Benjamin Bratt Returns To Law & Order

Benjamin Bratt comes back to Law & Order - here is the official press release from NBC with the details:


BENJAMIN BRATT TO RETURN TO 'LAW & ORDER' AS DETECTIVE REYNALDO CURTIS

Universal City, CA, October 23, 2009 - Benjamin Bratt, who was nominated for an Emmy Award for his portrayal of Detective Reynaldo Curtis on "Law & Order," will make a special return appearance as as Detective Curtis in an upcoming episode, it was announced today by series creator and executive producer Dick Wolf.

Bratt was a series regular on "Law & Order" for four seasons (1995-99) and in addition to the Emmy nomination, earned two ALMA Awards for playing Detective Curtis. In the upcoming episode, Detective Curtis will be reunited with his former "boss" Lt. Anita van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson). "Law & Order" airs Fridays at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on NBC.

"I am thrilled that Ben is coming back for a return appearance. He joined us for our recent 20th anniversary celebration and it was like he never left," Wolf said.

Bratt most recently starred in the A&E series "The Cleaner." He has also appeared in numerous feature films including "Traffic," "Clear and Present Danger" and "Miss Congeniality."

"Law & Order," in its 20th season, won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series and tied the record for consecutive outstanding series nominations (11, tied with "Cheers" and "M*A*S*H).

"Law & Order is a Wolf Films production in association with Universal Media Studios. Dick Wolf, Rene Balcer, Peter Jankowski and Fred Berner are executive producers.






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

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

Law & Order, and SVU November New Episodes

NBC has released new episode information for one new episode for Law & Order SVU and three – yes three – new episodes for Law & Order, which includes one special double header scheduled to air on November 6. (A double header – a recapper’s nightmare. Needless to say, don’t expect to see both recaps available that Saturday!) Information was already posted here on the November 4th episode of SVU titled “Anchor” – and as of right now, it is still scheduled to air that day according to NBC’s official schedule. Update 10/27 - NBC has officiallty moved "Anchor" to December 9, and "Users" to November 4, 2009.

Here are all the details on the newly released episodes for November.

Law & Order “Boy Gone Astray” Air Date 11/06/2009 (8PM ET/7 C Friday NBC)
A RICH, YOUNG WOMAN IS MURDERED LINKING HER TO A DRUG CARTEL.

When a young woman is found dead in her apartment, a few tell-tale signs quickly lead Detectives Cyrus Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) and Kevin Bernard (Anthony Anderson) to believe that the killer was not after her wealth. After finding suitcases filled with money and drugs in one of the victim's apartments, the detectives watch a security video from her lobby. The video exposes two potential suspects leading the detectives to a drug cartel. Also starring: S. Epatha Merkerson (Lieutenant Anita Van Buren), Sam Waterston (District Attorney Jack McCoy), Alana De La Garza (Connie Rubirosa), and Linus Roache (Michael Cutter).

My recap and review of Law & Order "Boy Gone Astray" can be found here.

Law & Order “Doped” Air Date 11/06/2009 (9PM ET/8C Friday NBC *NOTE SPECIAL TIME)
A DEADLY CAR CRASH REVEALS A PHARMACEUTICAL WHISTLE-BLOWING PLAN GONE HORRIBLY WRONG.
A deadly drunk-driving car accident brings Detectives Cyrus Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) and Kevin Bernard (Anthony Anderson) to the scene when a suspicious nasal spray is found. After the medical examiner realizes the nasal spray is a powerful anesthetic that could easily disorient its user, the detectives become suspicious of the victim's boss, Zach Marshall (Guest Star Rich Sommer).

My recap and review of Law & Order "Doped" can be found here.

Law & Order SVU “Users” Air Date 11/04/2009 (9 PM ET/ 8C Wednesday NBC)
A YOUNG GIRL IS MURDERED, AND THE COPS BLAME A CONTROLLING THERAPIST WHO THRIVES ON HIS PATIENTS' DEPENDENCE.
After a crime scene photo of a murdered teenage girl rapidly becomes an Internet phenomenon, the police initiate an investigation with the victim's father, Greg Dunne (guest star James Colby). When Greg points the detectives towards Martin Gold (guest star James Frain), his daughter's suspicious therapist, it turns out that Gold's alibi is airtight. While Fin (Ice-T) and Munch (Richard Belzer) are busy tracking down the girl's stolen credit card, Dr. Melinda Warner (Tamara Tunie) and Detective Elliot Stabler (Chris Meloni) discover that one of Gold's other patients has broken into the morgue. The case takes an unexpected turn, revealing a sinister prescription for murder at the hands of unlikely suspects. Also starring: Mariska Hargitay (Detective Olivia Benson), Dann Florek (Captain Donald Cragen), B.D. Wong (Dr. George Huang) and Stephanie March (ADA Alexandra Cabot).
(NBC promo for "Users" is below.)

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Users" can be found here.


Law & Order “For The Defense” Air Date 11/13/2009 (8PM ET/ 7C Friday NBC)
A CASE THAT BEGINS AS A SEARCH FOR A MISSING WITNESS SPIRALS INTO A MURDER CONSPIRACY WITH ADA CONNIE RUBIROSA (ALANA DE LA GARZA) CAUGHT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.
After a key witness for a murder trial is found dead outside her hotel room, Detectives Cyrus Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) and Kevin Bernard (Anthony Anderson) become involved in a spiraling case that unravels into an intricate conspiracy, leaving additional witnesses' lives in danger and Rubirosa in the crossfire. Black market dealings, affairs and drug cartels intertwine to expose the risk of taking the stand as a witness when corrupt officials control the court.

My recap and review of Law & Order "For The Defense" can be found here.




SVU "Users" Promo




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

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

Law & Order, SVU Episode Information Week of October 25, 2009

New episodes are scheduled to air next week for Law & Order and Law & Order SVU. The episode information and preview clips, where available, are listed below.

Law & Order SVU “Spooked” Air Date 10/28/2009 (9 PM ET/ 8C Wednesday NBC)
THE DETECTIVES INVESTIGATE A MURDER THAT IS INTERVENED BY THE FBI BECAUSE THE CASE BECOMES TOO DANGEROUS OF AN OBSTACLE FOR THE SVU COPS.

When a young couple is found murdered in the back of a padlocked truck, Detectives Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Elliot Stabler (Chris Meloni) investigate the scene and link the male victim to a dangerous Mexican drug cartel. Benson and Stabler follow a lead to an abandoned drug den where they are surprised to see FBI Special Agent Dean Porter (guest star Vincent Spano), who is separately working on the case. Porter tries to take over the investigation, but suspicion arises and the two continue the hunt for the murderer. Following their intuition, Benson and Stabler come across shocking discoveries, which lead them to believe this case is much larger than a mere drug-related murder. Also starring: Richard Belzer (Detective John Munch), Dann Florek (Captain Donald Cragen), Ice-T (Detective Odafin Tutuola), Tamara Tunie (Dr. Melinda Warner), and B.D. Wong (Dr. George Huang).

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Spooked" can be found here.

Law & Order “Human Flesh Search Engine” Air Date 10/30/2009 (8 PM ET/ 7C Wednesday, NBC)
THE DETECTIVES INVESTIGATE A WEBSITE WITH THREATENING WEB POSTS.

When Sid Maxwell (Guest Star Rene Ifrah), owner of a fashion company is found dead, Detectives Cyrus Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) and Kevin Bernard (Anthony Anderson) assume asphyxia. But when fashion photographer, Terry Clark (Guest Star Jeremy Beiler), leads the detectives to an alarming discovery of Maxwell's true identity, they uncover a suspicious website with threatening web posts. Also starring: S. Epatha Merkerson (Lieutenant Anita Van Buren), Sam Waterston (District Attorney Jack McCoy), Alana De La Garza (Connie Rubirosa), and Linus Roache (Michael Cutter).

My recap and review of Law & Order "Human Flesh Search Engine" can be found here.


SVU “Spooked” Promo


NBC Preview Clip for L&O SVU “Spooked”



L&O Human Flesh Search Engine Promo



L&O Human Flesh Search Engine Preview






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

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

Law & Order SVU “Hardwired” Recap & Review

All photos from NBC

Law & Order SVU “Hardwired” shows the ugly side of working sex crimes – having to root out pedophiles. It’s even worse when the one of them believes that his behavior is normal and that he is a victim of discrimination. This episode was very predictable but that did not take away from the solid performances of all the guest stars and the regulars as well.

The sex creep of the week is played by the always creepy Garret Dillahunt. I sometimes wonder how he feels being seemingly typecast as some unhinged, crazy, disturbed, or disgusting character? And he always plays the part so well. My skin crawls at the mere mention or sight of his name, and he couldn’t have been more perfect for this role.

Rosie Perez was also excellent as the mother of a young victim of sexual abuse at the hands of his stepfather. She was convincing as both the enraged wife and the anguished mother, and it is likely that she may earn an Emmy nomination for this role.

The episode also marks the return of ADA Alex Cabot (Stephanie March), who seems to have a chip on her shoulder about having to claw her way out of appeals. Cabot has no problem with picking up where ADA Paxton left off. When she arrives at the scene of the botched undercover operation, she proceeds to rip at the detectives. It seems that Elliot and Olivia just can’t score any points with the DA’s office this season. It is good to have Stephanie back again, because Alex Cabot probably is and always will be the best ADA on Law & Order SVU. By the way, what’s the deal with SVU and the use of the word “cluster….” (truncated on purpose). They had Cabot use the word this week, and Stabler used it last week. It’s as if the writers just discovered the word. While this was Stephanie March’s return, she was eclipsed in the courtroom by Jeri Ryan as the annoying Patrice Larue. Of course Cabot was able to make her case, but Larue did a pretty good job in fending her off for a while.

Meanwhile, it looks like Stabler’s short fuse gets even shorter when dealing with adults who abuse children. Sure, I think those people are the lowest of the low, but Stabler really needs to get his anger in check. It is a shame that after all these years, SVU seems to keep Stabler going backwards in his ability to manage his anger. In this episode, he tried to choke one suspect, and later, he kicked a chair from underneath another and then threatened the suspect with the same chair. In the choking case, Benson made no move to physically pull Stabler off, instead opting to call his name in order to get him to back off. In the real world, I think that suspect would have reported Stabler, and if anyone was observing the interrogation, they should have reported him as well. Yet it seems Stabler got in no trouble at all. This behavior is getting a little old for Stabler. Maybe it was that kick in the crotch from the kid that made him so testy?

Benson is also eager to help, and serves to calm situations. It seems she’s learned better than Stabler to remain cool under pressure. I wondered, however, if her advice to Eva regarding the bank accounts was completely correct. If the bank accounts were in both names, Eva may have been able to get away with the money grab for a while without a fight from her soon to be ex. But if it wasn’t a joint account, good luck in getting that cash.

Are we to assume that all the charges against Eva were dropped so she could move to Florida? Or was she just taking off on her own, not to return to face the charges? I can see Thomas dropping the charges, but not Mary, the other kid’s mother. It seemed like a loose end that wasn’t tied up well enough for me.

