It has been well documented that Orbach was an outstanding pool player who did all of his own billiards shots when filming Law & Order.
When Detective Lenny Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) is asked in this episode where he learned to play, he replies "Jersey Red, Captain Hook, Hundred Ball Blackie". These are all actual famous pool players. It is documented that Orbach was associated with at least Captain Hook and Hundred Ball Blackie.
When Detective Lenny Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) is asked in this episode where he learned to play, he replies "Jersey Red, Captain Hook, Hundred Ball Blackie". These are all actual famous pool players. It is documented that Orbach was associated with at least Captain Hook and Hundred Ball Blackie.
The restaurant appears to be a takeoff on Rao's Restaurant, a famous Manhattan restaurant with a similar clientele and a months long waiting list for a table.
This episode appears to be based on the 2004 Louis Barone/Albert Circelli, Jr. murder case.
Bo Dietl (Carmine 'Bumpy' Bustale) is one of three actors who were actually in law enforcement in the series. Arthur J. Nascarella (various guest stars) and Dennis Farina (Detective Joe Fontana) are the other two.
Lenny Venito (Sonny King) previously played the role of Detective Wade in episode 12.7, Myth of Fingerprints (2001).