Law & Order “Tango”: Rubirosa Learns the Dance, The Hard Way

Law & Order’s “Tango” seemed more like a Special Victims Unit episode, as the detectives and the DA’s office worked on a case dealing with rape and murder. It seemed like there were hard lessons to be learned about how things work for detectives and prosecutors, with all parties using deception and whatever edge they can find to work and win a case. It seems although Connie Rubirosa (Alana De La Garza) has worked in the DA’s office for a while, she’s just now learning how things work. Let’s just say it may have not only left her disappointed in the inner workings of criminal prosecution, but the viewers as well.

The case begins with two drunken high-school girls whose car is impounded. One girl walks off and goes missing, and is later found raped and dead in a dumpster. Upon finding the body, Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) deadpans, “See? We find ‘em,” a reference to a dialog earlier in the show where Green (Jesse L, Martin) indicate to the girl’s parents they will find her, and of course doesn’t indicate they often find them dead. Lupo and Green work to track down the suspects, a drug-addicted prostitute (who came from a rich family), known as “Sugar”/Melinda (Maria Dizzia) and her partner Tito (Pedro Pascal). Lupo uses a fake note to trap Sugar into bringing Tito out, and both are arrested. Later, Lupo’s note would be used to sideline the trial. This was predictable. Even though Cutter (Linus Roache) indicates that the police can use deception, Lupo’s note made it sound more like a threat on Sugar’s life, causing her information on Tito to be considered worthless.

During this whole process, though, I found myself wondering why, since the girl was found raped, that it wasn’t an SVU case. I was even wondering why the detectives were looking for the girl in the first place, seeing that she wasn’t missing all that long. Sometimes how detectives get assigned cases, and which group gets them, seems muddy in the Law & Order universe.

While investigating the case, a potential witness, “Timmy,” surfaces. Timmy, by the way, was played by Scott William Winters, the brother of Dean Winters, who did a stunt on SVU as Detective Brian Cassidy. While questioning Timmy in lockup (he was there for another crime), Rubirosa picks up on a signal from Timmy that he wants Cutter to get lost. Connie tells Cutter to leave, and then when Timmy plays coy, she says, “this isn’t a date, Timmy.” After he asks for special consideration for another crime in order to get him to talk, McCoy (Sam Waterston) gets involved.

As McCoy is talking to the Bronx DA Juan Delgado (Nestor Serrano) in order to get his support, Delgado says “You know Jack, I’m a little surprised you were even able to find your way up here, on that white horse of yours.” Despite the sarcasm, Jack seemingly agrees to fix some parking tickets as a favor to Delgado, in order to get some charges dropped to get information from Timmy. I suppose even Jack has learned he has to do some favors to get his way.

As the case goes to trial, during jury selection, both Connie and Cutter (independent of each other) notice a juror paying close attention to Connie. Neither says anything to the other about it. But later, Cutter asks Connie to do the cross examination of Tito, and while Connie agrees, she really doesn’t seem to have a clue as to the real reason Cutter is having her do it.

Connie later seems weirdly happy about an anonymous email she received, which says, “Amazing performance today. Great legs and smart. You’re the total package.” Connie is smiling and seems almost tickled by the letter, I found it immediately creepy and thought it should have been suspect. But, she’s even happier when Cutter’s response to the letter is a sheepish “I completely agree” and he then adds “Are you ready to cross Melinda?” She responds, “No. You know, uh, Mike, you’ve got great legs too.” It seemed to me like it was a throwback to the Jack McCoy EADA years where he reportedly had relationships with a few of his ADAs. Personally, I think I’d rather keep a relationship with Mike and Connie under wraps. I don’t want the show to become a soap opera.

