Law & Order (season 18)

The 18th season of Law & Order premiered on NBC on January 2, 2008, and concluded on May 21, 2008.

Law & Order
Season 18
Season 18 U.S. DVD cover
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes18
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseJanuary 2 –
May 21, 2008 (2008-05-21)
Season chronology

Production

On May 13, 2007, NBC renewed Law & Order for an 18th season of 22 episodes as part of a deal made by series creator Dick Wolf and NBC.[1] Though the series was originally scheduled to air on Sundays as a midseason replacement for NBC Sunday Night Football,[2] TV Guide reported on December 4, 2007, that Law & Order would debut instead on Wednesday, January 2, 2008.[3]

René Balcer, who had developed and produced spinoff Law & Order: Criminal Intent, returned to Law & Order this season as executive producer.[4]

Cast and crew changes

In May 2007, cast member Fred Thompson departed the series to return to politics, with reports saying he would seek the Republican nomination for the 2008 U.S. presidential election.[5] His character, District Attorney Arthur Branch, was replaced in that function by Sam Waterston's Jack McCoy, with McCoy being promoted to Branch's vacant seat after serving as Executive Assistant District Attorney since the resignation of his predecessor Benjamin Stone.[6] Since this move required that a new character be added to the series, the writers created the role of EADA Michael Cutter and British actor Linus Roache was brought in to portray him.[7]

Because of the equal-time rule, which requires that broadcasters treat legally qualified political candidates equally in regard to air time, NBC announced in July 2007 that it would not broadcast any episode of Law & Order in which Thompson appeared after September 1.[8] Thompson officially declared his intention to seek nomination on September 5, 2007, when he appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.[9]

Milena Govich, who played Detective Nina Cassady, also did not return to the series after joining the cast one year earlier following the departure of Dennis Farina (Joe Fontana).[10] She was replaced by Jeremy Sisto, who had guest starred as a defense attorney in the 17th season finale, as Detective Ed Green's new partner Cyrus Lupo.[11]

Rounding out the list of departures was Jesse L. Martin, who announced he was leaving the series after portraying Det. Ed Green since 1999.[12] Martin, who was scheduled to appear in only 13 episodes this season, announced the move in February 2008 and made his final appearance in "Burn Card". Anthony Anderson, who made his debut as Detective Kevin Bernard in the same episode, was then added to the cast.[13] This remained the main cast until the end of the series.

Cast

Main cast

Recurring cast

Episodes
See also: List of Law & Order episodes
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		US viewers
(millions)
3941"Called Home"Allen CoulterRené BalcerJanuary 2, 2008 (2008-01-02)1800113.45[14]

Det. Cyrus Lupo returns to New York after serving four years abroad in the Intelligence division after learning his brother committed suicide. Lupo and Green reluctantly partner up to investigate another suicide committed the same way and soon find a suspect in a parolee known as "Dr. Death".

3952"Darkness"Michael DinnerWilliam N. Fordes & David SlackJanuary 2, 2008 (2008-01-02)1800613.45[14]

Green and Lupo's first official case together is a kidnapping that happened during a citywide blackout; a housekeeper is slain and a mother and daughter are kidnapped. The evidence that links all the kidnappers is the father and husband of the kidnap victims. When they search the kidnappers' hideout, they find preparations which implies that the kidnappers knew that the blackout was coming. Cutter must convince the man to testify after he has lied about a search warrant to save the man's daughter, or else the kidnappers will all go free. Issues of a warrantless search arise.

  • Courtroom scenes revolve around questions of Enron-like manipulation of energy.
3963"Misbegotten"Michael WatkinsDavid Wilcox & Stephanie SenguptaJanuary 9, 2008 (2008-01-09)1800211.05[15]

Green and Lupo investigate after a package explodes at a scientific research lab, resulting in the injury of a pregnant security guard. The investigation soon turns to the scientist's latest experiments.

  • Inspired by the concept of the gay gene.
3974"Bottomless"Alex ChappleEd ZuckermanJanuary 16, 2008 (2008-01-16)1800411.55[16]

The investigation into a pair of missing pants leads to the murder of a young lawyer. Green and Lupo soon turn their suspicions to a businessman who works for a shady multinational corporation called SavingsMart.

