Law & Order SVU “Retro” Lifeless

This episode of Law & Order SVU was probably one of the dullest I’ve seen I quite some time. Overly preachy and filled with forced drama, it is also hindered by too much screen time for the deadpan and lifeless Michaela McManus.

But first, the recap; my review will follow afterwards:

A cabbie (Babs Olusanmokun) drops off a baby at a fire station, saying that she is sick with a high fever and that the mother left her in the cab. At the hospital, we see Dr. Massey (Donna Murphy) talking to Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Elliot Stabler (Chris Meloni), as it appears that the baby was not being treated properly for AIDS by its parents.

Later, Benson questions the cab driver, who says that the mother left the child in the cab and when he touched the baby he felt the high fever. Stabler, with TARU Tech Morales (Joel de la Fuente) look at the cab camera and does not see an image of any woman. When confronted, the cabbie then admits that he took the fare off the books for extra money.

ME Warner calls them in. No, the baby isn’t dead, but she was called in to help by Dr. Massey as they worked together on an AIDS team. She took a swab to get the baby’s DNA in order to find her mother, and it matched a woman being held in Rikers. They go to question her, and after denying she had a child, she then admits that she did have one but hid the information so as not to have the baby taken away from her. She left the baby with her downstairs neighbor.

When Benson and Stabler go to question the downstairs neighbor, after a woman answers the door, they are surprised to see the cabbie appear, who seems to be the woman’s husband. Later, at the SVU squad for questioning, they admit their green cards had expired so they couldn’t just take the baby in to the hospital. Besides, the cabbie says, the drugs they give for AIDS is poison. When asked why they feel that way, they say the president – of Gambia, that is – says that it is. Every Thursday, the president uses some kind of rub and drinks some concoction to cure AIDS. They said they found a doctor on the Internet, Gideon Hutton, who believes in cures like this and sought out his help.

At Hutton’s (Martin Mull) office, Hutton tells the detectives that he did provide an alternative treatment for the baby’s thrush – vitamins and yogurt - and also instructed the couple to return at a later date for more therapy. Olivia says “Like what, pudding?” He says no, antifungal medication, like any medical professional would have prescribed. Stabler calls him a quack.

Back at the squad, ADA Grayleck (Michaela McManus) states that Hutton is a walking malpractice suit, but that alternative medicine does have a place. Munch (Richard Belzer) informs them all that “Dr. Demento’s” web site says that there is no proof that HIV causes AIDS, and that AIDS is a government conspiracy funded by big pharmaceuticals. He says Hutton appears to be an “AIDS Denier” who do not believe that HIV causes AIDS and that AIDS doesn’t exist. Grayleck says his denial nearly killed the baby, calling him Dr. Do Nothing. As they can’t get at the doctor’s confidential files, Grayleck decides to contact her “reporter friends” to use the media to smoke them out.

At a press conference, Grayleck openly says the doctor’s treatment of the baby was reckless, and mentions Hutton by name. Of course, we then see Hutton and his attorney Donne Emmett (Viola Davis)  in Cragen’s (Dann Florek) office, Hutton clearly upset that his name is being smeared on all the channels, and that they are scaring his patients. The attorney asks for a public apology within 24 hours or there will be a lawsuit. As they leave, Munch enters, dryly stating “I guess a hug’s out of the question.” Cragen asks what he got from the tip line, and he says a few hundred people say Hutton is a great doctor. But, one anonymous caller told him about one patient – Lisa Ross- who was being treated for HIV where the doctor wasn’t doing anything. But, when Benson and Stabler arrive at the Ross home, they are informed that she is dead.

When speaking to Lisa’s mother Susan (Paula Malcomson), they are told Lisa died from an allergic reaction to an antibiotic, and that they did not know she was allergic. She says the doctor tried to save her when she was taken to the hospital to no avail. When Olivia tells her about the anonymous call that Lisa had HIV, the mother doesn’t say anything about it. But when asked for access to her daughter’s medical files, the mother indicates how depressed she is over Lisa’s death and wants to be left alone.