Let’s not forget that this is the big episode where Dr. Huang (B.D. Wong) comes out to the viewers. Maybe Huang had already been out with the SVU team, because they didn’t seem to flinch when he mentioned he was gay. As B.D. Wong has been out for quite some time now, I don’t think this was a shock to fans that Huang would be gay. It is sad that his admission seemed to get lost in a story about pedophiles, rather than allowing him a story line that would help foster acceptance for gays. And what was the deal with his outspoken behavior and his antics by bringing the abused child into the courtroom during his mother’s testimony? Very uncharacteristic for Huang, and I am not quite sure if they explained his lapse in judgement as well as they could. He took great offense to the “pseudo-science” used by O’Donnell’s organization, but his reaction and subsequent behavior seemed to be a disproportionate reaction for the normally calm and collected Huang. After all, Huang has probably seen far weirder defenses and far weirder defendants. I think B.D. deserved a little better for his big storyline.





Here is the recap:

School is letting out and Mary is waiting in her car, on the phone. A car rams into her, and her son Patrick runs up and asks if she is okay. Eva Banks (Rosie Perez) rushes up and punches Mary and then tries to strangle her, saying she ruined her son’s life. A crossing guard runs up to pull Eva off, and she said that Mary called her son Cory a pervert. Mary said she called him that because he molested her son. Cory (Cruz Santiago), meanwhile, jumps out of Eva’s car and is watching all this go down.

Later, with SVU on the scene, Detective Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) is speaking with Mary, who is being tended to by EMS. She tells Benson she wants Cory and his mother arrested. But Eva yells that she wants “that lying whore” arrested, and a shouting match erupts. When Detective Elliot Stabler (Chris Meloni) moves in to separate the two women, Cory yells to leave his mother alone and kicks him in the crotch. Benson says everyone is going to the station. As Benson walks off, she asks Stabler if he is OK. Still winded from the kick, nods and says, “Now I know why the call them special victims.”

Benson has Mary and Patrick in an interview room. Mary says Cory slept over two nights ago and she heard weird noises come out of the room. She saw Patrick and Cory “wrestling” naked. Cory was holding his son down from behind. Patrick tells Benson they were just wrestling. In another room, Stabler is talking with Eva and Cory and Cory admits it was his idea to remove their clothes and he told them games are more fun that way. Eva says being naked at that age doesn’t mean anything sexual, but Stabler says it does to Patrick’s mother. When Stabler asks Cory if he plays any of these naked games with other kids, he admits he did with a kid a camp last summer.

Meanwhile, Captain Cragen ( Dann Florek) and Dr. Huang (B.D. Wong) watch in the observation room. Huang says it sounds like Cory is engaging in mastery play, and that children often reenact the abuse they experienced to make sense of what happened to them. Cragen comments that Cory didn’t indent to molest Patrick, he was just working out his demons because he has been abused. Huang thinks it might be on-going, and he asks to interview him alone, have a doc examine him, and asks Cragen if he can get his mother away from him for a while.

Cragen enters the interview room and tells Stabler and Eva that he sent Mary and Patrick home and that they are not going to charge Cory with anything, but says they still have to deal with the charges against Eva. He adds that “ADA” Elliot wants her to stay there, and Stabler picks up on Cragen’s lead, saying that Eva hit Mary with her car and punched her in the face which is two counts of assault. Eva is upset that Mary will press charges, and Cragen gives her a pad of paper and pen and says maybe if she writes Mary an apology she will reconsider. She agrees. Cragen says they also need to get her statement and get Cory checked out by a doctor to make sure he wasn’t injured when she rammed Mary’s car. Stabler says they will take Cory to the hospital.

At Mercy General Hospital, Huang explains the procedure to Cory and asks how he got the bruise on his arm. Cory says he got it from Doug Ferguson, and Coach Simons made it feel better by massaging it. He also massaged a groin muscle once. It made him uncomfortable but a lot of guys get rubdowns from him. Sometimes after a meet he has a pizza party at his place and takes a kid into the bedroom for sports massage.

At a school gym, Coach Simons (Mitchell Jarvis) is working with the wrestling team and Stabler enters and asks him to move away from the kids. Stabler tells him that Cory Banks said he learned a lot of moves from him. Simons said the kid has a lot of talent. Stabler asks where Cory learned about naked wrestling and Simons says not from him, a concerned look moving over his face. Stabler mentions the rub downs and then cuffs him.

Back at the SVU squad, Simons is in an interrogation room, and Stabler tells Benson that Simons clammed up on him. Benson says Simons real name is Tony Acardo, convicted of forced rape of a minor in Baltimore. He did ten tears and was released last March. Benson adds that the medical records for Cory came back positive for chlamydia and the doctor found extensive anal fissures. Stabler decides to turn the screw up. Stabler calls Simons by his real name of Tony, and he says they are confused. But he later admits it and says he changed his name, and that he never touched Cory. When they mention the chlamydia Tony says he is clean, but Stabler says they will have him tested and god help him if it comes back positive. Tony demands a lawyer. Instead, Stabler picks Tony out of the chair and slams him against the wall, and Tony swears he has not touched a boy since ’98. Benson calls Stabler off, but Stabler continues to choke Tony. She calls him off again, and Stabler lets him go.


At the Banks residence, Benson and Stabler speak with Eva and her husband – Cory’s stepfather Thomas (Jim True-Frost ) – about Cory. Benson tells them Cory has been sexually abused by his wrestling coach. Eva is shocked, and Cory’s stepfather asks if they are sure he hurt Cory. Thomas calls Cory out of his room, and Eva runs to hug him, upset. Thomas pulls her off, gets in Cory’s face and asks Cory if Coach Simons touched him, but Cory denies it. He pulls away from Thomas and runs to his room. Stabler follows him into his room and Cory insists the coach never touched him, and he says it wasn’t him. Cory seems to want to tell Stabler something, but Eva and her overbearing husband come into the room, Thomas saying he will do all the talking for Cory. He asks Cory if he was molested, and Cory says no, nobody touched him. When Stabler says the doctor has proof, Thomas says nobody touched Cory and tells them to leave. Stabler tells him he is going to park himself across the street in case Cory needs him. But Thomas says he will be safe with him and tells them to leave. Cory looks conflicted, and Stabler tells him he will be right outside.

The next day, Benson brings coffee to Stabler who has slept in the car. He says it was all quiet. The coach apparently gave lots of backrubs but no molesting, he is being extradited to Baltimore for failing to register as a sex offender. Stabler is worried that Thomas Banks is still free to molest his step son, but Benson thinks he won’t risk it with Stabler right outside. Stabler says Cory was willing to talk until Thomas walked in. Benson tells Stabler that before Thomas Banks came into their lives, Eva and Cory were living in a homeless shelter, he volunteered working in the kitchen, the detectives thinking this is a perfect place for a pedophile to troll for a needy family. They see Eva and Cory leaving for school, and Benson decides to try to talk to Eva alone after she gets Cory to school.

Outside the school, Benson approaches Eva, and Eva said Thomas told her not to talk to her. Benson tells her that Cory was afraid to talk about because they would have to go back to the shelter. Eva tells Benson she doesn’t know what it’s like, she got knocked up by a guy who couldn’t stop hitting her and she got the nerve to leave him but ended up in the shelter with Cory. Eva says things are good right now but Benson says Cory is not safe. When Eve asks what she is saying, Benson tells her that Thomas is molesting her son. Eva says she is so wrong, he took them out of the shelter and saved their lives. Benson asks if Thomas is ever alone with Cory, and Eva says no, she is watching him every second of the day. But Benson reminds her that she has to sleep, and Eva begins to get concerned. She tells Benson that while in the shelter she had to stay up all night to make sure no one messed with their stuff or with Cory, and it gave her insomnia. Thomas told her to go to the doctor who gave her some pills to sleep and now she can’t get up. She seems worried and says she has to go. Benson tells Eva that Cory is being treated for chlamydia, and Eva is surprised, and Benson tells her to see a doctor. She says she had Thomas haven’t had sex for months, the pills took away her desire and Thomas said he understood. She gets frantic, and says she has to go and she is going to kill him. Benson tries to calm her and tells her they will get him but they need her help.

The both go to Cory who is outside the school grounds playing. Eva calls him over to talk to Benson. Eva says she knows what happened, but Cory says nothing happened. Eva tries to get Cory to open up, and insists she knows, and it is OK. She asks him to tell Benson what happened. Cory begins to cry, and tells Benson that Thomas kepi asking him if he liked his new toys and clothes and branch new life. He said that he did. Thomas said that had been good to him and now he had to be good to him.

Later, in an SVU interrogation room with Benson and Eva at his side, Cory recounts what Thomas did to him, making him undress and taking pictures. He said it was first just the pictures but then went to videotaping. He tells his mother he is sorry and worries about going back to the shelter, but she tells him it is not his fault, she let him down. She hugs him and they cry. She asks for his forgiveness and he says yes. Benson asks where he keeps the tapes and photos.

At Thomas’ office at Oslo Global Strategies, Stabler arrives pulls Thomas out of his chair and arrests him for sexually abusing his stepson. He asks Thomas where is his laptop and Thomas denies having one. But a co-worker points to the closet, much to Thomas's annoyance.

Back at the Banks home, Benson tells Cory that it is over and that Thomas was arrested. He says he is sorry it took so long to tell her the truth, but Eva tells him he is a fighter just like her. She then tells him it is time to pack, and they will find a place. But Cory is unhappy to hear this and runs off. When Benson tells her she doesn’t have to move, Eva tells her Thomas pays the mortgage and she doesn’t have the passwords on any of the accounts. Benson tells her they can go to the banks and get the information and move the money into her account and change the locks. Eva seems surprised that she can do this and she is relieved. She tells Benson, “Damn girl, you got a little gangsta in you huh?”

In SVU interrogation, Thomas denies hurting Cory and the photos on his computer are artistic shots. He says what Cory and he had was special and it was more than love. Stabler says, “Well, you’re gonna see what it feels like in prison when your 300 pound daddy more than loves you and you give him chlamydia. He’s gonna bite your junk off.” Thomas says he want to make a deal but Stabler says no deal. Thomas says he can give him someone bigger – Kevin O’Donnell, he is supposed to have dinner with him tonight. Stabler says he is not swapping him out for another pervert. Thomas says O’Donnell is the president of “Our Special Love” a pedophile rights group, and at dinner he was going to give him the names and addresses of 5,000 members, but only if Stabler makes a deal.

Later, ADA Alex Cabot (Stephanie March) she is not happy that Stabler wants to make a deal when they have a bulletproof case against Banks. Stabler says it is to nail a bigger bottom feeder, Kevin O’Donnell (Garret Dillahunt). Huang tells her that this group goes further than other rights groups as it claims pedophilia is genetically based and that they are being persecuted in Iraq and Iran. Benson comments that she has never seen Huang so ticked off before, and he says that pseudo-science like this insults his intelligence as a psychiatrist and his humanity as a gay man. Benson adds that Thomas Banks is an expert in corporate IT and is the perfect person to run OSL’s data management and Internet security. But O’Donnell wanted to make sure that Banks wasn’t FBI so he told him to have sex with his stepson and videotape it. The final test is he wants to meet Cory in the flesh. But Alex can’t believe they want to put Cory back in the same room as the man who raped him. Huang says it is their only chance to take OSL down and he will prep Cory, but Cabot says that is not good enough. She tells Benson to pose as Cory’s mom so there is a cop in the room, but Benson says she can’t, Kevin has already seen a family photos so he knows who Eva is. Huang reassures Cabot that Cory will not be hurt, mentally or physically. Cabot sighs in exasperation, saying she finally clawed her way out of appeals and they bring her this cluster…(she doesn’t finish the word). Cabot wants Eva’s consent in writing, with witnesses.


