Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 10

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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Season 10
File:L&O SVU season 10 DVD.jpg
Season 10 U.S. DVD cover
Starring
No. of episodes22
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseSeptember 23, 2008 (2008-09-23) –
June 2, 2009 (2009-06-02)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 9
Next →
Season 11
List of episodes

The tenth season of the police procedural/legal drama, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit premiered September 23, 2008, and ended June 2, 2009, on NBC. It was the last season of the show to occupy the Tuesday 10pm/9c timeslot.

Production

The tenth season introduced writer Daniel Truly to SVU. He became a vocal correspondent about the production and was the first to comment on the appropriateness of Ice-T's casting in the show given the alleged misogyny in his music.[1] Truly was used to programs that included frequent meetings with other writers and said "In some ways it's slightly lonelier" on SVU.[2] The making of the episode "Lunacy" was covered in detail by authors Susan Green and Randee Dawn. The episode, which filmed between July 14 and July 28, 2008, contained a scene in which detectives watch footage of an astronaut on board the International Space Station. In order to film the weightless scene, Kristina Klebe was harnessed into cables which were later edited out.[3] Members of the production staff appeared as astronauts in a still picture.[4] Another scene involved a fight between Detective Stabler and James Brolin's character. A table made of balsa wood and breakaway glass was used in this scene so that it could be broken easily.[3] Early in "Lunacy", detectives learn that their evidence is degraded due to eels feasting on the body. Prop master Anthony Munafo mentioned that he spent eight hours finding a pet store that would sell them enough eels of the right size.[5] A later episode "Hell" condemned the activities of the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda. Executive producer Neal Baer collaborated with the Enough Project to portray child soldiers truthfully and called the episode part of a "continuing commitment to bring the audience stories that resonate with timely social issues."[6] The filming of "Hell" marked the first on-location use of the United Nations building in a television episode.[7] During the tenth season, the director of photography, George Pattison, expressed his desire to continue using 35mm film. He said "Ours is one of the last shows doing that ... Despite pressure from above to save money, Dick Wolf and our creative producers insist on sticking with a proven formula. Whether it's 100 or 0 degrees outside, these cameras work. And they give beautiful latitude compared with digital."[8] Law & Order: Special Victims Unit continued using motion picture cameras for another two years but ultimately switched to digital for Season 13.

Cast changes and returning characters

The unit's new Assistant District Attorney, Kim Greylek, played by Michaela McManus, began appearing in the season premiere. About the role, McManus said, "It's really tricky. This character has a lot of brain power and her vocabulary is different than mine."[9] Despite appearing in the opening credits for every Season 10 episode, McManus’ role only last half the season. Neal Baer explained that "Sometimes the part and the actor just don't mesh."[9] Stephanie March began reprising her role of ADA Alexandra Cabot in the same episode. Until "Lead", Stephanie March's last appearance as ADA Cabot was in the spin-off series Conviction. However, her last SVU appearance was in the sixth season which depicted her as still living in hiding. When asked if her reintroduction to SVU would finally explain how she got out of the witness protection program, March answered "I think this will be nice and neat and make sense."[10] The episode was dedicated to deceased crew member Dennis Radesky.[11] The season finale "Zebras" was the last episode to feature Mike Doyle. His recurring character Ryan O'Halloran is killed after appearing in every season since the fifth. Neal Baer, who wanted to "explore characters' reactions to a death in an interesting way" decided to kill off the character and informed Doyle of the decision a few weeks before the episode was filmed.[12]

Cast

See also: List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit characters

Main cast

Special guest starring

Recurring cast

Guest stars

File:Sarah Hyland (Cropped).jpg
After previously appearing in the third season of SVU, Sarah Hyland played a hyperactive student in "Hothouse". This was immediately followed by her breakout role in Modern Family.

