"Rubber Room" | ||
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← | L&O, Episode 20.23 | → |
Production number: 20023 First aired: 24 May 2010 | ||
Written By René Balcer Directed By René Balcer |
Plot[]
Lupo and Bernard try to locate a blogger who threatened to blow up a school, but the teachers' union hampers the probe. Van Buren's personal issues become a public affair.
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 Executive A.D.A. Michael Cutter
- Alana De La Garza as A.D.A. Connie Rubirosa
- Sam Waterston as District Attorney Jack McCoy
Recurring cast[]
- J.K. Simmons as Dr. Emil Skoda
- Ernie Hudson as Frank Gibson
- Joe Forbrich as Detective Joe Cormack
- Deirdre O'Connell as Dr. Valerie Knight
- James Biberi as Chief of Detectives Laird
Guest cast[]
- Lindsey Vonn as Secretary
- Angela Goethals as Maura Scott
- Nadia Alexander as Morgan Jones
- Patrick Murney as Dwayne Phillips
- Andrew Pastides as Rick Benson
- Wally Dunn as Ron Kozlowski
- Ash Christian as John Nolte
- Malachy Cleary as Sergeant Gutfeld
- John Speredakos as A.U.S.A. Schlichter
- Paul Schulze as Mr. Kralik
- Robert Jimenez as Mr. Cortina
- Ed Jewett as Mr. Bendel
- Stephen Beach as Mr. Prelutsky
- Chris Ceraso as Mr. Fontana
- James Nuciforo as Captain Lagle
- Jeremy Beck as Detective Jena
- Eric L. Abrams as Trooper Alfonzo
- Bill Cwikowski as Mr. Benson
- Becky London as Mrs. Benson
- Edelen McWilliams as Mrs. Jones
- Amy Tribbey as Rachel
- Gustave Johnson as Hanlon
- Conor Leslie as Eliza
- Jason Fisher as Rob
- Taylor John Borodavka as Vinnie
- Jonathan Gutierrez as Manuel
- Ted Koch as Paul
- Marissa Matrone as Lott
- Sidney Williams as Muir
- Aaron Schwartz as Bomb Squad Cop
- Lena Kaminsky as Teacher in Library
- Alisha Gaddis as Legal Assistant
- Ed Kalegi as Suspended Teacher
- Anastasia Mousis Sanidopoulos as Teacher
- Anthony C. Mazza as ESU Sergeant
- Nick Dillenburg as ESU Cop
- Ayana Brown as First Cop
- Mark Parra as Detective
- Tony Campisi as Grand Jury Foreman
- Sheila Stasack as Grand Juror #2
- J.J. Kandel as Grand Juror #3
- Kimberly Hebert Gregory as Grand Juror #4
- Malachi Weir as MRI Technician
- Gabriel Millman as Crowder
- Deema Aitken as Student
- Victoria Beltran as Trophy Wife
- Edwin Guerrero as Lawyer (uncredited)
- Gina Rados as Grand Juror #5 (uncredited)
- Steven Weisz as NYPD Captain (uncredited)
References[]
- Al-Qaeda
- ATF
- Michael Bloomberg
- Canada
- Columbine High School massacre
- Los Angeles
- Massachusetts
- New York City Department of Education
- Romania
- Lee Stone
- Temporary Reassignment Center
Quotes[]
- Lupo: It's like fishing for a needle in the ocean. Old Chinese saying.
- Van Buren: Just do it. Old American saying.
“ | Kids like this see Harris and Klebold as tragic heroes instead of what they were--a grandiose psychopath (Harris) and a suicidal depressive (Klebold). | ” |
–Skoda about the Columbine Killers |
“ | You get no argument from me there. But if your obstruction allows a massacre to happen, I will crucify you, Mr. Kralik. I will charge you with negligent homicide, and after I convict you I will resign my job and represent the families of the victims in a wrongful death suit against you and the union. By the time I'm done, you'll be finished. So, my advice to you is GET OUT OF MY WAY! | ” |
–Jack McCoy to Kralik |
“ | Thank you, thank you, thank you. | ” |
–Van Buren to God after receiving good news, last line of the season |
Background information and notes[]
- Originally intended to be a mere season finale (and the final appearance of Lt. Anita Van Buren), this episode was made into the original series finale after NBC announced on May 15th that they were cancelling the series. New episodes had been off the air for twelve years until the show was revived for a twenty-first season in 2022.
- Before NBC announced its plans to cancel L&O, the series was close to achieving the title of longest-running prime-time drama, which is currently held by its spin-off, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, which has been ordered for its record-breaking 26th season.
- Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn makes a cameo as a secretary in this episode. The finale of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, "To the Boy in the Blue Knit Cap", also features a cameo by an athlete, former New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs.
- In April 2010, the real-life NYC Department of Education and the local teacher's union agreed to abolish the "Rubber Rooms", which had long been a source of embarrassment for both parties. The last remaining Temporary Reassignment Centers closed on June 28.
- This episode marks the final appearances of Jeremy Sisto, Alana De La Garza, S. Epatha Merkerson, and Linus Roache on the series. Anthony Anderson and Sam Waterston returned for the revival.
- De La Garza joined the cast of Law & Order: LA midway through its first and only season, playing the role of Connie Rubirosa again (though now working for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office) and then later guest-starred in the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Jersey Breakdown" (working for the United States Attorney's office).
- Roache made recurring appearances as Michael Cutter in the thirteenth season of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
- Sisto and de la Garza would later star as Jubal Valentine and Isobel Castille on FBI, a Dick Wolf produced TV show.
- Merkerson would later star as Sharon Goodwin on Chicago Med, another Dick Wolf produced TV show.
- As of 2010, this is the last episode to air in the UK. A release date for the twenty-first season has not been confirmed.
Episode scene cards[]
1 | 2 | 3 |
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Imaging Center |
Richmond Gas & Snak |
Home of |
4 |
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Reade Street Bar |
Previous episode: "Love Eternal" |
"Rubber Room" Law & Order Season 20 |
Next episode: "The Right Thing" |