Law & Order SVU “Intersecting Lives” Recap & Review

“Intersecting Lives” was an interesting set up episode for the season 17 finale, “Heartfelt Passages”. The episode starred Brad Garrett, an actor who has always ranked high on the creep factor for me, so his role as the disgusting corrections officer who loves to sexually assault and rape female inmates was a perfect fit. But the real story here is that ADA Barba decides to take on this corrections officer, which brings along the ire of other COs and their union, and earning Barba a death threat. I usually don’t like to speak of what happens in the episode that follows, but the promo tease airing after "Intersecting Lives" made it hard to miss that Dodds is the one who later finds himself in the line of fire. Even though it was stated early on in the episode that Dodds was headed to the Joint Terrorism Task Force, it was obvious that Dodds would not be safe after Fin seemed to imply Dodds was more at risk in his new position than working for SVU. (Nice way to jinx it, Fin!)

Even though the promo for this episode outlined the death threat to Barba and the tension between him and the COs union, this episode was filled with tension and the story was well written.

Luckily the writers front-loaded the episode with two tidbits of a personal nature,  and they did not distract from the drama that would build as the story unfolded. Carisi finds out he passed the bar exam, but for now seems to be staying with SVU. Still, anything could happen later. Fin finds out that his son Ken and his partner are having a baby using a surrogate, which will make Fin a grandfather.

I have high hopes that the season finale will provide a thrilling close to this storyline!

Here is the recap:

Cast:
Mariska Hargitay - Lieutenant Olivia Benson
Ice-T - Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Raúl Esparza - ADA Rafael Barba
Peter Scanavino - Detective Dominick “Sonny” Carisi, Jr.

Guest stars:
Andy Karl – Sgt. Mike Dodds
Ernest Waddell - Ken Randall
Brad Garrett – C.O. Gary Munson
Krystal Joy Brown - Charisse McCabe
Bill Duke - Counselor Ed Pastrino
Ramón Franco - Union Rep. Tony Rodriguez
Karina Logue - Lisa Munson
Carolyn Michelle Smith - C.O. Orita Wilkins
Michael Mastro – Judge Serani
Natalie Paul –
Anthony M. Bertram - Deputy Warden Wayne Holden
Brittany Campbell – Leanne Carter
Johnny Rivera – Man
Joniece Abbott-Pratt - Latanya Banks
Phyre Hawkins – Cece Thornhill
Andre Jackson – Defense Attorney #1
Jason Abrams – Defense Attorney #3
Leah Finnie – Defense Attorney #4
Jamar Greene - CO #1
Danny Doherty – CO #2
Isabel Harper Leight – Annie Munson
Rowan Williams – Johnny Munson
Jaiden Smith – Tesso Carter


At SVU, Rollins and Fin wait with an anxious Carisi who is checking a web site to see if he passed the bar exam. He sees his ID number (732-346) and is thrilled to see he passed. As Rollins hugs him and congratulates him. Benson walks in and asks if someone won the lottery. Rollins replies “Sort of. Carisi passed the bar!” Benson congratulates him and asks if that means he is leaving her too. He says no, and Fin asks what does she mean, too? Benson explains Dodds is going to joint terrorism and this is his last week. Fin comments he just got here, and Benson says Dodds is on his own journey. Rollins suggests they celebrate for Carisi and when Benson offers to take them all out to lunch, Fin has to pass. He has to meet up with his son who says he has some news, adding he hopes HE didn’t quite his job. Dodds arrives and asks Benson if she told them, and she explains she did. Fin expresses concern over working on the task force, saying in SVU they get the bad guys and lock them up but terrorism can get him killed. Dodds says nothing and walks off as they all watch him.

Meanwhile, Rikers Corrections Officer Gary Munson leaves his wife Lisa and kids at the breakfast table, saying they want him in early again. He says they need the OT as his wife is the one who wanted to take his kids to Disney World. Lisa looks sad as he leaves.

Later, Gary Munson, in his car, calls out to Charisse, who is walking down the street, and calls her his favorite former inmate. She keeps walking and says she thought they were done with this. She is carrying something in a brown bag and he questions if that is an open container of alcohol, adding that is a violation. Without looking at him, she keeps walking and tells him to leave her alone. Following in his car, he asks about patting her down. She stops and he pulls into a parking space. She walks over to the car and tells him please, they don’t need to do that. He tells her to get in the car, now. He opens the door and gets in. He puts his hand on her knee and, as she looks uncomfortable, he drives away.

Elsewhere, Fin’s son Ken thanks Fin for meeting him at a restaurant. Fin hopes Ken is not trying to fix him up again, and Ken admits that was a bad idea but no, he has some news. Fin asks if Ken is leaving the halfway house, and Ken says no, he likes his job and social work. He is going to need the paycheck because he and Alejandro are starting a family. Fin pauses, then asks if Ken is adopting. Ken shows Fin a photo and explains they found a surrogate who is a few months pregnant and it is a boy. Fin comments “So I’m gonna be a grandfather?” Ken asks if he will be okay with that, and Fin happily says yes, explaining that everybody in his squad is having babies and showing him pictures; he will get to show some pictures himself. Ken smiles. Fin ads that this little guy will call him Fin; none of that grandpa stuff. Ken agrees. Fin congratulates him and hands Ken’s phone back to him, and it begins to ring. Ken excuses himself to take the call. Ken tells the caller – Charisse - to slow down and asks where is she and if she is alright. Elsewhere, Charisse is on the phone and running, saying that the CO from Rikers, Gary, just raped her. She sobs as Ken asks where is she? Back at the restaurant, Ken tells her to stay there, he will come get her. He hangs up the phone and tells Fin that one of his clients says her former CO just raped her and he has to go. Fin tells him to hold on, they have to be careful, asking Ken to confirm it was a corrections officer, then states he will call Benson.

At Bellevue Hospital on 462 First Avenue on Friday April 15, Benson, there with Fin, speaks with Charisse, who said until today, Munson just made her go down on him. She said she didn’t want to do that anymore, she is back with her boyfriend. Munson got mad and hit her, and then he raped her. This has happened at least once a week since she got out; she thought it was bad enough when she was inside. Fin asks if Gary assaulted her in Rikers, and Charisse said he never hurt her, but when he took her for a visit, he’d stop in the chapel. Fin comments there are no cameras there. She thinks he knows what he is doing, saying if she does him a favor he will do her one. This means she could see her kids, not get strip searched or put in solitary. She did not report this, saying the CO and gangs run the place and every female inmate in there knows that. Every time he would do her, he would tell her to cry all she wants, she is just a broke, black crack whore, asking who will believe her. When Benson says she does, Charisse laughs and says she should have never called Ken. She adds she was just messed up, and not to worry, she knows this isn’t going anywhere.