Still, there doesn’t seem to be a chance for Cutter and Rubirosa in the future, as Connie learns the hard way that everybody can be used to get an edge in a case. When the stalker-juror confronts Connie on the street, and she tells him it’s inappropriate, she confesses the encounter to Cutter. A bit of an argument ensues, under the watchful, somewhat eavesdropping eyes of McCoy. Connie is stunned to learn that Cutter was well aware of the juror’s eye for Connie. When she becomes indignant that Cutter would use her in this way, he calls her on it, saying that she used her sexuality to get Timmy’s cooperation in the jail. Connie clearly didn’t get that she was holding Cutter to a double standard, but Jack settles it all and figuratively slaps Coonie back to reality by saying, “We use what we have.” I guess Connie learned the hard way that not everything seems on the up and up in the DA’s office.

Personally, I believe that what Connie did with Timmy and what Cutter did with the juror were in fact two totally different situations. Yes, Connie may have used herself to get what she needed from Timmy. After all, they too are allowed to use things like deception to get information or to get people to confess. It was her own decision to use herself in that way. But, she did not agree to be used to sway a juror, which to me is a totally different ball game. It would have been OK had the juror not approached her or emailed her, because there would never have been any indication or proof that the juror’s had definite feelings for Connie. But once he approached her – again, I still think the email should have been suspect even before this – all bets should have been off. They should have reported it immediately. So, I’m disappointed in McCoy, Cutter, and even Connie for going along with it.

Seeing Connie look so conflicted during the verdict, I think it’s unlikely that she and Cutter will be doing a Tango – or any dancing - in the near future.


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

Law & Order: Meet Forensics Expert "Beck"

OK, admit it. You enjoy Law & Order’s resident techno-geek, Julian Beck. You’ve seen him in many episodes and laughed at his quirkiness and his down-to-earth portrayal of criminal forensics. He’s nothing like the overly pompous forensics people of the CSI franchise, who are always perfectly groomed and dressed just so, with sets and lighting almost cartoon-like. Beck is a real geek and one man forensics lab.

But who is the guy that plays Beck? His name is John Cariani, and according to imdb.com, he’s appeared on Law & Order 26 times, and, as other characters, on Criminal Intent 2 times. He’s also a Tony-nominated actor and playright!

The website for The Colony Theatre in Burbank, California posted
an interview with John about his play “Almost, Maine” that I thought I would share with you. You'll find John Cariani even more interesting than Beck.

"THE COLONY CHATS WITH JOHN CARIANI

The Almost, Maine playwright and Tony-nominated
actor explains the appeal of Maine, the inspiration to write, and the recognition from Law & Order.

Q: What was the inspiration for Almost, Maine?

A: When I moved to New York, there were no plays about rural areas, like Maine. There were no plays about places other than cities, and I grew up in a very rural, very dramatic place.

Q: Dramatic?

A: New York is all about people and the things people make. But growing up in a place like Maine, you’re aware of all of the things that people don’t make – like the sky and the woods and wide open space. The weather is so harsh, it’s wild, the sky is enormous, you can see for miles.

Q: Are the characters in the play based on real people?

A: They’re mythical composites of real people. There’s a humility to the people in northern Maine, an openness. I think that other people think New Englanders are cold and closed off, but they’re really not. Northern Mainers are aware of how small they are in the world, but most people in cities -- and I'm one of them now! -- just aren’t.

Q: Is it true that one of these stories is based on a real incident?

A: Loosely based. But I can’t tell you which one.

Q: You’re primarily known as an actor. What inspired you to start writing?

A: I couldn’t find good monologues to perform as an actor, so I started writing monologues for myself which became stories, which then became this play. I have to make a living, so once I get money together from acting gigs, that’s when I start writing again. But -- I just got commissioned to write my next play.

Q: Congratulations.

A: Thank you. Also, I think there’s a lot of drama in joy, and people don’t dramatize joy right now. There’s a lot of sturm und drang in plays right now.

Q: Why do you think that is?

A: I feel like we’re going through a period where cynical and sad and dark is considered classier than joy right now. Writing about sadness is pretty easy – we’re all sad – so I think it’s more interesting to write about the flip side. I think hope and joy are very dramatic.

Q: What do you think Los Angeles audiences will take away from seeing this play about people in Maine?

A: I think it’ll make people think about how most of life is either loving or leaving, living or dying. And I think we forget to let ourselves feel deeply. Most people protect themselves by covering themselves so much. Theatre is a place where you can uncover a bit.

