| "Blackmail" | ||
|---|---|---|
| ← | L&O, Episode 20.12 | → |
| Production number: 20012 First aired: 15 January 2010 | ||
| Written By Ed Zuckerman & Matthew McGough Directed By Marc Levin | ||
Plot[]
When Bernard and Lupo find a woman dead in an abandoned apartment, they learn she was a journalist working for a celebrity gossip site. The investigation reveals that the dead journalist was in a lesbian affair with daytime talk show host Vanessa Carville. When they go to talk to Carville, the men find her in a meeting with McCoy, who reports that Carville has received a blackmail package. In McCoy's office sometime later, Van Buren looks through the package, which turns out to not only contain sexually compromising photos of Carville with other women, but a demand for three million dollars to not publish the photos, which Carville confirms are real.
Bernard and Lupo arrest the blackmailer, Dennis di Palma, after a sting operation, during which Carville hands di Palma a check for the three million dollars. Afterwards, Carville makes a confession on her show regarding the affairs. Meanwhile, a judge sets di Palma's bail at three million dollars, after which di Palma and his attorney, Baron, hold a press conference outside the courthouse, during which Baron says he and his client are going to tell the real story. It turns out di Palma is being blackmailed by his accomplice, Derek Fanning, and McCoy resorts to a similar tactic to get a conviction against Fanning.
Cast[]
Main cast[]
- Jeremy Sisto as Detective Cyrus Lupo
- Anthony Anderson as Detective Kevin Bernard
- S. Epatha Merkerson as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
- Linus Roache as ADA Michael Cutter
- Alana De La Garza as ADA Connie Rubirosa
- Sam Waterston as DA Jack McCoy
Recurring cast[]
- Leslie Hendrix as Dr. Elizabeth Rodgers
Guest cast[]
- Raúl Esparza as Dennis Di Palma
- Jason Kravits as Attorney Baron
- Danny Burstein as Judge Sam Murray
- Samantha Bee as Vanessa Carville
- Alexandra Silber as Sara Bradley
- Tom Lipinski as Derek Fanning
- Joanne Baron as Judge Danielle Payne
- Ezra Barnes as Mark Beck
- Brandon Williams as Wayne Carville
- Amy Rutberg as Megan Kerik
- Jason Schuchman as Willis Jacobs
- Jana Robbins as Bella
- Toks Olagundoye as Claire
- Major Dodge as Sergeant
- Jerold Solomon as Clerk
- Jose Sonera as CCS Tech
- Konstantine Kurelias as Reporter
- Edwin Torres as Corrections Officer
References[]
References
Quotes[]
Memorable quotes
Background information & notes[]
- Raúl Esparza and Alana De La Garza would later work together in the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Jersey Breakdown", when the former appeared as A.D.A. Rafael Barba and the latter returns as Assistant U.S. Attorney Connie Rubirosa.
| Previous episode: "Fed" |
"Blackmail" Law & Order Season 20 |
Next episode: "Steel-Eyed Death" |