In Barba’s office, he asks Benson, Fin, and Dodds what they know about Gary Munson. Benson explains he has been a CO at Rikers for 17 years, he has never been charged or disciplined, puts in for a lot of OT, and has a wife and two kids. Dodds adds his father in law is a deputy inspector at Queens South; the second time Munson failed the police exam, strings get pulled and he makes the DOC. There are three complaints in his jacket, nothing stuck. Barba states dryly that nothing ever sticks at Rikers, adding that CO union has more power than any place he has ever seen. He adds that, putting this aside, these cases are never easy, seeing that the complainant has 12 arrests. Fin explains they are misdemeanors – drugs, prostitution – and says his son says she is turning it around. Dodds thinks Gary covers his tracks – no DNA, no witnesses, vulnerable victims. Benson interjects that they really caught a break when Charisse called Ken. Barba asks did they, stating it is still the word of a corrections officer versus a black single mother with a drug problem and a prison record. Dodds asks if he is raping her on the street, how many is he raping on the inside, wondering if there is any value having DOI look at him. Barba says don’t; Rikers is where investigations go to die. He mentions violence, rape, assaults – there are hundreds of allegations and almost no prosecutions. Dodds questions is Barba is saying to just walk away. Benson adds if a CO is having sex with an inmate, forced or not, that is rape. Barba agrees it is, but at Rikers it’s like the “Lord of the Flies” there. He adds if anyone finds they are investigating him, Munson gets tipped off and his vics pay. Benson suggests they are not investigating him, they need the guards’ help in investigating a trafficking ring with ties to gang members who are involved with female inmates. Barba agrees, telling them to put up a good front and pick another dozen women who have rotated through Charisse’s unit with similar records. Benson agrees, and Fin states that Charisse says she was raped in the chapel, suggesting they pull surveillance video from the hallway outside. Barba tells him to pull another 6 cameras, saying to add them a laundry list and with luck they won’t realize that Munson is the target.

Afterwards in the hall, Dodds says he will start the paperwork, and Fin asks if Dodds wants to spend his last week at Rikers. Dodds says he is not coasting out, he will put his time in until the end. Benson asks if he is trying to make her miss him now that he is already gone. He replies he is just doing his job.

Later, at Rikers Island Correctional Facility on Saturday April 16, Fin and Dodds speak with Deputy Warden Wayne Holden and they explain what they are looking for. Dodds asks to talk to some of the inmates and Holden says the COs know where to find them.

Carisi and Rollins speak with C.O. Orita Wilkins and find one of the inmates they want to talk to – Monique – is in the infirmary. Orita says they are all working something and says what the inmates do to the CO and thinks the complaining inmates are lying. Carisi explains what they are looking for, using the CPB gang excuse, and Rollins adds that they may be facilitating the pimping of girls on the outside. Wilkins says they would sell their own sisters for a score.

Fin and Dodds also speak with Munson about a group of girls and he says they are just trying to keep the inmates from killing each other. He adds he would not be surprised if that had family or babies with members of the CPB. Dodds asks if anyone let something slip about the gangs running girls in the South Bronx, and he says he would go to the warden about it, he doesn’t look the other way. When Fin asks if the ladies ever asked him to, Munson says they work him 24/7 with the big eyes, the crying, and the begging, saying with sarcasm that everyone here is innocent. Dodds replies of course they are, and thanks him. Munson comments that Dodds is the son of Chief Dodds, adding his father-in-law knows him. Dodds says “sure” and thanks Munson as Dodds walks off with Fin. Munson gives a suspicious look.

Back at the SVU, the team watches the Rikers surveillance video of Charisse being taken into the chapel, and also see that CO Orita Wilkins appears to be the lookout. It confirms Charisse’s story. They also found three other probable victims on the videos. They are all black women in their 20s-30s and Rollins thinks Munson has a type and she is tracking down their records. Dodds says they have much of these tapes to go through and thinks they will find more victims. Benson comments he can, but Rikers is out of their jurisdiction. As Charisse was assaulted in Manhattan, Benson says she will call Barba to let him know they have evidence backing Charisse’s story. Rollins asks if they should let Charisse know, and Fin comments that will be tough; Ken got a call that Charisse was arrested tonight.

Meanwhile, Munson is at Rikers and “welcomes” Charisse back by asking what did she do and saying she just can’t get enough of him. He leans in an whispers to her that he will see her tomorrow. She looks worried and he walks off with a smile.

Law & Order SVU “Heartfelt Passages” Photos & Promo

Here are advance photos and the promo for Law & Order SVU season 17 finale, “Heartfelt Passages” which will air on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at 9PM ET on NBC.  The photos feature Mariska Hargitay, Raúl Esparza, Peter Scanavino, Andy Karl, Robert John Burke, Brad Garrett as C.O. Gary Munson, Rowan Williams as Tommy Munson, Isabel Harper Leight as Annie Munson, Karina Logue as Lisa Munson, Jack Nawada-Braunwart as Noah Porter Benson, Bill Irwin as Dr. Peter Lindstrom, and Bill Duke as Counselor Ed Pastrino.


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Heartfelt Passages” can be found at this link.

Photos by: Will Hart/NBC 2016 NBCUniversal Media, LLC

Photos by: Michael Parmelee/NBC 2016 NBCUniversal Media, LLC

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

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

NBC Fall 2016-17 Schedule

NBC press release May 15, 2016

NBC AUGMENTS ITS STABLE SCHEDULE WITH AMBITIOUS NEW DRAMAS, HIGH-CONCEPT COMEDIES AND UNPREDICTABLE UNSCRIPTED SERIES

Monday: Thrilling Time Travel Adventure Series “Timeless” Earns Coveted 10 P.M. Timeslot Following #1 Reality Show “The Voice” With New Coaches Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys in Ratings-Dominant Night. Tuesday: Anticipated New Drama “This Is Us” Joins a Strong Tuesday Lineup Following “The Voice” and Leading Into the 10 P.M. Timeslot Champ, “Chicago Fire.” Wednesday: Last Season’s #1 New Show in 18-49, “Blindspot” Jumpstarts the Night and Joins Powerful Police Pair “Law & Order: SVU” and “Chicago P.D.,” Which Comes Off Its Most-Watched Season Ever. Thursday: Comedy Returns in Bolstered Thursday Lineup With Sophomore Success Story “Superstore” at 8 P.M. Followed by Emmy Winner Mike Schur’s Latest, “The Good Place.” Dick Wolf’s Hospital Drama “Chicago Med” to Anchor Thursday in New Timeslot and Precedes Hit Series “The Blacklist.” Sunday: After Broadcast’s #1 Program, “Sunday Night Football,” Concludes in January, NBC Brings Back a Second Season of the #1 New Show in Total Viewers, “Little Big Shots”; the Newest Windy City Entry from Dick Wolf, “Chicago Justice,” and the return of Jennifer Lopez in “Shades of Blue.” Midseason: Spring Brings Arrival of Ambitious New Dramas “Taken,” “Midnight, Texas,” “Emerald City” and “The Blacklist: Redemption”; Freshmen Comedies “Great News,” “Trial & Error,” “Powerless” and “Marlon”; and Alternative Series “The Wall.”

NEW YORK — May 15, 2016 — Riding the momentum of a highly successful 2015-16 season, NBC announced today a new fall lineup for the 2016-17 primetime television season that builds upon a remarkably stable schedule. With an unrivaled class of five sophomore series returning to the schedule next season, NBC is introducing three highly-anticipated new series to the lineup, including powerful dramas, a smart new comedy and the introduction of a potent Thursday night NFL package, which begins Nov. 17 with great gridiron matchups.