Q: Do you get recognized much from your role on Law & Order?

A: Yeah, it’s funny. I get recognized on the subway a lot and in airports! A few weeks ago, while I was visiting by brother, a guy at a restaurant in North Carolina said to me, “You look just like that guy from Law & Order.” "



Also, here’s an interesting piece about him from the LA Times:

"John Cariani's shocking crusade
The actor from TV's "Law & Order" is on a mission as a playwright: "I am interested in making people across the country gasp."

By Cara Joy David, Special to The Times

John Cariani takes his work seriously. Sure, he's familiar to television viewers as the dedicated forensic expert Julian Beck in "Law & Order." And he's also known as that exuberant New York stage actor who earned a Tony nod for his role in "Fiddler on the Roof." But Los Angeles audiences who catch his first play, "Almost, Maine," opening Wednesday at Burbank's Colony Theatre, will probably be surprised by the actor-turned-playwright's passion for preserving the integrity of theater.

"Every time I see Shakespeare, I notice people sit up for the love story and the fantastical elements," says Cariani, 38. "The politics, the big ideas, have some impact, but they're not what matters most. Contemporary plays have too many big ideas and not enough happening. We need to make theater less boring. I am interested in making people across the country gasp."

Those are lofty aspirations for someone who often projects an "Aw, shucks" modesty. But Cariani does believe his words can have that effect. Perhaps his confidence in the ability of tiny things -- such as the romantic vignettes that make up "Almost, Maine" -- to have a substantial impact comes from his background. Born in Brockton, Mass., Cariani was 8 when his family moved to Presque Isle, Maine, a remote town of under 10,000. He planned to be a teacher until three lines in a high school production of "Annie Get Your Gun" changed his life. "I made the audience laugh really hard," recalled Cariani. "I thought: 'My gosh, this is cool.' "

After graduating from Amherst College and interning at Massachusetts' now-defunct Stage West, he moved to New York to pursue acting. He made a living through commercials and regional stage stints. Then, a little over a decade ago, Cariani ran out of audition material -- he simply couldn't find a contemporary comedic monologue that wasn't tired.

And just like that, a writing career was born.

"I wrote a monologue for an audition, and they said: 'What's that from again?' I said, 'It's from a new play,' " Cariani recalls. "I called it 'Joe's Shoes.' I used my brother's best friend's name as the name of the guy who wrote it. I started always using my own monologues, and pretty soon the monologues became stories and the stories became plays."

In the late 1990s, he began performing his short compositions at NBC's New York comedy venue, Performance Space NBC. Director Gabriel Barre caught one of Cariani's shows and approached the performer about creating a play from these tales. The result of their labor is "Almost, Maine."

The play's stories focus on the romantic lives of residents of a small, northern town. Among the colorful characters is a man who cannot feel pain and a woman who carries her heart in a bag.

While refining the script, Cariani continued acting. In 2002, he got his big break, landing a recurring role on "Law & Order." Two years later, he made his Broadway debut in "Fiddler on the Roof" as the tailor Motel.

"John Cariani is an open, authentic performer," Harvey Fierstein said of his "Fiddler" costar. "He's a wonderful writer because he is so authentic and interested in people and how they feel."

While Cariani was still singing "Miracle of Miracles" eight times a week, "Almost, Maine" had its world premiere in 2004 at Maine's Portland Stage Company. Because of his Broadway gig, Cariani could not spend many hours working in the Pine Tree State. By the time the show transferred to New York in December 2005, many choices had been made without input from the scribe.

"The production in New York wasn't what I had hoped," Cariani admits. "I hated it." Reviews were mixed (some good, some flat-out dismissive) and the show lasted only 37 regular performances. "The reviews read like it was fluff," he says. "I hate fluff. I can't stand romantic comedies. There is a lot of ache in this play -- but none of it played off-Broadway."

