Fame
Season 17, Episode 1 Unrated
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When a cop is murdered in a failed burglary attempt, Detectives Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) and Nina Cassady (new series regular Milena Govich "Conviction") are led to a "stalkerazzi" photographer (guest star Khan Baykal as Gary Blanchard) hot on the trail of tabloid sensation Sky Sweet (guest star Barbara King), and her estranged husband "J-Train" Smolka (guest star Wayne Wilcox). Confident the burglary and subsequent murder is connected to incriminating photos of Sweet, the case goes to court and A.D.A. Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) and new A.D.A. Consuela "Connie" Rubirosa (new series regular Alana De La Garza "CSI: Miami") find themselves in the media spotlight as they argue the use of "The Shield Law" to protect celebrity journalism. S. Epatha Merkerson and Fred Dalton Thompson also star.
Avatar
Season 17, Episode 2 Unrated
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An internet posting of a slashed soccer mom provocatively dressed provokes a slew of 911 calls which leads Detectives Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) and Nina Cassady (Milena Govich) to the crime scene. But something is amiss; the clothes and the shoes don’t fit the victim. In what appears to be an open-and-shut case, the suspect -- a schizophrenic -- is arraigned by A.D.A.s Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) and Connie Rubirosa (Alana De La Garza) but further investigation into a popular online social networking site leads to the real culprit. S. Epatha Merkerson and Fred Dalton Thompson also star.
Home Sweet
Season 17, Episode 3 Unrated
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A young girl is killed while walking with her mother when an Upper East Side brownstone explodes. Detectives Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) and Nina Cassady (Milena Govich) quickly determine that faulty wiring is to blame and their investigation leads to the building owner's ex-wife. But with only circumstantial evidence, it’s difficult for A.D.A.s Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) and Connie Rubirosa (Alana De La Garza) to prove their case. S. Epatha Merkerson and Fred Dalton Thompson also star.
Fear America
Season 17, Episode 4 Unrated
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A young Middle Eastern man is killed on camera in what appears to be a hate crime. Detectives Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) and Nina Cassady (Milena Govich) quickly learn that prior to the murder the victim had made a frantic 911 call to the Joint Terrorist Task Force and Detective Henry Paulsen (guest star John Viscardi), who joins in the investigation. Once the suspect, Ben Faoud (guest star Bernardo Pena) is apprehended, A.D.A.s Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) and Connie Rubirosa (Alana De La Garza) succeed in convincing the F.B.I. that the suspect should be tried for murder. Faoud then hires high-power defense attorney Paul Robinette (returning guest star Richard Brooks), who demands the case be thrown out. S. Epatha Merkerson and Fred Dalton Thompson also star.
Public Service Homicide
Season 17, Episode 5 Unrated
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Carl Mullaly (guest star A.J. Handegard) is found dead in his Upper West Side apartment after being "outed" by the news magazine series "Hardfocus," which was trapping suspected pedophiles by having staff members pose as young girls. Detectives Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) and Nina Cassady (Milena Govich) quickly suspect Mullaly’s neighbor Andrew Fleming (guest star Remy Auberjonois) because he has an eight-year-old daughter, but his alibi checks out. Fleming’s daughter claims she saw a woman with Mullaly, who she identifies as his ex-girlfriend Hannah (guest star Zoe Lister-Jones) in the police lineup. Hannah claims self defense and it's up to A.D.As Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) and Connie Rubirosa (Alana De La Garza) to convince the "Hardfocus" producer to reveal the true culprit and motive. S. Epatha Merkerson and Fred Dalton Thompson also star.
Profiteer
Season 17, Episode 6 Unrated
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An affluent executive at an armored vest company is gunned down as he arrives at his daughter's $2 million Sweet Sixteen party and Detectives Green (Jesse L. Martin) and Cassady (Milena Govich) quickly tie the incident to a U.S. soldier who was killed in Iraq when his vest failed. In court, the defense argues the shooter was mentally incompetent but A.D.A.s McCoy (Sam Waterston) and Rubirosa (Alana De La Garza) press on refusing to cut a deal. Meanwhile, further investigating leads the detectives to a large supply of faulty vests that weren't destroyed but resold to a charity. S. Epatha Merkerson and Fred Dalton Thompson also star.