Speaking with Grayleck, they tell her that Lisa’s body never made it to the ME, and Hutton signed the death certificate. When Grayleck counters that every death of a child must be examined by the ME, Benson tells her how the law works - that if the death occurs in a hospital or doctor’s office as this one did, that is not the case. Grayleck tells them that they need help from the anonymous tipster. Benson and Stabler enlist TARU Morales’ help and they also view files on Susan Ross. She was a schoolteacher with a few million dollars in the bank. They listen to the recording of the tip call, and while it’s clear to me that a school bell rings in the background of the call, Olivia asks the tech guy to isolate the sound. Yes, it is a school bell. Stabler guesses that maybe the caller was a colleague, and guesses maybe it was the man who cosigned her car loan, Jack Lufton, a chemistry teacher. How convenient!

Questioning Lufton, he tells them he had been seeing Susan long ago, and was monogamous. When he tested positive for HIV, he confronted her, and she saw it as no big deal. Her husband had been killed while in Africa on safari when they were in an accident in their jeep and she contracted HIV from a blood transfusion. So far, the teacher is OK. But he reported her to the school and she got fired, and the administration paid her seven figures so they wouldn’t sue. Susan was taking no precautions around the students, and even breast-fed Lisa for a year. Dr. Hutton told her it was OK.

ME Warner tells Grayleck that kids get infected during pregnancy but also sometimes during breastfeeding. The illness can be prevented from being passed on if the mother undergoes treatment during pregnancy, and putting the child on meds after birth. But, they see Hutton as the problem, and Warner says he had a legal duty to make sure her kids were tested. Doctors have to offer patients treatments that are proven effective. Grayleck thinks this gives them more than enough probable cause to subpoena Hutton’s records. But Warner thinks there is only one conclusive way to find out what killed her – exhume the body, which they do.

Warner does the postmortem. Meanwhile, in custody with her attorney, Susan Ross objects, saying she had the right to breast feed her daughter, and Olivia counters that she didn’t have the right to infect her and withhold meds. But the mother says she did not make her sick. Dr. Hutton is also being questioned. He said Lisa had a hell of a cold. They question his treatment. Meanwhile, Warner notes significant congestion in her lungs, meaning she died of pneumocystis pneumonia, something she’s not seen other than in AIDS patients. She rules it a murder. They arrest the mother and Hutton for murder. Susan's son Tommy (Aidan Mitchell) is agitated over the events.

At trial, we see Warner on the stand being questioned by Grayleck. We see a little video with how the virus works. Warner stands up to the badgering of the defense attorney. Hutton also testifies about HIV being a retrovirus, and also gets in a dig about the little video by saying that “cartoons” have always been used to spread propaganda. He says the drug companies are using fear to motivate people to use their drugs, and that what kills these people is not the HIV but problems relating to gays and drug addicts from blood toxicity from repeated drug use, malnutrition, and anti-HIV meds. Under questioning from Grayleck, he admits he has never done any testing on the disease. Grayleck brings up questionable references that the doctor uses to base his care, but he says she is missing the point. He says millions of people are being misdiagnosed and mistreated. He refers Warner, saying she is biased, implying she has an agenda because she is black. The doctor goes on a rant and the jury and gallery look appalled.

On the courthouse steps, Warner and Hutton argue. She calls him and SOB and his beliefs “junk science.” She also calls him a murderer and a “false prophet.” He says that’s what they called Jesus Christ and he walks away. Grayleck approaches, saying that jurors love conspiracy theories and they may buy what “Dr. Strangelove” is selling. Warner tells Grayleck if they lose the case it gives Hutton credibility and more people will die.

Back in the courtroom, Susan Ross testified that when she was on anti-retrovirals they almost killed her, and Hutton took her off the meds and saved her. She did not want that for her daughter. On cross-examination, Grayleck states that while Susan thinks Lisa’s death was tragic, it was hardly an accident. She proceeds to point out people in the gallery who were alive because of treatment for HIV, and the defense objects. While Grayleck continues her rant, Susan collapses and has a seizure. How convenient!