Despite its short NYC run, the Dramatist's Play Service still published "Almost, Maine." Now, productions are springing up all over the world. "They told me it would only be done in the North, and the only places that are doing it are in the South," he says. "Then they are doing it in Korea. I don't understand -- I thought a lot of the phrases were specifically English. I have no idea why it's happening."

The Colony was ahead of the game. A Time Out New York review of "Almost, Maine" caught the attention of Artistic Director Barbara Beckley with its reference to the "magic-realist" elements and description of the play as the "dramatic equivalent of a hot cup of cocoa, with plenty of little marshmallows." Beckley sought out "Almost, Maine" while it was running in Gotham and developed an e-mail friendship with Cariani. "He's so friendly and so completely guileless," she said.

A hands-on approach

Once the Colony was set to present the work, Beckley asked the Manhattan-based author to sit in on rehearsals. Cariani spent a week in Los Angeles in mid-January watching the newest production of "Almost, Maine" take shape while also slipping in some auditions for commercials and films.

The extent of Cariani's input included ensuring the set's doors were swinging in the correct direction. Despite the flood of questions about how certain things should be played, he offered little criticism of the staging or performances.

"I've seen people make the choice that is obvious -- and that is too bad; they should have thought a little deeper," Cariani says of various other productions. "Here they are making a lot of the right choices."

Making the right choices is important to the playwright. He not only regrets the off-Broadway "Almost, Maine" but also believes he erred in giving the green light to a production of his second work, "cul-de-sac," which premiered in New York in spring 2006, before he was finished with it. So now he's spending a lot of time trying to remedy mistakes made on these projects. This summer, he may direct a regional staging of "Almost, Maine" and is revising "cul-de-sac" to make it "a real play."

Like other actors, he is auditioning. And like some writers, he is working on a commission -- currently one from the Cape Cod Playhouse that will result in a play incorporating baseball's Boston Red Sox.

Cariani wants to remain in both worlds -- making people laugh and gasp through his performances as well as his scripts. Undoubtedly, he'll have issues with whatever he creates. After all, he's a stickler for quality entertainment.

"I think it is important that playwrights think about writing plays that people can do," he said. "There are plenty of smart people who aren't theater savvy. These people should be able to appreciate, understand and enjoy plays. There are so many forms of media for storytelling now, the story has to be so damn good to ask people to pay for it. I never write my story until I know the end. Life doesn't end, but plays should. We owe that, and so much more, to the audience." “


Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information,
here.

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

Law & Order Episode Summaries for the Week of February 24

Law & Order is running a new episode this week, with Criminal Intent rerunning episodes previously aired this season. In addition to the Wednesday night Criminal Intent episode, NBC is showing four episodes on Sunday Night, starting at 7:00 PM ET. There will be no episode of SVU airing this week. All are on NBC.

Law & Order Criminal Intent, Sunday, February 24, 2008

Amends
When her late husband's partner is killed on the job, Det. Eames (Kathryn Erbe) is forced to re-examine her husband's murder, and the life she thought she'd left behind.

Seeds
A fertility doctor is murdered, and his body is staged to appear as if the crime was a political statement. Logan (Chris Noth) and Falacci (Alicia Witt) follow clues that show the case has a more personal motive, and family of the victim may be involved.. Guest Star Michael O’Keefe

Self Made
A writer is found tortured and murdered, and clues lead Goren (Vincent D’Onofrio) and Eames to suspects in her lavish literary circle and the gritty urban society she called her roots.

Senseless
The investigation into an execution-style shooting of three college freshmen takes an emotional toll on Logan and Falacci.


Wednesday
Law & Order Criminal Intent “Lonelyville” re-air Date February 27, 2008
A woman is found strangled in Japanese bondage ropes, and the only clue to her identity is a pair of emerald earrings she was wearing.