NBC is poised to finish #1 for the full 52-week September-to-September 2015-16 primetime season in adults 18-49, to claim its third consecutive Nielsen crown. NBC is also expected to finish the traditional September-to-May primetime season within 0.1-0.2 of a point of Super Bowl-boosted CBS in adults 18-49, and will likely rank #1 in 18-49 viewers when excluding that network’s boost from Super Bowl Sunday.

NBC’s lineup during the successful 2015-16 season has included primetime’s #1 broadcast series in 18-49 and total viewers, “Sunday Night Football”; television’s #1 alternative series in 18-49 and total viewers, “The Voice”; the season’s #1 new series on the broadcast networks in 18-49, “Blindspot”; the season’s #1 new series in total viewers, “Little Big Shots”; NBC’s #1 new comedy, “Superstore”; and NBC’s most-watched first-year Thursday drama in 21 years, “Shades of Blue.”

“Coming off another winning season where we managed to substantially stabilize our entire year-round schedule, the NBC 2016 fall lineup introduces some of our best development in years. In addition to adding three new shows, we’ve moved only four existing shows to different time periods, as well as welcoming NFL football on Thursday,” said Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment. “The level of creative talent and stars who come to NBC is reflective of our leadership position in broadcast television, our sophisticated and upscale approach to all genres of programming, and our stable line-up. Coming off the Rio Olympics in August, we can't wait to get the fall underway.”

Drama highlights on the newly announced fall schedule include “This Is Us,” an emotional and provocative series from Dan Fogelman (“Crazy, Stupid, Love.”) where seemingly disparate people’s lives intersect in the most curious ways; and “Timeless,” from Eric Kripke (“Revolution”) and Shawn Ryan (“The Shield”), which features a scientist, soldier and history professor who must change the past while trying to capture a dangerous fugitive.

Ambitious new dramas that launch in midseason include “Taken,” which will air at 10 p.m. Mondays in the prime post-“Voice” timeslot following the run of the network’s new fall drama “Timeless.” “Taken” follows former Green Beret Bryan Mills (Clive Standen, “Vikings”) as he deals with a personal tragedy that shakes his world.

Other midseason dramas include “Chicago Justice,” the fourth installment of the hugely successful “Chicago” franchise, with stars Philip Winchester and Carl Weathers; “Emerald City,” a complete reimagination of “The Wizard of Oz” set in a mystical land of dark magic, lethal warriors and a bloody battle for supremacy; “The Blacklist: Redemption,” which follows undercover operative Tom Keen (Ryan Eggold) as he joins forces with the cunning Susan “Scottie” Hargrave (Famke Janssen) to take on the most dangerous assignment of his life; and “Midnight, Texas,” based on the hit book series from author Charlaine Harris (“True Blood”), about the vampires, witches, psychics and hit men who inhabit this small town.

On the comedy side, this fall Emmy Award winner Mike Schur returns to NBC with “The Good Place,” starring Kristen Bell and Ted Danson, about an ordinary woman who mistakenly finds herself in the afterlife. Midseason will bring more smart new comedies to the schedule, including the Tina Fey- and Robert Carlock-produced “Great News,” from Emmy Award-winning writer Tracey Wigfield, about a young TV producer who finds out her mom (Andrea Martin) has accepted an internship at her workplace; “Powerless” which is set in the DC Comics universe and stars Vanessa Hudgens as a “heroic” insurance adjuster specializing in coverage against damage caused by the crime-fighting superheroes; “Trial & Error,” a mockumentary following a bright-eyed New York lawyer who arrives in a quirky small Southern town to defend a professor (Emmy Award winner John Lithgow) accused of murdering his wife; and “Marlon,” loosely inspired by the real life of Marlon Wayans, an update on the classic family comedy about a father committed to co-parenting his two kids with his very-together ex-wife.

“From the expansion of the powerful ‘Chicago’ family of dramas, to the return of great comedy on Thursdays and a potent lineup of strong midseason shows, we’re continuing to expand a well-balanced programming portfolio that reaches a broad audience,” said NBC Entertainment President Jennifer Salke. “Our new series, integrated with an already strong lineup, give us a great chance to sustain and grow our successes of the past few years.”

Rounding out NBC’s robust schedule are big unpredictable, unscripted series such as “The Wall,” from executive producer LeBron James and hosted by Chris Hardwick, where the game centers on a colossal 40-foot wall and involves quick thinking, shrewd strategy and a little luck with giant swings of fortune and millions of dollars changing on every ball; “Better Late Than Never,” which will air following NBC’s Rio Olympics coverage in late summer, follows cultural icons Henry Winkler, William Shatner, Terry Bradshaw and George Foreman on their greatest adventure yet — the journey of a lifetime traveling across Asia; and the Ellen DeGeneres-produced and Drew Barrymore-narrated “First Dates,” where viewers can experience a couple’s first date: the promise of potential love when it goes well and the hilariously awkward moments if it crashes and burns.

And, of course, one of the most anticipated shows of the new season is the return of NBC’s “The New Celebrity Apprentice” with twice-elected governor and international movie superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger taking control of the boardroom. In its eighth season, “The New Celebrity Apprentice” moves to Los Angeles where 16 celebrities will compete for their favorite charities. Among those serving as advisors will be investment guru Warren Buffett; former Microsoft CEO and Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer; Tyra Banks, a supermodel, actress, TV host, producer, accomplished businesswoman and CEO of the Tyra Banks Company and cosmetics brand, TYRA Beauty; actress, author and entrepreneur Jessica Alba, the founder and chief creative officer of The Honest Company and Honest Beauty; and Schwarzenegger’s trusted confidante and nephew, prominent entertainment attorney Patrick Knapp Schwarzenegger.

Said Paul Telegdy, NBC Entertainment President of Alternative and Late Night Programming: “It’s difficult to imagine topping this past season when we delivered both the biggest new alternative series on television with ‘Little Big Shots’ and the biggest returning alternative series with ‘The Voice.’ To add to that, we also had huge summer successes with “America’s Got Talent’ and ‘American Ninja Warrior.’ Going forward, with ‘Better Late Than Never,’ ‘The Wall’ and ‘First Dates,’ plus the return of ‘The New Celebrity Apprentice’ — with the boardroom being run by one of the biggest stars in the world, Arnold Schwarzenegger — we can honestly say we’ve never been more excited about a new slate of alternative series than we are this year.”

Continuing NBC’s emphasis on event programming, the 2016-17 season will feature one-time-only special events, including “Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love,” the sequel to the 2015 holiday hit “Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors; “Hairspray Live!,” starring Harvey Fierstein, Jennifer Hudson, Martin Short and Derek Hough; and Aaron’s Sorkin’s “A Few Good Men Live!,” which will mark NBC’s first live drama since the network began reinvigorating live programming in 2013.

Returning shows for the 2016-17 season include “The Blacklist,” “Blindspot,” "The Carmichael Show," “Chicago Fire,” Chicago Med,” “Chicago P.D.,” “Grimm,” “Hollywood Game Night,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Little Big Shots,” “Shades of Blue,” “Superstore” and “The Voice.”

