Stone goes after a sensational tabloid talk show host after a child molester is murdered on live television by the father of his victim.Stone goes after a sensational tabloid talk show host after a child molester is murdered on live television by the father of his victim.Stone goes after a sensational tabloid talk show host after a child molester is murdered on live television by the father of his victim.
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Meg Gibson
- Debby Corrio
- (as Margaret Gibson)
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis episode appears to be based on several cases of revenge killings caught on camera there include:
- The November 3, 1988, episode of The Geraldo Rivera Show (1987). The episode involved white supremacists, anti-racist skinheads, black activists, and Jewish activists. A confrontation occurred between John Metzger (the son of white supremacist Tom Metzger) and Roy Innis. Metzger goaded Innis by referring to him as "Uncle Tom." Innis then walked over to Metzger and forcefully grabbed him by the neck. Subsequently, a full-scale brawl broke out with chairs hurled and punches thrown. Audience members, several stage hands, and Rivera himself got involved, throwing a few punches at a white supremacist. In the process, Rivera was struck in the face by a chair and wound up with a broken nose. He did not press charges, saying he did not wish to be "tied up [in court] with the roaches" and also claiming that "if there ever was a case of deserved violence, this was it." The ratings for this pre-taped show went through the roof, as news of the fight attracted attention to the episode even before it aired.
- The 1984 Gary Plauché case. Plauché murdered Jeff Doucet, who had kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and molested Plauché's son, Jody. The killing occurred on Friday, March 16, 1984, and was captured on camera by a local news crew. Plauché shot and killed Doucet, and he was given a seven-year suspended sentence with five years' probation and 300 hours of community service for the shooting and received no prison time. The case received wide publicity because some people questioned whether Plauché should have been charged with murder or let off. Plauché stated that he was in the right, and that those in a similar position would have done the same thing.
- This Law & Order episode also seems like a tragic foreshadowing of future violent events involving talk show guests shortly after they had appeared on talk shows. These included the deaths of Scott Amedure (Jenny Jones (1991)); of Charlene Burkey (Forgive or Forget (1998), hosted by Robin Givens); and of Nancy Campbell-Panitz The Jerry Springer Show (1991).
- GoofsA title card says Fisher is in Memorial Hospital, but when Briscoe and Logan get a newspaper in front of the building, the sign says Amsterdam Hospital.
- Quotes
[after he kills the man who molested his son]
Sid Fisher: Somebody shot an animal. Call a vet.
Featured review
Puppetmaster
It's a sad and curious thing about how television appeals to the lowest common denominator at times. Law And Order in this episode explores that phenomenon and the almighty pursuit of ratings with sensationalism. In real life all that came to a head when Jenny Jones had as guests on a show that never aired, a man who had a long ago gay crush on another and the object of said affection. After the taping the object shot and killed the gay man who had secretly lusted after him when he was a youth. Her career was over, but these shows remain.
Robert Klein is the host of such a show and like Jerry Springer brings together folks for sensationalism. He brings together a kid who was molested and the guy who did the molesting back in the day. And the father comes along and shoots him on camera.
Jerry Orbach and Chris Noth develop the case which is pretty straightforward. But as things move along it turns out that Klein was quite the puppetmaster. He's also shown as one of the sleaziest individuals ever portrayed on Law And Order.
Klein's character as written is over the top, but that does make the point. These folks only exist because we watch them.
Robert Klein is the host of such a show and like Jerry Springer brings together folks for sensationalism. He brings together a kid who was molested and the guy who did the molesting back in the day. And the father comes along and shoots him on camera.
Jerry Orbach and Chris Noth develop the case which is pretty straightforward. But as things move along it turns out that Klein was quite the puppetmaster. He's also shown as one of the sleaziest individuals ever portrayed on Law And Order.
Klein's character as written is over the top, but that does make the point. These folks only exist because we watch them.
helpful•119
- bkoganbing
- Jul 18, 2012
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