Later at Eva’s place, while the police are setting up in her home, Eva has second thoughts and Stabler reassures her. He tells her they will be right next door, and shows her all the camera covering the apartment. Cory asks if he doe sit will it help other kids, and Stabler says yes. Cory says he wants to do it. But Thomas has now entered the room and Eva runs at him, calling him a son of a bitch. Benson stops her and Stabler pulls her away saying if O’Donnell sees a mark on him he will know something is up. TARU Tech Ruben Morales (Joel de la Fuente) says O’Donnell has arrived, and Eva says she will try to do it.

While the detectives watch the video footage, O’Donnell says how happy he is to meet everyone in person. Benson comments that it took less than 5 minutes to touch Cory. Eva gets up from the table, and moves to the kitchen, seemingly to compose herself. Eva grabs a knife and Stabler thinks she is going to kill O’Donnell, but Benson tells him to hold on. Benson tries to encourage her to calm down, even though Eva cannot hear her. Eva puts down the knife and walks back to the table. Later, at the table, Eva compliments Eva on her cooking, and she offers him some cake. She moves to get it. While Eva is out, O’Donnell asks Thomas if he has his laptop, and he says he does. Thomas moves to get it and leave him alone with Cory. O’Donnell asks Cory if he can keep a secret, even from his mom and Cory says yes. O’Donnell shows Cory a picture Thomas emailed to him to see what a beautiful boy he is. Benson thinks they have him but Stabler says they just have him on possession of child porn. Benson sees that Cory is struggling, but Stabler reminds her that if they want Kevin, they need his files. O’Donnell continues to talk to Cory who seems to be getting more creeped out my the minute. O’Donnell says he does not want Cory to cheat on his dad, besides, he likes little girls. Stabler notices that Thomas is back in the room with the laptop. O’Donnell loads up a flash drive on the PC, and Benson and Stabler burst in, arresting them. O’Donnell throws the computer on the floor and calls Thomas a traitor. As Stabler takes O’Donnell away, Benson goes for the computer. But Eva comes at Thomas while he is being led out in cuffs and stabs him, calling him a son of a bitch. A officer and Benson try to restrain her, and Benson tries to get the knife away. Cory is hiding under the dining room table.

Outside EMS is taking Thomas away and he is stable. Benson and Stabler continue to try to keep Eva away. But Cabot storms up, angry.

Cabot: You call this clown show an undercover operation? You promised me there would be no injury.
Stabler: We got it under control.
Cabot: Not until you get the wild card out of here. Arrest her!
Cory: No, you can’t take my mom!
Benson: Alex, do you understand what he has been through tonight? She just endured dinner with her son’s rapist and helped us bust a pedophile ring.
Cabot: I cannot whitewash assault with a deadly weapon when it happened on video and in front of three detectives.
Benson: Cory needs his mother tonight, please do no do this.
Cabot, to Stabler: BOOK HER. (she storms off)

As they pull Eva away, she begins to scream, “what about my boy?”

Back at the SVU squad while Cory is in an interview room,. Benson continues to make her case to Cabot. But Cabot says domestic assault can’t get a free pass. Benson says she does not want to let her off, just give Eva a desk appearance ticket so she can stay with Cory and face her charges in 6 months. Huang leaves the interview room and says Cory is barely hanging on. Cabot caves and okays the desk appearance ticket and says to cut Eva loose.

Later, Benson takes Cory to Eva and tells her Eva can go, but she will have to report back there in 6 months, Eva gives Benson a cold look and tells her to get out of their lives.

While Benson and Stabler look at O’Donnell in the interrogation room, Stabler says he will wipe the smile off his face. Benson tells him while he is at it, to try to get a confession out of him. Stabler enters the room and slams the door, O’Donnell is grinning, saying he has done nothing wrong. He says Thomas gave him the naked picture of Cory and he was just returning it. Stabler’s shows his disgust for O’Donnell, and when O’Donnell tries to defend his perversion, Stabler kicks the chair from underneath O’Donnell. He picks it up and swings it high, calling O’Donnell a son of a bitch and saying he will fix him so he can’t love any more kids. O’Donnell sits on the floor and says he can’t be intimidated and that they will have to accept people like him. Stabler says he will accept him when he is dead. O’Donnell tells Stabler to leave him alone, he had nothing on him. But Stabler says they have his flash drive.

But later. with TARU Tech Morales they look at what is on the drive and only three harmless looking photos are on it, no porn. But Morales said he found code hidden in one of the pixels, and found what looks like thousands of pictures within that code and the detectives wonder how they will be able to identify all of the people in them. Morales adds that he also found an embedded PDF file with the names and addresses for all of them. Stabler says it’s time to pick up the garbage.

Later, Fin (Ice-T) brings in a man who says he doesn’t know what he did that was wrong. Fin says he is throwing him in a cage of pedophiles to see if they can help him figure it out. An old man tells Cragen that he has never seen that kid before in his life, but Cragen says the picture shows him in his lap. Benson brings in another, and when she throws him in the lockup, she says, “I bet you didn’t think NYPD would be hosting this year’s “our special love” convention.” When Stabler bring O’Donnell in to the lockup with them, he tells the group they can thank O’Donnell for keeping such meticulous records. O’Donnell is worried and wants his lawyer, but Benson tells him she will meet him in arraignment – and adds with a smile, “tomorrow. “ O’Donnell looks back on his cellmates, as they all move in a little closer.

O’Donnell is being arraigned for one count of accessory to rape, and 1,600 counts of possessing an obscene sexual image of a child. His attorney, Patrice Larue (Jeri Ryan) says he pleads not guilty and requests a dismissal, her grounds being constitutional, saying the law discriminates against him. Cabot argues that Larue is trying to spin the rape of a boy into a civil rights issue. Larue says that O’Donnell was also beaten in the holding cell. Cabot says he had an unfortunate run in with he pedophile buddies and some of them wanted their money back. But Larue says Cabot can make fun of her client’s persecution, everyone else does. Judge Andrews (Lindsay Crouse) is not dismissing the case but does allow the defense, adding, “though it give me the heebie-jeebies.” She sets bail as $1 million.

On a later date in Supreme Court, O’Donnell testifies that adults dating children is harmless and victimless. He says ignorance breeds fear and just because they are the minority does not make them evil. He thinks his feelings toward children are normal. He says relationships with minor date back to the Greeks and admits it is not an easy topic to discuss. He says people shame children into feeling guilty about a healthy relationship with an adult. Under cross examination, Cabot asks if he has any medical or psychiatric research to support his position, and he does not because it does not exist. He adds that anyone engaged in these relationships is terrified to speak on the subject for fear of being demonized. Cabot argues it is because it is illegal, but O’Donnell cites other things that used to be illegal that are now legal. He uses the examples of gay marriage and interracial marriage, which seems to displease Dr. Huang, who is sitting in the gallery. He says minor/adult relationships are normal, but Cabot hammers him, asking why medicine, psychiatry, and the law all say that children are not mature enough to enter into a sexual relationship with an adult. He says he really doesn’t know. But Huang decides to answer from the gallery, saying that it’s because it’s rape, that’s why. Judge Andrews chides him, saying he knows better. But O’Donnell tells the judge it is fine, he wants the prosecution to ask his so called victim if she called it rape, adding that he believes his former girlfriend is testifying next.

Later, on the stand, a girl testifies for the defense, saying she and Kevin dated from the time he was 11 to the age of 14, and Kevin was 30. She says they did have sex, but that he never molested her, she came on to him, he was a gentleman. They broke up because she went to live with her grandmother in another state. She does not consider herself a victim, saying it is the most normal relationship she has been in. Under cross examination, Cabot comments that it is convenient that her testifying of O’Donnell raping her falls right outside the statute of limitations. She says he did not rape her, she consented. Cabot reminds her an 11 year old is not mature enough to consent and that is why it is called statutory rape. She said she had to move away because her father was beating her and her mother was too drunk to care. Cabot indicates that O’Donnell was there to take advantage of a vulnerable girl from a broken home. She said she begged to move in with him but he would not let her, saying society would not understand. Cabot says she was brainwashed by a predator, but she said he loved her so much he convinced her to move in with her grandmother so she could be in a safe home. But Cabot says he broke up with her because she hit puberty and pedophiles are only attracted to pre-pubescent children. But she says Cabot is wrong, he told her to stay in school and face her fears, and now she is getting a masters degree. She says he made her the woman she is today.

Later, in Cabot’s office with Benson also in attendance, Huang is having a cow, saying the trial is a sham as the pedophile is claiming to be a victim and the victim is blowing kisses to her attacker. Benson says the jury is too smart, and Cabot says all it takes is one. Benson wants to bring in other victims and Cabot wishes the judge would allow it, but it is inadmissible. Cabot’s phone rings, and after taking the call, she says, “This is a nightmare. The defense is calling Eva to the stand.” Huang says she will last five minutes before she starts punching people. Benson says she will go talk to her.

When Benson arrives at Eva’s home, she is loading up a dumpster. Benson says she is glad she is putting her past behind her but she can’t throw out a subpoena along with Thomas’ things. Eva said she told that bitch lawyer she won’t testify, and Benson reminds her she has no choice. Eva doesn’t know what the defense wants, and Benson says they want to make her the bad guy. Eve says to bring it on, she’ll show her who the real bad guy is. But Benson says she has to stay calm. Eva is afraid she will make things worse, and Benson tells her she can do this and she believes in her. She tells her she is a fighter and not to quit now, to use her head and not her fists, and she will win.



In Supreme Court, Larue addresses Eva, who is on the stand, as Mrs. Banks, and Eva says she is not going by that jerk’s name any more, she uses Santiago. When Larue asks if O’Donnell ever hit her child she says no, and when she tries to expand on it, Larue cuts her off. But Eva goes on anyway to say what O’Donnell did to her son. She said Cory throws up and cries every night when he goes to sleep, and when a grown man passes by, he shakes. But Larue asks what O’Donnell did to her son, as he never touched him. Eva said no but he encouraged her soon to be ex to rape him. When Larue asks if he had encouraged him to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge would he do that too, Eva tersely responds “Lady, you are twisting my words.” Larue asks about any pending criminal charges, but Cabot objects, saying it is irrelevant. Larue says it goes to credibility, and the judge overrules it. Eva mentions that she does have charges for assault, and Larue brings out that it is for 2 assaults, one against the mother of one boy, and another for stabbing Thomas. Eva insists she is not a criminal. Larue mentions that her son may be terrified of going back to the shelter to be with criminal like herself, and Eva says she is a good mother and he knows it. Larue continues to press, asking why didn’t she know that her son was involved in a relationship with Thomas. She raises her voice, saying that Cory was afraid to say anything because he thought Thomas would hurt him. Cabot is looking a little concerned at Eva’s growing upset. Larue says her son is afraid of her and what she would do if she found out that Thomas loves Cory and could give him all the things that she couldn’t. Eva yells “Stop it!” but Larue goes on, saying Eva failed him as a mother. Eva says, “Thomas Banks never loved my son. He raped him every night for over a year and videotaped it for that animal sitting right there so that he can become a member of his kiddy rape club!” After some silence, Larue says that Eva is full of blame for everyone but herself and does she ever look in a mirror to see what kind of mother she has been? She brings up moving in with a man who raped her son, moving into a drug and diseased infested homeless shelter, punching or stabbing anyone who gets in her way, blaming her client for her neglect. But Eva says she is right and may god forgive her, she is a bad mother. But Cory shouts out from the back of the courtroom saying it is not true, Huang is standing beside him. The judge asks Huang what is this, and Cory says he gave Huang a call and said he needs to be here for his mom. The judge asks him to be quiet. But Cory shouts out that Thomas raped him and that man made him do it! But the judge tells him that is enough, and when she tells Benson to take him out, Cory continues to shout that it wasn’t love, he begged him every night to leave him alone and he never listened – not once. The judge instructs the jury to disregard that remark, and Cory tells his mom that he loves her, and continues to repeat it as he is being led out of the courtroom. Eva begins to cry on the stand.

