Friday, October 31, 2014

Law & Order SVU “Spousal Privilege” Episode Information



Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order SVU, “Spousal Privilege” :



Law & Order SVU “Spousal Privilege” Air Date November 19, 2014 (9 PM ET/8C Wednesday NBC)

SERGEANT BENSON (MARISKA HARGITAY) TRIES TO HELP A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIM WHO STANDS BY HER MAN

Detective Tutuola (Ice-T) comes across leaked security footage of a violent domestic dispute in a parking garage, showing sportscaster A.J. Martin (guest star Chad Coleman) hit his girlfriend Paula (guest star Meagan Good). While Fin and Benson (Hargitay) investigate the couple's lifestyle and history, Paula pushes back to keep her relationship and family intact. Benson turns to ADA Barba (Raúl Esparza) for help to convince Paula that her world doesn't have to revolve around A.J. Meanwhile, the case has an interesting effect on Rollins (Kelli Giddish) and Amaro’s (Danny Pino) relationship. Also guest starring Elizabeth Marvel (Counselor Rita Calhoun), Jefferson Mays (M.E. Rudnick), Leslie Odom Jr. (Reverend Curtis Scott), David Dinkins (Judge Chet Baker) and Hoda Kotb (as herself).

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My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Spousal Privilege” 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, October 30, 2014

Law & Order SVU “Glasgowman’s Wrath” Preview Clips

Here are preview clips for Law & Order SVU. “Glasgowman’s Wrath” which will air on Wednesday, November 5, 2014 at 9PM ET on NBC. The previews feature Mariska Hargitay, Danny Pino, and  Kelli Giddish.


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Glasgowman’s Wrath” 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.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Law & Order SVU “Chicago Crossover” Episode Information



Here are the details for the Law & Order SVU “Chicago Crossover” episode. (I am not sure if this is the official name of the episode but this is how it is named on the  NBC press release.)
Update October 29, 2014: I've added the details for the Chicago Fire and Chicago PD segments of the crossover.


Law & Order SVU “Chicago Crosssover” Air Date November 12, 2014 (9 PM ET/8C Wednesday NBC)

THE CHICAGO P.D. JOINS FORCES WITH MANHATTAN SVU TO UNCOVER THE ROOTS OF A CHILD PORNOGRAPHY SITE. GUEST STARRING "CHICAGO P.D." STARS JASON BEGHE, SOPHIA BUSH AND JESSE LEE SOFFER

Sergeant Hank Voight (Beghe) and Detectives Erin Lindsay (Bush) and Jay Halstead (Soffer) track a child pornography victim to his last-known whereabouts in New York City, where Sergeant Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and the SVU squad get a new lead – evidence of a livestreamed pornography "club" that caters to its subscriber’s shocking requests. When Lindsay discovers someone from her past is involved, she hopes it will help lead them to the site’s ringleader, but tensions between Voight and Benson could threaten the case. Also starring Ice-T (Detective Odafin Tutuola), Danny Pino (Detective Nick Amaro) and Kelli Giddish (Detective Amanda Rollins). Also guest starring Lou Taylor Pucci (Teddy Courtney), Isabel Shill (Jocelyn Cerpaski), Mark H. Dold (Bob Clinton), Danny Mastrogiorgio (George Turner), Frank Deal (FBI Agent O’Connell) and Donnetta Lavinia Grays (Lina Bagley).

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Chicago Fire  “Nobody Touches Anything” Air Date November 11, 2014 (10 PM ET/9C Wednesday NBC)

A ROUTINE HOUSE FIRE REVEALS EVIDENCE THAT DEMANDS THE ATTENTION OF THE CPD - STORY ARC CROSSES OVER INTO "CHICAGO P.D." AND "LAW & ORDER: SVU"

Members of Firehouse 51 are forced to contend with a house fire, but when the injured owner is rescued from his cellar clutching a suspicious box, Lt. Severide (Taylor Kinney) brings in Sergeant Voight (guest star Jason Beghe, Chicago P.D.) and Detective Lindsay (guest star Sophia Bush, Chicago P.D.) into the mix for further investigating. Elsewhere, Mills (Charlie Barnett) wonders if the dangers of Newhouses's (guest star Edwin Hodge) off-duty gig are worth the cash returns, while Molly's II is in dire need of a good chef. Jesse Spencer, Eamonn Walker, Monica Raymund, Kara Killmer, David Eigenberg, Yuri Sardarov, Joe Minoso and Christian Stolte also star. Serinda Swan and Randy Flagler also guest star.

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Chicago PD  “They’ll Have To Go Through Me” Air Date November 12, 2014 (10 PM ET/9C Wednesday NBC)

SVU DETECTIVES TRAVEL TO CHICAGO TO HELP INTELLIGENCE TAKE DOWN A PEDOPHILIA RING AT ITS SOURCE. 

The final part of the crossover event finds our intelligence unit joined by detectives from New York’s special victims unit to help solve the pedophile ring case. Ruzek (Patrick Flueger) and Det. Amaro (guest star Danny Pino) along with Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer) and Antonio (Jon Seda) continue to hunt for the link to foster care and child trafficking. Meanwhile Burgess (Marina Squerciati) and Roman (Brian Geraghty) try to find the shooter from the hospital after using surveillance footage to identify him. Platt (Amy Morton) shows her deep respect for police and the dangerous work they do by honoring their fallen brother. Jason Beghe, Sophia Bush, Elias Koteas and LaRoyce Hawkins also star. Guest starring Charlie Barnett, Kara Killmer, Kelli Giddish, Markie Post and Mariska Hargitay.