The premiere episode "Trials" stars Sara Gilbert as a rape victim who has given up her child and Luke Perry and Julie Bowen as the foster parents who begin taking care of him. When interviewed about his character, Perry stated that "there are always moments when you gotta find the humanity to people who may be considered the bad guy." Gilbert mentioned being a fan of the show and said "People know me more for comedy, I think, so it's always exciting to me when I get to play something so dramatic."[13] For the role of the foster child, the directors held auditions in New York and Los Angeles before casting Jae Head.[14] In the same episode, Mary Beth Evans briefly appeared as a doctor. She said that the head of NBC daytime "wanted to make Days of Our Lives less of an island and get people from our show onto other NBC shows."[15] In the third episode "Swing", Ellen Burstyn portrayed Bernadette Stabler, Elliot Stabler's mother who suffers from bipolar disorder. She won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for the role.[16] The fourth episode "Lunacy" was the first filmed in the season and starred James Brolin as an astronaut who used to be one of Stabler's role models. Kristina Klebe played an astronaut who is murdered and Chris Elliott played an enthusiast who follows them around. Christopher Meloni, who stars as Elliot Stabler, joked "Could there be a more confusing actor to have on this show than someone named Chris Elliott?"[17] The following episode "Retro" which criticized the AIDS denialism movement previously had a working title of "Deniers".[18] It was advertised as being "a big Tamara Tunie episode."[19] Tunie was asked about Martin Mull's character in an interview. She answered "What's frightening is that his argument can sound sane. And Martin is smart enough to make one pause."[20] The sixth episode "Babes" starred actor and singer Jesse McCartney as a chastity advocate. He commented that the role took him into new territory, saying "I play a murder suspect, a super-Catholic conservative white boy. It's definitely a stretch and a leap. It's an emotional role."[21]

File:Delroy Lindo cropped.jpg
Delroy Lindo played a sharp detective who is also a grieving father in the episode "Baggage". He won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for this performance.

The seventh episode "Wildlife" was promoted before the season began for an undercover scene that showed chemistry between Detectives Benson and Stabler.[22] One of the animals shown in this episode was an eleven-month-old white handed gibbon named Kimba.[23] His fictional species in the show was named the "white crested gibbon" because there was no way that a critically endangered black crested gibbon could be used in the filming.

File:Brenda Blethyn.jpg
Brenda Blethyn is the guest star of the eighth episode.

The eighth episode "Persona" guest-starred Brenda Blethyn as Caroline Cresswell, a sympathetic fugitive who has been living under a pseudonym. She was nominated for an Outstanding Guest Actress Emmy for her performance.[16] Michael Trucco played a rapist in the tenth episode "Smut". He mentioned a flurry of comments on his message board from Battlestar Galactica fans following his SVU appearance.[24] Kelly Hu played one of his victims seen at the start of the episode. She blogged "I get to be the victim this time. Fun.", referring to her numerous previous roles as a police officer.[25]

Episodes

See also: List of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episodes
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 10 episodes
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		U.S. viewers
(millions)
2031"Trials"David PlattDawn DeNoonSeptember 23, 2008 (2008-09-23)10029.52[26]

Detectives Benson and Stabler investigate allegations of child abuse when a young boy (Jae Head) is caught driving a runaway van. The boy explains how his foster parents (Julie Bowen and Luke Perry) bribe him in exchange for abusive medical testing. As Detective Benson continues to study his accusations, she is led back to a victim of an unsolved rape case (Sara Gilbert). After reviewing both cases, the detectives uncover a connection between them that is complicated and they meet SVU's new ADA, Kim Greylek (Michaela McManus), who quickly butts heads with everyone. Distraught by frightening memories of being sexually assaulted, Benson decides that she needs help and seeks counselling.

