Friday, February 28, 2014

Law & Order SVU “Criminal Stories” Episode Information


Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order SVU, “Criminal Stories” which is Mariska Hargitay’s directorial debut.



Law & Order SVU “Criminal Stories” Air Date March 19, 2014 (9 PM ET/8C Wednesday NBC)

ALEC BALDWIN GUEST STARS IN MARISKA HARGITAY’S DIRECTORIAL DEBUT

Renowned New York Ledger columnist Jimmy MacArthur (Baldwin) is given full access to Sergeant Benson (Hargitay) and the squad for an inside look at the city’s Special Victims Unit. When the rape case of a young Muslim woman (guest star Summer Bishil) escalates to a hate crime, Jimmy stays one step ahead of the investigation and declares the entire crime a hoax. With the victim under fierce public scrutiny, Benson struggles to keep the case on solid ground and fears a rapist will go free. Also starring Ice-T (Detective Odafin Tutuola), Danny Pino (Detective Nick Amaro), Kelli Giddish (Detective Amanda Rollins) and Raúl Esparza (ADA Rafael Barba). Also guest starring Tamara Tunie (M.E. Melinda Warner), Delaney Williams (Counselor John Buchanan), Leslie Odom Jr. (Reverend Curtis Scott), Josh Pais (Hank Abraham), Nick Mennell (Elias Kemp Jr.) and Katie Couric (as herself).


# # #


)


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 “Gridiron Soldier” Promo

Here is the promo for Law & Order SVU “Gridiron Soldier” which will air on Wednesday, March 5, 2014 at 9PM ET on NBC.

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








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.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Law & Order SVU “Gridiron Soldier” Advance Photos

Here are advance photos for Law & Order SVU “Gridiron Soldier” which will air on Wednesday, March 5, 2014 at 9PM ET on NBC. The photos feature Danny Pino, Kelli Giddish, Ice-T, Greg Finley (as Eddie Thorpe), Glenn Morshower (as Coach Bill Becker), Winston Duke (as Cedric Jones), Luke Guldan (as Bucky Dinucci), Tony Campesi (as Counselor Roth), and Glenn Fleary (as Larry Jones).

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
















Photos by: Michael Parmelee/NBC © NBC Universal, Inc.





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 “Comic Perversion” Recap & Review


Law & Order SVU “Comic Perversion” was ripped from a few headlines that I could detect:
  • The 2012 story about comedian Daniel Tosh who was heckled by a girl about a rape joke and then asked the comedy club audience “Wouldn’t it be funny if that girl got raped by like, five guys right now… like right now?”
  •  The 2011 story of New York Yankees Derek Jeter and his one-night stand memorabilia gift baskets
  •  Whoopi Goldberg’s 2009 idiotic statement regarding Roman Polanski, rationalizing what he did wasn’t “rape-rape”
The question is, did the episode blend all these headlines together to form a solid story? My answer: Yes and no. Jonathan Silverman was great in this role, portraying both a believable comic and a believable low life scumbag. This character was very well written and Silverman delivered those lines with perfect comic timing. But overall, the episode missed on many marks.

This was a case from which Benson and her squad should have distanced themselves very early in the game. At first, there was no case and Barba was the only sane person to highlight that fact. I realize that the squad felt that where there was smoke there is fire, but they went out of their way to dig up any dirt they could on Josh Galloway, to the point that it seemed like they had a vendetta against him. Benson trying to get him on hate speech was a stretch. Even after they found another potential victim, Barba must have lost his sanity by taking such a weak case. It was satisfying for him to lay down the law (no pun intended) to Benson about not bringing him another case like this in the future. These past few episodes, Barba has been off his game and it’s been so disappointing to see a character who came on so strong when he first appeared in the series to one who seems to have lost his judgment and his backbone. On the plus side, Raúl Esparza brought his scene-stealing game to this episode.

Benson also commented to Barba that she thought they had each other’s backs. Being a good Sergeant or Detective or ADA should not be about having each others’ backs. It’s about uncovering the facts, leadership, and making the tough decisions - knowing when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em.  Benson has enough experience in the SVU that she should have seen this turkey of a case a mile away and not taken it to Barba until she had a solid foundation. Her expectations that Barba would blindly have her back was immature and I was glad when Barba called her on it. Hopefully Barba will get his backbone back and Benson will start thinking like a Sergeant.

Something about this episode repelled me, and I don’t think it was just Josh Galloway. It was the fact that there wasn’t one person that I found to be a sympathetic character and there was no character that I really cared anything about, including the victims.

Questions: as the SVU group sat in the reserved front row of the comedy club, are we to think they did in fact accept the VIP tickets that Josh offered? If so, was that inappropriate to accept tickets from a potential suspect? Should they have purchased their own tickets and sat in the back so they could better observe the dynamics of the show, rather than become part of it? Is there more trouble with Benson and Cassidy? She avoided his call, and seemed uncomfortable to find that Josh was Cassidy’s favorite comic. She must we wondering what that means regarding Cassidy’s views on rape.

The episode was promoted by NBC as a two-hour crossover event with Chicago PD, which was shameful, considering that the one lone character from Chicago PD didn’t appear until the last minute of the show. I knew going into it that something like this was going to happen, but only because I saw a few clarifying tweets on the subject soon after the promo first aired. But to the casual viewer – those millions that don’t follow people on Twitter connected to the show - it was another case of NBC over promising and under delivering.