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.

SVU/Chicago Fire/Chicago PD Crossover Promos

Here are two promos for the Law & Order SVU/Chicago Fire/Chicago PD crossover event that will will air the week of November 9, 2014.


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Chicago Crossover” 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, October 23, 2014

Law & Order SVU “Pornstar’s Requiem” Recap & Review




Seriously now, Law & Order SVU is writing itself from news headlines. I am starting to believe there is an automated SVU episode generator and no real writers. Law & Order SVU “Pornstar’s Requiem” is another ripped from the headlines story. It closely duplicates the story of “Belle Knox,” a Duke University student and adult film star, who, once outed as a porn star, was subsequently harassed, including threats of rape and violence. The lesson learned from this episode is it doesn’t matter in what profession one is in, when it comes to sex, “No means no.” Period.  Just because adult film workers are willing to have sex on screen and get paid for it, this should never be taken as automatic consent to sex under any circumstances.  Sex workers, like anyone else, can still be victims of sex crime.

Despite this episode clearly being a regurgitation of a real life news story, the writers (okay, I do believe there are real SVU writers) crafted a fine story with a sympathetic victim.  It also put Benson in another situation where her management skills and her mind-set were tested.

In this episode, two college students who never have given Evie Barnes the time of day quickly escalate to raping her once they find she is a porn star. There is some discussion with the SVU team and ADA Barba regarding difficulties they face in moving forward with such a case, but Benson is firm that Evie is a victim. Matters get worse when the defense attorney gleefully hands them evidence showing Evie did more than one video, and one of those additional videos mirrors the video record of the rape.

As the local newspapers pile on, Deputy Chief Dodds adds fuel to the fire by accusing Benson of having an agenda. Benson later seems to validate his point when, after Evie is expelled from the university, she intercedes with the Hudson University president. Keep in mind that the Hudson president was already annoyed at SVU for its lack of courtesy shown to her by not alerting her to the rape allegations. It’s a sad fact that sometimes in a management position, one needs a degree of savvy when it comes to navigating internal and external politics. Had Benson approached the president and apologized for not giving her the courtesy of informing her of the allegations at the onset, she may have found the president more receptive to alternatives for Evie. All that said, I agree that the Hudson president had little choice but to expel Evie for violating their code by doing the porn videos, assuming that code is spelled out for students as they enter the university. Benson better learn quickly that she can’t operate effectively in management by standing on her principles alone. She needs to work to cultivate relationships with those outside the SVU circle so they understand better what her job – not her “agenda” – is about. Benson, like Evie, may be a bit naïve; Evie not realizing her videos would be discovered by others at the university, and Benson not realizing that a leadership role doesn’t mean you have complete control.

This brings me to Dodds, who clearly has his own biases and maybe his own agenda. He has an issue with Benson which seems based on the opinions of others, and those others may have biases and opinions of their own. We can only wonder at this point if he is simply testing her resolve, or if he is a giant prick, or a little of both. He is actually giving her good advice when he tells her to pick her battles. While I understand Benson wanting Evie to have another chance at Hudson, she picked the wrong battle by interceding, which is behavior more appropriate for a social worker or family member. The SVU team is there to advocate for justice for special victims, but sometimes they do have to walk away when the issue is outside the scope of a crime. Carisi took the correct approach when, at the end of the episode when Evie went back to sex videos,  that he told Rollins it was not their choice. At least he knows when to draw the line.

Despite the uphill battle that Barba faced in trying to convince a jury that a porn star who does rape fantasy videos can be a victim of rape, he manages to get a guilty verdict. But that victory is short lived as the judge agrees to take seriously a motion to set aside the verdict. Of course, Barba is both shocked and appalled that the judge later agrees with the defense and sets aside the jury verdict of guilty and sets the rapist free. This does seem to be an puzzling decision from the judge, seeing that Barba presented plenty of evidence and the jury agreed with him. This case was nothing like the case presented in the Law & Order episode “Gunshow” from season 10 where EADA Jack McCoy wins a jury verdict which the judge deemed was  for a constitutional issue which had no place in that court. In that case, the judge’s decision, while shocking to McCoy, actually made some sense, while in this case, I felt there were other non-legal issues which influenced the judge's decision, likely the judge’s own biases about those working in adult films.

A procedural question: Why are the interrogations not being video recorded, at least not until the confession? Are they concerned that their interrogation tactics would be questioned later?

A nice plus is seeing Peter Scanavino added to the title credits, which I hope means he will be around for at least the remainder of the season. He’s a great addition to the cast and I like the way Sonny Carisi thinks and how he operates.


Here is the recap:

Cast:
Mariska Hargitay – Sergeant Olivia Benson
Ice-T – Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Danny Pino - Detective Nick Amaro
Raúl Esparza - ADA Rafael Barba
Peter Scanavino - Detective Dominick Carisi, Jr.