At a later date, furniture is being moved out of Eva’s apartment. Benson enters and tells Eva that O’Donnell was found guilty, the judge gave him 10 years for accessory to rape, and 2 years for every photo on the flash drive, to be served consecutively - meaning he was sentenced to 3,000 years. She tells Eva and Cory he is never coming out. They are relieved. Eva asks about Thomas, and a happy Benson tells he got 20 years. Eve has happy tears, and she hugs Cory and thanks Benson. But Benson says, “No, Eva, thank you.” She asks where they are going, and Cory says back to Florida. She tells Cory to take his surfboard down to the truck. Eve says she sold “this rotten place” and said who knew that something good would come out of this, now she and Cory can make a new start. Benson said she knew she could do it, and Eva tells her not without her, and as Benson looks on, we fade to black.

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Law & Order “ Reality Bites” Recap & Review

"You're kidding, right?"
(All Photos NBC)

As this episode received a lot of advance press about the focus on reality shows, touching on the real life situations of the “Octomom” and the show “Jon and Kate Plus 8”, they should have billed the show as “Law & Order meets the Twilight Zone.” It featured an odd ending, and may be the first use ever of a “split screen” on the show - at least it is the only one I can recall. While I actually liked the episode, I have to admit that when it ended, I asked out loud, “What the heck was that?”

The show takes a swipe at reality shows, and even makes a glancing blow at ubiquitous crime shows. It included a young character that wants to be a detective and bases his reaction upon seeing his dead mother on the floor to what he has seen on crime shows. When Bernard explains to the kid that his behavior by not calling the police could put him on the list of suspects, the kid says he didn’t see that one. I guess everybody is a detective these days and everybody knows how to cover up his or her crimes, thanks to crime shows.

Anita’s dealing with cancer may end up being a footnote in every episode and a weekly opportunity for a swipe against our broken health insurance system. Her concern with the lifetime cap on her insurance was this week’s dig, and it is something that people should be concerned about. One severe illness can get you to that limit very quickly. I enjoyed her comment about the Fraternal Order of Police; once they get your name on a list they never stop calling you. Someone made a donation to the FOP in my name over 20 years ago and I swear every FOB unit in every city in the US calls me yearly asking for money.

Lupo and Bernard seemed to be having some fun as they went though the case, and it allowed Sisto and Anderson the ability to use more comic facial expressions. Was it just me, or was Bernard acting like he was slightly scared at the mention of a rat? And was this really Lupo’s only “bad beard day?”

The guest stars were very good and Jim Gaffigan did a great job as Larry Johnson, the cheating, debt ridden reality show dad who probably did kill his wife. Oh yeah, his character was a poor liar, too.

At first when I saw the split screen scene between Connie and Michael on the phone outside the courthouse, I flashed back to the 1960s and “Bye Bye Birdie” and the telephone song, and I had a moment of worry about how this scene would turn out. I loved the fact that Cutter was enjoying his view of a clearly annoyed Connie, and it was fun to see both characters seem to act like real people. I was amused when Connie said in jest that she would kill Cutter and McCoy, only to have similar words come back to haunt them with one of the witnesses. I am not sure why they chose to use the split screen rather than just camera angles to show that Cutter was watching her from just across the way. I liked this scene because it brought out a fun side to Connie and Michael, yet felt the split screen was out of place. I do like the fact that they seem to be trying something different to get viewers talking. This episode may do just that.

I also enjoyed the obvious dig that Cutter makes about reality shows being scripted. They are far from real. What I found ironic is that the one thing that may be hurting the Law & Order franchise and scripted drama is not reality TV but NBC’s own Jay Leno Show. Maybe they are saving this theme for a later episode?

When I watched the ending of the episode last night as I watched it live, I almost had the same reaction as the legendary, “Is this because I’m a lesbian?” line. But after watching it again this morning while doing the recap, I think I found it more humorous. It seemed as if Jack wasn’t reacting much to the whole scenario until Cutter mentioned Arthur Branch. The whole reality show premise Connie and Michael outlined was both believable and far-fetched at the same time, a sad state of television these days.



Here is the recap:

Larry Johnson (Jim Gaffigan) arrives at his home with his van full of his 10 children. He tells them to stay in the car until he goes inside to get their mother. The kids seem perplexed. When he gets inside, he finds his wife Joy lying on the floor, dead.

The police and Detective Kevin Bernard (Anthony Anderson) and Cyrus Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) on the scene Inside, Bernard is being told that Joy Johnson was killed by blunt force to the head, time of death is between 12 and 2. A trophy for special athletics is nearby and appears to be the murder weapon. Outside, Larry Johnson sits on the doorstep talking to Lupo. He explains he had left work at 3 to pick up the kids, on Thursday they put the young kids in daycare to give his wife a break. Bernard tells Lupo that a neighbor saw someone leave the house around noon, a “bouncy Hispanic woman.” Larry tells them his kids saw nothing because he went inside first and they waited in the van. He explains all his children are special needs. When they realized they could not get pregnant, they adopted a girl with downs syndrome and then kept going. They now have 10, their oldest, Tim, is in high school, and he is a high performing autistic. When Larry says he should be home soon, Bernard notices Larry’s yellow book bag near the doorway. Larry approaches, and tells his father than mom is dead.

At the 2-7 in interrogation, Tim tells them he left school after 4th period and walked home. He saw his mom on the floor and he tried to wake her up but she was dead, and this is how he got blood on his hand. He didn’t call the police because they always suspect the one close to the body or the boyfriend. When Bernard adds it can also be the person that doesn’t call the police, Tim says he didn’t see that one.

Watching from the observation area, Larry tells Lt. Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson) that Tim wants to be a detective and if this weren’t what it is, this would be the greatest day of his life. He adds Tim has never been violent to anyone in the family and is a good kid. Back in interrogation, Tim tells the detectives that the kids pick on him and this is why he left. Bernard asks why Tim was throwing pencils, and Lupo tells him they called the school who told them Tim was sent home early. They asked how he got into the house and he said his dad trusted him with a key. When they press him on what happened at school, says, “OK, I did it. I killed her.” Van Buren enters the room. Tim says he told his mom what happened and she got mad. Van Buren sits down and tries gently to get Tim to open up. He says DJ took his fanny pack and would not give it back. His key was in the left compartment.

They speak with Larry about DJ Lovell and he knows his parents and they are friends. They have been in his house. Lupo tells them DJ Lovell has a record for theft and petty assault.

Bernard and Lupo go to the home of Brad and Mandy Lovell, and DJ denies stealing the fanny pack. They tell him the key to the house was in there, but he admits he took it but didn’t know a key was in there. He threw the pack in the dumpster. When they tell him they will look around for the fanny pack and the $8,000 missing from the home, he tells them to go ahead. Mandy tells them she was over there Tuesday and that Joy got into a fight with someone on the phone and when Joy hung up, she said the woman was a psycho.

Back at the 2-7, Lupo tells Van Buren they found nothing. Bernard has the Johnson’s phone records, there were three incoming alls on Tuesday. One was from the school, one from the Fraternal Order of Police (Bernard saying they were probably asking for money and Van Buren says they don't take no for an answer), and the third from Belinda Alvarez – likely the “bouncy” Hispanic who left the Johnson home.

At the home of Belinda Alvarez (Nina Lisandrello), she is surrounded by her 10 children, 3 singles and 1 set of septuplets. She motions for her mother to take the kids out. She tells the detectives she was hoping she would get the new reality show. One of them was going to get the show, and she needed more than they did. She called Joy the other day to lay out the facts, saying that she is younger and prettier than Joy and has a better personality for TV. She did go to see her yesterday. She admits they argues on the phone but says when she went to see her, Joy said she didn’t want to do the show and as far as she was concerned the show was Belinda’s. Belinda says she was so exited and begins to bounce around in excitement. When Lupo and Bernard exit her home, Bernard says, “Hence the bouncy.” Lupo ads that he doesn’t think anything that woman could be involved in could be considered reality. Bernard says they should find her fertility doctor and arrest him o general principles.

When they go to the Johnson house to verify Belinda’s story, they door is open and they are met by someone who tells them Larry is in the basement and if they go down there they have to sign a release to use their images for the show. They sign nothing and head downstairs where a reality show in progress with Larry making breakfast for the kids. He detectives wonder if Joy wanted to pull out of the show but Larry did not. Later, with the kids gone, they speak with Larry while filming is going on, and tells them he signed a contract that they can film everything. He says he now has to stay home with the kids and needs a way to pay for that without the show. They step outside the sliding door to speak in private. They tell him about Belinda being over there, and that Joy said they were not going to do the show. Larry says Joy wanted to do the show and show the world their beautiful children.

Back at the 2-7, Van Buren wants to know when she will get to see her detectives on TV. Bernard says Lupo did not want to be on camera, and Lupo says he was having a bad beard day. Van Buren is checking her insurance plan, the lifetime cap. She says if she is cured within the next three months she will be find, otherwise she knows where they can get a good deal on a used Toyota. She says either the “septomom” or Larry are lying. Lupo likes Larry for it as Joy did not want to do the show. When Van Buren asks about the trophy, Bernard thinks the septomom brought so many into the world she may not mind talking one out to get her own TV. But since Larry got the show, Belinda wasn’t thinking like a TV producer. They decide to go talk to the show’s producer.

They speak to the producer at BTW Productions Artie Cramer (Michael Showalter ), and he says Joy had questions but Larry said she was totally on board. He dealt mostly with Larry. The contract had to be signed by both of them, but she never signed it. After she died, it only needed Larry’s signature. The contract was going down to the wire, and Larry wanted a higher “cooperation” fee. Larry wanted a lot up front because he has 10 kids and is also a real estate developer.

They go to Larry’s real estate office, where they find from Larry’s female accountant (Geneva Carr) that things are slow and staff seems to be cut. Bernard asks why she has her feet up on the desk, and she mentions there was a rat, making Bernard look a little distracted. She has been there all week going through Larry’s books. Larry was gone from the office by the time she got back from lunch the day Joy was killed.

Back at Larry’s, the detective confront Larry on his lie about his whereabouts. His sister is also there, she flew in from Chicago to help. He admits he was covering for an affair.

At the apartment of Suzanne Guiliano, she says she worked for Joy and Larry to help out at home. The affair just kind of happened. He was there the day Joy was killed, he came over at 1 and left at 3 to get the kids. He loved Joy and loved her. She would never take Joy away from those kids and she actually liked Joy because the children loved Joy so much. Bernard sees a man’s shirt in the laundry hamper, and she says it is Larry’s. and he changes shirts after their visit. His wife would not notice as he always wears blue shirts.

