well crafted story where Olivia Benson’s work, her friendship with Bayard Ellis, and her romantic relationship with EADA David Haden would collide in spectacular fashion. Sadly, it’s Benson who winds up losing at the end. Her relationship with Haden goes by the wayside as he isn’t willing to sacrifice his new promotion. She understands, but my suspicious nature wonders if David wasn’t just using her – and her access to controversial cases - just to find a way to advance his own career. It seemed all too easy for him to turn on his professional persona when needed. It was either that, or the fact that Harry Connick Jr. comes across cold even in scenes where he should be personable. (I actually feel bad for saying anything negative about Harry’s acting because I really enjoy his singing and music.) Andre Braugher is perfect as Bayard Elllis, a lawyer driven to defend people who have been wronged. At the same time, he maintains a good working friendship with Benson, despite her being in a job with which Ellis, or other lawyers like him,  can sometimes be at odds.

“Justice Denied” was an exceptional episode where Mariska showed the breadth of her acting ability. One of the biggest improvements with SVU this season has been the writing; each story seems completely believable and the dialog seems very true to the characters. Fans should feel proud of the work that the entire SVU production team is doing this season.



Here is the recap:

Cast:
Mariska Hargitay – Detective Olivia Benson
Ice T – Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Richard Belzer – Sergeant John Munch
Dann Florek – Captain Don Cragen
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Danny Pino - Detective Nick Amaro

Guest stars:
Andre Braugher – Bayard Ellis
Harry Connick Jr. – EADA David Haden
Guillermo Diaz – Omar Pena
Mark Consuelos -Mike Martinez
Cynthia LaForte - Gina Logan
David Harris – the Warden
Ramon Fernandez - Javier
Tabitha Holbert – ADA Rose Callay
Max Baker – Rope Guy
Ami Brabson – Judge K. Blake
Samantha Soule - Ariel Baskins

Story by: Stuart Feldman, Warren Leight
Teleplay: Stuart Feldman


Back in 2004, Omar Pena is in SVU interrogation with Detective Olivia Benson, and he is breathing heavily. Afterwards, Captain Don Cragen asks if she got her confession, and Benson nods, saying he held out for 9 hours. He hands her an envelope and says the desk sergeant asked him to bring this up, and then asks her if she wants any coffee. She says yes, then adds two eggs over easy, hash browns, and toast. Cragen turns and looks back at her, but she smiles and says coffee is fine.

In the present day at Green Haven Correctional Facility, the warden arrives at Omar Pena’s cell, and the guard tells Pena is it judgment day. The other inmates clap for Pena as he walks out but the man tells Pena not to get his hopes up.

In the courtroom, the judge confirms that Pena wants to represent himself and he has a motion to vacate his conviction based on new evidence, and asks what new evidence. Pena says the evidence is pending a retesting of the DNA at the crime scene. The prosecutor says there was no DNA at the crime scene, and Pena says none based on the technology of the time but new techniques can obtain DNA from much smaller amounts of trace evidence. The prosecutor tersely argues that Pena wants then to overturn a conviction based on evidence Pena does not have. Pena states that the state has the means at their disposal to prove that he is not the man who committed this horrible crime. The judge asks if he means the crime he confessed to – the rape and torture of Ariel Baskins, whom he tied up, stabbed, and tried to blind her with ammonia. Pena says he has maintained for 8 years that confession was elicited under extreme duress. He says he recanted, but the judge interrupts and says it was after he pleaded guilty and the victim ID’d him. She rules that he failed to make the standard to overturn his conviction and denies the motion.

Outside a bar – it’s fleet week – a woman stumbles out with a Navy officer and tells her female friend they are going dancing but her friend Gina decides to pass. When Gina gets to her apartment she is immediately attacked as she tries to open the door. Later. she is bound to her bed, gagged, and bleeding, and she reaches for the phone and pulls it toward her.

Later, Benson arrives at the scene and is on the phone with EADA David Haden, and she is apologizing for sneaking out on him, saying she would have woken him but then probably would not have left. She enters the apartment and Detective Nick Amaro tells her the victim is Gina Logan, and explains the unis responded to her 911 call and found her tied to the bed. Her attacker forced her inside and was wearing a sailor’s uniform. EMS took her to Mercy and is still in serious condition Benson notices a bottle of ammonia cleaner on the floor and Amaro says the attacker poured ammonia in her eyes and tried to blind her. Benson asked if she was gagged, and when Amaro confirms that, Benson asks if he cut her below the chest, and Amaro says three slashes. Benson knows the attacker – adding they put him away for life 8 years ago, but thinks this is him.