Guest stars:
Peter Gallagher - Deputy Chief William Dodds
Hannah Marks – Evie Barnes
Delaney Williams - Counselor John Buchanan
Kathleen Chalfant -  Hudson President Rogers
Casey Thomas Brown - Matt Cooper
Max Ehrich - Daniel Pryor
Harry Zittel - Justin Adams
Richard T. Jones - Judge Oscar Briggs
Emily Donahoe – Lisa Barnes
John Leonard Thompson – Bob Barnes
Jonathan Strauss – Producer
Karl Jacob – Nate
Brian Russell – Process Server
Polly Adams – Jury Foreperson

Evie Barnes is on video,  auditioning for a modeling job and hoping to earn money for school. She has just turned 18 that day, and the producer, off screen, asks her if she wants to earn 10 times the $300 modeling pay. He asks her to remove her clothes.

At a later date, two boys, Matt and Daniel, at Hudson University, are watching this video on a porn site, “18 With A Bang” as the modeling audition turns to a porn video. One of the men in the video slaps Evie,  Matt and Daniel recognize Evie as a fellow student at Hudson. Matt suggests they invite her to a party that night.

Later, Evie is at the party and Matt and Daniel welcome her, then entice her into the bathroom for a beer. When she gets in there, they shut the door and begin to assault her, saying she is “18 with a bang.”

Sometime later, Fin and Rollins arrive at the dorm, being called there by Justin Adams, Evie’s RA, who said Evie was assaulted. He called on his own, he has been there 4 years and knows not to get campus security involved. He wrote down the names of the attackers, saying the guys are entitled d-bags. Justin knocks on the door and tells Evie he called the police and Rollins convinces her to let them in. Evie opens the door and states she did not ask him to call the police. Fin explains her RA was worried about her and did the right thing. She says she does not want to press charges, and Rollins states that is her choice. Rollins sits down to talk with Evie as Fin says he will call Carisi to take statements, and he leaves the room. Rollins asks Evie to tell her what happened. Evie says she wishes she stayed in her room and studied. She explains that he knocked on her door – Daniel Pryor, one of the cool guys who barely looked at her before last night. He came downstairs and invited her to a party. She should have known why. This spring, before she started college, she needed money for the semester’s tuition/ her dad was sick so she answered an ad for modeling work. It wasn’t modeling. Rollins assures her whatever she did before, it had nothing to do with her being assaulted. Evie thinks it does. They saw her; it was a video – it was porn. She begs Rollins not to tell her parents, and Rollins explains it is okay, they will take this one step at a time. Rollins asks if they hurt her or if she took a shower, and Evie says no, the bathroom is coed. Rollins states that is good thing, they will get her to the hospital. Evie agrees.

Meanwhile, Fin and Carisi speak with Daniel and Matt who said Evie did them both and that compared to the video she did, it was nothing. Their story is Evie went wild and wanted them both. She behaved like she did in the video and they seem surprised she called the police. Carisi calls it morning after regret. Daniel thinks the “18 With A Bang” video was more hardcore than they were.

Back at SVU, the detectives, In Benson’s office with Barba, view the video on the “18 With A Bang” web site. The site is about girls who just turn 18 and dream about making a porno. Evie was actually 18 in the video and she used her real first name. Benson shuts off the video and says whatever Evie did, had no bearing on what happened to her. Carisi argues that these guys say it does; because she wanted it in the porn movie, she wanted them. The others are silent and Rollins gives Benson a look and shakes her head. Carisi then says “Hello! A third of the traffic on the Internet is porn. That’s how most of these college guys learn about sex.” Benson holds out her hand and tells him to stop, it doesn’t matter. Rollins emphasizes that Evie said no, she wasn’t drunk, and she gave a detailed account of the assault and the exam in the ER was consistent with forcible penetration and the rape kit showed the presence of semen. Barba says so she made one first time pornographic movie – Rollins says it was in New Hampshire. Fin pipes in it is one of only a few places where you can still make porn without a condom. Barba says flatly, “Live free or die” then asks what else they know about Evie. Fin states her RA says she is a shy nice girl Benson adds she has no history with law enforcement and has made no prior allegations. Barba shakes his head and says it is still a “they said – she said”. Rollins counters maybe not; at the hospital, Evie told her after a minute that Daniel turned on his cell phone camera so she thinks the whole thing might have been recorded. Benson, raising her voice, asks Rollins, “You’re just telling me this now?” Rollins says she didn’t get a chance to speak with her today. Barba says he will get then a warrant for his phone and see if the video confirms her story. Benson tells Fin and Carisi to go back to those two and get her the video if it still exists. She tells Rollins to find out everything about Evie’s background , adding, “No surprises.” Rollins nods and walks out with the other detectives, After they leave, Benson slaps her hand on her desk and asks Barba what he thinks. Barba says she knows what he thinks; he would like this case a lot more has she not made a pornographic video. Rollins comes back into the room with Counselor Delaney, who seems gleeful. That’s because he is representing Matthew Cooper and Daniel Pryor, and thinks this will not go to trial. He hands them 2 flash drives, one with the video the boys made and another with many more porn videos made with Evie. Buchanan is thrilled, and tells them to brace themselves.