“Superstore” will benefit from a special original episode that will be televised during NBC’s coverage of the 2016 Olympic Summer Games from Rio de Janeiro. Date and time of the special Olympic telecast of “Superstore” will be announced at a later date.

Said Ralph Oakley, President/CEO of Quincy Media, Inc., and Chair of the NBC Affiliate Board, “We appreciate the investment NBC has made in the upcoming broadcast season, especially the late-news lead-in time periods in the fall and enthusiastically look forward to another winning primetime season.”

For photos, videos and all press materials: http://www.nbcumv.com

For embeddable trailers: http://www.nbc.com/upfront2016

NBC FALL 2016-17 SCHEDULE

(New programs in UPPER CASE; all times ET)

MONDAY

8-10 P.M. — “The Voice”

10-11 P.M. — “TIMELESS”

TUESDAY

8-9 P.M. — “The Voice”

9-10 P.M. — “THIS IS US”

10-11 P.M. — “Chicago Fire”

WEDNESDAY

8-9 P.M. — “Blindspot”

9-10 P.M. — “Law & Order: SVU”

10-11 P.M. — “Chicago P.D.”

THURSDAY

8-8:30 P.M. — “Superstore”

8:30-9 P.M. — “THE GOOD PLACE”

9-10 P.M. — “Chicago Med”

10-11 P.M. — “The Blacklist”

FRIDAY

8-9 P.M. — “Caught on Camera with Nick Cannon”

9-10 P.M. — “Grimm”

10-11 P.M. — “Dateline NBC”

SATURDAY

8-10 P.M. — “Saturday Dateline Mysteries”

10-11 P.M. — “Saturday Night Live (encores)”

SUNDAY

7-8:20 P.M. — “Football Night in America”

8:20-11 P.M. — “NBC’s Sunday Night Football”

NEW DRAMAS

“THE BLACKLIST: REDEMPTION”

In this thrilling new spinoff of NBC’s breakout hit series, undercover operative Tom Keen joins forces with Susan “Scottie” Hargrave (Famke Janssen), the brilliant and cunning chief of Grey Matters, a covert mercenary organization that solves problems governments don’t dare touch. While on the hunt for Liz’s attacker, Tom secretly discovered that Scottie is actually his biological mother. Now, as they team up to employ their unique skills and resources in a dangerous world of deadly criminals, Tom begins his own covert mission to find out more about his shadowy past.

The cast includes Famke Janssen, Ryan, Edi Gathegi and Tawny Cypress.

Jon Bokenkamp and John Eisendrath serve as writers and executive producers. John Fox and John Davis also executive produce. Michael Dinner directs. Produced by John Eisendrath Productions, Flatwater Scribe, Davis Entertainment in association with Sony Pictures Television.

Please visit the official show site at http://www.nbc.com/the-blacklist-redemption

Facebook: Facebook.com/BlacklistRedemption

Twitter: @RedemptionNBC

Hashtag: #BlacklistRedemption

“CHICAGO JUSTICE”

Powerhouse creator Dick Wolf delivers a captivating new installment to the hit Chicago franchise. Just like their brethren in the Chicago P.D., the State’s Attorney’s dedicated team of prosecutors and investigators navigate heated city politics and controversy head-on while fearlessly pursuing justice. As they take on the city’s high stakes and often media-frenzied cases, they must balance public opinion, power struggles within the system and their unwavering passion for the law. It all starts with a gut-wrenching case when one of Chicago’s finest is shot in the line of duty.

The cast includes Philip Winchester, Carl Weathers, Nazneen Contractor, Joelle Carter and Ryan-James Hatanaka.

Dick Wolf, Peter Jankowski, Matt Olmstead, Derek Haas, Michael Brandt and Arthur ‎Forney executive produce “Chicago Justice.” “Chicago Justice” is produced by Universal Television and Wolf Entertainment.

Please visit the official show site at http://www.nbc.com/chicago-Justice.

Facebook: Facebook.com/ChicagoJustice
Twitter: @chicagojustice
Hashtag: #ChicagoJustice

“EMERALD CITY”

In the blink of a tornado’s eye, 20-year-old Dorothy Gale and a K9 police dog are swept into a world far removed from our own — a mystical land of competing realms, lethal warriors, dark magic and a bloody battle for supremacy. Starring Vincent D’Onofrio (“Daredevil,” “Jurassic World”) as the guileful Wizard and directed by the visionary Tarsem Singh across three European countries, this is Oz completely reimagined — a place where familiar characters show up in fresh, unexpected ways, and where an unsuspecting young woman holds the fate of kingdoms in her hands. As Dorothy navigates this dangerous world and uncovers her true destiny, we’ll see there’s no place like… Oz.

The cast includes Vincent D’Onofrio, Adria Arjona, Ana Ularu, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Jordan Loughran, Gerran Howell, Mido Hamada, Joely Richardson, Isabel Lucas, Stefanie Martini, Suan-Li Ong, Florence Kasumba and Roxy Sternberg.

David Schulner and Shaun Cassidy are writers and executive producers. Josh Friedman, Matthew Arnold and director Tarsem Singh also executive produce. “Emerald City” is produced by Universal Television.

Please visit the official show site at http://www.nbc.com/emerald-city

Facebook: Facebook.com/NBCEmeraldCity

Twitter: @NBCEmeraldCity

Hashtag: #EmeraldCity

“MIDNIGHT, TEXAS”

Welcome to a place where being normal is really quite strange. From Niels Arden Oplev, the visionary director of “Mr. Robot,” and based on the hit book series from author Charlaine Harris (“True Blood”), comes a journey into a remote Texas town where no one is who they seem. From vampires and witches to psychics and hit men, Midnight is a mysterious safe haven for those who are different. As the town members fight off outside pressures from rowdy biker gangs, ever-suspicious cops and their own dangerous pasts, they band together and form a strong and unlikely family.

The cast includes François Arnaud, Dylan Bruce, Parisa Fitz-Henley, Arielle Kebbel, Sarah Ramos, Peter Mensah, Yul Vazquez and Sean Bridgers.

Monica Owusu-Breen serves as writer and executive producer. David Janollari and director Niels Arden Oplev also executive produce. “Midnight, Texas” is produced by Universal Television and David Janollari Entertainment.

Please visit the official show site at http://www.nbc.com/midnight-texas

Facebook: Facebook.com/NBCMidnightTexas
Twitter: @NBCMidnightTX
Hashtag: #MidnightTexas

“TAKEN”

From executive producer Luc Besson (“Taken,” “The Fifth Element”) comes a modern-day, edge-of-your-seat thriller that follows the origin story of younger, hungrier former Green Beret Bryan Mills (Clive Standen, “Vikings”) as he deals with a personal tragedy that shakes his world. As he fights to overcome the incident and exact revenge, Mills is pulled into a career as a deadly CIA operative, a job that awakens his very particular, and very dangerous, set of skills. In 30 years, this character became the Bryan Mills that we’ve come to love from the “Taken” films.

The cast includes Clive Standen, Jennifer Beals, Brooklyn Sudano, Monique Gabriela Curnen, Gaius Charles, Michael Irby, James Landry Hébert and Jose Pablo Cantillo.