For me, deciding whether a joke is funny or offensive lies in the context and also in the spirit in which the joke is delivered. Humor is subjective and one person may think something is hilarious while another may find it offensive. There are so many bad things that can happen to someone in their lifetime that a comic is likely to hit a sore spot at some point with someone in the audience. Making someone laugh can be a mine field; one may think that he/she is delivering the comedic line of the century when in reality they may be met with alarming silence or anger. Professional comics want that big laugh; some of them attempt to get that laugh by shocking their audience or saying something that is clearly in poor taste. A person stepping into a comedy club should be prepared to hear just about anything, and comedy clubs are definitely NOT the place for sensitive ears. Heckling serves no purpose but to give the comedian more fodder for their act.  All that said,  I don't find rape jokes funny.

While we’re on the subject of offending an audience, and with me in the mood to shake a hornet’s nest, Law & Order SVU angered many fans who were rape victims by hiring convicted rapist Mike Tyson for the episode "Monster’s Legacy” last season. A mixed message to say the last: rape is not a joke but let’s be insensitive and hire a convicted rapist for our show and offend rape victims.  Law & Order SVU’s storylines are in themselves exploitations of victims of sex crimes, which makes the “rape is no joke” tag line sound sanctimonious and for me, the message rang hollow.




Here is the recap:

Cast:
Mariska Hargitay – Sergeant Olivia Benson
Ice-T – Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Danny Pino - Detective Nick Amaro
Raúl Esparza - ADA Rafael Barba

Guest stars:
Dean Winters – Brian Cassidy
Elizabeth Marvel – Counselor Rita Calhoun
Skyler Day – Renee Clark
Jonathan Silverman - Josh Galloway
Laura Slade Wiggins - Carly Rydell
Victoria Rowell - Judge Delilah Hawkins
Sophia Bush – Erin Lindsay
Sal Governale – Emcee
Justin Kruger – Chad Smith
Patrick Cragin – Sean Bradley
Caroline Lindy - Audrey Tuffaut
Emily Grosland – Tara
Michelle Beadle – Reporter
Brian Silliman – Prank Reporter


Comic Josh Galloway takes the stage at the Comedy Strip Live Club at TSU. He makes jokes heavy with sexual innuendo and then progresses to rape jokes. Two women in the audience shout out that “rape is no joke” and the crowd boos them. He continues with the jokes and as one girl says rape is not funny, another woman in the word tells her SHE is not funny and to go home and the crowd applauds. Josh makes feminist jokes and Renee Clark, from “Students Together Against Rape”, one of the girls who was heckling Josh, cites some statistics of rape on campus. He calls her to the stage to allow her to use the microphone to deliver message and when she says that 1 in 4 women on their campus will experience sexual assault. Josh explains Renee is right, rape is not funny, but then goes on to say gang rape is friggin’ hysterical. The crown laughs and, with his arm around her. he tells Renee it is the rule of threes, one guy rapes her and that’s not funny, two guys rape her and that’s tragic but three guys is comedy. The crowd laughs and she breaks free and leaves the stage. He tells her if she got gang raped tonight she would get that. She shouts out to him that he is sick but he thinks these are funny jokes. As she and her group of girls leave the club the crowd applauds and cheers.

Outside, as Renee walks alone, she is accosted by two guys who restrain her and make jokes about what was said at the comedy club. As she struggles to get away she blows a whistle but one of the guys grabs it from her. As they continue to grope and assault her, she kicks one of them and he drops the whistle which is attached to her key chain. She grabs it.

Back at the club, Josh wraps up his routine and signs autographs as he leaves. He makes eye contact with a girl who is also eyeing him and she looks half drunk. He smiles.

At SVU in the conference room with Benson and Rollins, Renee says they grabbed her and pushed her around and she managed to get her whistle back which made them panic and run. Benson assures her she did great, she got herself out of the situation. Rollins asks if she knows those boys, and Renee answer Sean Brady and Chad Smith, they live in her dorm. She thinks they followed her out of the Comic Strip Live last night, Josh Galloway was performing, Rollins asks if he is one of those “rape joke” comics, and Renee replies she and her friends were trying to send a message that rape isn’t a joke at TSU. Benson asks if Renee was there protesting, and she explains yes, but Josh called her up on stage and said it would be funny if she were gang raped and that’s why Sean and Chad assaulted her. It’s like Josh gave them permission. Benson tells her they will see what charges they can bring with these boys but she just wants to make sure that Renee is ready to go through all this again. Renee states she is, that’s why she came straight to them, she didn’t even call campus security. She adds they need to after Josh Galloway, if he hadn’t egged them on, they never would have gone after her.