Later, the detectives watch the video of  Evie, Matt and Daniel, which corroborates Evie’s story. Carisi shows another porn video Evie made which looks similar to the one with Matt and Daniel. Benson asks how many videos, Rollins explains it is like a baker’s dozen on Buchanan’s flash drive and after the first one – 18 with a bang – she uses a pseudonym, “Roxxxanne (3 Xs) DeMay.” Fin adds they are mostly violent, tag-team, rape fantasy scenarios. Carisi states that unless they believe she forgot about the other 12 films, she lied to them. Benson replies so she lied to them, telling them they are focusing on what Evie DIDN’T tell them, she’d like to focus on what how they missed this. Rollins gets defensive, saying she just started to vet her. Benson states the defense found it fast. Fin explains she used a different name on the other videos , plus they are behind pay walls. Rollins flippantly says maybe Buchanan was a subscriber. Carisi says it is all moot; if a judge allows these in, how will Barba explains the difference to the jury? Benson states on the boy’s video, she didn’t give consent, she wasn’t paid, she said no. Fin calmly says to Benson that she knows sex workers don’t get the benefit of the doubt. Benson testily says that is not how they go into this, and as she walks off, she says she doesn’t want to be blindsided again, asking if that is clear? Clapping is heard and Deputy Chief William Dodds walks in, the source of the clapping. He tells her it is a great speech, then holds up and issue of the New York Ledger with the headline “Head of the Class – From Straight A’s to XXX” and he says “Better headline.” The story has a photo of Evie with a subheading “Hudson U Porn Star Cries Rape”. Benson looks away and Dodds asks Benson into her office. He asks which one of those detectives is her number two, and Benson calls Fin to accompany her.

As they walk into Benson’s office, Dodds is looking at a photo of Noah and asks how is her family problem? Benson explains her son is fine and is home from the hospital. Dodds replies good. He comments she is still a new acting commanding officer and perhaps she didn’t appreciate that One PP and Comstat follow everything that she and her detectives do. Benson replies they are aware, and Fin adds it is not on the Sergeant, the girl misinformed them and this happens a lot with vics. They were just starting to vet her. Dodds sarcastically says he is used to sloppy police work, and Benson says it is on her, they just caught the case. Dodds questions if it is a case; what they may have here is a disturbed female student who willingly portrays violent sex acts on film. Benson firmly states it shouldn’t’ matter, she said she was raped and they need to investigate that. Dodds tells her not to preach, not with egg on her face. Benson’s mouth is agape as Dodds goes on to say another concern is protocol, asking why was Hudson kept out of the loop? President Roberts had to hear about this from a reporter. Fin dryly questions did she, saying it is not their job to notify Hudson. Benson says for the record, the student’s RA called SVU, because everybody knows that campus security pressures girls into dropping charges. She adds it seems that Hudson University is more concerned with their Cleary Act stats then they are with rape. Dodds comments “Ah. So it’s true. The word upstairs is you have an agenda. It colors your perception.” Benson replies, incredulous, “Excuse me?” Dodds states this is not the case to embarrass Hudson or the department with, and he emphasizes, “Pick your battles.” He walks out of the office and Benson shakes her head and gives a disgusted smile as Dodds slams the door.

On the Hudson University campus, Rollins talks with Evie who is surprised the other videos came into play as they were behind a pay wall. Rollins says they are still on the case but Evie has to tell them everything. Evie says she is not a slut and Rollins explains she is not saying that but the defense attorney will. Evie says they raped her, she didn’t want it and didn’t agree to be filmed, saying they thought they could do anything they wanted to her. Rollins stresses they can’t, but if she left anything out, tell her now. Evie states everything she did was legal; she signed contacts, for paid. It felt good, the guys looked right though her and have no idea what she is going on set with hot porn actors,

At Barba’s office on Friday, September 19, Benson and Rollins discuss the situation. Rollins explains people are trying to make Evie a poster child for exploited sex workers and there is a Twitter campaign and she is being pulled in different directions. Benson argues she is hardly the only girl who has turned to porn for tuition money. Barba explains he is not making a moral judgment, saying the video with the boys mimics move-for-move to the first film and he can’t sell this to a jury. Benson accuses him of backing off of this because of heat form the Mayor’s office, and Barba says she knows him better than that. Benson comments she thought she did. Rollins reminds then they are all on the same side, and asks Barba if he can use the rape shield and keep the porn videos out of the trial. Barba says it depends on the judge. If he files a motion on a section 5, but it is a catch all and Buchanan will fight it. Benson questions that Buchanan is still representing both boys, and when Barba indicates yes, she asks Rollins to find out if they are splitting the bill.

Later, back at SVU, Carisi is with Matt in the squad room while Daniel is in the interrogation room with Buchanan. Carisi works on Matt brain about the problems with sharing lawyers, and finds an excuse to walk him past the observation window to the interrogation room so Matt can see what Carisi wants him to think - that Daniel is cutting a deal. Carisi plants the seed of doubt and then tells Matt if anything seems off, don’t make Daniel’s lawyer let him take the fall.

Law & Order SVU “Glasgowman’s Wrath” Promo

Here is the promo for Law & Order SVU. “Glasgowman’s Wrath” which will air on Wednesday, November 5, 2014 at 9PM ET on NBC.

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Glasgowman’s Wrath” 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.