Law & Order “Tango” Episode 18-10 Airdate February 27, 2008
A HIGH SCHOOL GIRL IS KILLED AND THE TWO UNLIKELY SUSPECTS INCLUDE A PROSTITUTE AND PIMP Two inebriated high-school girls, Kelly Daugherty (guest star Lisa Joyce) and Anne-Marie Liscomb (guest star Molly Ephraim), are agitated after their car is towed at a party. Liscomb walks off to make a phone call in an attempt to call a ride, and is found dead in a dumpster days later. After tracking down the cab driver that picked up Liscomb, new information leads the detectives to a drug-addicted prostitute with an affluent past, known as “Sugar” (guest star Maria Dizzia) and her partner Tito Cabassa (guest star Pedro Pascal). A war of words unfold as the detectives pit the prostitute and pimp against each other to see who will talk first. When the case goes up for trial, ADA Connie Rubirosa (Alana De La Garza) appears to have an unrelenting admirer in the jury pool. Also Starring: Sam Waterston, S. Epatha Merkerson, and Linus Roache.


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

Law & Order March Episode Summaries

The information on the Law & Order episode listing for March has been released by NBC. It looks like we’re in for some “March madness.” According to TVGuide.com, Law & Order is scheduled to produce five more episodes to begin airing on April 23.

“Betrayal” Air Date March 5, 2008
WHEN A PSYCHIATRIST WHO TREATS DISTURBED TEENS IS FOUND MURDERED HIS TROUBLED PATIENTS AND JEALOUS WIFE ARE THE PRIME SUSPECTS - A psychiatrist is found shot to death in his office, and Detectives Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) and Cyrus Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) initially suspect one of his young patients. Clues lead the detectives to the doctor’s jealous and much younger wife, Catherine (guest star Moira Kelly). The pressures of the case drive Catherine to admit her troubled past leading to his murder. The prosecuting team, Michael Cutter (Linus Roache) and Connie Rubirosa (Alana De La Garza) are then faced with the daunting task of convincing the jury that Catherine’s troubled youth is no excuse for murder. Also starring: Sam Waterston, S. Epatha Merkerson, Linus Roache, and Alana De La Garza.

“Submission” Air Date March 12, 2008
DOG FIGHTING; A WINE DEALERSHIP AND AN OVERZEALOUS REPORTER:LARA FLYNN BOYLE GUEST STARS - The police break up a dog-fighting ring, and discover a woman’s finger inside one of the dead animals. The finger is identified as belonging to Lauren Vance, soon-to-be ex-wife of Marty Vance (guest star Adam Rothenberg), after her body turns up near a dog breeder. Since Lauren and her husband were in the process of divorce proceedings, Detectives Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) and Cyrus Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) initially suspect Marty as the brutal murderer. Marty was involved in the dog-fighting ring with friend and business partner Jay Carlin (guest star David Harbour), an extremely wealthy wine dealer. As the investigation unfolds, the detectives plot to trick an ambitious reporter, Dawn Talley (guest star Lara Flynn Boyle), who uses her sexuality to try to break the case. Turns out Jay’s business is a scam, which leads prosecutors Michael Cutter (Linus Roache) and Connie Rubirosa (Alana De La Garza) to a new suspect. Also starring: Sam Waterston and S. Epatha Merkerson.

“Angelgrove” Air Date March 19, 2008
THE BRUTAL MURDER OF AN ART DEALER LEADS TO A DEBATE BETWEEN RELIGION AND FANATICISM - When art dealer Audrey Lortell (guest star Lisa Peluso) is found stoned to death, Detectives Cyrus Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) and Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) suspect her killing may have been linked to some of the cultural and religious artwork showcased in her gallery. After Lupo listens to an intimate taped conversation between Lortell and an artist, the detectives look further into her personal life; uncovering infidelity and her son’s, Jason (guest star Will Denton), troubled past and current involvement in a fanatic religious group. Initially, the murder appeared to have a terrorist link, but Jason’s new behavior suggests the killer is closer to home. Also starring: Sam Waterson, S. Epatha Merkerson, Linus Roache, and Alana De La Garza.

Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information,
here.

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

Law & Order “Executioner” Fails to Execute

If it weren’t for the great chemistry of the players in the second half of the show, I’d say this episode would have remained plodding and devoid of drama and interest. But, even the second half teetered on a snooze-fest.