  • While visiting a bar, Sergeant Munch talks to Detective Tutuola about how he used to own a bar in Baltimore and also mentions several people from his past that have left him. The names mentioned included previous partners on SVU (Monique Jeffries and Brian Cassidy) as well as some from Homicide: Life on the Street (Meldrick Lewis and Stanley Bolander), the series from where Munch's character originates. The history behind the bar is also from that series.
2042"Confession"Arthur W. ForneyJudith McCrearySeptember 30, 2008 (2008-09-30)100310.22[27]
An ashamed pedophile (Marshall Allman) confesses to Benson that he has been fantasizing about his young stepbrother (Aaron Mayer) and says that it is only a matter of time before he does the unthinkable. He also admits to looking at a website to try to curb his pedophilic urge. With no crime committed, the detectives decide to investigate the website for pedophiles leading them to the creator (Tom Noonan). When Stabler discovers his daughter Elizabeth's picture on the website, he lashes out at the man who put it there and gets suspended. When the older stepbrother goes missing this puts his whole family (Teri Polo and Josh Charles) under investigation.
2053"Swing"David PlattAmanda GreenOctober 14, 2008 (2008-10-14)10049.40[28]
Stabler is called to the scene of a breaking and entering at a home because the trespasser's wallet belongs to his daughter, Kathleen (Allison Siko). Stabler is shocked to find his daughter abusing drugs and behaving promiscuously and it is determined that Kathleen has bipolar disorder, but she refuses to admit it. Elliot must turn to his estranged mother Bernadette Stabler (Ellen Burstyn), as she is also bipolar, to testify in court that the disorder runs in the family. Bernadette, who is proud of her personality, refuses to equate it with criminal behavior, until Benson steps in to help.
2064"Lunacy"Peter LetoDaniel TrulyOctober 21, 2008 (2008-10-21)10019.35[29]
A famous astronaut (Kristina Klebe) is found dead and Stabler's old mentor Dick Finley (James Brolin), after whom Stabler's son is named, helps investigate the case. They first believe the victim is linked to a string of serial rapes, but other suspects closer to the space program present themselves. An obsessed fan (Chris Elliott) is questioned, but is released and soon gets into a gun battle with Dick. Stabler becomes suspicious of Dick after he keeps diverting attention away from himself and finding out about Dick's own aspirations of going into space.
2075"Retro"Peter LetoStory by : Joshua Kotcheff & Jonathan Greene
Teleplay by : Jonathan Greene		October 28, 2008 (2008-10-28)10059.20[30]
When a baby is found with advanced AIDS, Benson and Stabler are called in to investigate why someone would let a baby go untreated for HIV. They are led to a highly unethical doctor (Martin Mull), an AIDS denialist, who believes and teaches that HIV does not cause AIDS and offers alternative treatments to cure HIV. They search for more families that have been influenced by him and are led to a particular family whose younger daughter died of AIDS, which calls the mother (Paula Malcomson) and son (Aidan Mitchell) into question.
2086"Babes"David PlattDaniel TrulyNovember 11, 2008 (2008-11-11)10069.42[31]
The investigation into the burning death of a homeless teenager leads Stabler and Munch to a Catholic high school where a senior (Philip Ettinger) admits to the crime. He confesses because he thought his sister was raped by the man, when in truth, his sister (Brittany Robertson) and her friends made a pregnancy pact and willingly had sex to become pregnant. One of those friends (Jessica Varley) is later found dead in an apparent suicide after being harassed online by an angry mother (Debi Mazar). Greylek files a case against her which comes dangerously close to violating the first amendment, but it is eventually discovered that the girl was murdered by her boyfriend (Jesse McCartney) out of jealousy.
2097"Wildlife"Peter LetoMick BetancourtNovember 18, 2008 (2008-11-18)100810.18[32]
A woman with a Spix's macaw (an endangered species of bird) in her purse turns up dead and her wounds are determined to have been inflicted by a tiger. A hip hop artist (Big Boi), whom the detectives track down, helps Stabler infiltrate an animal smuggling ring run by an infamous killer (Andrew Divoff). The abundance of undercover work begins to not only jeopardize Elliot's marriage, but also his life when Benson underestimates the danger he is in and he is shot. During a planned sale of an endangered gibbon, Benson avenges her partner by arresting a key member (Reg E. Cathey) of the smuggling ring, who turns out to be an undercover officer.
2108"Persona"Helen ShaverAmanda GreenNovember 25, 2008 (2008-11-25)10098.55[33]
A woman (Clea DuVall) hides in an alley after claims of being abused and raped by her husband (Nathaniel Marston). Benson gets her to admit the abuse, but she recants before being murdered by her husband. While solving this crime, Benson meets the woman's older neighbor Linnie (Brenda Blethyn) and stumbles upon another case of spousal abuse and murder. It is revealed that Linnie was involved in an abusive relationship until she killed her former husband and escaped custody under the supervision of then-ADA Donnelly (Judith Light). Having been humiliated, Donnelly returns to the DA's Office to seek the maximum sentence. However after Benson stands up for Linnie, Donnelly is touched by the reason for the woman's escape – Linnie was intimidated because Donnelly was the strong woman that she could never be. Linnie's husband (Mike Farrell) leaves after hearing about her double life.
2119"PTSD"Eriq La SalleJudith McCrearyDecember 2, 2008 (2008-12-02)100710.31[34]
Benson and Tutuola get a first-hand look at how women in the military are treated when they respond to the murder of a pregnant marine who was raped by one of her fellow marines in Iraq. The two find a suspect (Ryan Kwanten) and become convinced of his guilt, but Greylek faces difficulties when the Navy Commander (Frank Whaley) threatens to shut down their investigation. Benson discovers new evidence and the real rapist (Dominic Fumusa) is identified along with his wife (Amy Spanger) who committed the murder. During the proceedings, Benson's prior sexual assault stirs up painful memories.
21210"Smut"Chris EyreKam MillerDecember 9, 2008 (2008-12-09)101010.93[35]