In Vino Veritas
Season 17, Episode 7 Unrated
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When unemployed television actor Mitch Carroll (guest star Chevy Chase) is arrested for drunk driving at 2 a.m. while wearing blood-stained clothes; Detectives Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) and Nina Cassady (Milena Govich) find themselves the target of a drunken rant that reveals the actor's religious prejudices. The blood is soon discovered to belong to Carroll's former executive producer -- but the case takes another turn when the same blood is found on Carroll's son John's (guest star Jaymie Dornan) shoes. A.D.A.s Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) and Connie Rubirosa (Alana De La Garza) must then argue the role the father's prejudice had leading up the crime to ensure justice is served. S. Epatha Merkerson and Fred Dalton Thompson also star.
Release
Season 17, Episode 8 Unrated
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Chris Drake (guest star Tim Peper) escorts two drunken women onto a party bus to film a scene for his movie company Babes Being Bad, and finds his friend Bryce Moore (guest star Daniel Cameron-Talbott) dead, making Chris an instant suspect. Using video as his alibi, Detectives Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) and Nina Cassady (Milena Govich) track down the suspect, Nicole Flynn (guest star Kim Shaw) and she admits to being on the bus questioning Chris about video footage he recorded of her while on spring break. Yet, as A.D.As Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) and Connie Rubirosa (Alana De La Garza) dig deeper, more is exposed of Babes Being Bad and Nicole's story, leading to an unlikely conviction for the murder. S. Epatha Merkerson and Fred Dalton Thompson also star.
Deadlock
Season 17, Episode 9 Unrated
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When convicted mass murderer Leon Vorgitch (guest star Craig Walker) kills two prison guards and escapes from prison, Detectives Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) and Nina Cassady (Milena Govich) rush to apprehend him but not before he ruthlessly murders two more innocent people. With Vorgitch already serving seven life sentences, District Attorney Arthur Branch (Fred Dalton Thompson) urges A.D.A.s Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) and Connie Rubirosa (Alana De La Garza) to expedite the process and push for a guilty plea, but Vorgitch doesn't bite as an extended trial only means a delay in his transfer to a maximum security prison -- and more time for him to escape. McCoy is then left with little option but to ask the judge to bypass the law and authorize a death penalty case. S. Epatha Merkerson also stars.
Corner Office
Season 17, Episode 10 Unrated
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An attorney is found dead while working late with his boss. When the first suspect confirms an alibi, detectives Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) and Nina Cassady (Milena Govich) follow up on a lead from the victims phone records. The last call made was to a high-end escort service, the escort who was last seen with the victim at the Four Seasons Hotel bar, prints happen to match a print from the crime scene, so Lieutenant Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson) decide to bring her in. Once she is questioned, Valoso reveals some unusual information about Weaver's connection to the escort service herself. Fred Dalton Thompson and Sam Waterston also star.
Remains of the Day
Season 17, Episode 11 Unrated
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When the son of a wealthy model drops dead at her bedside, homicide investigates. When it is revealed that the son had a brain tumor developed by ovarian cancer present in a bone replacement for his legs, the search for the origin of the leg bone leads the detectives to the discovery of an illegal bone-harvesting operation, run by a doctor at a free clinic.
Charity Case
Season 17, Episode 12 Unrated
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Sofia Archer (guest star Jennifer Beals), her husband and Nanny Mary (guest star Anna Chlumski) along with her two children are stopping for ice cream while out on a walk. While Bianca's husband and son, who was recently adopted from Africa, wait outside, gunshots are fired and her husband is killed. Cops find the shooter who happens to be the cousin of the baby's biological father. Assistant D.A.'s Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) and Consuela Rubirosa (Alana De La Garza) discover the boy is the son of Bianca's former assistant. Now it is up to the detectives to find out what happened to the real child from Africa and why Bianca replaced him. Jesse L. Martin, Milena Govich, S. Epatha Merkerson and Fred Dalton Thompson also star.
Talking Points
Season 17, Episode 13 Unrated
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Judith Barlow (guest star Charlotte Ross, “NYPD Blue”), a controversial speaker, participates in a question-and-answer at Gramercy College when the stage is mobbed, a gun is fired and one student is found dead. Detective Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) and Nina Cassady (Milena Govich) question the victim's friend Malcolm Yates (guest star Louis Cancelmi), an older PhD student who creates human embryos to harvest stem cells. It is discovered that Yates has Parkinson's disease and finds Barlow's tactics as a direct threat to his job and life. But Yates, aided by his attorney, Bernie Adler (guest star Ron Silver, “The West Wing”), is not afraid to play up his illness to get sympathy from the jury. S. Epatha Merkerson, Sam Waterston and Fred Dalton Thompson also star.