The case involved Dr. Mark Burns (Alan Zweibel) being murdered while attending a conference. While investigating the crime, Detectives Lupe (Jeremy Sisto) and Green (Jesse L. Martin) originally believe the doctor was murdered as part of a con. Instead they find that the intended target was Dr. Garrison (James Rebhorn), who we later discover participated in a botched lethal injection. And it seems that Dr. Garrison was being targeted for revenge.

It seems that the introduction to the show had more of a Law & Order Criminal Intent feel, which made it a little dull to start. What is noticeably absent is the witty line – which I call the “Lennie Line” - that used to take viewers to the opening credits. It seems since Jerry Orbach left the show, this intro segment has continued to be weak, but in this episode it was as if they completely abandoned any “hook” whatsoever. I think the writers need to work harder to grab the viewers into the show. It doesn’t have to be a Lennie Line, but there should be something to spark interest.

For the most part, the first half of the show was bland and frankly there is not much to even write about. But, as the pattern has been for this new season, the second half has been giving us some great interactions with the people in the DA’s office.

For example, when Cutter (Linus Roache) seems to be uncomfortable with proceeding with the murder case, he says to McCoy (Sam Waterston):

Cutter: I’m sorry. I…I don’t know that I can defend this against a motion to dismiss.
McCoy: Then I’ll defend it.

That’s Jack, still showing he has the desire to be in the thick of things and pick up on something that may be controversial. Later, while standing up for his principles with the judge, Jack says, “They imported a doctor because they couldn’t find one in their own state. Like the mob, bringing in an out of town hit man.” That’s Jack again, going for the jugular with an analogy that is hard to refute. Of course, he makes his point and gets his way. When Jack tells Cutter to make his efforts worth his while, we get a little humorous sarcasm from Cutter:

Cutter: Putting lethal injection on trial, an appeal to the jury’s political views.
McCoy: That shouldn’t be a problem.
Cutter: Because Lord knows something like that will never work!

Later, while McCoy, Cutter, and Rubirosa (Alana De La Garza) debate the case and Cutter’s wanting to proceed despite the influence of the witness who was incapacitated by the lethal injection, we get this exchange:

McCoy: No shades of gray in this for you, Mike.
Cutter: Nope.
McCoy: Good.

Rubirosa looked a little defeated, while McCoy looked at Cutter like a Jedi Master looks at a Padawan Learner who just learned an important lesson.

Still, the case really wasn’t that interesting and never really grabbed me or drew me in to the story. If it was supposed to elicit some kind of emotional response from viewers about the death penalty and lethal injection, it really didn’t do it for me.

I did enjoy the “light” parts of the show, like when Lupo picks dog hair off the woman at the shop and shares a dog story to get her to give him information, and when the warden at the prison facility called Connie “Ruby-Rosa” as a bit of a dig. The bad part is that when they say the case is taking them someplace, as in this episode Hilton Head or Charleston, at least pick a setting that looks a little like the location. You know, sunny and with some green trees? I bet they just filmed that in New York or New Jersey or something. I also find it interesting that this season, they are giving Connie more backbone. I enjoyed when she nudged Cutter to “make a choice, Mike.” While she didn’t get Jack’s approval on her views on the case, at least she’s not being intimidated in her job.

Still, this story failed on quite a few levels. The first half needs some adrenaline, or at least not start the show with that “Criminal Intent” feel. But, at least they are building up an interesting team in the DA’s office that makes it worth watching. And there are no shades of gray in that.

Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information,
HERE!

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

Jesse Martin Leaving Law & Order, Replaced by Anthony Anderson

Variety reports today that Jesse L. Martin will be leaving Law & Order, and is being replaced by Anthony Anderson, formerly of “K-ville.”

Here’s the news from Variety:

“Martin leaving 'Law & Order'
'K-Ville' star Anthony Anderson joining show
By JOSEF ADALIAN

After nine seasons, Jesse L. Martin is leaving "Law & Order" and will be replaced by "K-Ville" star Anthony Anderson.

Martin's departure has been buzzed about for months. He's expected to lens one more episode of Dick Wolf's NBC drama, with Anderson joining later this season.