Meanwhile, Amaro and Fin question Sean and Chad separately. ADA Barba, observing with Benson and Rollins, calls the guys college idiots. Benson thinks Renee was targeted as the guys knew Renee was an activist and a rape survivor. Barba says he can ask for a temporary restraining order but maybe she should change dorms. Benson scoffs that it’s the victim that should change her life, than asks what about Galloway and when Rollins explains who he is, Barba asks if he assaulted Renee too. Benson pipes in that it was verbally and he incited those boys. Rollins explains the joke he made about Renee being gang raped, and Barba gives Rollins a look asking if she has heard of free speech and as Benson sighs in frustration, Barba says he can’t charge the guy for bad joke telling. Benson asks what about hate speech as he is advocating rape, thinking this makes Galloway an accessory; if she tells a guy with a gun she wants her husband dead…and Barba counters it’s false equivalency, she’d have to prove his intent. Barba asks if there are any other charges against Josh and Rollins explains there is nothing on record but they can do some digging. Benson suggest they go to Josh first and tell him the girl he dragged up on stage and humiliated was assaulted by two of his fans.

At the Massimo Hotel, as Benson and Amaro go meet with Josh, Amaro complains that he hates this guy, say he thinks rape is a joke and asking that doesn’t he have a mother or sister or daughter? Benson cautions him that those aren’t the kind of questions they will be asking. Benson knocks on the door and Josh greets them clad in a robe, and when he refers to them as detectives, Benson corrects him that it is Sergeant. Josh says she wears the pants and asks what he can do for them. Amaro motions to Josh’s robe and asks didn’t the front desk tell him they were on their way up, and Josh said yes they pulled him out of the shower, He drops the robe and based on Benson’s and Amaro’s reaction, Josh is naked. Benson says “whoa!” and she and Amaro overt their eyes. He asks if they like the view and says nothing beats a penthouse view in New York City as he puts on his pants. He offers them room service but they decline. Benson explains what happened to Renee and he says that is too bad. He says the joke is out of context, rape isn’t funny but gang rape is, the rule of threes, asking if they get it. He says it was a joke and he is a comedian and he was playing to the crowd who knew they were kidding. Benson says the boys didn’t and Josh replies they can’t be serious that an artist can be held responsible for how an artist responds to his material. He adds he is a performer and he has a right to free speech. Benson explains he is also a witness to the events that led up to the assault so they will ask him to ID the assailants. Josh says when he is on stage it is just lights in his face and he hears the laughs. Amaro retorts that drunk and stoned college students is a real tough crowd. Josh says he gets it, they are not fans, but before they judge him at least come see his show and offers free tickets, asking Benson if she has a significant other and Amaro to bring his wife. Amaro glares at Josh and says no thanks. Josh rushes after Benson who has walked off, and says he assumes she is an intelligent woman who doesn’t want to make assumptions about his show until she has actually seen it. As they leave, he calls out “10 o’clock!:

Later, at the comedy club, Benson and Cassidy, and Rollins and Fin are sitting in reserved front row seats and as Josh is being introduced, Cassidy says to Rollins to keep an open mind, that this guy used to be funny. Josh gets on the stage to much applause. He comments that two nights in a row at the university feels like a commitment. Benson whispers to Cassidy that at least the other guy was funny, and Cassidy tells her to just relax. Josh asks Benson if he is interrupting and is she not a fan, adding it is okay, she’s a cop. When the crowd begins to boo, Josh says they are all cops and then introduces them to the crowd as Manhattan’s Special Victims, which gets a mix of limp applause and boos. He explains they are here tonight as they think his set is too suggestive and it might incite men to rape. The crowd voices confusion as Josh goes on to say it is okay, there is a lot of confusion about his whole consent thing. He adds he’s not talking about “rape rape”, he’s talking about the “he said/she said, we came back to my place, we were both drunk and now that he didn’t call me back the next morning I think I might have been raped” rape. The crowd laughs and Benson looks uncomfortable. He begins to make jokes asking SVU of guys need to get consent forms but he likes to hang on to the bar receipts which shows that he paid for her six drinks and that ought to be poof enough. Benson dryly says loudly, “Wow, that’s funny.” Josh addresses her as Sarge and asks what’s wrong, and as he bends down next to her, asks if she is not having a good time and to relax and have fun. He suggest he gets her a drink, on him, and then calls out if he can keep the receipt.., as the crowd laughs he says he is kidding. He gets back on the stage, and then says last night he banged one of TSU finest trash sluts. He mentions she order a crap ton of room service with champagne and they had mind blowing sex - he thinks he did he was so hammered – but his question to SVU is was that rape? They were both drunk, in his hotel room and in his bed completely naked but was it rape because he read once that a feminist said any time a girl has sex and she is drunk that’s considered rape. Benson continues to look displeased as Josh explains he is half Irish so if that’s true, that means all the women on his dad’s side of the family were raped by all of the men in the family going back 20 generations. Benson gets up and leave and Cassidy, Rollins and Fin follow as Josh continues to joke about rape.

Outside the club, Benson asks if anyone else needs a shower, Josh was vile. Cassidy says John was baiting her and Fin says “masturbating.” As Rollins tells Benson he was offensive but they can’t charge him, a girl, Carly,  runs out, asks if they are really SVU, and when Cassidy says they are, she says that drunk TSU girl that Josh was talking about is her, he thinks he raped her.

