Law & Order (season 19)

Law & Order (season 19)
Season 19 U.S. DVD Cover
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	22
Release
Original network	NBC
Original release	November 5, 2008 – June 3, 2009

The 19th season of Law & Order premiered on NBC on November 5, 2008, and concluded on June 3, 2009. This was the third time in the series where there were no changes in the cast from the previous season and the last season to air on Wednesday nights at 10PM/9c, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has claimed the slot off-and-on (SVU often placed at 9PM/8c to lead other programming that later gets moved or taken off schedule) from Fall 2009 to present.

The series had a decline in the ratings from being in competition with CBS's CSI: NY. Certain episodes spiking when CSI: NY episodes were repeats (or replaced with other programming) when Law & Order episodes were new.^[1][2][3][4]

Cast

Main cast

• Jeremy Sisto as Cyrus Lupo
• Anthony Anderson as Kevin Bernard
• S. Epatha Merkerson as Anita Van Buren
• Linus Roache as E.A.D.A. Michael Cutter
• Alana De La Garza as A.D.A. Connie Rubirosa
• Sam Waterston as I.D.A. Jack McCoy

Recurring cast

• Carolyn McCormick as Elizabeth Olivet

Episodes

No. in series	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Production code	U.S. viewers (millions)
412	1	"Rumble"	Constantine Makris	Richard Sweren & Christopher Ambrose	November 5, 2008	19003	7.85[5]
A stockbroker is beaten to death and the investigation leads to an illegal street-fighting ring. Issues around misuse of terrorism statutes are explored. Partially inspired by the events surrounding the rise of Kimbo Slice. Mentions season 9 two-part episode "Refuge."
413	2	"Challenged"	Fred Berner	René Balcer & Ed Zuckerman	November 12, 2008	19001	7.91[6]
The detectives hope that a mentally challenged patient can help them solve the case of a man found murdered in a park, but the patient's family may be responsible for the crime. Guest Stars: Harris Yulin, Armand Schultz, Carlos Leon, and Michael Rispoli.
414	3	"Lost Boys"	Chris Zalla	Richard Sweren & Gina Gionfriddo	November 19, 2008	19004	7.58[7]
A young man's murder is linked to a woman who has escaped from a polygamous religious cult. Partially inspired by the controversies surrounding Warren Jeffs and the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Special Guest Star Colm Meaney and Jena Malone.
415	4	"Falling"	Michael Watkins	Stephanie Sengupta & Keith Eisner	November 26, 2008	19005	7.63[7]
A crane falls and kills a man and the detectives find evidence of foul play. Partially inspired by the March 2008 Manhattan construction crane collapse and the case of Ashley X. Mentions season 5 episode "Precious."
416	5	"Knock Off"	Constantine Makris	Teleplay by: William N. Fordes & Matthew McGough Story by: Jonathan Rintels	December 3, 2008	19006	11.26[1]
A tourist is murdered and the detectives suspect that corrupt law enforcement officers from a small town are involved. Meanwhile, the governor threatens to nominate a new District Attorney for the upcoming election. Partially inspired by a New York Times report on untrained judges and abuses of justice in Upstate New York[8] While Lupo is searching the NY Thruway Database, one of the cars he sees is the one being searched for (with the yellow ribbon) in Season 15, episode 17, "License to Kill". Guest Stars: Katee Sackhoff, Clancy Brown and Tom Everett Scott. Guest Starring Tom Everett Scott, reprising his role as corrupt governor Donald Shalvoy from last season's "Excalibur.".
417	6	"Sweetie"	Mario Van Peebles	Ed Zuckerman & Luke Schelhaas	December 10, 2008	19007	7.46[9]
A well-known memoir writer who wrote a book about his early life as a male prostitute is found dead, but as the detectives investigate they discover that the book was based on the life of another person. Partially inspired by the JT LeRoy literary hoax. Guest Stars: Vivica A. Fox and Heather Matarazzo.
418	7	"Zero"	Marisol Torres	Ed Zuckerman & Luke Schelhaas	December 17, 2008	19002	6.95[10]
A woman's body is found in a city garden, leaving Bernard and Lupo to sort through her contradictory life and her ties to a cop's death in New Jersey. Then Cutter's case is jeopardized by a law clerk with a crush whose judge requires an unusual amount of assistance. Guest Stars: Ned Beatty and Sherry Stringfield.
419	8	"Chattel"	Jim McKay	William N. Fordes & Matthew McGough	January 7, 2009	19009	10.11[2]
A pair of divorce lawyers are murdered in their home and the investigation leads to a possible cover-up involving the abuse of adopted Haitian children. The murder is similar to the Mark Schwartz and Christina-Maria Petrowski-Schwartz murder case. Partially inspired by the case of Marie and Willie Pompee, who smuggled a Haitian girl into the United States as a restavec, and other cases of child domestic slavery.
420	9	"By Perjury"	Darnell Martin	Richard Sweren & Christopher Ambrose	January 14, 2009	19010	8.20[11]
A plaintiff in a class-action suit against an airline is murdered and the murder may have been committed by a lawyer linked to many other murders in the past. Partially inspired by the ValuJet Flight 592 crash.
421	10	"Pledge"	Alex Chapple	Richard Sweren & Gina Gionfriddo	January 21, 2009	19008	8.49[12]