Monday, October 20, 2014

Law & Order SVU “Glasgowman’s Wrath” Episode Information


Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order SVU. “Glasgowman’s Wrath”


Law & Order SVU “Glasgowman’s Wrath” Air Date November 5, 2014 (9 PM ET/8C Wednesday NBC)

A BABYSITTER’S GHOST STORIES BECOME REALITY WHEN THREE YOUNG GIRLS GO MISSING

Best friends Perry Gilbert (guest star Chloe Csengery) and Mia Harris (guest star Mina Sundwall) sneak into the woods with Mia’s young sister Zoe (guest star Oona Laurence) in tow. Their search for the mythical Glasgowman leads to a series of violent events, leaving Zoe gravely injured and the other girls missing. While Detectives Rollins (Kelli Giddish) and Carisi (Peter Scanavino) work to locate the suspect, Sgt. Benson (Mariska Hargitay) digs through the stories to distinguish fantasy from reality. Also starring Danny Pino (Detective Nick Amaro). Also guest starring Will Harris (Charlie Dorsey), Griffin Matthews (Leslie Connolly), Jeanine Bartel (Barbara Gilbert), Tricia Paoluccio (Robin Thornhill) and Stephanie Kurtzuba (Joan Harris).


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My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Glasgowman’s Wrath” 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.

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Mariska Hargitay’s “No More Excuses “ PSA For USA Network’s SVU Marathon

Here is the Mariska Hargitay/Vice President Joe Biden “No More Excuses” PSA that is airing today during the USA Network’s Law & Order SVU Marathon.





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, October 16, 2014

Law & Order SVU “Pornstar’s Requiem” Preview Clips

Here are previews for Law & Order SVU “Pornstar’s Requiem” which will air on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 at 9PM ET on NBC. The previews feature Mariska Hargitay, Kelli Giddish, Ice-T, Raúl Esparza, Peter Scanavino, and Peter Gallagher.

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Pornstar’s Requiem” can be found at this link.


Please note: These videos have a limited life, so catch them while you can!


svu preview pstar req clip 1 by tvwatchr





svu preview pstar req 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.

Law & Order SVU “Holden’s Manifesto” Recap & Review



The episode is a ripped from the headlines story, drawing from a May 2014 killing spree in Isla Vista, California. The person responsible: Elliot Rodger, who left a video trail and written manifesto of everything he thought was wrong with the people in his life. Rodger killed six, injured thirteen others, then took his own life. While this is not the only case of a killer writing a manifesto, it’s a story that should be fresh in viewers’ minds.

This tightly written, A+ story did its job of creating an unsettled environment which heightened the drama. The pacing of the story was perfect and it enhanced the sense of urgency to catch Holden March, a young man who was on a spree attacking women who had wronged him at various times in his life. He finally escalates to killing when continuing to hear his neighbor’s sexual escapades drives him to the breaking point.

The timing of this case presented a high pressure situation for Benson. Noah, who was rushed to the ER at the end of the previous episode, was still fighting his ailment while Benson worked the high profile case. Making matters worse was the arrival of Deputy Chief William Dodds, who is less than thrilled that he is not the center of Benson’s attention. Peter Gallagher is a wonderful addition to the cast, playing the SVU top boss who makes it clear he is charge.  He is quite authoritative and confident, and it’s obvious that Benson is ill prepared to have a boss who doesn’t appear to care about her personal issues. In his defense, Benson, possibly afraid to hint at any weakness in her ability to lead and the distraction of having a family, isn’t forthcoming about Noah’s illness, and doesn’t give Dodds a chance to show a glimmer of understanding. It’s a little too early for me to take sides on whose approach is better, Benson’s or Dodds',  as we don’t know enough about Dodds. He appears to be demanding respect rather than commanding respect, which clearly is ruffling Benson’s feathers. But Benson needs to speak up and stand up for herself and the things that she wants – a career AND a family – and summon the courage to explain her situation to Dodds. Is that a risky move? Yes. But to do nothing or only say it is a personal matter makes her the doormat that Dodds appears to think she is. I spent years as a female executive in a male dominated industry and could write a book about the do’s and don’ts of  working in/with upper management, but all I will say is both Benson and Dodds are going about things in the wrong way. At some point they need to have a serious talk about their expectations.

Benson must also be worried that she can have Noah taken from her as easily as she got him. Many women have both great careers and a family, so Benson’s job shouldn’t be a deal breaker with Child Services unless there is evidence of neglect or abuse (which of course is not the case). Benson is doing everything she can to give Noah a wonderful life, but it can look to an outsider that her job carries far more importance. Is it me, or is Lucy starting to look a little concerned that she is on call so much for Noah?

Rollins, confident that she knows enough about Holden by reading his 300+ manifesto, believes she had him under control just before the sniper splattered her face with Holden’s blood. We will never know for sure if she really had him as under control as she thought. The guy was a psycho and while he may have lowered his gun, he could have had a knife or sharp object (like scissors) on him or nearby.  Rollins  seemed quick to gamble with her life and Amaro’s.  It was as if she bet herself that she could talk Holden down and save the day.  She seemed upset at the sniper kill, but this was one case where it was right for them to take the shot.  There is just something a little off kilter with Rollins that can’t quite get my arms around.

I was slightly annoyed by the character of Holden March, not so much because of what he was doing, but more so that he spoke in a cadence that sounded like a combination of a young Carl Sagan and Data from Star Trek TNG. It felt forced.