Later, at SVU, Carly tells Amaro and Rollins says she helped organize Josh’s event and afterwards she stayed around after his set to make sure everything is okay. Josh bought her a few drinks and he was also drinking but she had a heard start. She said they danced a little and made out and as they were closing the bar he said he had a car waiting and he had a cool hotel room paid for by the student association and she should see it. She remembers getting there and he said they had champagne but she doesn’t remember it is all hazy. When she woke up in the middle of the night, she was face down in a pillow and her legs were hanging off the bed and he was inside of her, she wasn’t used to where he was and it hurt a lot. Amaro asks if she told him to stop or said no, and she said yes but she told her to hang on doll, he was almost finished. She was too out of it, then the next morning he gave her a swag bag with a cap and t-shirt and gift cards which he had in his closet. Rollins asks if she told anybody about what happened, and she said no, she wrote him an email but never sent it. Rollins explains it is probably in her saved drafts folder so don’t delete it, edit it, or open it.

At the courthouse in the hallway, Barba tells Benson and Amaro that this isn’t just gray, it’s satyagraha gray. Benson counters that it seems pretty black and white to her, asking if he has seen clips from Galloway’s act. Barba replies that a comic who makes rape jokes is not the same as a rapist, asking if they have anything more concrete. Benson explains they are waiting for the rape kit results but a preliminary examination shows forceful anal penetration with bruising, tearing, and swelling. Barba asks that Renee didn’t realized she was raped until Josh made fun of her in his monologue? Benson tersely replies it wasn’t a monologue, it was a confession. Barba counters maybe to her, to him it was his act, and if they go after him based on his standup routine, he is going to claim he is being persecuted for his free speech, and raising his voice – adds Josh may not be entirely wrong. Benson claims this guy is a classic power assertive rapist and he probably takes home 10 girls a month. Amaro jumps in and says 8 say yes, 2 say no, and Josh has sex with them anyway and they should pick him up. Barba says no immediate outcry, fuzzy memory, she spend the night, and takes it they haven’t found any other victims. Amaro presses that Josh gives post-sex swag bags and if Barba can get them a warrant for his financials and they might be able to track more vics down that way. Barba almost laughingly says they know that is a reach, and to get him another vic and they can talk. Barba walks into the courtroom, leaving Benson and Amaro frustrated.

Back at SVU, Renee explains to Benson that Carly is one of the party girls and she even heckled her at the club that night and it’s ironic she wants her help. Benson replies here she is helping her, and Renee doesn’t want Carly regret reporting. She asks why haven’t they arrested Josh yet, and Benson explains they believe her but cases like this are complicated. She asks Amaro if he had any luck tracking Josh’s gift bags, and Amaro complains it would have been easier if they had his business records. Rollins states that out of Josh’s 120 bookings in the last year, he canceled only one 1 in Albany. The student union guy was pissed off that the police held him up at a previous gig in New Paltz.  Fin adds that the New Paltz PD would only confirm they questioned Josh about an accusation. Renee asked that that DA didn’t press charges either, and Fin explains no, the girl recanted. Benson suggests they find out why.

At the dorm room of Audrey Truffaut in New Paltz, NY she tells Rollins and Fin she should not be talking to them, and Fin asks if that was the deal for her diamond watch, which she quickly covers. Rollins asks what happened, and she said she was drunk and it was rougher than she was used to. Fin asks about this gift bag, and Audrey wonders how they knew about it. Rollins explains she was not the first one to accuse him, and when Audrey is reluctant to talk, Rollins asks if there is anything in her non-disclosure agreement about showing them what was in that bag. Audrey gets out the bad and show it to them, there was $4 left in the gift card but the rest is untouched. Rollins thinks it is enough to get a warrant.

Back at SVU, Amaro tells Benson and Barba that it turns out the gift cards are cheaper by the dozen and Josh buys them in twelve packs. They traced the ones that were used to the recipients. Barba looks at the list and says Josh has his groupies on the road and asks if any of them are claiming rape. Amaro replies most of the girls he talked to on the phone say the sex was consensual and a few say he was aggressive but non felt comfortable pressing charges. Barba shakes his head and says even if they were, there was no outcry and no charges filed and no judge will admit prior bad acts, they are more prejudicial then probative. Benson argues that Barba said he wanted a pattern and here is his pattern, he is a bad guy and they have a complainant. Barba explains going after this guy is no slam dunk. Benson counters that she knows that but it’s the right thing to do, questioning if that doesn’t matter. Barba pauses then asks if Josh is still in town, and Benson looks at Amaro with a smile.

Later, as Josh is in the hotel lobby, Amaro shows him a photo of Carly and asks if he knows her. Josh asks if he has a picture of the top of her head, then says he is kidding. Fin says Carly is accusing him of rape and he won’t be able to shut her up with a diamond watch. Josh asks if he is talking about New Paltz, referring to Audrey as a chuckle slut, saying she recanted and so will this girl and they don’t have a case. Fin says the DA disagrees, and Josh says so they want a political case fantastic, he’s the right guy. Amaro says this will be a good time to call his attorney. Josh laughs it off, saying this is a good time, they have paparazzi and make a show, asking Fin – calling him Jay-Z – if he will hold his bag. Josh makes jokes as they cart him off in cuffs to many reporters and paparazzi taking photos.