3985"Driven"Alan TaylorRichard Sweren & Gina GionfriddoJanuary 23, 2008 (2008-01-23)1800910.33[18]
Lupo and Green investigate after a white teenager and a young black girl are shot and killed in a local neighborhood. The investigation stalls when no one is willing to talk, but the detectives later learn that the victim had earlier had an altercation with someone in the neighborhood that led to a surprising altercation later that evening.
3996"Political Animal"Jean de SegonzacEd Zuckerman & David SlackJanuary 30, 2008 (2008-01-30)1801111.14[19]
A triple homicide has ties to a politician, but he may be just the first step toward the truth and a killer who will take desperate measures to keep his freedom.
4007"Quit Claim"Jim McKayWilliam N. Fordes & David WilcoxFebruary 6, 2008 (2008-02-06)1801010.07[20]
A hit-and-run investigation leads back to a title company, but Green, Rubirosa and Lupo's undercover work takes a surprising twist that pits McCoy against the U.S. Attorney's office.
4018"Illegal"Constantine MakrisWilliam N. Fordes & David SlackFebruary 13, 2008 (2008-02-13)1800310.24[21]
A riot at an immigration rally ends in murder, and the political climate causes McCoy to assign a special prosecutor increasing tensions at the office.
4029"Executioner"Constantine MakrisRichard Sweren & Gina GionfriddoFebruary 20, 2008 (2008-02-20)1801210.85[22]
A case of mistaken identity leads Green and Lupo to suspect that a murdered doctor may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
40310"Tango"Dean WhiteStephanie SenguptaFebruary 27, 2008 (2008-02-27)1801311.45[23]
A high school party turns tragic when a teenager is found dead, and the detectives end up playing games with the two leading suspects to find out the real story. Unfortunately, unwanted attention from a juror for A.D.A. Rubirosa may disrupt the trial.
40411"Betrayal"Marc LevinRichard Sweren & Gina GionfriddoMarch 5, 2008 (2008-03-05)180059.68[24]
The murder of a psychiatrist focuses the suspect list to his clients and wife, and the defense of the murderer will challenge the D.A.'s office to somehow show the jury that a bad childhood is not a justification for crime.
40512"Submission"Constantine MakrisEd ZuckermanMarch 12, 2008 (2008-03-12)1800711.68[25]
When the police shut down a dog-fighting ring, the investigation becomes a murder case after a woman's finger is found inside one of the dogs; things get more complicated as the case deepens, and the interest of a pushy reporter is sparked.
40613"Angelgrove"Darnell MartinDavid Wilcox & Stephanie SenguptaMarch 19, 2008 (2008-03-19)1800810.45[26]
A recorded conversation has Lupo and Green delving into the personal and family life of a murdered art dealer, and suspected connections to terrorist activity.
40714"Burn Card"Mario Van PeeblesEd Zuckerman & David WilcoxApril 23, 2008 (2008-04-23)1801412.63[27]

Internal Affairs takes a special interest in Ed after he shoots a gambler that may be connected to a current case. The investigation turns up a part of his past he's taken pains to conceal.

  • Last appearance of Jesse L. Martin as Detective Ed Green; first appearance of Anthony Anderson as Internal Affairs Detective Kevin Bernard. He becomes the Junior Detective, with Senior Detective Lupo, in the next episode.
  • Detective Cyrus Lupo is promoted to Senior Detective.
40815"Bogeyman"Tim HunterS : Gina Gionfriddo;
S/T : Richard Sweren		April 30, 2008 (2008-04-30)180159.62[28]
A novelist's apparent suicide changes to a murder investigation. The suspects include a cult and her husband. Cutter's case is jeopardized by the defense attorney's indirect juror tampering tactics of scaring the jurors.
40916"Strike"Marisol TorresWilliam N. Fordes & David SlackMay 7, 2008 (2008-05-07)180168.76[29]
A legal aid strike ends in the death of a paralegal, and the investigation leads to a golf pro who proclaims his innocence, again. Then the case takes an even stranger twist when Rubirosa is pitted against Cutter because of the strike that started it all.
41017"Personae Non Gratae"John ColesStephanie Sengupta & Matthew McGoughMay 14, 2008 (2008-05-14)180178.35[30]
An online romance may be at the heart of a mechanic's murder, but Detectives Lupo and Bernard must unravel some truly bizarre developments before the full story is known.
41118"Excalibur"Jim McKayRené Balcer & Ed ZuckermanMay 21, 2008 (2008-05-21)180188.45[31]
A jeweler's murder may have ties to a prostitution ring. Once the case goes to trial, D.A. McCoy's job is on the line as favors are called in.