In the hospital, Olivia visits Susan, telling her she has toxoplasmosis, a brain disease affecting AID patients. (Why isn’t the doctor telling this to Susan and with medical confidentiality, should Olivia even have been told this?) Susan wanted to believe that Hutton was right, and seems to think because he’s a doctor he must be right. But Olivia counters that he won’t be truthful because then he’s have to admit he was responsible for Lisa’s death and that he misled her. She asks for her help to stop him. She whisperers that Lisa is not the only one…children who died. As alarms from her monitors go off, she calls out Tommy’s name. Susan dies.

At the ADA’s office, Hutton and his attorney are told that Susan made a dying declaration about other kids dying, which the attorney says won’t be admissible as Susan was demented from her disease. But, it was enough for them to get information from the pharmacy in Hutton’s building, which pointed them to the deaths of three juvenile patients of his.  Grayleck offer him a guilty plea, with him surrendering his license and medical records, with 5 years. He resists at first, but then says he will speak the truth from his prison cell.

Later, while looking a patient files, Olivia finds information that shows that Susan had HIV before her son Tommy was born, so they get a court order to have him tested for HIV. In the hospital as they attempt to draw blood, Tommy resists and kicks Elliot in the ribs. Hutton’s attorney shows up and hands them a restraining order, saying she represents him and that Tommy is competent and has a right to refuse.

After Elliot gets his ribs bandaged (in a gratuitous but welcome shirtless scene with Elliott), Grayleck explains they have no legal standing to challenge the restraining order. When the doctor arrives and tells Elliot he has some broken ribs, Grayleck says “this is perfect” and they can put them to good use. Elliot later arrests Tommy for assaulting a cop. In court, Tommy sticks by his mother’s beliefs, but Grayleck says it’s the same stuff touted by the AIDS deniers. Grayleck uses Holocaust deniers as an example to show Tommy that his mother’s AIDS denial is just as wrong. She also explains that his mother would lie to him about HIV because it would shatter her fantasy world. She badgers him. But, it is to no avail when judge Bradley rules to uphold the restraining order.

Grayleck moves to have him remanded without bail for his assault on Elliot. But Elliot takes her aside, saying he only filed charges to get him tested, not to get a kid jailed. He says that they lost – it’s over – the case is done. Grayleck withdraws her motion and asks the assault charges be dropped, and the judge agrees. Grayleck chides Elliot, saying she hopes he knows what he’s doing. (Of course he does!) As Tommy leaves the courtroom, he and Elliot talk and he says he won’t get tested, and Elliot says he knows but asks for one favor.

At the hospital , Elliot asks Tommy to meet someone Dr. Massey introduced him to. It is a young boy, with complete hair loss. He doesn’t have AIDS, he has brain cancer, and his parents are Christian Scientists who don’t believe in medical treatment. He was ill and he prayed, and so did his parents, to get better. But when he went blind, a friend took him to the hospital. He was treated and his vision returned, but his parents are angry because he was “dissing God.” His grandmother said that God created doctors too, and why would he give them to us if he didn’t want us to use them? Of course, we later see Tommy in ME Warner’s office getting tested, with Elliott waiting. Warner says Tommy wants to talk to him. He tells Elliot the test came back positive, and he doesn’t want to die. “You got your whole life ahead of you” Elliot tells him, and the episode (thankfully) ends.


"Retro"  seemed to be another case where the story line, dialog, and acting was dumbed down. The most obvious was the corny dialog for McManus, who delivers her lines as if yelling them out makes the more dramatic. At first, I thought she suffers from an overdose of Botox in the face, but after seeing her raise her forehead a little, I think I have come to the conclusion that from her eyes on down, she is virtually expressionless. In fact, while she has very large eyes, they seem lifeless, almost mannequin-like. Her face appears frozen. But her dialog is mind-numbingly awful, and she delivers it just as badly as Elisabeth Rohm did on the original Law & Order. Usually I can warm up to new characters over time, but when we are given someone like McManus who is stiff and robotic, it is very hard to accept her. I hope they get rid of her soon because she is dragging down the show.

There are a few things that didn’t quite seem right to me. One was when Susan is hospitalized, Olivia delivers the diagnosis. With all the issues with medical confidentiality, what right does Olivia have to this private information? In fact, it seems like anyone with a badge can get all kinds of information at a hospital, especially when it furthers the story line.