Here is the recap:


Cast:
Mariska Hargitay – Sergeant Olivia Benson
Ice-T – Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Danny Pino - Detective Nick Amaro
Raúl Esparza - ADA Rafael Barba

Guest stars:
Peter Gallagher - Deputy Chief William Dodds
John Karna - Holden March
Antoinette Lavecchia - Adriana March
Sarah Clements - Gwen Young
Nicole Balsam - Haley Morton
Joe Urla - Thomas Eldridge
Katie Henney - Jean Asher
Bronwyn Reed - Lucy Huston
Christine Toy Johnson – Dr. Lee
Migs Govea -
Thedra Porter – Chantal Jackson
Emilie Miller - Mrs. Syncovich
Ann Arvia – Principal
Daniel Mogan Shelly – ESU Officer
Charle Webb – Janelle
Elanna White – Betty
Katue Hayek – Leah Simms
Max Elk - John Brewer
Charlotte Durkee - Student

Holden March is in a park and he is making a video recording detailing all this frustrations with women and while he has a lot to offer, he is alone.

Meanwhile, Benson is at the hospital watching over Noah. Lucy arrives and tells her that Amaro called her and she explained Benson was still at the hospital, but that Benson’s cell phone was off. It is urgent. Lucy offers to stay with him while Benson goes to call Amaro.

Later, Benson, Amaro, and Rollins are on the scene of an assault in Central Park. Rollins states the suspect is a male, white, in his early 20s, and average height. He repeatedly stabbed Gwen Young, 22, and attempted rape. Amaro comments Gwen is lucky; most of her wounds are shallow. Benson comments the attacker is no pro. Rollins adds the EMTs were tending to her wounds, and Gwen told Rollins the assailant counted out each time he stabbed her. Benson comments that is not good and asks if there were any witnesses. Amaro explains a dog walker found her and didn’t see the perp, and the unis are canvassing. Benson wants to get to the hospital to talk to her as soon as she is able. As Benson races off, Amaro asks her how is Noah. Benson replies he is a fighter and he will be OK.

As the ambulance drives away, Holden is nearby, and he points at the camera onto himself and sneers, calling them idiots, that he is right here and no one even notices him. He adds no one even notices him, but that is all going to change…very soon, everyone will know who he is. He laughs.

Benson, walking through a hospital corridor, talks on the phone with Lucy, telling her she will be there as soon as she can. She adds it is a new shift and to make sure the nurse knows that Noah’s temperature runs a little low. She meets up with Amaro who tells her Gwen is stabilized and is talking. He explains he has this and she doesn’t need to be here, but she counters that until she knows what this is,  she does need to be there. He asks if he can do anything and she dismissively tells him that she has this. But she then says there is something he can do, and asks if his mom can relieve Lucy at the hospital. He agrees and says he is on it.

Benson enters the hospital room where Rollins is there with Gwen. Benson hears that Gwen did not see her attacker. He came out of nowhere with a knife to his neck. He pushed her past the playground into the bushes and grabbed her breast and lifted up her skirt. He did not rape her. He didn’t seem to know what he was doing and she pushed him away and this is when he got angry. He pushed her down and started stabbing her. He counted each time he stabbed and she thought he was going to kill her. As soon as he got to 11, he stopped and he ran. He said this was her fault, calling her "Gigi" and saying she missed her chance. It is an old nickname. No one has called her that since high school, maybe the 9th grade. Benson thinks this is someone she knew when she was young, but Gwen thinks not, she would have remembered somebody like that. She has never seen him before in her life.

Back at SVU, Fin thinks the attack was personal but Benson says Gwen says she doesn’t know him. Amaro, who is looking through yearbooks, says there are a few guys with records but no one on the registry and no assaults. Rollins posts the sketch artist sketch but Gwen did not get a good look at him. Fin thinks it is every other white guy in Williamsburg. Benson asks about Gwen’s neighbors where she grew up in Gramercy and tells them to run the building and the block and where she went to church or summer camp. Fin gets a call as Benson comments that the attacker waited and targeted her and thinks the counting is obsessive. She asks about any open MOs that fit and Rollins describes the attacker as an amateur and stalking a victim is one off so far. Benson hopes he does not develop a taste for it. Fin comments it is too late, and informs them that there is another attempted rape in the 1-2 and the assailant counted out loud as he stabbed her. Benson tells Fin and Rollins to go.

At Mercy Hospital on Saturday, September 13, Fin and Rollins speaks with Haley, who did not see anyone following her. It was 6 AM and the streets were empty. She was coming home from a date. She opened her building door and he came from nowhere. He pushed her and dragged her behind the stairs and pulled a knife. He grabbed her breasts and her legs and tried to stick his fingers inside her. He did not rape her, she pushed him away and screamed and told him to get his f-ing hands off her. That is when he lost it and started flailing at her. She was fighting him off and he counted out 15 stabs. His voice was flat and he had this weird smile, then he stopped. When he started, he said “I know what you like, Haley.” She did not recognize him. Fin shows her the sketch and she says it looks like him. She does not know him from school or work but when she resisted him, he accused her of not liking him because he wasn’t black. The guy she dated last night was not black but dated a black guy in high school, a guy on the football team, but not since then.