Sometime later, Josh is on the courthouse steps while his lawyer Rita Calhoun speaks with the press about Josh’s free speech and the new mayor and the NYPD are going back to their golden era of censorship. A reporter asks Josh if rape is funny, and he says no of course not, and other asks him what about gang rape. Josh says no, he has respect for all women, many of who are his fans. He and Calhoun walk away.

In Supreme Court, Carly reads back her draft email which what directed to Josh and what he did, and admits she did not send it as she had to work with him later that night and she was the one who organized the event. Barba recounts what happened that night and Carly said Josh was forceful and he want along with it at first but then the room was spinning and she must have passed out. When she woke up he was sodomizing her and it hurt, and she said no and she was crying, He didn’t listen, he did whatever she wanted. She stayed the night as she was too drunk to leave on her own so she slept on the bathroom floor.

Under cross, Calhoun states that Carly attended 6 of Josh’s shows last year and asks if she was a groupie. She admits she was a fan and when Calhoun asks if she wanted to sleep with him, Carly says she wasn’t sure what she wanted. She was flattered that he was interested. Calhoun asks that Carly ordered room service and drank with him and laid down on his bed, can she see why he got the impression she wanted to have sex, and Carly shouts that wasn’t sex, she would never have sex there. She definitely did not want that and told him it hurt. Calhoun questions that she felt pain, because it sounded like she left no pain that night. Barba objects Calhoun asks Carly how many drinks she had that night, and when Carly says she lost track, Calhoun brings up the bar tab which says she had 4 drinks during the shows, 3 at the bar with her client. Carly says she was nervous. Calhoun asks if, back in the room, Carly had any of the champagne SHE ordered, and Carly admits she was drunk. Calhoun asks if she is usually a binge drinker, and Carly says she is in college, she goes out and she drinks. Calhoun asks if she drinks to experiment sexually or get slutty without having to take responsibility? Barba objects and Calhoun withdraws the question and then says she has nothing further. Josh grins.

Later, at a bar Benson, Cassidy, Amaro, Rollins and Fin watch a video made by Josh talking about the case and he also shows a video of Carly from a few hours earlier from her alleged rape where she was at the club acting rowdy, Josh asks her if she spells her name the slutty way with an “i” and she says it is a “y” and pulling up her shirt to flash her bra, saying she can still do slutty. Benson and the others are shocked and dismayed. Josh goes on to asks if they know what else ends with a “y” – PERJURY. Amaro asks Cassidy how he found it, and Cassidy explains it was a Google alert for Josh Galloway. Benson asks him to tell her he set that up, and Rollins adds no way the judge is going to rule this admissible. Benson explains it is too late, it’s already out. As they watch Josh laugh on the video, Benson gets up and walks away.

Back at SVU, Barba, along with Benson and Rollins, show Carly the video and she says she is embarrassed, but Barba snips at her, asking if it is for what she said or for not telling them about it. Barba asks where the hell they got that video, he thought they vetted the club goes. Rollins thinks one of them took the video and sent it to Josh. Rollins says she is sorry, and Barba snaps that she should be. Carly says she is sorry she doesn’t remember saying that. Barba says the jury will remember and when they acquit Josh. He walks out of the office.

In the chambers of Judge Hawkins, Calhoun tells the judge the video is a complete surprise – Barba mumbles to her “Really? Better timing than your client.” - and Calhoun says it speaks to the victim’s consent and moves to have the video admitted as evidence. Barba says of course she does but it is moot. The jury has already seen it. The judge says only two of them admitted they had and she will replace them with two alternates who swear they haven’t seen it. Barba wisecrack that is great, so the panel now consists of jurors who are willing to lie under oath and he requests a mistrial as the video represents a fundamental error prejudicial to the victim which cannot be cured by instructions to the jury. The judge denies his request and thinks he has bigger problems than this video.

Afterwards, in the courthouse hall, Benson questions Barba that he asked for a mistrial, but he tells her don’t worry it was denied. Benson says they knew this would be an uphill battle and at least the video is excluded. Barba comments if she wants to redeem the case good luck; Calhoun is calling her to the stand. Benson looks perplexed.

Back in Supreme Court, Benson is on the stand and Calhoun questions her about the drinking issues with victims and it increases a woman’s chances of being in a sexual encounter she may regret. Calhoun brings up Carly’s behavior at the club and her gaps in memory and she may not have recalled giving consent. When Benson starts her response with “I think” Calhoun uses that as a wedge that there is room for doubt. Josh looks happy and Barba looks less than thrilled.

Afterwards, Benson tells Barba she walked into it and apologizes, it is her first time on the stand since Lewis. Barba tells her he knows, it doesn’t matter, they knew where this was headed. Benson says they had to bring this case and it was the right thing to do for Carly and the other victims. Barba asks if she is sure this wasn’t about her ego, and as Barba opens a door to another room, Benson asks “What?” He tells the person inside that they need the room and the occupant leaves while he and Benson walk in. Barba says she just took over the squad and wanted to take big name down and there is no special treatment under Sergeant Benson’s watch. Benson tells Barba he knows that is not her, but Barba counters she had a really tough year and is going through a lot. Benson asks so which is it, she’s driven by her ego or her judgment is impaired? Barba replies HIS judgment was impaired, he should have never have let her convince him to take this case. Benson says they both decided it was the right thing to do, and Barba snaps that is because they did not have the facts and if her detectives had done their due diligence and found that video he never would have brought this case to trial. Benson nods and admits they are taking a hit but blaming her…she thought they had each other’s backs. As Benson exits, Barba replies “so did I.”

