October Surprise

"October Surprise"
←	SVU, Episode 15.06	→
Production number: 15006 First aired (US): 23 October 2013 First aired (UK): 24 November 2013 First aired (CAN): 23 October 2013 First aired (AUS): 7 November 2013
	{{{nNthProducedInSeries}}}th of 502 produced in SVU
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Teleplay By Peter Blauner Story By Warren Leight & Peter Blauner Directed By Peter Werner

Plot

When A.D.A. Barba's childhood friend, Eddie Garcia, is arrested for attempted rape, his connection to mayoral front-runner Alex Muñoz puts the campaign in jeopardy. However, when an undercover investigation uncovers further misconduct by Muñoz himself, Detective Amaro and the SVU team wonder if Barba can put aside personal feelings to prosecute the man he used to idolize.

Cast

Main Cast

• Mariska Hargitay as Sergeant Olivia Benson
• Danny Pino as Detective Nick Amaro
• Kelli Giddish as Detective Amanda Rollins
• Ice-T as Detective Odafin Tutuola
• Raúl Esparza as A.D.A. Rafael Barba
• Dann Florek as Captain Donald Cragen (credit only)

Recurring Cast

• Josh Pais as Hank Abraham
• Leslie Odom, Jr. as Reverend Curtis Scott
• Jason Cerbone as Attorney Lorenzo Desappio
• Joel Brady as Officer Jimmy Nolan
• Kecia Lewis as Judge Constance Copeland

Guest Cast

• Vincent Laresca as State Senator Alex Muñoz
• Kirk Acevedo as Eddie Garcia
• Annaleigh Ashford as Lindsay Anderson
• Karen Olivo as Yelina Muñoz
• Lester Holt as Himself
• Liz Fye as Anna Pretard
• James Riordan as Brett Landau
• Erica Camarano as Female Uni
• Edward Furs as Vlad
• Grace Van Patten as Jodie Lanier
• Ron Kuby as Himself
• Errol Louis as Reporter #1
• Teresa Woods as Reporter #2
• Julio C. Peña as Aide #1
• Scott Eliasoph as Courtroom Gallery (uncredited)

References

• Lucia Barba
• Israel
• New York State Gaming Commission
• New York State Senate
• Swiftboating
• University of Michigan

Background information and notes

• Amaro mentions they are taking on this case after taking down a corrupt precinct, which happened in the episode "Internal Affairs".
• Actor Josh Pais had appeared in another episode with a cheating website, the Law & Order: Criminal Intent episode "Lonelyville". In that episode, he was the customer of the cheating website.
• This episode and the next, "Dissonant Voices", both have guest stars who were cast members of the original Broadway run of Kinky Boots: Annaleigh Ashford in this episode and Billy Porter in the next.

Episode scene cards

1	2	3	4
Apartment of Lindsay Anderson 237 East 31st Street Friday, October 25	Lennox-Landau School Foundation 15 Gramercy Park South Friday, October 25	Office of Hank Abraham 99 Hudson Street Saturday, October 26	Apartment of Eddie Garcia 16 East Burnside Avenue Bronx, New York Saturday, October 26

5	6	7	8
New York Gaming Commission 99 Washington Avenue Albany, New York Monday, October 28	Grant High School 370 Kneeland Ave Yonkers, New York Wednesday, October 30	Five Boroughs Police Association Ball 31 Chambers Street Wednesday, October 30	Arraignment Court Part 12 Thursday, October 31

Previous episode: "Wonderland Story"

"October Surprise" Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 15

Next episode: "Dissonant Voices"