Harold Foley and his wife Joyce, both biologists at a local university, come home to find their son and their housekeeper murdered. The case leads to a man obsessed with a certain sorority. Partially inspired by the case of Bruce Edward Ivins, a suspect in the 2001 anthrax attacks, who was reportedly obsessed with the college sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma (KKG) after he was rebuffed by one of their members when he was a student at the University of Cincinnati.
422	11	"Lucky Stiff"	Marc Levin	Ed Zuckerman & Matthew McGough	January 28, 2009	19012	8.89[3]
A murdered truck driver has ties to the Russian mob. First episode in which Sam Waterston does not appear since joining the cast in 1994. Guest Star: Robert Iler.
423	12	"Illegitimate"	Josh Marston	Stephanie Sengupta & Keith Eisner	February 4, 2009	19011	8.69[13]
A police officer who has been having financial problems takes hostages at gunpoint and is then killed by fellow officers. He has the keys to an apartment that is not his primary residence; detectives Lupo and Bernard search the apartment and find a dead body and valuable stolen documents that have been stolen by a man who needs them to prove that he is the illegitimate son of John F. Kennedy. Partially inspired by Jack Worthington, a businessman who claimed to be JFK's illegitimate son. Guest Stars: Christopher McDonald and Rue McClanahan.
424	13	"Crimebusters"	Alex Chapple	Richard Sweren & Gina Gionfriddo	February 11, 2009	19013	7.52[14]
After an Army recruitment center is bombed an unconscious woman and her dead baby who were sleeping at the place are found in the wreckage. The case gets even more complicated after a group of voluntary vigilantes interfere in the investigation and both of the prime suspects, including the baby's own mother, have equal motives for the crime. Partially inspired by the March 6, 2008 Times Square bombing of a military recruiting station, the Caylee Anthony homicide and Websleuths controversial involvement.
425	14	"Rapture"	Fred Berner	Ed Zuckerman & Luke Schelhaas	February 18, 2009	19014	7.15[15]
The creator of a religious website is murdered and the trail leads to a corrupt charitable organization who was stealing from his clients. When the detectives are ready to arrest him the suspect seeks asylum in the Embassy of Iran claiming to be victim of a Zionist conspiracy. Partially inspired by services like Raptureletters.com.
426	15	"Bailout"	Jean de Segonzac	Richard Sweren & Christopher Ambrose	March 11, 2009	19015	7.58[16]
The mistress of the CEO of a failed bank is killed in a hit-and-run and the investigation leads to a kidnapping and extortion plot. Partially inspired by the financial crisis of 2007-2008. Guest Star: Kevin Corrigan.
427	16	"Take-Out"	Jim McKay	William N. Fordes & Keith Eisner	March 18, 2009	19016	7.07[17]
A writer is murdered after investigating an espionage case involving the Chinese government that led to the imprisonment of a man many years ago. Guest Star: Keith Carradine.
428	17	"Anchors Away"	Alex Chapple	Ed Zuckerman & Matthew McGough	March 25, 2009	19017	7.25[18]
Detectives Lupo and Bernard investigate the murder of a television reporter who was involved in a love triangle with one of her co-workers. Partially inspired by the murder of Anne Pressly, the Madoff investment scandal, and the Larry Mendte scandal. Dawn, the name of the murder victim, is also the name of Mendte's wife.[19] Guest Stars: David Rasche, Edward Herrmann and Jill Eikenberry.
429	18	"Promote This!"	Michael Watkins	Richard Sweren & Christopher Ambrose	April 29, 2009	19019	7.69[20]
The detectives investigate the vicious beating of an Hispanic illegal immigrant who may be linked to a series of other hate crimes.
430	19	"All New"	Roger Young	William N. Fordes & Keith Eisner	May 6, 2009	19020	8.14[21]
Firefighter Thomas Cooper and his wife Linda are tortured and murdered in their new townhouse. The murders are thought to be linked to an old unsolved drug case, but then the detectives learn about a firefighter named Nick Spence, who had just joined Cooper's company and was being severely hazed. The investigation suffers a setback when Spence dies in a fire under suspicious circumstances. Guest Stars: Eric Michael Cole and Dash Mihok.
431	20	"Exchange"	Ernest Dickerson	Stephanie Sengupta	May 13, 2009	19018	7.82[22]
Two engaged scientists die in a fire and their mentally challenged neighbor is injured while trying to help them. The detectives discover that the couple was stabbed before the fire and this leads them to a disturbed and extremely jealous woman.
432	21	"Skate or Die"	Norberto Barba	Ed Zuckerman & Luke Schelhaas	May 20, 2009	19021	6.70[23]
Detectives Lupo and Bernard investigate a serial killer who targets homeless men and discover that a copycat may be at work, but to arrest the murderers they need the testimony of a bipolar skater who is having a psychotic attack.
433	22	"The Drowned and the Saved"	Fred Berner	Richard Sweren & Gina Gionfriddo	June 3, 2009	19022	8.79[4]
A prominent charity executive is murdered and claims of stalking and blackmail surface during the investigation. The case then leads to Rita Shalvoy, the wife of governor Donald Shalvoy, and once again Jack McCoy must know if he is willing to prosecute his old friend. Inspired by the Rod Blagojevich corruption scandal. Guest Starring Tom Everett Scott, reprising his role as corrupt governor Donald Shalvoy from episode 5's "Knock Off.".