Back at SVU, Benson asks Rollins if she is sure, and Rollins explains that she spoke to the warden herself; Pena was in his cell as of 10 minutes ago. Benson insists this is Pena’s MO, mentioning the Navy uniform, fleet week, torture, the ammonia. Benson says if Rollins told her someone took his place in prison, she would believe it. Rollins says it is possible. Pena had a hearing in New York a week ago to get his conviction overturned and he lost but maybe he staged a flip. Cragen approaches and tells them to back up, asking if they are talking about last night’s attack, and asks how is the victim. Amaro says that Gina Logan has chemical burns to the eyes and she has slash wounds, the attacker did a number on her. There are no leads and CSU is still checking for prints and running the rape kit. Cragen asks if Benson thinks he knows this guy, and Benson explains that they put Omar Pena away in 2004 and he confessed and the victim, Ariel Baskins, ID’d him. Pena spent the last 8 years recanting. Rollins asks if he had an accomplice and Fin says he remembers this case, the victim was alone with him for 10 hours in hell and was gagged with her own scarf and bound in rope and the guy never said a word and there was no partner. Cragen asks if Pena switched with a doppelganger when he was being transferred for the hearing, and Benson thinks maybe he got somebody on the outside to mimic his MO. Amaro wonders if a copycat would through suspicion on his conviction. Cragen tells Benson and Amaro to head up to Green Haven and talk to whoever is in his cell and tells Fin and Rollins to go to the hospital and see if the doctors will let them interview Gina

At Mercy Hospital, Rollins speaks with Gina and asks her if she saw the man before who attacked her. Gina, struggling to talk, says no, and tells Rollins the man was Hispanic in a white Navy uniform. He never spoke. The nurse enters the room and tells Rollins the doctor told Rollins to come back tomorrow. Meanwhile, Fin speaks with Gina’s friend Courtney and asks where was the bar the two girls were hanging out. She explains it was a dive they go to when the ships are in. When Rollins approaches and asks if any Hispanic guys talk to them, Courtney says it was fleet week, it was like the UN in there. She last saw Gina outside the bar around midnight. She hooked up with an officer and they were headed to a club and Gina felt like the third wheel so she walked home and Gina was drunk. Courtney feels she should have never left her alone. Fin says the rope guy at CSU has something, and Rollins seems surprised that that they have a rope guy. Fin shrugs, saying “Yeah. Guess I’ve been on this job too long.”

At the CSU lab, the rope guy is more interested in the knot, they guy used a clove hitch on the wrist and a bowline to tie her to the bed. This is something taught in Navy training. He demonstrates how he wrapped the working end around and finishes on the inside, and says whoever tied these knots finished on the outside, meaning the attacker is left handed.

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Law & Order SVU “Justice Denied” Previews, Behind the Scenes, & Cast Interviews

Here are sneak peeks, cast interviews, and a behind the scenes look from Law & Order SVU “Justice Denied” which will air on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 10 PM ET on NBC. The interviews feature Mariska Hargitay and Harry Connick Jr., the sneak peeks and behind the scenes include Mariska, Danny Pino, Ice-T, Kelli Giddish, Dann Florek, plus guest stars Andre Braugher and Harry Connick Jr.

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Justice Denied" can be found at this link.





Please note: The episode preview clips are available for a limited time only and must be removed shortly after the episode originally airs, so please catch them while you can!



















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 6, 2012

Law & Order SVU “Learning Curve” Episode Information

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


Law & Order SVU “Learning Curve” Air Date May 9, 2012 (10 PM ET/9C Wednesday NBC)  (Update April 26, 2012:  The air date has been changed - again -  to May 9.) 

A STRING OF HATE CRIMES HITS CLOSE TO HOME FOR DETECTIVE TUTUOLA (ICE-T), AND THE SVU SQUAD SUSPECTS A COVER UP WHEN A PRIVATE SCHOOL TEACHER (GUEST START TONY HALE) IS SIMILARLY ATTACKED. JANE ADAMS, DYLAN MINNETTE AND MARTHA STEWART ALSO GUEST STAR.

As Detective Tutuola's (Ice-T) son Ken (Ernest Waddell) prepares to tell his father that he is getting married, his fiancé is brutally assaulted by a street gang. He’s the latest in a string of recent hate crimes against gay men, and before the SVU squad can arrest a suspect, a school teacher (guest star Tony Hale), is similarly brutalized even though he doesn't fit the pattern. As the detectives search for a connection, they learn that he was dismissed from an elite private school for having an inappropriate relationship with a student (guest star Dylan Minnette, NBC's "Awake.") In trying to make their case, they quickly realize the facts don't add up and another teacher (guest star Jane Adams) may hold the clues to what really happened. Also starring Mariska Hargitay (Detective Olivia Benson), Richard Belzer (Sergeant John Munch), Danny Pino (Detective Nick Amaro) and Kelli Giddish (Detective Amanda Rollins.) Special appearance by Martha Stewart and Stephanie March (ADA Alex Cabot).


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Learning Curve" 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.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Law & Order SVU “Justice Denied” Promo

Here’s the promo for Law & Order SVU “Justice Denied” which will air on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 10 PM ET on NBC. The promo features Mariska Hargitay, Danny Pino, Dann Florek, and guest star Harry Connick Jr.


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Justice Denied" 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.