I also laughed when Olivia asked the tech guy to isolate the sound of the bell on the tip call. It was crystal clear to me when I first heard it that it was a school bell, yet I guess our top-notch detectives aren't too bright. It’s just another case when this show seems to try to bring in technical information to the story, but they consistently do it badly. Second case in this point is the cheesy video during the trial showing how HIV/AIDS works. We are not that dumb that we needed it. But clearly it was put in there just so Dr. Hutton could have his line about the “cartoons.” Their continued attempt to bring in technical evidence or information always seems to fall flat because it’s just done poorly. I don't expect CSI-type effects, but I do expect something more believable or credible.   And, how convenient that they were able to quickly tie in the teacher who co-signed her car loan to the anonymous tip. Too easy. In fact, this whole case was too easy.

The story itself was devoid of drama. We all knew from the previews that Dr. Hutton was an AIDS denier. As the story unfolded, it was almost as if I head read the script in advance because it was so easy to figure out. I am not expecting all cases to be complex or have a twist, but a drama show needs DRAMA in order to grab the viewer. Because there were no surprises, and no conflicts that weren’t predictable, it was as if everyone was going through the motions. And what I thought strange was that they gave Tamara Tunie a big build up in this episode, but I didn’t see anything special for her except a little more screen time. Such a waste of her talent.

But Grayleck – what a train wreck. I haven’t quite figured out her lawyering style. She seemed to badger everyone on the stand, rather than use finesse to get the desired answered. And her stunt when she focused on people in the gallery was cheap. Yes, I know what she was trying to do but because it was so obvious it made her look desperate.

One good thing, we did get that short scene of a shirtless Stabler, but even that can’t save this dismal episode. Maybe if he would have done the whole episode shirtless I would reconsider my opinion of “Retro.” The only thing “Retro” made me want to do is get my hour back.


Clip from "Retro"


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Law & Order SVU “Retro” Episode Information

It looks like the upcoming episode of Law & Order SVU will put ME Warner (Tamara Tunie) in the middle of a case. I have included a video below where Tamara talks about the episode and her character’s involvement.

Law & Order SVU “Retro” Air Date October 28, 2008

DOCTOR MELINDA WARNER’S (TAMARA TUNIE) EXPERTISE COMES INTO PLAY WHEN HOMEOPATHIC DOCTOR GIDEON HUTTON (GUEST STAR MARTIN MULL) GOES ON TRIAL FOR THE DEATH OF A YOUNG GIRL WITH AIDS.

Detectives Elliot Stabler (Chris Meloni) and Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) find themselves in unfamiliar territory when Doctor Raye Massey (Donna Murphy) calls them in to investigate the case of a baby infected with AIDS. The detectives enlist the help of Dr. Melinda Warner (Tamara Tunie), a member of an AIDS surveillance team along with Dr. Massey. While Dr. Warner investigates the baby’s medical case, Detectives Stabler and Benson discover that the baby had been prescribed ineffective vitamins by Doctor Gideon Hutton (guest star Martin Mull), who runs a “voodoo” medical practice. After the detectives probe for more answers, similar cases of mistreated AIDS surface, such as the death of Susan Ross’ (guest star Paula Malcomson) daughter. Her 18-year-old son Tommy Ross (guest star Aidan Mitchell) also gets pulled into the case, forcing him to decide whether to take on his mother’s belief in homeopathic medicine or fight against it. With Dr. Warner’s medical research and testimony, the case calls the ethics of Dr. Hutton’s practices into question. Also starring: Richard Belzer, Dann Florek, Ice-T, Michaela McManus, Tamara Tunie, and B.D. Wong.


Tamara Tunie Talks about Retro


Episode Teaser Ad



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SVU, Law & Order Casting News, Episode Updates

I already reported here back on October 9th that Lynn Redgrave was going to be a guest star on an upcoming November episode of Law & Order Criminal Intent. Some additional guest stars have been named for upcoming episodes of Law & Order and Law & Order SVU.