Law & Order SVU “Pornstar’s Requiem” Promo

Here is the promo for Law & Order SVU “Pornstar’s Requiem” which will air on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 at 9PM ET on NBC.

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Pornstar’s Requiem” 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.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Law & Order SVU “Pornstar’s Requiem” Advance Photos

Here are advance photos from Law & Order SVU “Pornstar’s Requiem” which will air on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 at 9PM ET on NBC. The photos feature Kelli Giddish, Raúl Esparza, Peter Gallagher, Peter Scanavino, Hannah Marks (as Evie) and Delaney Williams (as John Buchanan).

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Pornstar’s Requiem” can be found at this link.







Photos by: Michael Parmelee/NBC 2014 NBCUniversal Media, LLC



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 Stars Attend 2nd Annual Paleyfest New York


The cast of Law & Order SVU attended the 2nd Annual "Paleyfest New York Presents; Law & Order: SVU" at Paley Center For Media on October 13, 2014 in New York, New York. Present at the event was Mariska Hargitay, Danny Pino, Ice-T, Raúl Esparza, Peter Scanavino, Dick Wolf, Warren Leight, and Julie Martin.

Here are photos and video clips from this event. (I heard from many fans that they could not access the live streaming event. The full video is now available toward the bottom of this post.)





























Photos by: Rommel Demano/Getty Images North America

(I think this first video is the full event)








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.

Monday, October 13, 2014

Law & Order SVU S16 Promo from Universal Channel UK

Here’s the promo for the season 16 premiere of Law & Order UK on Sunday, October 19, 2014 on the Universal Channel UK.






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, October 9, 2014

Law & Order SVU “Holden’s Manifesto” Preview Clips

Here are preview clips from Law & Order SVU, “Holden’s Manifesto” which will air on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 9PM ET on NBC. The clips features Mariska Hargitay, Kelli Giddish, Danny Pino, and Peter Gallagher.

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Holden’s Manifesto” 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 “Producer’s Backend” Recap & Review


This episode was a combination of ripped from the headlines news stories about young, spoiled brat celebrity “starlets” (channeling Lindsay Lohan and her mother as prime examples) and good old Hollywood sex party stories, similar to the recent allegations against director Bryan Singer. Sometimes episodes that mirror real life news stories tend to feel predictable and devoid of drama or suspense. This was the case with “Producer’s Backend” which made me feel as if I were watching a rerun. Even Amaro getting accused of inappropriate behavior didn’t grab me much, as the same situation happened with Det. Elliot Stabler years ago. It must be a rite of passage for male detectives.

Thanks to Benson’s pushing the issue with SVU-hating Lt. Tucker, Amaro is back with the squad. It’s evident that Amaro and Rollins still have something going on, but what exactly that something is we don’t really know. I still can’t help but feel zero chemistry with those two.

Stevie Lynn Jones was well cast as the problematic young actress, conveying her character’s immature behavior and having to live in an environment where she was abused sexually to help open doors for better acting jobs. I continue to enjoy Peter Scanavino; his character’s different approach to working cases is refreshing, although clearly he annoys the others. This week, Ice-T was missing from the episode and I don’t recall any explanation as to why Fin was not there.

Early in the episode, a scene where we hear Noah seems under the weather is a set up for the ending scene where Benson hears Noah is in the ER. This turn of events made me groan in dismay as I don’t want this baby to be an every-few-weeks crisis for Benson. (Regular readers of my blog know how I feel about the baby story line so my groaning at the end of this episode should not be a shock.)

This is one of those episodes where I can’t think of much to say about it. It wasn’t a bad episode, it simply left me with nothing.


Here is the recap:


Cast:
Mariska Hargitay – Sergeant Olivia Benson
Ice-T – Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Danny Pino - Detective Nick Amaro
Raúl Esparza - ADA Rafael Barba

Guest stars:
Ron Rifkin - Marvin Exley
Peter Scanavino - Detective Dominick Carisi, Jr.
Kaitlyn Bausch - Maude Peterson
Brian d'Arcy James - Adam Brubeck
Stevie Jones - Tensley Evans
Dana Wheeler- Nicholson - Donna Evans
Robert John Burke – Lt. Tucker
Dennis Boutsikaris – Jim Durant
Aida Turturro – Judge Felecia Catano
Tabitha Holbert – ADA Rose Caliay
Gary Milner - Dennis George
Drigan Lee - Brody Clark
Bronwyn Reed – Lucy Huston
Linda Emond – Dr. Emily Sopher
Hoda Kotb - Herself
Josh Saviano – Counselor Don Taft
Kaitlyn Bausch – Maude Peterson
John Marballi – Officer Tommy Ryan
Mark Boyett – Tom Miller
Tommy Nelson - Gregory Miller
Jazmyn Richardson - Janae


At night, two women are outside their crashed cars, arguing, as the police arrive. One of the women recognizes the other as being someone from TV as Amaro and his partner get out of the squad car to break up the fight. When Amaro asks one of the girls who she is, she appears loopy and cops an attitude and says she is Tensley Evans, former teen movie star and current favorite celebrity hot mess. Amaro asks for her license and registration and asks if she has been drinking. She calls him an idiot and says she is sober. Meanwhile, the other officer calls out to Amaro for help as the other woman seems to be fainting. Amaro tells Tensley not to move as he goes to assist. He decides to call a bus and Tensley speeds off in her car. The officers tells Amaro to go, he has the other woman.