At a later time, Josh is on the stand denying he is a rapist. He says they drank a lot and fooled around and had sex and was sorry it wasn’t romantic. He adds she took the gift bag and saw his show the next night. He continues to joke about it and gets a chuckle from the gallery. When Barba questions him about it, he said that night Carly came after her hard, and he is a celebrity and some women find it attractive, He continues to joke about it and the jury seems to find him funny. Barba even tells Josh he is good looking and Josh admits Barba is not so bad himself but he doesn’t swing that way. Barba brings up the anal sex and Josh said the whole trial is a joke and last time he checked sodomy is not illegal in New York. Josh goes on to make jokes about the situation and the judge calls for order as the gallery responds. Barba comments this is all funny to Josh and beings up Carly’s pain and her screaming to stop and sleeping on the bathroom floor, and Josh asks if Barba was there, he forgot they were having a ménage a trois. Barba counters this is just material, and Josh says he is an artist, life is his material. This screwed up culture – racism, incest, rape - if you don’t joke about it, you cry. That is his job as social satirist to go there and shock people and make them think about their hypocritical Christian values that preach more that they can ever practice on their views on sexually and dominance – that’s his act. Barba asks if forcing himself on an incapacitated 21 year old is part of his act too? Josh comments to the jury that they heard him, he is on trial for his words and his thoughts, not his deeds. In his own bedroom he has own proclivities but this is not a trial about rape, it is about a girl who got in way over her head and she came after him that night like a heat seeking missile and she had this fantasy in her head to be part of her world. The next morning when her coach turned back into a pumpkin, she cried rape because these days instead of getting over it, you sue and if any of them believe that she isn’t going to file a civil suit, he has a bridge he’d like to sell them. Barba says Josh thinks she is after him for his money and they are after him to be silenced because they object to his attacks on Christian morality. Josh adds and his success, because that’s why he is a moving target but he is not guilty, he is sorry if her feelings got hurt but he did not rape that girl.

Afterwards in the hall, Renee tells Benson the jury had to see him for what he is but Benson counters that they also saw that video. Renee makes a comment about Carly but then says even she is victim blaming but Benson assures her they both know Carly did not want this. Renee asks about the other girls not testifying and Benson informs her the judge will not allow them as there was no outcry and no corroboration and on top of that, it is out of their jurisdiction. Renee says that they need a new victim here now, and she thinks if they set him up, he would bit. Benson says NYPD can’t approach him during the trial without his lawyer present and Renee has to let it go. Renee wonders what if it is not NYPD. Benson tells her she has to let it go and whatever she is thinking, absolutely not, he is a dangerous man. Renee is outraged that he is a dangerous man that gets to go free. Benson explains that they brought him to trial and maybe he will think twice about the next girl and that Renee needs to let this go. Benson walks off and Renee races off.

Later, Josh is in a bar and Renee arrives, dressed up with big eyeglasses and her hair up, in a black dress with high heels. She approaches Josh at the bar and she strikes up a conversation. He asks if she knows her and she says they met a few years ago. He says he remembers her and asks what is she drinking.

Later, at a hotel room. He is there with Renee and they drink more. He takes off her glasses and she puts them aside and takes down her hair. He begins to kiss her and she pulls out her phone, saying she got a text from her boyfriend who tracked her phone and she says she has to go. But he continues to press her and as she tries to leave he pulls her back and says she says no she has to go. He asks what does she mean no, she’s her in his hotel room. But as she continues to say no and to stop, he continues to force himself on her, shoving her face down on the bed. She finally is able to kick him off her and he reaches for her and tears her dress. He thinks now she is ready to party, but she knees him in the groin, grabs her glasses, and leaves.

Sometime later, Barba shows the video that Renee recorded from her eyeglasses camera to Josh and Calhoun. Calhoun asks if NYPD gave her the camera and Barba states she bought them herself. Calhoun thinks this is not admissible and her client was set up while still on trial and this is NYPD entrapment. Barba says Renee did this on her own and neither he nor NYPD had any knowledge and he is not looking to use it at this trial. Barba says he will be bringing new charges for attempted rape and sexual assault. Josh is outraged, asking what is this, first it was a vendetta and now a shakedown? Calhoun tells Josh to stop, then looks at Barba and says she is sure they can work something out.

Back at SVU, Carly hears that Josh agreed to a deal and asks Fin and Rollins if this means he will go to jail. Fin says no but he will be a registered sex offender for 10 years. Carly smiles and asks if this means she can sure him. Fin sits back in his chair and Rollins tells Carly it is her call. Meanwhile, Benson, Amaro, and Barba are observing from the office and Benson comments Carly is a piece of work, Barba says the video of Josh can never see the light of day and this all remains confidential. Amaro comments that Josh is above the law, and Benson says he plead guilty and is on the sex offenders list. Amaro says Josh walks right back out on stage. Barba states that Fatty Arbuckle was found innocent and barely worked again, that the court of public opinion can turn on you. Benson says at the end of the day, it was the right thing to do to bring this case. Barba tells her don’t fish, she snatched a tie out of the jaw of defeat; if she wants to stay commanding officer – he wants her to stay commanding officer – don’t bring him cases like this. Barba walks out. Amaro asks Benson what that about, and Benson says it is ego. Amaro says she saved Barba’s ass but Benson counters it was after she put him on the line. Amaro says Barba is a big boy and will get over it and so will Cassidy. Benson asks what – and Amaro explains that she took down his favorite comic. Benson looks surprised and tells him good night. Benson’s phone rings and she see’s it’s Cassidy but she declines the call.