Legendary tenor Placido Domingo won a bid for a walk-on role on "Law & Order, during a live auction at the Princess Grace Awards last Wednesday night (October 15). According to the New York Post, bidding for the role “became heated after producer Dick Wolf interrupted the auctioneer to change the prize from a cameo to a speaking role. Domingo coughed up $16,000 for his shot at small-screen stardom. "It's probably going to turn into a singing role," chuckled one attendee…” The episode and date has not been named.

As if Law & Order SVU didn’t have enough rappers with Ice-T in the cast, it will now feature an additional “outcast” – that is, rapper Big Boi, a member of “Outkast”. Several sources are reporting that Big Boi will appear as a rapper (no, really?) in a November episode. His name on the episode is reported to be “Gots Money”.

Also, Carlos Leon, the father of Madonna’s daughter Lourdes, has just wrapped up shooting a guest spot for SVU for an episode called “Wildlife” scheduled to air November 18. He will play Oscar Assadorian, a witness in a murder case that Benson and Stabler are working.

And, just to bring everyone up to speed, here’s the latest information for the next four episodes of Law & Order SVU:


Law & Order SVU “Lunacy” Air Date October 21, 2008

A FAMOUS ASTRONAUT IS FOUND DEAD, AND DETECTIVE ELLIOT STABLER’S (CHRISTOPHER MELONI) OLD MENTOR, DICK FINLEY (GUEST STAR JAMES BROLIN), HELPS INVESTIGATE THE CASE.
After famous astronaut Marga Janssen’s corpse is found afloat in the waters of Battery Park, Detectives Elliot Stabler (Chris Meloni) and Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) initially believe the murder is linked to a string of serial rapes. Upon further investigation, this theory is proven false when their suspect’s alibi checks out. At a dead end, Detective Stabler turns to his old mentor and former colleague of Janssen’s, NASA astronaut Dick Finley to shed some light on the case. Finley’s advice exposes several more suspects, but possibly takes the detectives further from the truth. Also starring: Richard Belzer, Dann Florek, Ice-T, Michaela McManus, and B.D. Wong.

My recap and review of “ Lunacy “ can be found here.



Law & Order SVU “Retro” Air Date October 28, 2008

DOCTOR MELINDA WARNER’S (TAMARA TUNIE) EXPERTISE COMES INTO PLAY WHEN HOMEOPATHIC DOCTOR GIDEON HUTTON (GUEST STAR MARTIN MULL) GOES ON TRIAL FOR THE DEATH OF A YOUNG GIRL WITH AIDS.
Detectives Elliot Stabler (Chris Meloni) and Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) find themselves in unfamiliar territory when Doctor Raye Massey (Donna Murphy) calls them in to investigate the case of a baby infected with AIDS. The detectives enlist the help of Dr. Melinda Warner (Tamara Tunie), a member of an AIDS surveillance team along with Dr. Massey. While Dr. Warner investigates the baby’s medical case, Detectives Stabler and Benson discover that the baby had been prescribed ineffective vitamins by Doctor Gideon Hutton (guest star Martin Mull), who runs a “voodoo” medical practice. After the detectives probe for more answers, similar cases of mistreated AIDS surface, such as the death of Susan Ross’ (guest star Paula Malcomson) daughter. Her 18-year-old son Tommy Ross (guest star Aidan Mitchell) also gets pulled into the case, forcing him to decide whether to take on his mother’s belief in homeopathic medicine or fight against it. With Dr. Warner’s medical research and testimony, the case calls the ethics of Dr. Hutton’s practices into question. Also starring: Richard Belzer (Detective John Much), Dann Florek (Captain Donald Cragen), Ice-T (Detective Odafin Tutuola), Michaela McManus (A.D.A Kim Greylek), Tamara Tunie (Dr. Melinda Warner), and B.D. Wong (Dr. George Huang).


NO EPISODE NOVEMBER 4, 2008 – ELECTION DAY – PLEASE BE SURE TO VOTE!