Back at the 2-7, Larry is in interrogation and they confront him with the new information and when they tell him they found blood on the shirt, he says one of the kids lashed out at breakfast and cut Joy and he must have gotten the blood on his shirt. Van Buren, watching from the observation window, comments that Larry has an answer for everything. When ADA Connie Rubirosa (Alana De La Garza) asks what they have on him and Van Buren goes through the details, Rubirosa says she would convict him but what evidence to they have? When Van Buren mentions the blood on the shirt, Rubirosa said Larry explained that away. Lupo comes out and adds to the list, but Rubirosa is still not satisfied.. Lupo says his babysitter/mistress said every day when they get home the kids get out of the car and run into the house, except the day Joy was killed, when Larry made them stay in the car when he went in first, thinking Larry knew his wife was dead and didn’t ant the kids to see it. Rubirosa tells him if they can confirm that it would be enough to arrest him for murder. Lupo says they will go talk to the kids and Van Buren will try to stall Larry.

Bernard and Lupo are at Larry’s home, his sister questioning if it is really OK. Lupo questions the kid about what happens when they come home and has some trouble getting the right words out of the kids. Tim enters and helps them communicate and gets the kids to explain that their father stopped them and had them stay in the car that day their mother “got hurt.” When Lupo tells Bernard this is confirmation, they hear Larry come home with pizza. But the detectives motions Larry over, and then proceed to arrest him on camera. Bernard looks into the lens and says, “That’s a wrap.”

Larry is being arraigned, he pleads not guilty and his attorney Miss Novelle (Marin Hinkle) requests ROR because of this 10 special needs kids at home. But Rubirosa requests remand. The judge says to hold on $500K for now and she will review pending a report from Children’s Services.



In the DA’s office, DA Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston), EADA Michael Cutter (Linus Roache) and Rubirosa watch the video of Larry’s arrest on “Larry Plus 10.” McCoy turns it off and says dryly, “Very entertaining. Whatever happened to the Cosbys?” Cutter replies, “They didn’t have enough kids.” Rubirosa tells them Children’s Services said if Larry makes bail he can get the kids back, and if he doesn’t the kids get split up. McCoy says it will look like their fault and that they are heartless – Cutter adding it will poison the jury pool - so McCoy tells Rubirosa to drop bail down to $100K but make the condition that he stop appearing on that “damn show.”

Later, as Larry and his lawyer and Rubirosa leave the courtroom, the producer of the show calls out to her. He mentions Swarthmore, saying she lived with Susie Nevin in senior year. She remembers his name – Artie Cramer – and knows he is the reality show producer. She walks away form him but he follows. He tells her the show is dead because they need Larry on camera, and she says it is not gonna happen. He asks what about her, and when she asks what about her, he says Larry’s sister is stiff but he can keep it alive if they allow him to focus on the trial. She reminds him cameras are not allowed in the courtroom, and he suggests outside the courtroom,. He thinks she can take the case to the public. He also has tapes of Larry and his wife during negotiations for the show, talking about whether or not to do it, and they disagreed. She says she can subpoena that takes, but Artie says they can fight it based on the First Amendment. He say she can get them hand delivered, and he walks off.

Back in the DA’s office, McCoy tells Rubirosa that the tapes could help. He says without their point of view it is all propaganda for acquittal. When Cutter pushes for her to go ahead, she says fine, why don’t you be on the show. Cutter says they didn’t ask him. She gives him a bit of a glare.


On another day, a crew is filming Rubirosa as she gets out of her taxi. They have a problem with the white balance so they ask her to drive up again, but, frustrated because she is late, she asks them just to film her getting out of the car again. They ask her to stop and tell them what she is going to do, she gets annoyed. Her phone rings and it is Cutter, calling her from behind the column at the courthouse entrance.

Cutter: You having fun?
Rubirosa: I am gonna kill you and then I’m gonna kill Mc Coy
Cutter: On camera?
Rubirosa: I don’t…I don’t care! I’d be better off in prison! Where are you?
Cutter; Uh, I’m in the courthouse. (he is watching her across the street) You almost here?
Rubirosa: Yeah. Uh-huh. (angry) Except first I have to tell my friend the CAMERA what’s going on!
Cutter: What are you gonna say?
Rubirosa (sighs): Don’t worry, just the party line.

She hangs up, and turns back to the camera and explains that they will begin to prove their case, and that Larry may look admirable because he surrounded himself with needy children, but the evidence will show…and we switch to Cutter, in the courtroom, who finished the thought that Larry’s business failings made him desperate to appear on the show. When his wife refused to along, he argued with her and killed her. The only person in the family that Larry Johnson cared about was Larry Johnson.

The defense attorney Miss Novelle makes her opening statement, saying that no one saw Larry kill Joy or saw them argue, then implicates Belinda, DJ, and says Tim actually confessed to the killing. She says no one knows who killed Joy.

Back in McCoy’s office, Cutter says there is no evidence against those others and she is throwing spaghetti against the ceiling to see what will stick. McCoy tells him that is exactly what he would be doing, some of it sounds pretty sticky. Cutter says the jury won’t like that Larry went on a reality right after his wife was murdered and is exploiting his disabled children. Rubirosa enters with the video from Artie of the interview with Larry and Joy, that she got “in exchange for peddling my ass on TV.” It is evident that Joy has reservations about going ahead with the show and being constantly on camera and is concerned about the kids. Cutter sees this as the seed of the argument that led to the murder, but McCoy says he didn’t hear her say she wasn’t going to do the show. But Rubirosa adds they do have a witness that she said it to.

Back at court, Belinda Alvarez is on the stand. She says that Joy said she could have it, and said Joy said it was “deletEErious”. When Cutter repeats the word as “deleterious” she says, ‘I had to look it up too. Like it would damage the kids.” She said they were not going to do it. But under cross, Novelle implies Joy said this to just get out Belinda out of the house. Novelle says Belinda says told a producer she would kill to be on the show, but when Belinda denies it, she brings out an audition tape of a Belinda saying just that on screen. Cutter shakes his head. Cutter leans over and tells Rubirosa that he guesses her friend Cramer made a deal with them too.

Later, after a recess, Cramer is on the stand, and he says he did not think Belinda meant her comment literally, she was just trying to impress him. Cutter brings out that the reality shows are actually scripted, and Cramer admits that they amplify what is there. Cramer admits that Joy was not eager to be on the show, and never told him directly she wanted to be on the show, he only heard it through her husband. He testifies how Larry stalled with the contract. He told him Larry that right before Joy was killed, that he needed the contract signed within 24 hours or he will do the show with someone else. Under cross, Novelle tells Cramer of all the suicides or suicide attempts surrounding reality shows. He admits people can get highly wrought and they try to week out the unstable, and when the defense tired to say this is why Belinda was ruled out, mentioning her pregnancy with septuplets that she could not support just to get the show, Cutter objects, saying there is no basis for that. The judge sustains the objection. She brings up the delay in the contract saying that Larry may have been trying to get more money. Cramer admits his accountant called him and asked him about how much money Larry would earn, and refers to the accountant as “he”. Rubirosa tells Cutter the detectives met the accountant, and it is a woman. He wonders who called Cramer.

Outside in the courthouse lobby, Cramer is there and he is on camera talking about his involvement in the case. He asks Rubirosa how he did, and she says fantastic, but she wants a word with him with no cameras. She is carrying her note pad under her arm. When he asks for her impressions afterwards for the show, she says she thinks the lines are getting a little bit blurred, and he cuts the camera.

Back in Cutter’s office, Rubirosa says Cramer had a call back number for the accountant and it is a finance company that is a front for Sammy Shiner, a loan shark. They suspect Larry owed him, and he can’t pay him back, which is motivation to get on the show and to kill. They want to get Shiner to testify and give him immunity. But Cutter tells her not to do anything yet so as not to tip them off. Larry will be on the stand next and all he needs to do is get him to say he doesn’t need any money, then they can use Shiner to rebut and it will look to the jury that Larry is trying to play them for fools.

Back at Supreme Court, Larry is on the stand, and after Larry says he and his wife were satisfied with everything with the show. He does not believe that Joy told Belinda she would not do the show. He said the day of the murder he altered his routine because Joy was tired that morning and she might be napping, saying it was not that unusual. He says he did not kill his wife.

Under cross, Cutter brings up Larry's affair with the babysitter, and from the time he left the office to when he went to see his girlfriend that day. Larry said he stopped to get coffee. Cutter tried to imply that Larry stooped in to see his wife before his girlfriend to talk about the contract, and Larry says he did not need the money that badly that he would kill his wife. When Cutter says he was deep in debt, Larry says he could do other projects. He may have owed a little money but it was not like it was life or death. Cutter whispers to Rubirosa to get the material witness warrant for Shiner.

Later, while looking at the recording from the show, they get the news that Shiner seems to be out of the country and he had just left, They wonder how the defense was tipped off, and Rubirosa realizes that her legal pad was in full view for the camera when she stopped to talk to Cramer after his testimony, and her notes were clearly visible on the video.

Back at Supreme Court, Cutter is telling the judge the rebuttal witness is not available, and says he has further questions of Larry. He brings up the name of Sammy Shiner and Uptown Finance, saying Larry owed him $400K. But Larry isn’t biting, and denies knowing him. Cutter mentions the call made to Cramer from an accountant at uptown finance, but Larry says he knew nothing about that. Cutter asks that Larry didn’t know he borrowed money from a notorious loan shark who is taking a close personal interest in his finances, and Larry says Uptown Finance came recommended and it was a normal business transaction. Cutter comments that Shiner’s non-paying customers sometimes wind up dead. The defense objects, saying they should bring Shiner in to testify. The judge tells him that is enough.

The jury is in, and tell the judge they are deadlocked. He declares a mistrial.

Back in McCoy’s office, Rubirosa tells Cutter and McCoy that they are searching the Caribbean to rebut Johnson’s perjury. Last they heard, Shiner was either in Anguilla or Antigua. Cutter says the producers have made some changes to Larry Plus 10. They are moving his family with the septomom’s into the same mansion on Long Island, along with the “human lie detector”; one of those people who can tell if you are lying by the way you blink. Cutter says the idea is to have both families compete for prizes and to figure out what head of household murdered Joy Johnson, the television audience gets to vote and, “They’ve asked Arthur Branch to be the judge. “ After a pregnant pause, McCoy looks at Cutter and says, “You’re kidding, right?” And we fade to black.




All Text Content (Recaps, Review, Commentary) © allthingslawandorder.blogspot.com unless otherwise noted

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Law & Order “Human Flesh Search Engine”, SVU “Anchor” Episode Information

NBC has released information for the new October 30, 2009 episode of Law & Order titled “Human Flesh Search Engine” and for the November 4, 2009 episode of Law & Order SVU titled “Anchor.” Here are the details:

Law & Order “Human Flesh Search Engine” Air Date 10/30/2009 (8 PM ET/ 7C Wednesday, NBC)
THE DETECTIVES INVESTIGATE A WEBSITE WITH THREATENING WEB POSTS.

When Sid Maxwell (Guest Star Rene Ifrah), owner of a fashion company is found dead, Detectives Cyrus Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) and Kevin Bernard (Anthony Anderson) assume asphyxia. But when fashion photographer, Terry Clark (Guest Star Jeremy Beiler), leads the detectives to an alarming discovery of Maxwell's true identity, they uncover a suspicious website with threatening web posts. Also starring: S. Epatha Merkerson (Lieutenant Anita Van Buren), Sam Waterston (District Attorney Jack McCoy), Alana De La Garza (Connie Rubirosa), and Linus Roache (Michael Cutter).