There is a knock on her office door and Detective Erin Lindsay from the Chicago PD enters and introduced herself. Benson tells her Sgt. Voight called and said she might stop by and asks if there is a case they can help with. Lindsay explains a couple days ago they had a female who was raped, beaten, and murdered in their river walk area and her right ear was cut off. Benson knows the MO and Rollins and Fin caught the case about 6 months ago and unfortunately they did not get very far. Lindsay comments she doesn’t know how they do this, you catch a case like this and there is o evidence or witnesses, it makes her feel like a total rookie again. Benson nods and smiles and says for what it’s worth, Voight says she is one of the smartest cops he’s ever worked with and she will get her those notes and she will catch this guy. Lindsay thanks her and then asks if Voight really said that, and Benson nods yes and tells her good luck. Lindsay leaves the office and Benson looks on silently as we fade to black.







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

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.

Monday, February 24, 2014

Law & Order UK Series 8 Promos

Here are two promos/trailers for series 8 of Law & Order UK, which will be airing soon on ITV in the U.K.   Ben Bailey Smith joins the cast as DS Joe Hawkins. The full press kit is currently under embargo but as soon as the embargo is lifted I’ll be posting more information on the new series. Stay tuned!









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.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Law & Order SVU/Chicago PD Crossover Interviews, B-Roll, Previews

Here are cast interviews, behind the scenes, and preview videos for the SVU/Chicago PD crossover episodes. My understanding is the crossover story will begin towards the end of Law & Order SVU “Comic Perversion”  which will air on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 9PM ET on NBC, and carry through to Chicago PD “Conventions” which will air immediately following. The videos feature Law & Order SVU’s Kelli Giddish and Ice-T, along with Chicago PD’s Jason Beghe, Sophia Bush, Patrick Flueger, Jon Seda, Archie Kao, LaRoyce Hawkins, and Marina Squerciati.


Please note: These clips below are available for a limited time only and may be removed at any time, so please catch them while you can!






















CPD Conventions Clip 1 by tvwatchr



CPD Conventions Clip 3 by tvwatchr


CPD Conventions Clip 2 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.

Friday, February 21, 2014

Law & Order SVU “Gambler’s Fallacy” Episode Information



Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order SVU, “Gambler’s Fallacy.”



Law & Order SVU “Gambler’s Fallacy” Air Date March 12, 2014 (9 PM ET/8C Wednesday NBC)

ROLLINS’ GAMBLING ADDICTION COSTS HER MORE THAN MONEY WHEN A MISSTEP PUTS HER ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE LAW

Detective Amanda Rollins’ (Kelli Giddish) addiction drives her to an illegal gambling club, where waitress Clare Wilson (returning guest star Stefanie Scott) recognizes her as a cop. To protect her job, Rollins strikes a deal with the club managers (guest stars Donal Logue and Sherri Saum) to make their illegal transgressions disappear. But when the debt isn’t paid to their liking, she doubles down and loses, forcing Sergeant Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Detective Tutuola (Ice-T) to suspect one of their own of an unthinkable crime. Also starring Danny Pino (Detective Nick Amaro). Also guest starring Federico Dordei (Marcelo Guarana), Lothaire Bluteau (Anton Nadari) and Michael Potts (IAB Sgt. Cole Draper).


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU “Gambler’s Fallacy” can be found at this link.





# # #



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.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Law & Order SVU “Comic Perversion” Preview Clips

Here is a preview clip from Law & Order SVU “Comic Perversion” which will air on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 9PM ET on NBC. The preview features Mariska Hargitay, Dean Winters, Kelli Giddish, Ice-T, Raul Esparza. and Jonathan Silverman.

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


Update February 25, 2014: TWO preview clips have been added which have a very limited life, so catch them while you can!






Law & Order SVU Comic Perversion Clip 1 by tvwatchr


Law & Order SVU Comic Perversion Clip 2 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.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Law & Order SVU “Comic Perversion” Advance Photos

Here are advance photos for Law & Order SVU “Comic Perversion” which will air on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 9PM ET on NBC. This is the first part of the Law & Order SVU/Chicago PD crossover. The photos feature Mariska Hargitay, Kelli Giddish, Danny Pino, Raúl Esparza, Ice-T, Dean Winters, Sophia Bush, Victoria Rowell (as Judge Delilah Hawkins), Elizabeth Marvel( as Counselor Rita Calhoun ), Laura Slade Wiggins (as Carly Rydell), Jonathan Silverman (as Josh Galloway) and Skyler Day (as Renee Clark).

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























Photos by: Michael Parmelee/NBC © NBC Universal, Inc.




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.

Friday, February 14, 2014

Law & Order SVU “Gridiron Soldier” Episode Information



Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order SVU “Gridiron Soldier.”


