Sideshow

"Sideshow"
←	L&O, Episode 9.14	→
Production number: E0210 First aired: 17 February 1999
	{{{nNthProducedInSeries}}}th of 456 produced in L&O
←	{{{nNthReleasedInSeries}}}th of 456 released in L&O	→
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Written By René Balcer Directed By Ed Sherin

Plot

When Briscoe and Curtis discover that a high-level federal official found murdered in Battery Park was recently transferred from Baltimore, they team up with Baltimore homicide detectives. The joint investigation reveals that the victim was involved in a love affair with another high-level government official, whose career will be destroyed if the relationship becomes public. The independent counsel summons McCoy and his Baltimore counterpart, Ed Danvers, to Washington and demands that McCoy reveal his source or be jailed for contempt. Briscoe and Curtis apprehend the suspect, but the F.B.I. claims jurisdiction and the suspect evades trial, if not justice.

Cast

Main cast

• Jerry Orbach as Detective Lennie Briscoe
• Benjamin Bratt as Detective Rey Curtis
• S. Epatha Merkerson as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
• Sam Waterston as Executive A.D.A. Jack McCoy
• Angie Harmon as A.D.A. Abbie Carmichael
• Steven Hill as D.A. Adam Schiff

Recurring cast

• Richard Belzer as Detective John Munch
• Zeljko Ivanek as A.S.A. Ed Danvers
• Leslie Hendrix as M.E. Elizabeth Rodgers

Guest cast

• George Hearn as Independent Counsel William Dell
• Meg Gibson as Faye Wellington
• T. Scott Cunningham as Brett Nelson
• Julie Nathanson as Katherine Rainer
• Adam Grupper as Ned Burks
• Kathleen Widdoes as Judge Childers
• John Dossett as Frank Wellington
• Pamela Payton-Wright as Vivian McBride
• Michael Michele as Detective Rene Sheppard
• Janet Zarish as Judy Palnick
• Walter Charles as James McBride
• Jeff Hayenga as Gardner Keith
• Charles Weldon as Cassidy
• Peggity Price as Maureen Cross
• Michael Pemberton as FBI Agent Drew Hardin
• Thaddeus Daniels as Leon Purcell
• Lawrence Woshner as Ernest Johnson
• Delissa Reynolds as Chesley Purcell
• Amy Stiller as Bartender
• Sue-Anne Morrow as Secretary
• Matthew Lawler as Gerry
• Ray Virta as Mr. Bowker
• Karyn Quackenbush as Mrs. Bowker
• Carl J. Matusovich as Shane Bowker
• William Charlton as Detective Landers
• Michael Early as James Arkadie
• Kevin Elden as CSU Detective Kett
• Jeremy S. Holm as Guard
• Jeannine Comeau as Clerk
• Stephanie Madden as First Patron
• Cedric Cannon as FBI Agent

References

• Battery Park
  • Castle Clinton
    • DeWitt Clinton
• Homicide: Life on the Street characters mentioned
  • Baltimore Police Department
    • Lieutenant Al Giardello
    • Detective Paul Falsone
  • FBI Agent Michael Giardello
• Natty Boh/National Bohemian Beer

Quotes

“	The subject, while vocal, is considered a dilettante and is not taken seriously amongst the radical community.	”
–Briscoe reading the FBI file about John Munch.

Background information and notes

• This is the first part of the third and final crossover with Homicide: Life on the Street.
  • This year would also be the final season for Homicide.
  • John Munch is the only Homicide character to have appeared in all three of the Law & Order episodes of the Homicide crossovers.
    • Next year, Munch joins the New York City Police Department's Special Victims Unit, as Richard Belzer joins the cast of the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He appears next season in the crossover episode "Entitled".
• Independent Counsel William Dell mentions several events from previous seasons while questioning Jack McCoy and his former assistants at his grand jury:
  • It is mentioned that Dell deposed former Assistant district attorney Jamie Ross about his run in with the disciplinary committee over withheld evidence against drunk driver Bernard Dressler (Ross does not appear in the episode). (L&O: "Under the Influence", "Monster")
  • It is also mentioned that Dell questioned Diana Hawthorne, another former Assistant district attorney who worked under Jack McCoy, about their relationship and how she withheld evidence for him (Hawthorne does not appear in this episode). (L&O: "Trophy")
  • When McCoy tries to defend Briscoe, Dell mentions the corruption charges brought before him by the Hellman Commission. (L&O: "Corruption")
  • He also mentions Cathy Briscoe's death. (L&O: "Damaged")
  • During the questioning, he mentions that Lennie Briscoe was drunk at the site of the accident of deceased Assistant district attorney Claire Kincaid and McCoy's romantic relationship with her. (L&O: "Aftershock")

Episode scene cards

1	2	3
Apartment of Janine McBride Baltimore, MD Tuesday, November 4	Apartment of Janine McBride Baltimore, MD Friday, November 7	Security Desk Old Executive Building Washington, D.C. Wednesday, November 12

4	5	6	7
Office of Drew Hardin J. Edgar Hoover Building Washington, D.C. Wednesday, November 12	8th District Washington, D.C. Monday, November 17	Office of District Attorney Adam Schiff Wednesday, November 26	Federal Grand Jury Washington, D.C. Friday, November 28

Previous episode: "Hunters"

"Sideshow" Law & Order Season 9

Next episode: "Disciple"