Law & Order SVU “Babes” Air Date November 11, 2008

A TEENAGER BURNED TO DEATH PUTS DETECTIVES ELLIOT STABLER (CHRIS MELONI) AND JOHN MUNCH (RICHARD BELZER) ON THE CASE, ONLY TO REVEAL A COMMUNITY IN CHAOS WITH A GROUP OF TEENAGED GIRLS IN A “PREGNANCY PACT” AND A HIGH SCHOOL “SAINT”, MAX MATARAZZO (GUEST STAR JESSE MCCARTNEY).
When a boy is lit on fire, Detectives Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) and John Munch (Richard Belzer) investigate the malicious crime. In search of a lead, the Detectives end up at Blessed Heart High School, where their student escort, Max Matarazzo (guest star Jesse McCartney) introduces them to the ‘Blessed Heart Chastity Circle’ and senior Alec Bernardi (guest star Philip Ettinger). Alec admits to hurting the victim, but in turn opens a new door for the detectives when he unveils a group of pregnant teenage girls. A strange web of secrets and bad blood in this “close-knit” neighborhood offers a challenge for the detectives. Also starring: Mariska Hargitay, Richard Belzer, Dann Flore, Ice-T, Michaela McManus, Tamara Tunie, and B.D. Wong.

My recap and review of “Babes “ can be found here.



Added October 23:

Law & Order SVU “Wildlife” Air Date November 18, 2008

DETECTIVE ELLIOT STABLER (CHRIS MELONI) JEOPARDIZES HIS MARRIAGE WHEN HE GOES UNDERCOVER TO INFILTRATE AN ANIMAL SMUGGLING RING WITH DETECTIVE OLIVIA BENSON (MARISKA HARGITAY) POSING AS A PROSTITUTE.

Detective Elliot Stabler (Chris Meloni) arrives on the scene of a murder to find a young woman brutally killed, and carrying a rare bird species found dead in her purse. Dr. Melinda Warner (Tamara Tunie) comes back with some startling evidence – the saliva found in the cuts on the victim’s body shows she was mauled by a tiger. Oscar Assadorian (guest star Carlos Leon) leads the detectives to the victim’s twin sister, Anna Bleers (guest star Caitlin Fitzgerald) who in turn leads the detectives to Hip Hop artist, Gots Money (guest star Big Boi). Gots, who admits to working for an animal smuggling ring, agrees to go undercover with Detective Stabler to catch the smugglers, Andre Bushido (guest star Andrew Divoff) and Tybor (guest star Reg E. Cathey). But when Detective Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) poses as a prostitute to help out her partner undercover, Detective Stabler finds himself wounded and his marriage in disarray.

Also starring: Richard Belzer (Detective John Much), Dann Florek (Captain Donald Cragen), Ice-T (Detective Odafin Tutuola), Michaela McManus (A.D.A Kim Greylek), and B.D. Wong (Dr. George Huang).





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Law & Order SVU Updated Episode Schedule for October and November 2008

The NBC Law & Order SVU Production Blog dated today (October 7) lists the Law & Order SVU schedule for October and November episodes as follows:

October 14: Swing
October 21: Lunacy
October 28: Retro (see note below)
November 11: Babes
November 18: Wildlife
November 25: PTSD

The production blog also says that the dates are “always changing” so I should note that all the other official sources show that Retro will be airing on October 21, not the 28th, as stated in the production blog. Stay tuned for updates!

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Law & Order SVU October Episode Information

The October schedule for Law & Order SVU seems to be in a state of flux. The Presidential debate on October 7 means we will not see a new episode of SVU that Tuesday as normal. At this time, two episodes are scheduled for October, titled “ Swing” and “Retro. ” I previously posted some photos and video from the location shoot of “Retro”:
Retro pics
Retro video

Also below is a video with Tamara Tunie, who plays ME Warner on SVU, where she talks about “Retro,” which focuses on HIV “deniers” and a family with HIV whose doctor does not believe HIV causes AIDS. The doctor does not treat the HIV situation properly which causes some deaths, but Tamara says despite it being a tragic episode, it has an uplifting ending. (Updated 10/5 - the Tamara/Retro video now seems to be unavailable, but I found another video taken at the same time where Tamara talks about Broadway.)

Law & Order SVU “Swing” Air Date October 14, 2008

DETECTIVE ELLIOT STABLER'S (CHRIS MELONI) JOB AND PERSONAL LIFE BECOME INTERTWINED WHEN HE DISCOVERS HIS DAUGHTER, KATHLEEN STABLER (GUEST STAR ALLISON SIKO), IS THE SUSPECT.