Law & Order SVU “Gridiron Soldier” Air Date March 5, 2014 (9 PM ET/8C Wednesday NBC)

A COLLEGE RECRUIT FROM GEORGIA BECOMES A VICTIM OF TEAM HAZING AND VIOLENCE IN NEW YORK CITY

High school football star Cedric Jones (guest star Winston Duke) goes missing in New York City, and his uncle seeks help from their hometown friend, Detective Rollins (Kelli Giddish). Though already committed to attending Georgia Tech, Cedric nevertheless accepted a free weekend recruiting trip from Hudson University's football team. When the cops find him in jail, they suspect the truth may have led to a cruel prank that spiraled out of control. Sgt. Benson’s (Mariska Hargitay) investigation into the football team and its popular coach (guest star Glenn Morshower) uncovers several victims of abuse, prejudice and hazing. Meanwhile, Rollins turns to an old friend to help deal with her escalating troubles. Also guest starring Greg Finley (Eddie Thorpe), Glenn Fleary (Larry Jones), Leigh-Ann Rose (Tanya) and Thomas Sadoski (Nate Davis). Also starring Ice-T (Detective Odafin Tutuola) and Danny Pino (Detective Nick Amaro).


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







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.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

E! News Exclusive: Law & Order: SVU Collars Alec Baldwin for Mariska Hargitay's Directorial Debut (Press Release)

Press Release  February 13, 2014

E! News Exclusive: Law & Order: SVU Collars Alec Baldwin 
for Mariska Hargitay's Directorial Debut

Alec Baldwin is going to tangle with the elite squad of detectives who make up NBC's Law & Order: SVU, E! News can exclusively reveal.

This is Baldwin's first TV acting gig since the end of 30 Rock over a year ago.

Baldwin's episode is slated to air sometime this spring and details on his role are being kept under wraps. This will be Baldwin's first Law & Order franchise appearance. Baldwin will appear in series star Mariska Hargitay's directorial debut. Hargitay's co-star, Ice-T, said he will have her back throughout the whole thing.

"I'm just going to try and support her. I would never in a million years—I've directed a lot of stuff, I've directed films. There's no way I would try this...If I do an indie film, if I overload, I can shut it down. Even shut it down to eight hours and be like, ‘Hey, let's come in later in the day.' This thing moves like a machine," Ice-T told E! News exclusively on the SVU set.

Hargitay will also appear in the episode as Sergeant Olivia Benson.

"And then she's going to actually have Alec Baldwin in a shot, in a scene in the show, and try to direct herself. She's not going to not be in the show. Good luck. My job is to be what Dick Wolf calls me—my best compliment I've ever gotten was Dick Wolf said, ‘Ice-T is the least pain in my ass.' So I'm going to try and be the least pain in her ass. I'm going to just try and do my sh--. Regardless, she can't say Ice is a problem," Ice said. "I'm going to follow instructions. I come from a military background and I understand that following instructions is a very keen art. It's the most helpful you can be sometimes, just learning how to take orders than always having two cents to put in to sh--."

Hargitay told E! News in January that she was excited to step behind the camera on the show she's called home for 15 years.

"It's a long time coming; I've wanted to do it for a while. There are a lot of things that I've learned and collected. I know how to get performances, I know what buttons to push in people and I've been doing it for a long time…Since I've been on SVU, I get more joy, sometimes, from helping somebody else with their performance than my own," Hargitay told E! News. "That's when I got the idea...It's just this idea of helping to tell the story or even help people get in touch, like how people help me to get to my soul. I'm up for the challenge...It feels like a natural progression."

Baldwin's episode and Hargitay's directorial debut airs in March.

(E! and Law & Order: SVU are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)


#  #  #


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.

Friday, February 7, 2014

Law & Order SVU “Comic Perversion” Episode Information


Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order SVU, “Comic Perversion” which is the first part of the Chicago PD crossover event.


Law & Order SVU “Comic Perversion” Air Date February 26, 2014 (9 PM ET/8C Wednesday NBC

A COMEDIAN’S WORDS PROVE DANGEROUS WHEN A STUDENT IS ASSAULTED BY HIS FANS.

Popular comedian Josh Galloway (guest star Jonathan Silverman) is faced with student protestors after a set at Tompkins Square University. His demeaning jokes about women and rape become more serious when a student is assaulted by two of Galloway’s fans. Though Barba (Raúl Esparza) can’t arrest him for speaking his mind, he charges the SVU to find proof that Galloway’s actions reflect his words. When TSU student Carly Rydell (guest star Laura Slade Wiggins) accuses Galloway of rape, Sergeant Benson (Mariska Hargitay) is happy to arrest him. But Barba finds major roadblocks in the he-said she-said case, and thinks Benson should have chosen her battle more carefully. Meanwhile, a detective from Chicago (guest star Sophia Bush) seeks help from the NYPD. Also starring Ice-T (Detective Odafin Tutuola), Danny Pino (Detective Nick Amaro) and Kelli Giddish (Detective Amanda Rollins). Also guest starring Elizabeth Marvel (Counselor Rita Calhoun), Skyler Day (Renee Clark) and Dean Winters (Detective Brian Cassidy).


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



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.