For Anderson, the "L&O" role reps his latest gig on a cop show. He played a New Orleans detective on Fox's "K-Ville" and made the jump from comedy to serious drama on FX's "The Shield."

Fox has never officially admitted that it and "K-Ville" are splitsville, but Anderson's casting would seem to be the final nail in the coffin for the highly touted 2007 drama.

On the feature side, Anderson's credits include "Transformers," "Hustle & Flow" and "Kangaroo Jack." He toplined his own WB laffer, "All About the Andersons," in 2003.

As for Martin, thesp has played Det. Ed Green since 1999. He shot to fame in the original Broadway production of "Rent," reprising his role for the movie version.”

Law & Order fans knew that Jesse wasn’t going the full season, still, it’s sad news to hear that now it’s official.

Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information,
here.

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

Law & Order SVU “Svengali”: Awful

I forgot how truly horrible this episode was. It was filled with poor detective work and dumb mistakes, not to mention a weak story line with equally weak acting. How bad was it? Let me count the ways:

1. How dumb must they be to require their TARU group to identify the image of Venus De Milo? Anyone with a grade school education should be able to identify the image drawn in blood on the floor. And if the symbol recognition program was such a great tool, why didn’t they use it to make the connection with the elevator murder to the images in the graphic novel? Another mystery – how did the detectives rationalize that the woman in the bar had just been abducted, yet by the time the police got to the bar there was an elaborate drawing – in blood – on the floor? Apparently that didn’t seem to raise any eyebrows. Also, when the girl first went missing from the bar, why didn’t the detectives search her apartment then for clues to her abduction? They would have found the graphic novels at that time and it would have put them that much closer to solving the crime.

2. Olivia (Mariska Hargitay) gets a phone call threatening her, yet doesn’t give a second thought to a pizza delivery made to her that she didn’t order? And Fin (Ice-T) just knew there was a pizza in it because it FELT like there was one in the box? Wouldn’t the first instinct be to open it up? No…because they had to find a way to get it to explode without killing anyone. Of course, Chester Lake (Adam Beach) uses the recycling excuse to first get his hands on the pizza box, but still doesn’t open it up to check out the pizza. Are these detectives not normal?

3. Again, Olivia’s life has been threatened, yet she doesn’t give a second thought as to why a light bulb in a fixture right outside her apartment was loose, maybe to cover someone making an illegal entry. Of course, there’s someone in her apartment.

4. How did this slight little girl bury someone’s body parts so deep at an existing gravesite? Did no one notice her there? Did no one notice what looked like an established gravesite had been disturbed?

5. Early on in the show, the forensics guy identified schist on the body at the first crime scene, but no pollen. Of course, the ever-wise Chester says that it was probably from a tunnel. First, wouldn’t a person logically get pollen on them from being outside the tunnel before they got in the tunnel? Does it mean that anyone in a tunnel will never have any pollen on them? It makes no sense.

6. Along that line, why is it that the detectives always yell “Police!” and announce their presence before they get close to the action? I can understand if they are behind a closed door, but when they are out in the open, get in close first before you shout out you are there and tip off a suspect.

7. I also suppose that this serial killer was dumb enough to strike a sweethart deal with Casey (Diane Neal) without getting a lawyer involved? After all, why would he trust her, or any prosecutor for that matter, to make sure he'd end up in the type of prison he wanted? Also, it was too risky for Casey to put him on the stand when she clearly couldn't prep him or guarantee what he would say. This whole move on her part ruined her case.

The bottom line is one shouldn’t be taken in by this “Svengali.” It was a low point for SVU and the worst example of television detective work ever.


Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, HERE!

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

Law & Order Franchise Schedule for New Episodes

According to TV Guide, the following is a schedule for the Law & Order franchise, showing the latest status of each show now that the writer’s strike is over:

Law & Order
Expected to shoot 5 additional episodes to begin airing on April 23.

Law & Order: CI
Expected to shoot an indeterminate number of episodes to air in spring.

Law & Order: SVU
Expected to shoot 5 new episodes to begin airing on April 15.


Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information,
HERE!

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