A young woman is found trespassing in a family’s home, and Detective Elliot Stabler (Chris Meloni) is called in to catch the intruder. The trespasser’s wallet leads Stabler to a surprising suspect, his daughter, Kathleen Stabler (guest star Allison Siko). Detective Stabler is shocked to find his daughter has fallen in love with the kind of crowd he spends his days condemning. With his family life at stake, Stabler must decide how far he will go to save Kathleen, even turning to his estranged mother, Bernadette Stabler (guest star Ellen Burstyn), for help. In order to save Kathleen, Detective Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) knows that she must step in to help her friend and partner before things take a turn for the worst. Also starring: Richard Belzer (Detective John Much), Dann Florek (Captain Donald Cragen), Ice-T (Detective Odafin Tutuola), Michaela McManus (A.D.A Kim Greylek), Tamara Tunie (Dr. Melinda Warner), and B.D. Wong (Dr. George Huang).

My recap and review of “Swing “ can be found here.


Law & Order SVU “Retro” Air Date October 28, 2008

DOCTOR MELINDA WARNER’S (TAMARA TUNIE) EXPERTISE COMES INTO PLAY WHEN HOMEOPATHIC DOCTOR GIDEON HUTTON (GUEST STAR MARTIN MULL) GOES ON TRIAL FOR THE DEATH OF A YOUNG GIRL WITH AIDS.

Detectives Elliot Stabler (Chris Meloni) and Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) find themselves in unfamiliar territory when Doctor Raye Massey (Donna Murphy) calls them in to investigate the case of a baby infected with AIDS. The detectives enlist the help of Dr. Melinda Warner (Tamara Tunie), a member of an AIDS surveillance team along with Dr. Massey. While Dr. Warner investigates the baby’s medical case, Detectives Stabler and Benson discover that the baby had been prescribed ineffective vitamins by Doctor Gideon Hutton (guest star Martin Mull), who runs a “voodoo” medical practice. After the detectives probe for more answers, similar cases of mistreated AIDS surface, such as the death of Susan Ross’ (guest star Paula Malcomson) daughter. Her 18-year-old son Tommy Ross (guest star Aidan Mitchell) also gets pulled into the case, forcing him to decide whether to take on his mother’s belief in homeopathic medicine or fight against it. With Dr. Warner’s medical research and testimony, the case calls the ethics of Dr. Hutton’s practices into question. Also starring: Richard Belzer (Detective John Much), Dann Florek (Captain Donald Cragen), Ice-T (Detective Odafin Tutuola), Michaela McManus (A.D.A Kim Greylek), Tamara Tunie (Dr. Melinda Warner), and B.D. Wong (Dr. George Huang).

Show Cast: Chris Meloni, Mariska Hargitay, Dann Florek, Richard Belzer, Ice T, Tamara Tunie, Michaela McManus

Video with Tamara Tunie



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Law & Order SVU September On Location Videos

This is a follow up to yesterday’s post showing photos that a fan took on location for a filming of an episode of Law & Order SVU, reportedly (unconfirmed) titled “Retro,” to air at the end of October. Now there are some short videos clip available from that shoot, with some shots of Chris Meloni and Mariska Hargitay. Here they are, for your viewing pleasure.

Don’t forget the season premier - “Trials” - on September 23!

Photos from “Trials”
Video Previews of New Season and “Trials”

SVU location shoot

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3





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Law & Order SV September Location Shoot Photos

Thanks to a heads up from the web site onlocationvacations.com, who got a heads up from an SVU fan named Chelsea, there are quite a few pictures available that can be viewed from a recent Law & Order SVU location shoot featuring Mariska Hargitay and Chris Meloni.

A link to the photographer’s photobucket album with all the pictures can be found here. It also gives the ability to embed or link the pictures, so here are a few just to whet your appetite. A special thanks to the photographer, and you can read her account of her experience here. (The writer/photographer was told this location shoot was for an episode called “Retro” to air in late October.)

Photos by "zuzu1614"

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