My recap and review of Law & Order "Human Flesh Search Engine" can be found here.

Law & Order SVU “Anchor” UPDATE 10/27/09: Air Date changed from 11/4/2009 to 12/09/2009 (9 PM ET/ 8 C Wednesday, NBC)

THE "ANCHOR BABIES" OF IMMIGRANT FAMILIES ARE REPEATEDLY BEING MURDERED, AND THE CASE PUTS IMMIGRATION SUPPORTERS AGAINST THE RADICAL FANS OF A HOT-HEADED TALK SHOW HOST.

When two young girls are similarly murdered a little over a month apart, Detective Odafin Tutuola (Ice-T) decides to investigate the gruesome crimes. After a third killing, Fin discovers that all three children were "anchor babies" of immigrant families, and reaches out to the Center of Immigrant Services. After sifting through the Center's hate mail, and witnessing a fight between immigration lawyer Randall Carver (guest star John Larroquette) and Joe Thagard (guest star Thomas Sadoski), a fanatical follower of a xenophobic talk show host, Fin begins to narrow in on the killer. Also starring: Mariska Hargitay (Detective Olivia Benson), Chris Meloni (Detective Elliot Stabler), Richard Belzer (Detective John Munch), Dann Florek (Captain Donald Cragen), Tamara Tunie (Dr. Melinda Warner), and B.D. Wong (Dr. George Huang).

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Anchor" can be found here.

Update 10/17/09
SVU exec producer Neal Baer advised via Twitter that the upcoming SVU schedule is as follows:

Nov. 4: Users
Nov. 11: Turmoil
Nov. 18: Perverted
Dec 2: Anchor

Since NBC just released the information late yesterday about Anchor, if/when NBC officially changes the air date for Anchor, I will update the above listing,



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

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

Law & Order, SVU Episode Information, Week of October 18, 2009 + 1 More

Two new episodes of Law & Order and Law & Order SVU are coming up next week on NBC. Law & Order SVU “Hardwired” ”Hardwired” stars Garret Dillahunt and Rosie Perez, and the promo and preview video clips are below. Law & Order “Dignity” features guest star Richard Thomas, and I’ve also included a few preview photos from NBC.

Episode information for the upcoming Law & Order SVU “Spooked” featuring guest star Vincent Spano has also been released, and that information is listed below as well.

Here are the details for the week of October 18:

Law & Order SVU “Hardwired” Air Date 10/21/2009 (9 PM ET/ 8C Wednesday)
A YOUNG BOY IS RAPED, AND THE SUSPECT LEADS TO A CIVIL RIGHTS GROUP IN FAVOR OF CHILD-ADULT RELATIONSHIPS.

After Eva Banks (guest star Rosie Perez) makes a shocking discovery about her son, Cory's (guest star Cruz Santiago) behavior at school, she takes him to the doctor, only to find out that he has been the victim of sexual abuse. Detectives Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Elliot Stabler (Chris Meloni) come onto the scene and question the victim and his family. From the boy’s frightened reaction when his stepfather, Thomas Banks (guest star Jim True-Frost), silences the investigation, it is clear to everyone in the room who the real perpetrator is. Detective Benson and Stabler are about to arrest the suspect when Thomas agrees to give up the leader of the largest pro child-adult relationship civil rights group in exchange for amnesty.
(Videos below)

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Hardwired" can be found here.

Law & Order “Dignity” Air Date 10/23/2009 (8 PM ET/ 7C Wednesday)
A LATE-TERM ABORTION DOCTOR IS MURDERED AND A PRO-LIFE PROTESTOR IS INVESTIGATED.

When Dr. Walter Benning (Guest Star Matthew Boston) is killed in church, Detectives Cyrus Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) and Kevin Bernard (Anthony Anderson) arrive at the scene and are informed a white male was seen fleeing in a dark sedan. The minister (Guest Star Michael Hollick), tells the detectives that Dr. Benning was a late-term abortion doctor and had been shot at before and threatened many times; and his wife, Phyllis Benning (Guest Star Tracy Sallows), is convinced it is a pro-life zealot who is responsible. While the detectives scan the several protestor suspects, Lieutenant Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson) gets more bad news and ADA Connie Rubirosa (Alana de la Garza) faces a moral dilemma causing tension among the team. Also starring: S. Epatha Merkerson (Lieutenant Anita Van Buren), Sam Waterston (District Attorney Jack McCoy), Alana De La Garza (Connie Rubirosa), and Linus Roache (Michael Cutter).
My recap and review of Law & Order "Dignity" can be found here.


(Photos below)


Upcoming New Episode

Law & Order SVU “Spooked” Air Date 10/28/2009 (9 PM ET/ 8C Wednesday)
THE DETECTIVES INVESTIGATE A MURDER THAT IS INTERVENED BY THE FBI BECAUSE THE CASE BECOMES TOO DANGEROUS OF AN OBSTACLE FOR THE SVU COPS.

When a young couple is found murdered in the back of a padlocked truck, Detectives Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Elliot Stabler (Chris Meloni) investigate the scene and link the male victim to a dangerous Mexican drug cartel. Benson and Stabler follow a lead to an abandoned drug den where they are surprised to see FBI Special Agent Dean Porter (guest star Vincent Spano), who is separately working on the case. Porter tries to take over the investigation, but suspicion arises and the two continue the hunt for the murderer. Following their intuition, Benson and Stabler come across shocking discoveries, which lead them to believe this case is much larger than a mere drug-related murder. Also starring: Richard Belzer (Detective John Munch), Dann Florek (Captain Donald Cragen), Ice-T (Detective Odafin Tutuola), Tamara Tunie (Dr. Melinda Warner), and B.D. Wong (Dr. George Huang).

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Spooked" can be found here.

Photos from Law & Order "Dignity" All Photos from NBC

Preview L&O “Dignity”


Promo clip L&O Dignity



Promo SVU “Hardwired”



Preview Clip SVU “Hardwired”




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

Law & Order SVU “Hammered” Recap & Review

All Photos from NBC

Law & Order SVU “Hammered” seems to bring out the best in the SVU team, and the worst in ADA Sonya Paxton. Clearly DA Jack McCoy isn’t going to be too happy to hear the news that Paxton’s drinking problem tanked an important case, especially after he assigned her the task of cleaning up the “he said – she said” unit. Of course, Jack shouldn’t be one to cast any stones about anyone else’s drinking – but that’s another matter.

This is a case of a woman who was murdered by a man with a hammer who was highly intoxicated at the time. It brought out the best in the detectives, and the episode had a feel of the SVU episodes of long ago, making use of the whole team. Dann Florek got a few laughs from me when he told Munch to “zip it”, and called out Benson and Stabler for their “mutual stroke fest.” He got my sympathy when he opened up to Paxton about he own experience with quitting alcohol, and she seemed to blow it off as something that was easy for him to do.

But this episode was a great one for both the Paxton lovers and the Paxton haters. I am sure than the Paxton haters were thrilled when she got her comeuppance, and in such a public and self-destructive way. Stabler was also smart to get out of bar with the speed of light as he did, but he left Olivia holding the bag with Paxton who looked primed for a night of drinking. Olivia may have been somewhat satisfied to be present at Paxton’s ultimate downfall in court, but then again, since it made her think of her mother’s own problems with alcohol, maybe later she was grateful to obtain some understanding of her mother’s battle with the bottle.

Christine Lahti’s presence on Law & Order SVU added quite a bit of excitement to the episodes, but also a lot of controversy. She was a polarizing character; some fans didn’t like her antagonistic style, while others felt that it brought some needed personal conflict between characters. I liked the spark that she added. When watching an episode, I knew Sonya Paxton was going to stir up the pot in each episode, and it was always a surprise in how she did it. The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences should just hand Christine Lahti her Emmy right now, and save her the wait and the potential for another ill-timed bathroom break as when she won a Golden Globe in 1998.

Her drinking problem being exposed in the courtroom seemed off when the defendant yelled out that Paxton was drunk, and then Paxton looses it right away by making that weird comment to his lawyer that he was a “tiny little man.” When people go off the deep end on SVU, they really go off. I am sure there is some code of conduct for attorneys in a courtroom which gives the judge the right to order a Breathalyzer, but I found myself wondering what would have happened if Paxton refused to take the test? Either way, she was in deep trouble.

Elliot makes yet again another mistake when he leaves a suspect unattended in order to take a call. Munch was right, Dalton technically was not under arrest, but still, Stabler was careless to walk away to get better cell phone reception. It seemed like a rookie mistake and I was glad that Cragen ripped him on it. But later Cragen missteps when he brought up Olivia’s mother’s problem in such an open forum, especially with Paxton present.

Scott Foley did a great job in the role of Dalton Rindell, the clueless murdering drunk. Ironic that Paxton went after him and the stress of the case became her own downfall with drinking. I wondered how many times she was cradling a cup of coffee that it only had coffee in it? Or, was she just one of those drinkers who only do it when they are off the clock? I think she descended too quickly from a being a possibly functioning drunk to a non-functioning drunk. Having experienced both types via work colleagues and family members with alcohol problems, usually it is not so suddenly and dramatically switched on to non-functioning side as it was with Paxton. There are clues and warning signs, one just has to care enought to look for them. In the case of Paxton, maybe no one cared. Personally, I would like Paxton to come back from rehab and return to working the SVU cases, but maybe next time with a smaller chip on her shoulder.

Here is the recap:

Dalton Rindell (Scott Foley) wakes up on the floor. He doesn’t seem to realize that he has blood on his hands as he splashes water on his face He looks up to his mirror and sees it is shattered, with blood on it. He touches his head where it seems he has been banged up. He looks around his apartment and sees bloody hand prints and blood everywhere. He wraps a towel around himself and walks through his apartment and sees blood on the ceiling. He sees the body of a woman on the floor and says, “no..no,” collapses, and throws up.

Later, the police and ME Warner (Tamara Tunie) are on the scene, along with Detectives Elliot Stabler (Chris Meloni) and Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay). Rindell is with the paramedics because of the gash on his head. There were fluids on the victim’s thigh indicate sexual activity. She had been bludgeoned by someone in a rage with what was likely a hammer. Stabler mentions the 911 call came in at 7:34 AM and asks if Warner can give a time of death. Warner can give the exact minute – the victim tried to shield her head with her hands, and her watch was broken – Benson sees it was 12: 57. Stabler comments that this means Rindell was out cold for 6-1/2 hours. Benson looks at the watch closely and says this may explain the rage, the watch was engraved “Audrey, with eternal love, Michael.“ Benson wonders if Rindell was having an affair with Audrey and Michael caught them in the act so he attacked Dalton and kills his cheating lover. Stabler states “so the sex was consensual.”

Meanwhile, Rindell is being looked after by a paramedic as the detectives approach, and Stabler asks if he can tell them what happened. He says he is hoping they could tell him; he doesn’t remember anything and his head is splitting. Benson asks if his injury could affect his memory, and the paramedic says he checked out fine. Stabler asks what his relationship was with Audrey, and he has no idea who that is. He says until he found her this morning, he had never seen her in his life.

While Warner is loading up the body, Stabler stops her. He thinks Dalton’s story stinks. There is no sign of forced entry, but and the victim’s purse is not there. Stabler thinks Dalton is covering for someone. Stabler wants to know if the person she had sex with was with Dalton so he wants Warner to get a DNA swab from Dalton.