References

1. Seidman, Robert (December 4, 2008). "Updated Wednesday: Rudolph and Victoria's Secret models lead CBS to demo wins". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
2. Gorman, Bill (January 8, 2008). "Wednesday Ratings: The People Choose CBS, Walters/Swayze Special Big". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
3. Seidman, Robert (January 29, 2008). "Wednesday Ratings: CBS News with Katie Couric...LOST!". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
4. Seidman, Robert (June 4, 2009). "Wednesday: FOX Wins, So You Think You Can Dance and Wipeout lead night". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
5. Seidman, Robert (November 7, 2008). "Wednesday Night Ratings: Post Election Blahs Or Just Broadcast TV?". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
6. Seidman, Robert (November 13, 2008). "Wednesday night: CMA Awards take center stage". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
7. Seidman, Robert (November 20, 2008). "Wednesday: America's Next Top Model Finale Scores for CW". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
8. William Glaberson (September 25, 2006). "In Tiny Courts of N.Y., Abuses of Law and Power". The New York Times.
9. Seidman, Robert (December 11, 2008). "Wednesday Ratings - CBS Romps But Millionaire's No Secret". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
10. Seidman, Robert (December 18, 2008). "Wednesday Ratings: 'Life' and 'Private Practice' no match for 'Criminal Minds'". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
11. Seidman, Robert (January 15, 2008). "Wednesday Ratings: American Idol 18-49 rating increases over premiere". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
12. Seidman, Robert (January 22, 2008). "Updated Wednesday Ratings: Lie to Me outduels LOST". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
13. Seidman, Robert (February 5, 2008). "Wednesday Ratings: A bad night for Life, Life on Mars, and Knight Rider". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
14. Seidman, Robert (February 12, 2009). "Wednesday Ratings: Two hours of American Idol dominance". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
15. Seidman, Robert (February 19, 2009). "Wednesday Ratings: American Idol and LOST shine". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
16. Seidman, Robert (March 12, 2009). "Wednesday Ratings: Lie To Me Stands Tall, On Its Own". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
17. Seidman, Robert (March 19, 2009). "Wednesday Ratings: Better off Ted ABC's lowest-rated comedy debut since 2005". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
18. Seidman, Robert (March 26, 2009). "Wednesday Ratings: American Idol strong, Lost low". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
19. http://www.phillymag.com/articles/dawns_dark_days/
20. Seidman, Robert (April 30, 2009). "Updated Wednesday Ratings: Lie to Me vs. President Obama, Lost's 100th episode". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
21. Seidman, Robert (May 8, 2009). "Wednesday Ratings: Lie to Me improves, The Unusuals doesn't". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
22. Seidman, Robert (May 14, 2009). "Wednesday Ratings: Lost , Lie to Me". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
23. Seidman, Robert (May 21, 2009). "Wednesday Ratings: American Idol finale draws 40 million for last 7 minutes". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 29, 2012.

External links

• Episode guide from NBC.com