Alexander Cary serves as writer and executive producer. Luc Besson, Matthew Gross, Edouard de Vésinne, Thomas Anargyros and director Alex Graves also executive produce. “Taken” is produced by EuropaCorp TV and Universal Television.

Please visit the official show site at http://www.nbc.com/taken

Facebook: Facebook.com/NBCTaken
Twitter: @TakenNBC
Hashtag: #Taken

“THIS IS US”

Sometimes life will surprise you. Starring Mandy Moore (“A Walk to Remember”), Milo Ventimiglia (“Heroes,” “Gilmore Girls”) and Sterling K. Brown (“The People V. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story),” this refreshingly honest and provocative series follows a unique ensemble whose paths cross and their life stories intertwine in curious ways. We find several of them share the same birthday, and so much more than anyone would expect. From the writer and directors of “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” comes a smart, modern dramedy that will challenge your everyday presumptions about the people you think you know.

The cast includes Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, Justin Hartley, Chrissy Metz, Sterling K. Brown, Susan Kelechi Watson, Chris Sullivan and Ron Cephas Jones.

Dan Fogelman serves as writer and executive producer. Jess Rosenthal, Charlie Gogolak and directors John Requa and Glenn Ficarra also executive produce. “This Is Us” is produced by 20th Century Fox Television.

Please visit the official show site at http://www.nbc.com/this-is-us

Facebook: Facebook.com/NBCThisIsUs
Twitter: @NBCThisIsUs
Hashtag: #ThisIsUs

“TIMELESS”

From Eric Kripke (“Revolution,” “Supernatural”), Shawn Ryan (“The Shield”) and the producers of “The Blacklist” comes this thrilling action-adventure series in which a mysterious criminal steals a secret state-of-the-art time machine, intent on destroying America as we know it by changing the past. Our only hope is an unexpected team: a scientist, soldier and history professor who must use the machine’s prototype to travel back in time to critical events. While they must make every effort not to affect the past themselves, they must also stay one step ahead of this dangerous fugitive. Can this handpicked team uncover the mystery behind it all and end his destruction before it’s too late?

The cast includes Abigail Spencer, Matt Lanter, Malcolm Barrett, Goran Visnjic, Paterson Joseph, Sakina Jaffrey and Claudia Doumit.

Eric Kripke and Shawn Ryan serves as writers and executive producers. John Davis, John Fox, Marney Hochman and director Neil Marshall also executive produce. “Timeless” is produced by Davis Entertainment, Kripke Enterprises and MiddKid Productions in association with Sony Pictures Television.

Please visit the official show site at http://www.nbc.com/timeless

Facebook: Facebook.com/NBCTimeless
Twitter: @NBCTimeless
Hashtag: #Timeless

NEW COMEDIES

“THE GOOD PLACE”

From Michael Schur, executive producer of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Parks and Recreation” and “The Office,” comes a smart, unique new comedy that follows Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell, “House of Lies,” “Veronica Mars”), an ordinary woman who, through an extraordinary string of events, enters the afterlife where she comes to realize that she hasn’t been a very good person. With the help of her wise newfound afterlife mentor (Ted Danson, “Bored to Death,” “Cheers”), she’s determined to shed her old way of living and discover the awesome (or at least the pretty good) person within. Directed by Drew Goddard, the Oscar-nominated writer of “The Martian.”

The cast includes Kristen Bell, Ted Danson, William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil, Manny Jacinto and D’Arcy Carden.

Michael Schur serves as writer and executive producer. David Miner also executive produces. Drew Goddard directs. “The Good Place” is produced by Universal Television and 3 Arts Entertainment.

Please visit the official show site at http://www.nbc.com/the-good-place

Facebook: Facebook.com/NBCTheGoodPlace

Twitter: @nbcthegoodplace

Hashtag: #GoodPlace

“GREAT NEWS”

Getting along with some colleagues can be rough, but working with your mom? That’s a whole other story. When Katie, an up-and-coming news producer, finds out her overbearing mom (Andrea Martin, “SCTV,” “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”) has rejoined the workforce as an intern at the station where Katie works, it might just be the worst news ever. But, with her biggest cheerleader at her side, Katie might finally get the recognition she deserves. The laughs hit close to home in this new office comedy from executive producers Tina Fey, Robert Carlock and the producers of “30 Rock.”

The cast includes Briga Heelan, Andrea Martin, Adam Campbell, Kimrie Lewis-Davis, John Michael Higgins and Horatio Sanz.

Tracey Wigfield serves as writer and executive producer. Tina Fey, Robert Carlock and David Miner also executive produce. Beth McCarthy-Miller directs. “Great News” is produced by Universal Television, Little Stranger and 3 Arts Entertainment.

Please visit the official show site at http://www.nbc.com/great-news

Facebook: Facebook.com/NBCGreatNews
Twitter: @nbcgreatnews
Hashtag: #GreatNews

“MARLON”

Loosely inspired by the real life of star Marlon Wayans (“In Living Color,” “Scary Movie”), this update to the classic family comedy centers on a loving (but immature) father committed to co-parenting his two kids with his very-together ex-wife. While his misguided fatherly advice, unstoppable larger-than-life personality and unpredictable Internet superstardom might get in the way sometimes, for Marlon family really always does come first — even if he’s the biggest kid of all.

The cast includes Marlon Wayans, Essence Atkins, Notlim Taylor, Amir O’Neil, Bresha Webb and Diallo Riddle

Christopher Moynihan serves as writer and executive producer. Marlon Wayans, Rick Alvarez, Michael Rotenberg and director Andy Ackerman (pilot) also executive produce. “Marlon” is produced by Universal Television, Wayans Brothers Entertainment, Bicycle Path Productions and 3 Arts Entertainment.

Please visit the official show site at http://www.nbc.com/marlon

Facebook: Facebook.com/NBCMarlon
Twitter: @NBCMarlon

Hashtag: #Marlon

“POWERLESS”

In the first comedy series set in the universe of DC Comics, Vanessa Hudgens (“Grease Live,” “High School Musical”) plays Emily, a spunky young insurance adjuster specializing in regular-people coverage against damage caused by the crime-fighting superheroes. It’s when she stands up to one of these larger-than-life figures (after an epic battle messes with her commute) that she accidentally becomes a cult “hero” in her own right … even if it’s just to her group of lovably quirky co-workers. Now, while she navigates her normal, everyday life against an explosive backdrop, Emily might just discover that being a hero doesn’t always require superpowers.

The cast includes Vanessa Hudgens, Alan Tudyk, Danny Pudi and Christina Kirk.

Ben Queen serves as writer and executive producer. Director Michael Patrick Jann (pilot) also executive produces. “Powerless” is produced by Warner Bros. Television and based on the characters from DC Comics.

Please visit the official show site at http://www.nbc.com/powerless

Facebook: Facebook.com/NBCPowerless
Twitter: @NBCPowerless
Hashtag: #Powerless

“TRIAL & ERROR”

In this outrageous fish-out-of-water comedy, bright-eyed New York lawyer Josh Segal heads to a tiny Southern town for his first big case. His mission? To defend an eccentric, “rollercizing” poetry professor (John Lithgow, “3rd Rock From the Sun”) accused of the bizarre murder of his beloved wife. Settling into his makeshift office behind a taxidermy shop and meeting his quirky team of local misfits, Josh suspects that winning his first big case will not be easy, especially when his client is always making himself look guilty. “Making a Murderer” can be funny!