References

  1. ↑ Carmon, Irin (November 30, 2010). "Want To Know What It's Like To Write Rape On Television?". Jezebel.com. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  2. ↑ Green and Dawn (2009), p. 33
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Green and Dawn (2009), p. 101
  4. ↑ Green and Dawn (2009), p. 119
  5. ↑ Green and Dawn (2009), p. 95
  6. ↑ Read, Eileen (March 27, 2009). "Enough Project Applauds NBC for Law & Order SVU Episode on Uganda Rebel Group". Enough Project. Archived from the original on December 4, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  7. ↑ Zimmer, Chris (March 9, 2009). "Law & Order SVU: First TV Show Filmed at UN". All Things Law & Order. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  8. ↑ Green and Dawn (2009), p. 58
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Green and Dawn (2009), p. 171
  10. ↑ Gallagher, Brian (February 25, 2009). "Stephanie March and Neal Baer Talk Law & Order: Special Victims Unit". Movie Web. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  11. ↑ Rashmisrisethi, Amrit (March 10, 2009). "Who is Dennis Radesky?". Thaindian News. Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  12. ↑ Robinson, Amy (May 27, 2009). "Will finale death rejuvenate or kill "SVU"?". The Charleston Gazette. Archived from the original on May 31, 2009. Retrieved June 4, 2009.
  13. ↑ Halterman, Jim (September 23, 2008). "Interview: "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" Guest Stars Luke Perry & Sara Gilbert". The Futon Critic. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  14. ↑ Green and Dawn (2009), p. 113
  15. ↑ West, Abby (September 23, 2008). "Mary Beth Evans Talks 'SVU' Appearance". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on February 3, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "SVU Emmy Nominations". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on August 21, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  17. ↑ Green and Dawn (2009), p. 106
  18. ↑ Green and Dawn (2009), p. 35
  19. ↑ Auesiello, Michael (September 12, 2008). "Casting Scoops on 'House', 'Supernatural', 'Gossip Girl' and 'SVU'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Name That Tunie". TV Guide. October 2, 2008. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  21. ↑ Batallones, Henrik (November 11, 2008). "Jesse McCartney Takes a Mature Turn on Tonights 'Law & Order: SVU'". BuddyTV. Archived from the original on October 29, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Mariska Hargitay Interview". Hallmark Channel UK. 2008. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  23. ↑ Hargitay, Mariska (November 15, 2008). "Monkey Business". Mariska's Blog. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  24. ↑ "Michael Trucco podcast interview". Hot Cup of Anders Blog. June 26, 2009. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  25. ↑ Hu, Kelly (September 12, 2008). "Kelly Hu on Law and Order SVU". Alive Not Dead. Archived from the original on November 4, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  26. ↑ Gorman, Bill (September 24, 2008). "Tuesday, Sept. 23: Second Night Wins To CBS, ABC and Fox". The Nielsen Company. TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 24, 2010. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
  27. ↑ Seidman, Robert (October 1, 2008). "Overnight Ratings: CBS Wins Most Viewers, Fox Dominates Youth Demos". The Nielsen Company. TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 9, 2010. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
  28. ↑ Seidman, Robert (October 15, 2008). "Tuesday Ratings: NCIS and The Mentalist Get Viewers, House and Fringe Rock Demos". The Nielsen Company. TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 4, 2009. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
  29. ↑ Seidman, Robert (October 22, 2008). "Tuesday Ratings: NCIS Most Watched, But House and Fringe Dominate Demos". The Nielsen Company. TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 15, 2009. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
  30. ↑ Seidman, Robert (October 29, 2008). "Tuesday Night Ratings: Fox's Power 'House' vs. CBS' 'NCIS'". The Nielsen Company. TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 10, 2009. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
  31. ↑ Seidman, Robert (November 12, 2008). "Tuesday Nielsen Ratings: House and Fringe Dominate Age Demos for Fox". The Nielsen Company. TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 26, 2010. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
  32. ↑ Seidman, Robert (November 19, 2008). "Tuesday Nielsen Ratings; 'House' and 'Fringe' Power Fox to Demo Wins". The Nielsen Company. TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 4, 2009. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
  33. ↑ Seidman, Robert (November 25, 2008). "Tuesday Ratings: Brooke Burke Wins 'Dancing With the Stars'". The Nielsen Company. TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 3, 2009. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
  34. ↑ Seidman, Robert (December 3, 2008). "Updated Tuesday Night: The Mentalist soars to new highs, Fox takes demos". The Nielsen Company. TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 16, 2009. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
  35. ↑ Seidman, Robert (December 10, 2008). "Tuesday Ratings – NCIS and The Mentalist impressive in reruns, House takes demos". The Nielsen Company. TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 22, 2009. Retrieved July 11, 2010.

Bibliography

  • Green, Susan; Dawn, Randee (2009). Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: The Unofficial Companion. Dallas: BenBella Books. ISBN 978-1-933771-88-5.

External links

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