At the SVU squad, Benson and Munch are getting Dalton’s fingerprints. They ask him to sign a release so they can search his apartment and not have to “pester a judge for a warrant.” When Munch tells him they have to keep it legal, he signs it, but wonders why the killer picked him. When Munch begins to say if he had a nickel for every dead prostitute he ever woke up with, Dalton quickly denies ever using prostitutes. When Munch says that “without gallows humor to cope with what we see every day I’d go stark raving mad.” Fin quips, “What do you mean, go?” Warner enters and asks for a DNA swab, and Dalton asks, “routine procedure?” Warner says it is with his permission, and he agrees. Benson comes in with a toolbox and says that Dalton’s hammer is not in there. When Dalton asks if that is what the killer used, he says he feels sick, and Stabler suggests they take him to the hospital to be checked out. As Dalton leaves, Benson thinks that Dalton knows the perp, and Fin says if he is hiding something they will find it.

At Mercy General Hospital, Dr. Manning (Amir Arison) finds a sliver of glass in his head but his CT looks fine. The doctor decides to start an IV as Dalton may be dehydrated. He tells the detectives he did not party last night, he was working, and he doesn’t do drugs or drink, and wonders if someone drugged him.

Back at Dalton’s apartment, Munch and Fin check out the bathroom, there are bloody prints and damp towels. They check the shower and find a hammer, washed clean.

Back at the hospital, Dalton, upon hearing this news, seems confused over what happened and has no answers. The detectives continue to question him. He doesn’t remember coming home. He is a developer, his partner Bill and he met with buyers of co-op units that they presold and about 75 people showed up at their headquarters. Everyone was unhappy because they ran into a construction problem and they threw the party to put their minds at ease. When Benson challenges him that he said he was partying last night, Dalton tells her it was no party.

At R-T Developers, Captain Don Cragen (Dann Florek) talks to Dalton’s business partner Bill Tattinger (Chris Bauer). When Cragen thinks they are flim-flamming, Tattinger tells him that this will be a landmark building and they were trying to get new financing, otherwise they will have to file bankruptcy. He tells Cragen the people are already in for $200-400K each. Cragen sees this as motive to murder or set them up for one. Tattinger calls Dalton a coward as he left early. Cragen asks for a list of his ‘victims, I mean buyers” and Tattinger refuses.

On the roof of the building next door, the police on the scene show Munch a Fin a bad that seems to have been tossed from Dalton’s apartment right. They find ladies clothes, shoes, and a purse. The ID of the victim is inside, it’s Audrey Hale, a doctor at Westside Women’s clinic, where they do abortions.

Elsewhere, Benson and Stabler are talking to Audrey’s ex husband (Chris McKinney). He says he never stopped loving her. They argued about her job at the clinic, and he was afraid for their daughter Clarissa. They received a few threats, hang up phone calls and letters. He didn’t keep them as he didn’t want them finding the letters. He petitioned the court for sole custody and lost. He told Audrey this would happen. He had no connection with R-T Developers, or with Dalton.

In SVU interrogation, Munch is in Dalton’s face:

Munch: You say the first thing that pops into your head. Roe V. Wade.
Suspect: Two ways to cross a creek.
Fin, yelling: You consider Dr. Hale’s murder a joke?

He says no, it was horrific and he didn’t do it. He thinks he is being set up. Munch goes on:

Munch: Guy puts a chunk down on a 3 million dollar condo that’s never gonna be built and he’s not gonna get any of his money back.
Fin: I can see that making a guy a little nutty.
Munch: Right, so he starts obsessing about the ills of the world and kills two birds with one hammer (bends over and stares the suspect, who is seated, in the face.)

Fin says they will need the investors list to prove it, and Dalton says they are hanging by a thread and asks them to be discreet. Fin says no problem., but asks Dalton if he is pro-choice or no choice? Dalton says it is not on his priority list. Munch says abortion is a subject everyone has a strong opinion about.

At the Westside Women’s Clinic, Benson and Stabler arrive to someone handing out flyers saying abortion is murder. The woman is with Operation Save and Deliver. They question her about what would happen if the woman’s life was in danger or if she was raped, and the woman holds her views in favor of the baby. Benson tells her she has no idea on the toll this takes on a woman. The woman does not condone Hale’s killing but says it is a blessing there is one less mass murder out there.

Inside the clinic, they speak to Dr. Kittle (Tibor Feldman) who says they added bulletproof glass after a shooting years ago. He cites stats from violence against clinics. When he moves to show them the files of hate mail that clinic has received, a loud bang against the window is heard. Stabler pulls away the shade and it looks like an egg was thrown against the window. Stabler runs out to the woman who was handing out flyers and asks if she did it, and she says it was a couple of kids and they took off. As she wipes egg off her face, she sarcastically thanks them for his concern for the chicken fetuses. Benson has the boxes of letters, and tells Stabler that the doctor said Audrey was supposed to meet a female friend for dinner last night, and they will go see if she made it.

At the home of Linda Peters, she tells them she and Audrey had dinner and they left after dinner, they shared a taxi. She suggested they have a nightcap, and says there was a guy there, he was white, 30s and good looking. The name of the bar was West Falls Lounge. Audrey and they guy hit it off, and Linda left her there with him. She thinks his name was the name of a bookstore, and when Stabler mentions Dalton, she says yes.

Later, Benson and Stabler are driving Dalton home and stop at the West Falls Lounge. He doesn’t know the place, and says he hasn’t been to a bar in over a year. Benson parks the car and says she will be back in a second. Stabler asks him if he was sure he wasn’t there last night. He says no, he has been in the program for one year, three months, and eight days sober, handing Stabler his one-year chip. Stabler suggests that Dalton had a headache, he was throwing up and dehydrated. And when Dalton says he was hit in the head, Stabler suggests he had a hangover. Dalton insists he does not drink, and saying he needs to use the rest room, gets out of the car. Stabler calls out for him to come back, and when Dalton walks in the bar, the bartender identifies him as the person he saw with Audrey. Dalton asks where is the men’s room, and the bartender asks if he doesn’t remember from last night, saying to a confused Dalton he was knocking them back. The bartender told the detectives that Dalton bought Audrey a few rounds and they left together, he knows a hook up when he sees one. Dalton gets upset, grabbing the bartender, saying he is lying. They pull Dalton off, and he says he is going to be sick again and runs to the bathroom. Stabler tries to follow him in to the bathroom but Dalton shuts the door. Stabler’s phone rings, and he moves away from the door to get better reception. The caller tells him the bloody print in the bathroom is Dalton’s and Dalton’s DNA matches the rape kit. But when Stabler gets back to the restroom, Dalton is not there. They see he is running but by the time they get outside, he’s long gone.

Back at the SVU squad, Cragen is having a cow that Benson and Stabler took Dalton on a “field trip.” When Munch begins to tell him Dalton wasn’t technically under arrest, Cragen snaps, “Zip it, John. They are perfectly capable of making their own half assed excuses.” Benson and Stabler both accept the blame, but Cragen says, “Spare me the mutual stroke fest” and asks what they are doing to fix it. Stabler says they sat on his apartment all night and he didn’t come home. Benson got subpoenas for his cell phone records and somebody is watching his garage where he keeps his car. Fin got the word out to the airport, train, and bus terminals. Munch says the bank has an alert on his bank and credits cards, no action yet. Cragen thinks someone is harboring him. It seems like Dalton’s family has had a host of problems of their own. ADA Sonja Paxton (Christine Lahti) enters, and Stabler says, “Just when I thought my day couldn’t get any worse.” Paxton is looking for her “missing defendant.” Stabler says, “We could try and find him, unless you want to waste our time busting my balls.” Paxton says, “Oh, I never kick a fellow when he’s down. I’m sure you feel like a grade A moron as it is. Course I’m the one that has to slog through a Wade hearing because you tainted the bartender’s ID, but…” She takes a swig from her huge coffee cup. She tells them that she is assuming they will retrieve Dalton so she is proceeding with her trial prep, she just stopped by to catch a movie and she asks Cragen if he want to join her.

Paxton and Cragen are looking at a recreation of the crime scene, done using a Leica Scan Station. The tech walks through how it appears the crime happened. The victim was in bed, Dalton hits her with the hammer in bed, and Audrey stumbled out of the bed, tangled in the sheets. Dalton has her trapped on the floor and continues to beat her there. But Paxton comments that Audrey was raped first. Cragen said it looks like the sex was consensual because they hooked up in a bar and were both drinking heavily. Paxton scoffs at that, saying half the rapists she’s put away were drunk or high, it is called “Dutch courage” and it doesn’t excuse “jack.” She throws away her coffee cup. Paxton suggests that stopping her from crying rape is a motive to killer her. The Tech person continues to go on with the simulation, indicating Audrey’s watch was broken during one of the hammer strikes. With the violence of the blows, Paxton comments that Dalton should have been covered in blood. But they have no bloody clothes and the tech assumes Dalton was naked. Cragen thinks she cleaned up and then banged his head against the medicine chest mirror when he realized what he had done. But Paxton thinks he was staging the scene to make it appear he was attacked. A folder is delivered to Cragen, and while he looks at it, Paxton tells the tech to “raise the production values” and “spare no expense.” Cragen tells Paxton they just got Dalton’s cell phone records and he made dozens of calls to his partner, all unanswered, but he had a nice long chat with his ex.

Munch and Fin track down Dalton’s ex wife, who says she doesn’t know where he is. Munch brings up the cell phone call, and she said he just told her his insane story and swears he has being set up. She says they can go to her place, once her open house is over. Fin reminds her as a rental agent there are plenty of places she could stash Dalton. She adds that after what he did to her, there is no way she would help him, describing their marriage as “very Days of Wine and Roses.” She quit drinking and Dalton couldn’t. When he drinks he turns into a monster and she walked when he hurt her. She says his business partner and old drinking buddy Bill Tattinger may help him.

Benson and Stabler get to R-T Developers to find Dalton fighting with Bill Tattinger. They try to break them up. As Stabler cuffs Dalton who is now on the floor, he tells them he ran from them to prove his innocence, and he tells Tattinger to admit what he did. Tattinger says Dalton is out of his mind. When Stabler says he is under arrest, Dalton says it does not matter, he figured out who is responsible for this. He yells for Tattinger to tell them. Tattinger paused, then says they were dying there, and he thought a little liquid courage would help Dalton. But Dalton says there is no way one drink would have done that to him and accused Tattinger of putting something in it. Tattinger says he didn’t do anything illegal, and Benson gets in his face, saying “not by frat-boy standards. You wanna have your way with him, get him nice and drunk.” As Benson storms out, Tattinger swears he only gave him one, and what harm could one do?

Back in the interrogation room, Dalton tells Benson and Stabler that he is on a prescription benzo for anxiety, and Benson says you are not supposed to mix that with alcohol.. He says Bill kept telling him one wouldn’t hurt, he must have made the drink stronger. But they remind him after he left he had many more drinks, and he said he didn’t even know he was doing it and doesn’t even remember leaving the office. He thinks the combination of the meds and alcohol disoriented him. He said that Bill pressured him into the first drink and he quit drinking because once he has one, he can’t stop.