The cast includes John Lithgow, Nicholas D’Agosto, Jayma Mays, Sherri Shepherd, Steven Boyer and Krysta Rodriguez.

Jeff Astrof and Matt Miller serve as writers and executive producers. Jeffrey Blitz directs. “Trial & Error” is produced by Barge Productions and Good Session Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television.

Please visit the official show site at http://www.nbc.com/trial-and-error

Facebook: Facebook.com/NBCTrialandError

Twitter: @trialanderror

Hashtag: #TrialAndError



NEW ALTERNATIVE SERIES

“BETTER LATE THAN NEVER”

Based on a popular Korean format, this hilarious fish-out-of-water comedy/reality show follows cultural icons Henry Winkler, William Shatner, Terry Bradshaw and George Foreman on their greatest adventure yet. Deciding it’s better late than never, these four national treasures embark on the journey of a lifetime, traveling across Asia on their own with no schedule and no itinerary. The only help will come from Jeff Dye, a young tech-savvy comedian with an agenda of his own and who isn’t above leading the men off track. Each stop is packed with hilarious cultural experiences, heartwarming spectacles and unexpected twists as our legends take on this unforgettable adventure.

Craig Zadan & Neil Meron, Henry Winkler, Jason Ehrlich, Stephanie Chambers, Alex Katz and Tim Crescenti executive produce. Troy Miller directs. “Better Late Than Never” is produced by Universal Television and Small World IFT.

Please visit the official show site at http://www.nbc.com/better-late-than-never

Facebook: Facebook.com/NBCBetterLateThanNever

Twitter: @nbcbetterlate

Hashtag: #BetterLateThanNever



“FIRST DATES”

Everyone can relate to the experience of a first date: the promise of potential love when it goes well and the hilariously awkward moments if it crashes and burns. From executive producer Ellen DeGeneres, narrated by Drew Barrymore and based on the hit U.K. format, this new series offers a voyeuristic look at a variety of real first dates happening throughout one night at the same restaurant in Chicago. The daters are of all ages, backgrounds and from across the U.S. The audience will be along for the ride in a refreshingly authentic viewing experience that plays like a real-life romantic comedy. At the end of each episode, we will find out if the participants want to see each other again for a second date or if they head back to love’s drawing board.

Ellen DeGeneres, Pam Healey, John Hesling, Anthony Dominici, Jeff Kleeman and Tim Carter executive produce. “First Dates” is produced by Shed Media and A Very Good Production.

Please visit the official show site at http://www.nbc.com/first-dates

Facebook: Facebook.com/NBCFirstDates

Twitter: @NBCFirstDates

Hashtag: #FirstDates


“THE WALL”

Packed with drama and action, this is a game that the entire family can root for together. Executive producer LeBron James presents a challenge infused with the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, where regular people can achieve their dreams with one bounce of the ball. Hosted by comedian Chris Hardwick and set in a large glossy arena centering on the colossal 40-foot wall, the gameplay involves quick thinking, shrewd strategy and a little luck. Played by contestant pairs, this is an unpredictable journey with giant swings of fortune and millions of dollars passing through the contestants’ hands throughout the hour.

LeBron James, Andrew Glassman, Maverick Carter and Chris Hardwick executive produce. “The Wall” is produced by Glassman Media in association with SpringHill Productions. Glassman Media developed the series with CORE Media.

Please visit the official show site at http://www.nbc.com/the-wall

Facebook: Facebook.com/NBCTheWall

Twitter: @NBCTheWall

Hashtag: #TheWall

# # #

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

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

Law & Order SVU “Intersecting Lives” Sneak Peek

Here is a preview clip from Law & Order SVU, “Intersecting Lives” which will air on Wednesday May 18, 2016 at 9PM ET on NBC. The video features Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Raúl Esparza, and Andy Karl.


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Intersecting Lives” can be found at this link.




SVU_17022Clip3_16x9 by tvwatchr

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

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

Law & Order SVU “Assaulting Reality” Recap & Review

As I despise – and don’t watch – reality competition shows, I was dreading the episode “Assaulting Reality” which was based on a “Bachelor” type show. Surprisingly, I enjoyed this episode, likely because it almost felt like the closest we would ever come to an SVU comedy. The corny dialog from the “Heart’s Desire” show and the whole premise of how the show was staged is exactly why their real-life counterpart shows are unwatchable to me.

Apparently they are also unwatchable to Benson and Tucker, who saw the show while in a bar, both drinking what looks like coffee. Maybe this means that Tucker’s previous comments to Benson about drinking has been taken seriously. But Rollins does watch the show, at one point getting tears in her eyes. Maybe Rollins looks for that Disney-princess like scenario for her own life. Carisi, also at Rollins’ apartment, thinks no man would ever want to hear this, so they have some work to do if they want the relationship to progress further. Carisi was there making dinner but he’s also the one who seems to be paying the most attention to baby Jesse. Rollins, on the other hand, is sitting on the sofa cuddling with her dog. I was slightly surprised when Benson, upon finding out that Carisi was at Rollins’ place cooking dinner, didn’t give them some kind of warning later about getting into a relationship as they are colleagues.  Rollins and Carisi may only be very good friends so Benson may not have anything - yet - to warn them about. Seeing that Benson is in a relationship with Tucker, she may not feel that she has any room to criticize, either.

While on the subject of Benson and Tucker, while I am willing to let this relationship play out and have said before that their relationship lacks a romantic spark, I felt a little nauseated when Benson commented that his dinner plans at her place sounded romantic. Maybe it’s because I just saw an old SVU episode the other day where Tucker was being such a major jerk that it brought back my dislike for him and made me wonder how she could ever be in a relationship with a man who seemed so bent on destroying her career.

It was amusing that Fin, his real life counterpart having a reality show of his own, commented that reality shows are all fake. Also amusing was when Barba said his mother says the show will do anything for ratings. If anything, this applies just as much to shows like SVU as it does for a reality show.

Law & Order and SVU “repeat offenders” Wendie Malick and Michael Gross were perfectly cast for the roles of the show executive producers and I think their performances added to the comic tone of this episode. Larisa Oleynik also did a fine job as the frazzled Lizzie, who tried to keep the show together but had to contend with two domineering bosses who eventually made her the scapegoat.

Here is the recap:

Cast:
Mariska Hargitay - Lieutenant Olivia Benson
Ice-T - Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Raúl Esparza - ADA Rafael Barba
Peter Scanavino - Detective Dominick “Sonny” Carisi, Jr.

