Law & Order March Episode Summaries

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

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

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

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

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Law & Order “Executioner” Fails to Execute

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Jesse Martin Leaving Law & Order, Replaced by Anthony Anderson

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

Here’s the news from Variety:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Law & Order SVU “Svengali”: Awful

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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Law & Order Franchise Schedule for New Episodes

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

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

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

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


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Law & Order Episode Summaries for the Week of February 17

Law & Order is running a new episode this week, with SVU and Criminal Intent rerunning episodes previously aired this season. All are on NBC.

Law & Order SVU “Svengali” Episode 09-06, Re-Air Date February 19, 2008
CAN COMIC BOOKS BE DANGEROUS? FOR DETECTIVE OLIVIA BENSON (MARISKA HARGITAY) THEY COULD BE DEADLY– When a college student is found murdered in her formal wear, Detectives Benson and Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) recognize the body’s mutilation as a “copycat” of serial killer Robert Morton (guest star Jared Harris). Cecilia (guest star Shannon Woodward), the last person to see the victim alive, suddenly goes missing herself. In a race to find Cecilia alive, the detectives seek out Morton and discover his loyal following of people, including one twisted man and his comic book series that glorifies Morton’s murders. The comic books are the key to finding Cecilia, but the investigation angers Morton’s followers and Detective Benson find herself in serious danger. Also starring: Adam Beach, Dann Florek, Ice-T, Diane Neal, Tamara Tunie, Richard Belzer, and BD Wong.

Law & Order Criminal Intent “Smile ” Episode 07-03, Re-Air Date February 20, 2008
When a dentist is murdered by the mother of one of his patients, Goren (Vincent D’Onofrio) and Eames (Kathryn Erbe) follow the trail of evidence to a company that appears to have been the victim of a criminal conspiracy involving contaminated mouthwash. Also starring Eric Bogosian.


Law & Order “Executioner” Episode 18-09 Airdate February 20, 2008
BEING AT THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME PROVES TO BE DEADLY FOR ONE SURGEON -Dr. Mark Burns (guest star Alan Zweibel) is found murdered in his hotel room while attending a out-of-town convention. Detectives Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) and Green (Jesse L. Martin) learn that Dr. Burns’ made a large withdrawal from his bank account moments before he was murdered. Evidence rules out the con artists who scammed Burns as suspects, but a hotel surveillance tape shows a man with a southern accent vehemently knocking on the door looking for a different physician, Dr. Garrison (guest star James Rebhorn). This finding leads the detectives to believe Dr. Garrison may have been the intended target and his life is still at risk. Also Starring: Sam Waterston, S. Epatha Merkerson, Linus Roache, and Alana De La Garza.


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The Law & Order Sound: The Doink Doink

You know you’re watching Law & Order when you hear that unmistakable sound. Dann Florek said in a commercial for the show that they call it “the doink doink.” I like that name much better than “chung chung” or some of the other names it’s been given, so doink doink it is.

The sound is usually heard when the show makes major scene change, and it’s accompanied by a black title card with white text describing the new scene. It could be my imagination, but I think in recent years they aren’t using the doink doink as much.

According to multiple sources, the sound was originally made to sound like a jail cell door slamming shut. According to IMDb.com, it "was created by combining close to a dozen sounds, including that of a group of monks stamping on a floor."

However they did it, it’s probably become one of the most recognizable sounds in TV history.

Enjoy the sound of the doink doink in this very short video below.


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Law & Order “Illegal”: Jack’s in the Soup Now

This fantastic episode clearly places Jack “in the soup” of the DA’s office, and defines how he’s going to work it.

The episode begins with an immigration protest getting out of control, protesters being shot, and a woman’s body found in a dumpster. During the investigation, Detectives Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) and Green (Jesse L. Martin) discover an auxiliary cop’s involvement, and his use of deadly force. We also learn that, while a patrolman, Lupo’s partner got shot while he was getting coffee for Lupo, who fell asleep, hung over, in the car. And later, while working with Cutter (Linus Roache), we find out that Lupo is going to law night school, as Cutter described as having a root canal with a dull drill.

DA Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) assigns the case to ADA Josh Lethem (guest star John Pankow), whose first involvement is to investigate the riot, but later is assigned to prosecute the case against the auxiliary cop. It doesn’t take long for the political pressure on McCoy to mount, with top police officials putting on the squeeze. During the discussion with the police officials, one of them says to McCoy, “Mr. McCoy, for someone who is a placeholder, you’re not living up to expectations.” To which, McCoy shoots back, “A placeholder. Let me be clear. If anyone gets in the way of this investigation, I’ll have every cop who was in the park before a grand jury, without immunity. Anybody who pleads the fifth, I’ll indict them for obstruction.” Clearly, Jack has no problem with staking out the ground rules.

But it becomes quickly evident that ADA Lethem has already formed an opinion that is not in tandem with Jack’s. In addition, Lethem also lets his negative opinion of Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson) show through. After Jack chides Lethem for staking out his position to quickly and gives him direction on how to proceed, Lethem says, “Six weeks on the job, Jack, bet you’re sorry now” and chuckles.

Later, much to Rubirosa’s (Alana De La Garza) dismay, Lethem clearly throws the grand jury case. She is clearly angry, when she sarcastically comments while they wait for the ruling,

Rubirosa: “You were right. You were in an out in an hour.” (the ruling come out)
Lethem: “ Ahhhh, they no billed it.”
Rubirosa: “ No, really?”

Of course, it doesn’t take long for McCoy to bring the hammer down on Lethem, calling him out for his behavior with the case. Lethem tells Jack “So there it is. Some of us were wondering how long it would take for the real Jack McCoy to rear his shaggy, hippy, liberal head.” (Bitter much?) Jack, of course, gives Lethem his walking papers. In my opinion, I think McCoy gave Lethem this case on purpose, knowing Lethem’s previous lack of involvement in prosecuting cop-related cases. Maybe Jack was hoping Lethem would rise to the occasion, but also thought if Lethem didn’t, he’d have a chance to get rid of someone who was clearly not on his team.

Jack brings in Cutter to fix the mess. Cutter steps up to the challenge, and gets evidence to get the grand jury re-opened and the case moves forward. Lethem, however, still bitter, decides to help out the defense. Jack tells Cutter, “Now I know what Adam Schiff was so grumpy.” Cutter later tells Jack, “You’re in the soup now, my friend.”

Cutter hits the defendant hard, making it obvious that he went to that protest with the desire to use his gun at any excuse. But to seal the deal, Jack rises to the occasion with his testimony for the prosecution:

“The bottom line Miss Sanders – where there’s a law, I’ll enforce it. Where there’s a crime, I’ll prosecute it. Where there’s a victim, I’ll speak for that victim. That’s my bottom line.”

Of course, the auxiliary cop is convicted. What else did you expect after Jack took the stand?

What I found particularly charming was in the last segment, when Cutter leaves a gift of an RFK tie pin from RFK's 1968 campaign on Jack’s desk. It was a little bit like leaving an apple on the teacher’s desk, plus an affirmation of Cutter’s respect for Jack. Jack seemed stunned at being “pinned.”

This episode had everything right – a fantastic story that was told with powerful dialog, great chemistry between characters, little personal tidbits about them that weren’t shoved down our throats, conflict in the DA’s office, and the cementing of Jack McCoy as district attorney. It was perfect.

Oh yeah – McCoy and Cutter, BFF.


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