Paxton, looking on the other side of the window in the observation room, says, “What a load of crap.” When she says he just didn’t want to stop, Cragen says it is not that cut and dry. When he says alcohol is a recognized addiction, she reminds him millions of people have been able to overcome it. He admits he has been sober over 20 years but he struggles with it every day and it’s not something you overcome. She points her finger at him, and says, “But you’re not drinking, are ya? Proving my point, alcohol is just a crutch, for weak willed and pathetic losers.” He asks her how many coffees and cigarettes she’s had today, and she scoffs, laughs, and says she can quit anytime she wants. She adds that if she committed a felony, she would never use the Twinkie defense and intoxication is never an excuse for rape and murder. Cragen tells her she will have at Dalton for the murder but won’t get him on the rape. But Munch, hearing Cragen's comment, says someone is there that he needs to talk to.

In Cragen’s office, with Paxton present, Glenna says she used to be an assistant at R-T Developers. A little over a year ago, after the Dalton’s separated, he was working late and had been drinking all day. He exposed himself and she tried to leave but he covered her. He grabbed her breast and forced his hand down her pants. Paxton leans over and whispers to Cragen that she told him he was a rapist.

Benson and Stabler are in interrogation with Dalton, who said he took responsibility for assaulting his old assistant. But Benson says paying her off so she wouldn’t file charges is not taking responsibility. He tells them to ask Glenna when that happened, it was the day he admitted he finally had a problem and he quit cold turkey. He said he never touched another drop until Bill poured it down his throat, but Paxton enters and tells him to cut the crap. She says she wants him to admit he killed Audrey and got tired of watching Benson and Stabler playing patty cake. But Dalton says he can’t admit to something he doesn’t remember and he has a history of blackouts. Paxton taunts him, saying “The liquor made me do it. My partner made me do it.” She says his partner is not the one who slipped Dalton a mickey or killed Audrey. She accused him of finding out what Audrey did for a living and then killed her in a drunken rage. But Dalton says he is not anti-abortion. Paxton says that her profession was just a fluke, so why did he kill her? Dalton says he does not know and swears he has no memory. She pushes a computer towards him and tell him that maybe this will jog his memory, and she looks at Benson and Stabler. She is playing the recreation video, and they have his face superimposed over the computer simulation’s face of the killer. He says that is him, and states “You can’t show that to a jury, can you?” She says she can’t show it to them with his likeness, but she can show everything else. She said she made this one “just for you.” He slams the computer shut and says he want to talk to a lawyer. Stabler sarcastically thanks her for her help.

At the Supreme Court in a Frye hearing, a Dr. Sofer (Linda Emond) is on the stand talking about alcoholics and about a study she conducted. But Paxton objects to the hearing, calling Sofer’s information voodoo science. She adds that intoxication has been banned as an excuse for rape and murder, but before she can finish, defense attorney Roger Kressler (Ned Eisenberg) say that the people did not meet their burden for rape and that charged was dropped. She corrects her statement and says murder only, and finished that it has been banned since the 19th century. Kressler asks Judge Moredock (John Cullum) to remind Paxton that the point of a Frye hearing is to consider the admissibility of new science. But Moredock says he has other matters to consider, and the objection is overruled. Dr. Sofer goes on to say that addiction is a neurobiological disease, a brain disease. She says images of addicted individuals shows physical changes in the brain critical to judgment, memory, and behavioral control. So while Dalton took a drink on his own, the disease made him incapable of controlling further urges to keep drinking, and Kressler adds “which led him to kill.”

Paxton cross-examines Dr. Sofer, asking if all addicts commit murder. She says of course not. She admits that her findings do have detractors. She ask if she believes if she had an inoperable tumor if she could just will it away. The doctor says no. Paxton adds that is because a tumor is a disease, not a behavior, and the doctor agrees. Looking at Dalton, Paxton comments that alcoholics stop drinking by sheer willpower alone. He says they can do this because alcoholism is not a disease.

Later, Paxton, coffee cup in hand, enters the SVU squad and announced the good news that Moredock is not allowing Dalton’s “alcoholism is a disease” defense. But Cragen says that he is familiar with Dr. Sofer’s work and the point of it is not to excuse criminal behavior, it is to find a cure. Paxton says, “Yeah, well, good luck with that.” Stabler says if they could, crime would be down 50% and Munch pipes up that it could be more than that for sexual assaults and some of them may be out of a job. But Benson says people do bad thinks because they are bad people and getting drunk is just an excuse. Paxton tells Benson, “Olivia, finally, we agree on something.” But Cragen tells Benson if there was a cure a decade ago, he mother might still be alive. Benson looks stunned at Cragen’s comment, and Paxton says, insensitively, “What, mommy liked her cocktail?” Benson says, “My mother was a falling down drunk. She died going down a flight of stairs.” Benson walks away, leaving Paxton and Cragen standing there silent. But Munch tells Paxton that Benson’s mother started drinking after she was raped – to cope. But Benson adds that he mother never quite managed to do that with her there. Paxton tells Benson that – no offense to her mother – you can’t hide behind a bottle. Dalton is claiming temporary insanity for alcohol psychosis. Cragen says to take it from one who has been there, odds are there will be a sympathetic drinker on the jury who has had a blackout themselves. But Paxton says they won’t after they see the 3-D recreation of the murder.

Back in Supreme Court, Paxton shows them the 3-D recreation. But this version shows Dalton’s face on the computer image, and the defense objects. Paxton has that “oh shit” look on her face, and it is clear she made an error. Paxton says she has no idea how that happened, and Moredock yells for them to go to his chambers.

Later, Paxton is in a bar, drink in hand, when Stabler and Benson enter and Benson asks what happened. Paxton says Moredock sent the jury home, and there will be a hearing on her royal screw up. She says, “Payback’s a bitch” and motions for them to let her have it. Stabler says everyone makes mistakes, but she says not her, she must be losing it. Benson asks what happened at the hearing, and she tells them that Kressler said that he knew she was losing and purposely played the wrong disk to force a mistrial. The judge is not convinced it was an accident so he is polling the jury to see if they can disregard the video. If they can’t, he will have to release Dalton, and even with the alternate jurors, if the pool dips below 12 he will have no choice but to declare a mistrial. He can’t get him on retrial if the judge rules there was prosecutorial misconduct. In that case, double jeopardy attaches and there is no retrial. The detectives are unhappy that Dalton could get a walk. Paxton calls out and asks if anyone works there as her friends need drinks, and as she calls out she is rubbing Stabler’s shoulder. Benson looks oddly at Stabler who returns the uncomfortable gaze. Stabler says he has to go home, but Paxton says he needs to go over his testimony with her, and it becoming clear she’s had a few too many. She tries to get him to stay, but Benson tells Paxton maybe Paxton should cut herself off, asking what time she has to be at the hearing. She says 9 AM, and tells Benson they have a lot of work to do. She says she will probably be up all night strategizing and suggests they get started Stabler tells then good luck as he walks out, leaving Paxton there with Benson.

Back at the Supreme Court, they are all waiting on Paxton, who runs in, 45 minutes late. She apologizes, saying she was in a fender bender along the way. She says she is fine, she looks frazzled and drops her purse on the floor. The judge says she does not look all right to him, She said she may have hit her head but she can play hurt and she is ready to proceed. Moredock says she needs to be looked at, but Dalton is staring at her with a look of recognition, and says:

Dalton: She’s drunk.
Paxton: Wha…Excuse me?
Dalton: She’s drunk
Paxton; Excuse me Dalton, did you say something to me?
Dalton: Trust me, I would know
Kressler: Uh, your honor this is outrageous
Paxton: Oh, what’s your problem you tiny little man. Hey Dalton…
Moredock: Miss Paxton
Paxton: huh?
Moredock: Have you been drinking?
Paxton: No! N-n-n-n-n-no not at all. I was just up all night preparing
Dalton: What, drinks?
Paxton: No, I was going over detective Benson’s testimony with her. Ask her.
Moredock: Bailiff, get detective Benson over here. And have her bring a Breathalyzer.



Benson enters the courtroom, and Paxton looks silently frantic. Benson asks the judge if he wants the test administered at the defense table, and Dalton says guess again. Moredock points her to the prosecution. Benson looks toward Paxton and says, “No, you can’t be serious.” But Paxton tells her to help clear this up, saying they are trying to ruin her reputation. But the judge says this is not so, and asks Benson if she was drinking with Paxton last night, Benson said she was not drinking, but that Paxton consumed two drinks. Moredock says that Paxton did lie to him, and asks how many drinks Paxton had after Benson left. But Paxton objects to the questioning, and he says, “Then blow.” When Benson moves the Breathalyzer toward Paxton, she says no, she can attest as an officer of the court that she is not intoxicated. But Benson say Paxton’s eyes are bloodshot and watery, her speech is slurred and she stinks of booze. She adds. “Now blow.” When Paxton tells Benson she thought she was her friend, Benson says forcefully, “Just do it.” When Paxton asks her not to do this to her, Benson says she did it to herself, and again says, “Now blow.” Paxton does, and the judge asks to see the Breathalyzer. Paxton says she saw it, it is .07 and is legally sober. But Moredock says he was hoping for a zero. Benson calls out that it is still climbing, and Moredock says for the record, her blood level count is .082. Paxton said it is residual from last night, and insists she is till fine. Moredock says she has a problem and orders her to be removed from the courtroom, giving Benson the honor. When Benson tells her “let’s go” and Paxton is slow to move, Benson takes her arm but Paxton pulls away, saying she’s got it. Dalton looks on with a strange glare.

The same day, on the courthouse steps. TV reporters are on the steps talking about the developments in Dalton’s case, mentioning the mistrial. Benson stops to talk to Dalton, saying he is the luckiest man alive. But Dalton says no matter what he does, it will follow him and be in his obituary. Benson says it is still all about him. He says he has destroyed so many lives, and Benson asks if he finally is owning up to is, adding he won’t serve any time, no mater what he tells her, so why doesn’t he get it off his chest. He says after seeing the evidence and seeing Paxton falling down drunk and ruining her career, it was like looking in the mirror. He begins to break down and says he realized he did it, he killed her. She asks why, and he swears he does not know. He had no reason to hurt her, and his doctor told him in an alcohol blackout he may have known what he was doing, but the memory never formed, and it never will. Maybe the stress from his business going under made him snap and he took it out on her, and he asks how is he supposed to live with that? Benson shaker he head at him, says she doesn’t know, and walks off. He stands and stares as reporters start to flock around him.

Back at the SVU squad, Munch says at least he walked because of the video mix up, and not Paxton’s drinking, saying you don’t have to mention the irony of that. Cragen said SVU was too much for her and the pressure may have triggered her drinking. Stabler says it explains why she was such a control freak, a white knuckled drunk hanging by a thread. Benson says, “What a hypocrite.” Cragen says she was a good lawyer with a bad problem. Benson said she saw a lot of her mother in her. Stabler says Paxton's career is over and there is no way she is coming back from this, and says she is a walking cluster…but cuts off his word when he sees Paxton standing there. She tells him she could not have said it better, although she would not have censored herself. She says it has been an honor working with them, and she is on her way to court ordered rehab. She knows there is no way they will ever be able to forgive her, but she intends to make amends to each and every one of them. Choked up, she says she is sorry. They say nothing as she turns away and walks off.

We then see the gravestone of “beloved mother” Serena Benson, Olivia’s mother, and Benson is there with a sympathetic smile and a bouquet of roses, which she leaves on the top of the gravestone. She stands there as the camera pulls up and away, as we fade to black.



Law & Order SVU "Hammered" Two Minute Replay


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