Guest stars:
Robert John Burke – Captain Ed Tucker
Michael Gross - Jeffrey Prince
Wendie Malick - Regina Prince
Larisa Oleynik - Lizzie Bauer
Mather Zickel - John Valentine
Rachael Emrich - Gigi Danson
Comfort Clinton - Melanie Connor
Caprice Benedetti - Tammy Ledder
Adam Gregory - Ryan Ledder
Jordan Bondurant – Graham Turco
Shannon Thornton - Ashley S.
Ava Lange as Ashley B.
Adam Perry - Emmett Weaver
Jones Miller – Mrs. Connor


Host John Valentine welcomes audiences back to the show, Heart’s Desire in NYC. It is week 6 and the competition is down to three men and four women; one of the women will be going home after the broadcast. Melanie and Gigi are competing for Ryan and Ryan will chose his “heart’s desire” tonight.

Meanwhile, Benson and Tucker are in a bar, both drinking coffee, and the show is playing. Benson asks the bartender to turn the show off, and Tucker suggests throw the TV out. Benson asks who actually watches this show?

In Rollins' apartment, she is glued to the TV show. She is sitting on her sofa with Frannie the dog as Carisi is there holding baby Jesse. They watch Melanie and Gigi discuss Ryan and Carisi comments about Gigi throwing shade. Rollins says Gigi is a total witch; she and Frannie are team Melanie. Melanie says Ryan is the guy of her dreams. The show plays the video of Gigi and Ryan on a “steamy” helicopter ride. John then asks Melanie about her date with Ryan, which she describes a quiet but the truly connected. A video of their carriage ride in the park is shown, Melanie saying she felt like a Disney princess. Carisi comments that no guy wants to hear that. He asks Rollins if she is crying, and she shakes it off, saying no but Carisi comments she is so busted. John asks Melanie what happened when they got back to the triplex, and when Melanie just smiles, John shows a video of the action. The others ask if they want a drink but they indicate they are good. Ryan tells Melanie that John gave him the “Dream Suite” key and Melanie says she is dizzy and she kisses Ryan. They go to the suite and he opens the door, Melanie saying she is not sure about this. They head to the bed and the crowd cheers at the activity. John tells Melanie that was a big step for her, and she says it wasn’t that big of a step. He asks if she is sure, then suggests they see what happened a little later in the evening. Melanie, and the audience, sees a video of her in bed with Ryan, taken with a night vision camera, and while she looks shocked, the audience applauds. Upset, she stands up and says she doesn’t remember any of this. Meanwhile, Rollins and Carisi both look stunned. Back at the show, John asks Melanie if she remembers going to the Dream Suite with Ryan, and she admits yes, but says she is a virgin and would have never slept with him. Producer Lizzie Bauer, off camera, orders them to cut to a commercial now. John stands up and says they will be back as Melanie shouts out “Did Ryan rape me?” Back at Rollins' place, Carisi asks Rollins if she just saw what he just saw. Rollins says Melanie wasn’t acting, asking if they just aired a rape.

The next day at SVU, the team watches the video of Melanie and the rape accusation. The papers have headlines of the shocking allegation. When Carisi comments he is surprised this hasn’t happened before, Benson asks her to please tell him he doesn’t watch this show. He says no but last night was his first time; he was making dinner and Rollins put it on. Rollins rolls her eyes and Fin question that Carisi is “making dinner.” Rollins gives an eye roll again and Benson gives them both a look as Fin comments that maybe they were distracted but they know that reality shows are all fake. Rollins replies not last night, saying they want drama and fairy tells but not rape, adding they cut away as soon as Melanie started to freak out. Benson asks if Melanie reported it, and Rollins wonders if the producers let her make a call as they don’t allow access to the outside world. Carisi adds it is like Stockholm Syndrome, and with all the headlines and all the calls they are getting from concerned viewers and the Chief of Ds’ wife…and Rollins finishes that they should at least ask a few questions. Benson agrees and tells them to go talk to Melanie but she is interested in “our” reality, not theirs.

At the Heart’s Desire triplex at 539 West 22nd Street on Tuesday, April 5, Carisi and Rollins are inside and Rollins notices the hot tub where Ashley B. slapped Graham in the second episode. There is filming going on, and girls are cavorting in bikinis. Lizzie Bauer enters, stating she is co-producer and asks how can she help the NYPD. Carisi explains they are following up on the accusation that Melanie made on the air last night. Lizzie explains they have been getting calls about it too but asks that they know nothing happened and that the show is heavily scripted. Rollins states they still need to speak to Melanie. Lizzie comments that the executive producers are talking to the network and asks if they can wait until they get here, and Rollins answers with a firm no. Lizzie looks unsettled and says that Melanie is close to the final round, adding that she spoke with her last night and if she wanted the police involved they definitely would have made that happen. Carisi insists they need to hear that from her. Lizzie says, “Uh huh” as she leads them up the stairway.

Law & Order SVU “Intersecting Lives” Photos & Promo

Here are advance photos and the promo for Law & Order SVU, “Intersecting Lives” which will air on Wednesday May 18, 2016 at 9PM ET on NBC. The photos feature Mariska Hargitay, Kelli Giddish, Ice-T, Peter Scanavino, Raúl Esparza, Andy Karl, Ernest Waddell as Ken Randall, Karina Logue as Lisa Munson, Ramón Franco as Tony Rodriguez, Krystal Joy Brown as Charisse McCabe, Ramón Franco as Tony Rodriguez, Bill Duke as Counselor Ed Pastrino, and Brad Garrett as C.O. Gary Munson.

Photos by: Michael Parmelee/NBC 2016 NBCUniversal Media, LLC

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

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

Law & Order SVU “Assaulting Reality” Sneak Peeks

Here are preview clips from Law & Order SVU “Assaulting Reality” which will air on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at 9PM ET on NBC. The videos feature Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Kelli Giddish, Peter Scanavino, Michael Gross (as Jeffrey Prince), and Wendie Malick (as Regina Prince).


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Assaulting Reality” can be found at this link.

Please note: These videos have alimited life and may be removed at any time, so catch them while you can!


SVU_17021Clip1_16x9 by tvwatchr


SVU_17021Clip2_16x9 by tvwatchr




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

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

Law & Order SVU “Fashionable Crimes” Recap & Review

The best part of “Fashionable Crimes” was the return of Richard Belzer as the beloved John Munch. Munch had returned to help the SVU on a current case that had loose ties to a case he worked with Fin 12 years ago involving Alvin Gilbert. (If there was an actual case mentioned in a previous SVU episode, I am unable to find it.) There were only 3 scenes with Munch in them, but the only one that had any real meat to it was the closing scene where Munch had been babysitting Noah. He explains how he felt when he first left SVU, thinking that he – and the place – would fall apart. But he has realized that life is good. He also imparts a tidbit that some rabid, obsessive SVU fans should take to heart: “Turns out there is more to life than SVU. ” I really enjoyed when Munch explains he taught Noah an important word (“Why?”) and a life lesson: “Always question authority.”  I almost got a tear in my eye when Noah said “Bye Munch” as I worried this would be the last time we’d see him on the show. I also must admit that Richard looks even more frail than the last time he appeared on the show. I hope that he is well and hope that the really isn’t the last we’ve seen of John Munch.

Otherwise, this was a tepid episode, and despite Munch commenting that he didn’t see it coming that a brother killed his brother, I thought it was obvious. The writers tried too hard to make it look like Matt would eventually kill Alvin, telegraphing this many times by Matt making several public threats. I also couldn’t really empathize with the victim. No one deserves what happened to her. But, like her boyfried, she seemed too eager to advance her modeling career and when it became advantageous for her to drop the charges, she did so in a nanosecond. I would have had more sympathy for her had she not constantly caved into her overbearing boyfriend’s demands when her modeling career would benefit.