Notes
  • S. Epatha Merkerson has a different introductory image in episode 1 and 3.
  • Alana De La Garza's introductory image has changed.

References
  1. "NBC Renews Original L&O; Criminal Intent Goes to USA". TV Guide. May 13, 2007. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  2. Mitovich, Matt (May 14, 2007). "NBC's Fall Banks on Bionic Woman, Other Heroes". TV Guide. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  3. Mitovich, Matt (December 4, 2007). "Law & Order, Legal at Last, Cops a New 'Tude". TV Guide. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  4. Mitovich, Matt (May 21, 2007). "Let's Make a Deal: Veteran Producer Returns to L&O". TV Guide. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  5. Cameron, Carl (May 31, 2007). "Fred Thompson Quits 'Law & Order,' Moves Closer to 2008 White House Bid". FOX News. Archived from the original on August 20, 2007. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  6. Mitovich, Matt (June 8, 2007). "New Law & Order DA Predicts "Fireworks"". TV Guide. Archived from the original on May 9, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  7. "Linus Roache to Join NBC's 'Law & Order' Cast". FOX News. July 18, 2007. Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  8. "NBC to Drop Fred Thompson in Reruns". TV Guide. July 17, 2007. Archived from the original on May 9, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  9. Steve McGookin (September 5, 2007). "Thompson Finally Steps Onstage". Forbes. Archived from the original on September 18, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  10. "'Law and Order' Casting News: Milena Govich Out, Jeremy Sisto In". Tv Jots. June 1, 2007. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  11. Mitovich, Matt (June 1, 2007). "In Today's Casting News: A New L&O Cop, a Heroes Mutant". TV Guide. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  12. "Out of Order: Jesse L. Martin Calls It Quits". TV Guide. February 21, 2008. Archived from the original on May 1, 2009. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  13. Rudolph, Ileane (April 23, 2008). "Will Anthony Anderson Bring New Order to Law & Order?". TV Guide. Archived from the original on March 30, 2010. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  14. Gorman, Bill (January 8, 2008). "Top NBC Primetime Shows, Dec 31 - Jan 6". Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  15. Seidman, Robert (January 10, 2008). "Overnight Results for Wednesday, January 9". Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  16. Seidman, Robert (January 17, 2008). "Overnight Results for Wednesday, January 16". Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  17. Barbaro, Michael (March 29, 2007). "Low prices and low tolerance for ethics violations at Wal-Mart". International Herald-Tribune. Archived from the original on April 13, 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-17.
  18. Seidman, Robert (January 24, 2008). "Overnight Results for Wednesday, January 23". Archived from the original on April 2, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  19. Seidman, Robert (January 31, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings: Weds, Jan 30: Idol Reigns". Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  20. Seidman, Robert (February 7, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings Wed, Feb 6: Idol Moment". Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  21. Seidman, Robert (February 14, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings Wed, Feb 13: Another Idol Moment". Archived from the original on July 23, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  22. Seidman, Robert (February 21, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings for Wed Feb 20: Idol Rules, CBS Needs to Fire People". Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  23. Seidman, Robert (February 28, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings for Wed Feb 27: Idol Dominates, Les Moonves Gives Up". Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  24. Seidman, Robert (March 6, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings for Wed, March 5: Woe is Big Brother". Archived from the original on July 28, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  25. Seidman, Robert (March 13, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings for Wed, March 12: Idol Cruises as CBS Ages". Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  26. Seidman, Robert (March 20, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings Wed, March 19: FOX Crushes Competition". Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  27. Seidman, Robert (April 24, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings April 23: Waving Goodbye to Jesse L. Martin on Law & Order". Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  28. Seidman, Robert (May 1, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings April 30, 2008: CBS Improves, Boston Legal and Law & Order Suffer". Archived from the original on July 28, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  29. Seidman, Robert (May 8, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings May 8, 2008: Worst May Sweeps EVER!". Archived from the original on March 10, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  30. Seidman, Robert (May 15, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings May 14: FOX Wins, Idol Set for David vs. David Battle". Archived from the original on April 2, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  31. Seidman, Robert (May 22, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings May 21, 2008: David Cook Wins, Now You Can Too". Archived from the original on April 18, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
Preceded by
Season Seventeen
(2006-2007)		 List of Law & Order seasons
(1990-2010)		 Succeeded by
Season Nineteen
(2008-2009)
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