Church
Season 17, Episode 14 Unrated
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After a gay actor is found shot to death, Detectives Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) and Nina Cassady (Milena Govich) arrive at the scene and discover an e-mail that was sent to a well-known pastor. In the e-mail, the actor admonishes him for speaking out against gays. Asst. D.A. Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) discovers a note left behind that he suspects may be a cover for the real murderer. S. Epatha Merkerson, Fred Dalton Thompson and Alana De La Garza also star.
Melting Pot
Season 17, Episode 15 Unrated
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An actress and mother is found hanging dead in her New York City apartment. With her career on the rise and a loving husband and family, Detectives Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) and Nina Cassady (Milena Govich) are determined to prove that this was anything but self-inflicted. Sam Waterston, Alana De La Garza, S. Epatha Merkerson and Fred Dalton Thompson also star.
Murder Book
Season 17, Episode 16 Unrated
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When a publisher is found murdered, after publishing a controversial book, Detectives Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) and Nina Cassady (Milena Govich) are determined to find out whether this was a random homicide or connected to her work. Special guest star Bobby Cannavale. Sam Waterston, Alana De La Garza, S. Epatha Merkerson and Fred Dalton Thompson also star.
Good Faith
Season 17, Episode 17 Unrated
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A church burns and a man is dead in a series of church burnings, the Detectives Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) and Nina Cassady (Milena Govich) suspect arson, however this time a victim is found among the charred ruins - the victim is a teacher and basketball coach at a private parochial school. Arson becomes a homicide investigation as the detectives discover the victim was killed prior to the fire. S. Epatha Merkerson, Sam Waterston, Fred Dalton Thompson and Alana De La Garza also star.
Bling
Season 17, Episode 18 Unrated
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A rap musician is found murdered and while there are multiple suspects, the reason for her demise is not the obvious one. Detectives Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) and Nina Cassady (Milena Govich) are determined to find out whether this was a random homicide or connected to her work in the music business. Sam Waterston, Alana De La Garza, S. Epatha Merkerson and Fred Dalton Thompson also star.
Fallout
Season 17, Episode 19 Unrated
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A Russian émigré is poisoned and what appears to be an act of terrorism turns into a revenge plot -- Karl Rostov (guest star Michael Aronov) dies at the hospital after symptoms of severe stomach flu. The FBI is under the impression that they are dealing with terrorism until the medical examiner finds Ricin in Rostov's body. As Detectives Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) and Nina Cassady (Milena Govich) dig further a mystery surrounding Rostov's life is unraveled. S. Epatha Merkerson, Fred Dalton Thompson and Alana De La Garza also star.
Captive
Season 17, Episode 20 Unrated
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A man is accused of kidnapping and killing young boys--Detectives Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) and Nina Cassady (Milena Govich) are called in to investigate this high profile case. After a young boy is found dead on the side of the road, Green and Cassady are lead to a former sex offender in the neighborhood and he turns them on to the suspect’s car. As they continue to investigate there are some very puzzling pieces to the case that just don’t add up. Sam Waterston, Alana De La Garza, S. Epatha Merkerson and Fred Dalton Thompson also star.
Over Here
Season 17, Episode 21 Unrated
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Two homeless men are beaten to death, and their murders may be related -- After two homeless men die within a day of each other, Detectives Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) and Nina Cassady (Milena Govich) investigate a possible connection. The Detectives quickly learn that a nearby car dealership security camera caught a beating on tape - one of them was one of the victims. As the investigation deepens, they learn one of the victims was in the Army in Iraq and one of the suspects was a soldier in Iraq - an odd coincidence that may connect the deaths. Sam Waterston, S. Epatha Merkerson, Fred Dalton Thompson and Alana De La Garza also star.
The Family Hour
Season 17, Episode 22 Unrated
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The ex-wife of a prominent former senator Randall Bailey (guest star Harry Hamlin) is found brutally murdered at home the night after a fundraiser she attended with her family. Although Bailey cooperates with Detectives Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) and Nina Cassady (Milena Govich), they question his innocence, after finding him standing over another family member's dead body. His indictment for both murders turns the courtroom into a media circus as Bailey is represented by a slick and arrogant defense attorney Clint Glover (guest star Jeremy Sisto) and a flashy media hungry judge Barry Dilwynn (guest star Jeffrey Tambor). S. Epatha Merkerson, Sam Waterston, Fred Dalton Thompson and Alana De La Garza also star.