April 29, 2008
200 Episodes for Law & Order: SVU
It may be hard to believe, but tonight’s episode of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit (10:00 p.m., WNBC 4) is the 200th episode for the first of the Law & Order spin-offs.
One big difference between SVU and the mother ship is how the show over nine seasons has gone though only minimal cast changes, with the four regulars - Christopher Meloni as Elliot Stabler, Mariska Hargitay as Olivia Benson, Richard Belzer as John Munch, and Dann Florek as Don Cragen - there since day one. And the show's appeal is global: There's even a a Russian version!
Tonight, Robin Williams guest stars as a psychopathic engineer manipulating Benson and Stabler in this milestone episode. Given Williams' track record, it's unclear whether he'll be annoying (see this and this for the range of criticism) or perfect as a creepy scary freak role (the way he was in One Hour Photo). With luck, the annoying Williams will not show up tonight.
This isn’t the first time an actor better known for comedic roles has appeared as a guest star on the show--Jerry Lewis played Sgt. Munch’s mentally ill uncle last season--nor is it the first time Williams has guest starred on a police drama starring Richard Belzer as John Munch (he guested on an episode of Homicide: Life on the Street in 1994).
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The "annoying" Williams? Robin Williams always annoys me!
Which is the more likely alternative:
(1) The Sun will rise in the west tomorrow morning, or
(2) L&O SVU will actually start showing some minority defendants (who in real life commit >90% of NYC felonies)?
If I were a betting man, I'd put my money on (1).
Jeez, Gothamist commenters are obsessed with the L&O casting thing. We get it already! Next you'll be telling us that the Friends had totally unrealistic-looking apartments, and that CSI labs don't have cool, moody lighting. Oh, and that Dr. House? Totally fake - real doctors have to see dozens of patients a day!
Go watch The Shield and shut the fuck up.
Personally, I've never understood the appeal of the SVU edition.
"Go watch The Shield and stfu.
i lol'd
Not to worry, as long as there is human misery to wallow in and profit from, "Law & Order" will be there.
And, didn't robin Williams play this 15 years ago on "Homicide"? Ya know, a good show with writers?
Fuck Dick Wolf, Ice-T and Jerry Orbach's hacky eyes.
Man, whatever, SVU is totally the best Law and Order. Maybe they kept the original cast members because they were so good. Ever see Christopher Meloni on Oz? He plays a good psychopath too.
We're gonna watch those two get their pensions.
Isn't Stabler like 17 years in now? LOL.
I've always wondered which lucky individual got Jerry Orbach's eyes. He donated them you know.
John Munch, veteran of both the Baltimore PD ("Homicide") and now the NYPD's SVU. That guy is ready for his pension definitely!
Wasn't Richard Belzer a comedian once? Didn't he stand in front of a brick wall giggling back in the Eighties? Wasn't he also wearing those same suits? Do we need to rescue this guy?
Richard Belzer also played a police detective named Munch in an episode of X-Files (season four)!
I think the L&O folks are running through the Saturday Night Live casts and their buddies. Chevy Chase, Darrell Hammond, MArtin Short, Janenene Garofalo, and a bunch of others have been on one or the other.
Sam WAterston, Chris Meloni, Mariska Hargitay, Dann Florek, Epatha Merkerson are all very funny people as well as very good dramatic actors. When is SNL going to return the favor and start letting L&O folks host the show?
I liked dann florek on sabrina the teenage witch.
I am French and I live in the suburb of Paris, I like Law and Order as well as L&O SVU and L&O CI.
I love especially Law and Order with Sam Waterton a very good actor.
Congratulations to Law and Order SVU and very long life in the series mother and in the others
Mariska Hargitay = ATF. If she wants to come over and celebrate, i've got the hot tub going...Seriously, Congrats to the cast and crew associated w. L&O.