I don’t recall Dodds ever mentioning before that he has a brother, but this information is revealed when Dodds explains how he’s had to bail him out many times and has been hiding these problems from their father, the Deputy Chief.  (Update: it has been brought to my attention - and I have verified - that it was first mentioned in the episode "Maternal Instincts," the episode where Dodds makes his first appearance.)

In the segment where Benson has arrived at the murder scene, she questions whether Maria, who found the body, was the one who did it, and Carisi doesn’t think so, saying “Her screams were real.” How can he determine, without seeing the person scream, that it was real or not? Screams can be easily faked. I thought this was a ludicrous statement and was indicative of what I see as writing that is being dumbed down to the level of a teenager.

This is just a nitpick on my part, but it looked a little too bright for “magic hour” (more commonly known by photographers as the “golden hour”) photography.

P.S. I forgot to mention this episode appears to be based on fashion photographer Terry Richardson and the allegations of sexual assault.

Here is the recap:

Cast:
Mariska Hargitay - Lieutenant Olivia Benson
Ice-T - Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Raúl Esparza - ADA Rafael Barba
Peter Scanavino - Detective Dominick “Sonny” Carisi, Jr.

Guest stars:
Richard Belzer – John Munch
Andy Karl - Sgt. Mike Dodds
Fisher Stevens - Alvin Gilbert
Griffin Dunne - Benno Gilbert
Francesca Faridany - Claire Gilbert
Hari Dhillon - Counselor Sunil Varma
Tom Pelphrey - Matt Kroger
Sandrine Holt - Nora Wattan
Virginia Gardner - Sally Landry
Jack Nawada-Braunwart - Noah Porter Benson
Jonathan Bock – Counselor Jason Gruber
Errin Ruth – Maria Carla Channing
Stephen Bradbury – Judge Colin McNamara
Sadie Newman – Eva
Jandra Dee – Tilda
Mick Szal – Mai
Bethany Barber - Cintra
Germar Terrel Gardner – Security Guard

Sally Landry enters the Alvin Gilbert Studio, escorted in by Nora Wattan. She is told that Alvin is the best. Nora takes Sally to a changing room and when Sally asks to call Matt, Nora says Alvin doesn’t like boyfriends or managers around, it keeps it more intimate. As Sally undresses, Alvin enters, surprising Sally. He tells her that today they will make magic. He slaps her on her backside a few times.

Elsewhere, Benson, with Noah, and Rollins, with Jesse, are at a merry-go-round with Carisi taking photos. Rollins doesn’t think she needs this, with hundreds of shots on her phone, but Benson says Rollins can text those but she needs something she can frame. Carisi also comments about the light; she can’t beat magic hour. Rollins wisecracks that Carisi gets a camera and suddenly he is a professional, adding that he says magic hour but she says witching hour, saying she only has ten minutes. The merry-go-round begins to move and Carisi snaps photos.

Meanwhile, back at Alvin’s studio, he takes photos of Sally and when he moves in to expose her breasts, she recoils. Alvin backs off and tells Nora to get Sally something to chill. Nora brings her a drink and tells Sally that Alvin is intense but he is worth it. Sally mentions her inexperience with a shoot like this, but Nora assures her she is fresh and that is why Alvin is responding to her. She adds if Alvin is into her, it is all good. Later, after her drink, Nora is taking the photos while Alvin rapes Sally, who is sobbing. He says that is amazing, and that it worked, asking Nora if she got all of it. He looks at the photos and says it is good stuff. He walks off, telling Nora to clean her up. Nora hands Sally a towel. Sally says she didn’t want him to do this, but Nora counters that is not what the camera saw. Sally sobs.

Benson, still at the park with Rollins, gets a call about a 17 year old girl who is in with the nurse. Benson says she will be there in 30 minutes. Rollins comments, “So much for magic hour.”

At Mercy Hospital at 365 West 32nd Street on Tuesday, March 22, Benson and Rollins speak with Sally who explains what happened, including that Nora took pictures. Sally is shocked when Benson and Rollins explain that Sally was raped. But Sally doesn’t know if she wants to file charges as her boyfriend Matt doesn’t know she was there and if he finds out he will kill her.

Later, in the SVU squad room, Dodds enters with Benson, who asks him how was the training at Quantico. Dodds replies that he can neither confirm nor deny he was there. Benson says okay, and Dodds apologizes to the others if he left them in a lurch. Fin comments that they managed. Dodds asks if they caught a case last night. Benson says yes, explaining that Sally Landry, 17, who was reluctant to press charges but the convinced her to come in. Rollins adds Sally is an aspiring model, fresh off the bus from Iowa, and is there for Fashion Week. Fin says he hates Fashion Week, and Carisi adds he does too; it’s nonstop gridlock. Benson gets them back on track by saying that Sally was raped by Alvin Gilbert in his studio yesterday. Dodds asks if this is the fashion designer, and Rollins says no, that is his older brother, Benno. She adds Alvin is the bad-boy photographer that does all their photo shoots and campaign designs. Fin adds he’s a real bad boy; he and Munch caught that case 12 years ago. Carisi asks what happened, and Fin explains some big time Italian model got assaulted during a shoot, and while they were investigating, she becomes the face of their new perfume. The case goes away. Rollins is not sure this one will; Sally is green and she is very upset, and Alvin’s assistant, Nora Wattan, may have taken pictures of the assault. Benson adds the rape kit came back positive for semen so they are running the DNA now. Rollins says Sally’s blood alcohol was high because Nora was feeding her drinks. Dodds asks if the Gilberts know that Sally disclosed, and Benson replies that she doubts it, she didn’t even want her boyfriend to know. Sally enters with her boyfriend, who has his arm around her and kisses her, and Carisi asks if that is Sally. Rollins says from that chokehold that guy has on her, she is guessing that her boyfriend knows. Benson approaches and asks Sally how she is doing today. She says she is okay, and she introduces her boyfriend, who says his name is Matt Kroger and he is her boyfriend and manager. He yells that he warned Sally about that Gilbert creep, and Benson, Fin, and Carisi work to separate the two so they can talk.

In the interview room, Sally explains to Benson and Rollins that she had to tell Matt and that he is angry at her and Alvin. Benson notices a bruise under Sally’s eye and she says it must have been from the assault. She says Matt has been understanding. She does not talk to her family any more. Rollins comments that Sally is new in the business and Alvin is a famous photographer, and Benson questions if there is anything that may have happened that she didn’t want to tell them or Matt. She thinks they think she is making this up, insisting she wouldn’t, and, upset, insists that Alvin raped her. Benson explains it was just a question, they have to ask.

Meanwhile, with Fin and Carisi, Matt explains how he discovered Sally, he got her pictures and connects and goes to her with every gig until Alvin cuts him out. He says Sally is too trusting and he has spoken to her about this. But he can’t guard her 24-7. He says Alvin is not going to get away with this; if they don’t take care of him, he will.