A TWIST ON 'REALITY' TV [Law & Order CI Episode Based on Terri Schiavo- on Saturday night]

Philadelphia Daily News ^ | Fri, Mar. 26, 2004 | Ellen Gray

[nickcarraway]

Ever wonder how the people whose real-life tragedies end up as "Law & Order" plot points feel?

Last month, Newsday reported that the relatives of a New York City councilman who was slain in City Hall last July had gathered outside NBC headquarters to protest the airing of an "L&O" episode in which a councilman was killed in a similar manner.

NBC's reply, of course, was that the series - which has been happily ripping its stories from the headlines for years - is "fiction."

Right. Unfortunately, it draws much of its juice from facts.

And so I'm waiting to see what, if anything, the family of Terri Schiavo will have to say about Sunday's "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," in which the family of a woman in a persistent vegetative state is battling over whether she should be kept alive.

In this case, it's the parents, not the husband, who want to let the woman go, a change that's not likely to make husband Michael Schiavo feel much better. Because just as Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and others have raised questions about Michael Schiavo's suitability to be his wife's guardian and about the cause of her original heart failure, the husband in Sunday's case comes in for some scrutiny of his own.

This being "Criminal Intent," there is, of course, a dazzling, if improbable, interrogation scene featuring Vincent D'Onofrio as "CI's" resident know-it-all - I love the actor, but the character's working on my last nerve - and, of course, an actual murder.

Should anyone complain, NBC will again label all this fiction, but to quote a letter other critics and I received this week from executive producer Rene Balcer:

" 'Conscience' delves into the highly controversial 'right-to-die' issue, which has been at the forefront of the news."

Can't have it both ways, guys.

[nickcarraway]

The epsiode, ``Conscience,'' airs Saturday April 10th at 11 pm on USA network on cable. Episode guide for ``Conscience.''

[nickcarraway]

TV show (somewhat) based on Terri's case this Saturday.

[Bonaventure]

D'Onofrio really is a fantastic actor. I, too, love his "CI" character.

[NonValueAdded]

Yeah, but what is their spin on the story? I don;t want to end up smashing in my TV if they make the HINO look good.

[Viking2002]

Hollyweird has always rewritten history to suit it's own agenda.

[nickcarraway]

TV show (somewhat) based on Terri's case this Saturday.

[Blue Screen of Death]

a woman in a persistent vegetative state

It looks like a role for Paris Hilton.

[nickcarraway]

I saw a few minutes of the orginal airing on NBC and from the brief part I saw, they were not making Schiavo look good.

[Seruzawa]

I've watched L&O:CI a few times. I've yet to see the resident "genius" come up with enough viable evidence to sustain an indictment, much less a conviction. Fortunately for him we never see the trials and all the murderers that walk because of the "genius's" inability to build a convincing case.

It's only a movie.

[Cicero]

I imagine they will exploit this issue without throwing any real light on it.

[uvular]

Saw it when it originally aired on NBC-your TV should be safe.

Such as with all Law and Orders, they rip the beginning of their story from the headlines and then make several changes along the way. The only hint I'll give is the Mr. in this case is no better than Mr. Schiavo.

[pollywog]

I saw a few minutes of the orginal airing on NBC and from the brief part I saw, they were not making Schiavo look good.

Schiavo...Terri? or Schiavo ....Michael???

[Honestfreedom]

They did a show on the Stephen Hatifill anthrax case and of course made him look like a lying murderer. At the time the government was all jacked up about draining the pond near his home. In the show that is how they prove him guilty. Of course as history went draining the pond proved nothing.

[amom]

From the website..."A neurologist who was about to be an expert witness in a right to die case is mysteriously drowned, sparking an investigation into the patient in question, who is in a persistent vegetative state."

[DameAutour]

there is, of course, a dazzling, if improbable, interrogation scene featuring Vincent D'Onofrio as "CI's" resident know-it-all - I love the actor, but the character's working on my last nerve

I rarely agree with Ellen Gray, but I must agree with her here. I love the actor but the character is very annoying. The man knows EVERYTHING. He apparently speaks all languages, even the dead ones. I'm sure he has broken out a bit of Aramaic, Syriac, whatever. He knows EVERYTHING and it is annoying. This kind of thing makes me root for the bad guys.

I've yet to see the resident "genius" come up with enough viable evidence to sustain an indictment, much less a conviction.

Holla! I completely agree. Week after week I keep thinking that if I were the defense attorney, I could win the case.

[Seruzawa]

This kind of thing makes me root for the bad guys.

Heh heh! I love it when that arrogant fascist prick McCoy on the original L&O loses a case. What an annoying dweeb.

[DameAutour]

I love to root against McCoy, it's the only joy I get out of watching the original L&O nowadays.

[nickcarraway]

Yes, he did read Aramaic on on epsiode involving terrorists.

[Hawkeye's Girl]

He knows EVERYTHING and it is annoying.

He's supposed to. The producers created the show for his character, who is an American Sherlock Holmes.

Goren rocks.

[nickcarraway]

Sherlock Holmes, with a dash of Columbo.