Tensley hits a dead end and she tries to turn around but Amaro’s car blocks her exit. He yells for her to get out of the car but she tells him to come get her. She gets out and says she knows she has been bad but she can be good, and Amaro orders her to get her hands on the car hood. He tells her to stand back and he will call his supervisor. She says she will do him too, she loves threesomes. She appears drunk or stoned and she laughs as he cuffs her.

Later, on the Hoda! Show, Hoda reports the story about the out-of-control Tensley, showing her on the way to the courthouse from her DUI arrest. At SVU, Rollins and Sonny watch the story and Rollins explains that Amaro caught the case. When Sonny calls Amaro a disaster magnet, Rollins comments to a cleanly shaven Sonny that she liked him better with the ‘stache.

At arraignment court on Wednesday, September 3, Tensley’s attorney Marvin Exley argues that the case belongs in traffic court and wants Tensley to get back to rehab to complete her probation. When the Judge Catano comments this is Tensley's fourth appearance in her court, Tensley mother stands up and shouts out her own objections that there are extenuating circumstances and prompts Exley to explain. Exley then says that Amaro may have behaved  inappropriately.  Tensley pipes up that he said he would let he go if she got in the back seat and then she drove off and then he said he wanted to have sex with her. The people in the gallery gasp and chatter and the judge calls for order as Amaro looks on with disbelief.

At SVU, Tensley is in the interview room with her mother Donna, Rollins and Sonny, while Benson observes from her office. Amaro enters Benson's office and give her his statement and is surprised they are interviewing Tensley. Benson explains it is just protocol and he has nothing to worry about, she saw the dash cam. He is frustrated about the delay in his return to SVU but Benson reassures him.

Meanwhile, as Rollins and Sonny press Tensley, Sonny explains the dash cam footage to a stunned Tensley who is caught in her lies. When Exley continues to argue the point, Donna chimes in and Exley tells her to stop. Tensley says she doesn’t feel well and when her mother asks for water to Tensley can take her Xanax, Sonny tries to get her to leave the room with him to get water. Donna explains she is Tensley’s court-appointed guardian. Tensley gets her to leave to get her a power bar. With Donna out for the room, Rollins comments to Tensley that on the night of the crash, she left rehab without telling anybody. Tensley explains she had to get out of there. Rollins counters that her 60 day probation is mandatory and she can’t decide to leave on her own. She says he can’t go back and says they don’t understand. Exley asks what is it they don’t understand, and she replies that no matter what she says, he will twist it around. Rollins asks who is he, and Tensley says she can’t say. Rollins explains they can’t help her if she doesn’t say, and Tensley answers it is the psych director, Jim Durant, adding he will just deny it. Rollins presses about what, and Tensley states that at first he was nice and he listened to her and he let her lay down on his couch in his office when she was overwhelmed. She should have known what he wanted. By now, she should know how all men are.

Later, Rollins walks into Benson’s office and Benson hangs up the phone, explaining that Barba said in light of Tensley’s latest accusations, the judge ordered Tensley to be released into her mother’s custody. Rollins is annoyed Tensley gets to go back to normal life, and Benson explains they have to follow up on the allegations against the psych director, Jim Durant. Rollins counters he has no record and there are no whispers there. Rollins believes Tensley is lying and will accuse anybody to get out of there. Benson thinks she is taking this personally and tells her to get a statement from Durant and to take Sonny with her. Rollins asks when they will get Amaro back, and Benson explains she does not know and when Rollins says he is taking his anger management really seriously, Benson says she is working on it. As Benson walks out of her office, she tells Rollins to keep showing Sonny the ropes as it is really helping. Rollins wisecracks it is like her mother telling her she is the only one who can mop the floors because she didn’t want to do it.

At the Internal Affairs Bureau on Wednesday, September 3, Benson discusses Amaro’s situation and shows him the footage of the incident with Tensley’s traffic stop showing Amaro handled things perfectly and by-the-book. He states he will do his due diligence and get back to her. When she explains the urgency he pushes back and says when his investigation is complete she will be the first to know.

At the Strength, Hope & Recovery Center in the Bronx on September 3, Rollins and Sonny speak with Jim Durant and they hear how the center works and Sonny is skeptical. The doctor explains Tensley’s behavior and says he behaved professionally with her and there are security cameras everywhere and the footage will exonerate him. They find she did have an encounter with a boy, her roommate’s son, who was 15. The Center informed the boy’s mother but she did not want to pursue.

Meanwhile, Amaro is at Benson’s apartment holding Noah, and Benson says Noah likes him, he doesn’t spit up on just anyone. The she adds lately he has been spitting up a lot. The nanny takes him for his bath, and Benson reminds her to dry his hair because he has been coughing. Benson explains to Amaro she showed the dash cam footage to Tucker and he should go home and put on his suit, he’s back in. She then adds that a security cam caught Tensley fellating a 15 year old boy in a closet at her rehab. She tells Amaro to talk to the boy and his father and get their side. Amaro smiles and thanks her. She tells him to take Sonny with him. Amaro cracks that he hears Sonny is a real empath. Benson smiles and asks where he heard that, and Amaro avoids answering. Benson adds Sonny is eager to learn and working with Amaro will make Sonny better.