Are they doing 22 epsiodes a season anymore? I never get to catch the original these days.

From what I've heard, the order is for 16 episodes starting in January 2010 and airing Friday nights @ 8p. Not the most desirable time slot, but I'll be sure to catch it on the Tivo.

Leno airing MF @ 10p sure is shuffling things around, but I'm glad L&O will be back.

Awesome that Cutter went behind Jack's back like that. Seems like Jack won't break the rules, but he has no problem with other people do it and he benefits. Great episode.

This was a pretty good season for L&O. I love how they combined Governors Spitzer and Blago into this fictional governor - it made for a nice arc that they could come back to now and then. TES played that role well.

Well, thank goodness for DVRs or I'd never watch this show.

It's been a good season so far, and this episode was pretty entertaining with their riff on reality television and busting on multiple birth household shows.

The final scene had me laughing with the new reality show's premise. The dad on trial moves his special needs family into a mansion with the septo-mom's family where they'll compete for cash prizes while the audience at home votes on who was the most likely murderer of the special needs kids' Mom. The kicker is Arthur Branch, formerly played on L&O by Fred Thompson, will be the show's on-camera judge.

The date is completely wrong in the title. This was last night. Auto fill, and my lack of attention to detail, fucked me again.

Haven't seen this yet, but this season sure feels like classic Law & Order to me.

The look on McCoy's face at the end of the episode was just hilarious.

That was beyond absurd. Certainly McCoy's reaction reflected that but based on the characterization of Branch, there is no way he would do something like that.

The whole episode was absurd what with McCoy allowing the reality show to record their work.

^^^ You guys are missing the point of last night's closing joke about Branch being a reality TV host and McCoy letting Connie appear on-camera. I saw it as a nice wink at the "Law & Order" audience about (a) Fred Thompson's crappy run for office in 2007/08 (he practically was begging to be taken at face value as the same character he played on TV) and (b) how the very network they're on, NBC, is going to the dogs willingly by programming the type of crap thay they themselves (the "L&O" writers) can dream up. Basically the Branch that would agree to judge a reality show is the Thompson that most of us remember since he left the show and got his ass kicked running for the GOP nomination. McCoy letting a reality show intervene is totally against character (especially the anti-media personality the character exhibited during the Schiff years) but I'll let it slide since it was needed to keep the plot moving along. Best part is that the show ended with McCoy asking if it was for real (that Branch would judge the reality show), then it fades to black without an answer. Make up your own jokes ladies and gentlemen.

Did anybody else notice that, when Connie and Cutter were talking on their cellphones, we got a split-screen of their conversation (ala "24")? I've seen every "L&O" episode ever made (many of them so many times I can recite the dialogue ahead of the characters) and this split-screen was both startling for a show that's rooted in realism as well as got damn hilarious. It's as if the show's producers know their days are numbered (ratings are bad at 8PM Friday) so they're having all sorts of fun subverting the show's set-in-stone rules. Jim Gaffigan reminds me of those episodes from the 90's where Larry Miller played a guy that would kill his wives rather than divorce them. There's something about comedians playing crazy or killer characters that always rings true and is more disturbing than usual. Great "L&O" episode, and next week's (about the abortion doctor murdered in church) looks extremely good.

I think that was to keep with the tone of reality TV. IIRC, they didn't do it over and over. I'd be surprised if they did it next week.

this show was hilarious. making fun of all kinds of shows, not just reality shows.

Even though L&O rarely gets threads I figured last night's would considering the guest appearance by Benjamin Bratt
wonder what spurred that as it wasn't tied to the case nor did it imply he might be coming back to the show

Was that the first time they confirmed that Lenny Briscoe was dead?

I think they made mention of it before but I'm not 100% sure

edit:
wikipedia indicates early mentions were made
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lennie_Briscoe

I actually watched Orbach's last episode on Trial by Jury. I recall he was not in good shape. He could barely speak and had very few lines. And it was funny too, the following episodes never explained what happened to his character.

I like how they're handling LT's cancer situation. And she married a Ghostbuster, too. Good for her. Is she expected to be around next season, assuming the show is?

I found Bratt's inclusion in this to be totally superfluous.

I never like it when L&O gets too personal, so I'm not a fan of the cancer plotline. The stories this season have been far weaker than last season.

I assumed they gave her cancer to get her on the show for another year. It's not as if she ever had a real chance to show her acting chops in a scene or two each week. She probably agreed to keep doing the show if they let her get sick, or even die. It's too much character development for a show like L&O, though. Stick to the lawing and the ordering, not much on the dying.

I was pissed when Dennis Farina left because he was a good replacement for Orbach, but Jeremy Sisto and Anthony Anderson are good together. The lady cop they had with Jesse L. Martin for a bit wasn't working.

I hope they don't bring Benjamin Bratt back, that would seem like a step back (for the show, not Benji).

Unfortunately, I can't stand Anthony Anderson. And old guy doesn't get enough air time now.

As someone who is fine with the cancer plot, I thought his appearance was well done. It was a character we knew and liked, and who left because of his wife's health. Now he comes back because of her death right when LT is facing her own mortality.

Synopsis:



2 hour epsiode tonight. Moves to Monday's at 10pm starting next week. Finally off the Friday death slot. The season started out with only a 16 episode order, now it's up to 23 because of the Leno debacle. Trauma will take over the 9pm slot next week.

Awesome: This show getting a better time slot.

Not awesome: The photoshop skills of the person making that cast shot.

Hopefully the 'better' time slot means story improvement. This season's stories haven't been nearly as good as last season's.