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)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
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
Not as trashy as feared
Before watching 'Law and Order's' Season 4 premiere "Sweeps", the premise didn't appeal to me. It sounded pretty far-fetched on paper and being somebody that has overtime grown to dislike confrontational talk shows in general (too much sensationalism and human bear baiting) it sounded trashy. Watched it though anyway, being somebody that loves 'Law and Order' and its spin offs in their prime, thinking that the execution perhaps may be more tasteful, and one that really liked the previous three seasons.
On first watch, "Sweeps" (thought to be based upon the Geraldo Rivera case) left me pleasantly surprised. It wasn't one of those "loved it" episodes, but actually to me there was a lot recommendable about it. On recent re-watch, my pleasantly surprised thoughts are very much the same and actually appreciated it more. It handles the premise a lot more tastefully than feared and it is not as far-fetched as it sounds. Not one of the show's best, or even one of the best of Season 4, but not a half-bad start at all.
"Sweeps" is not perfect. The case is rather too straightforward, with the anti-thesis of subtle way one character is written there was no doubt that they were either involved in some way or knew more than they let on. The truth did feel too obvious too early, and maybe if the killer and motive were revealed a little later that may have helped things.
There is though a lot to recommend with "Sweeps". It does boast a couple of firsts, with more than promising debuts for character Lieutenant Anita Van Buren (later to become one of the longest serving regular cast members, replacing Cragen) and ADA Claire Kincaid (replacing Paul Robinette). Firsts that proved actually to be a lot more settled feeling than any other previous changes in previous seasons and less thrown upon.
All the acting is great, with Jerry Orbach and Chris Noth being a great authoritative and wise-cracking duo and Michael Moriarty commands the screen effortlessly and makes his already juicy material juicier. Robert Klein is a very larger than life presence as a puppeteer of the action sort of character that one roots for his getting some kind of just desserts, doing so without over-balancing too much (his character too is not too far off from what talk show hosts are prone to be like). Am surprised though that little has been said about the moving performance of David Krumholtz. The writing is intelligent and while there is a lot of talk, as usual, it doesn't ramble and is accessible.
Direction is accomodating but also alert. The production values are slick and have a subtle grit, with an intimacy to the photography without being too claustrophobic. The music isn't used too much and doesn't get too melodramatic. While the story is not extraordinary it is still very interesting and well constructed, not being exploitative and is a lot more intelligent and easy to buy than the premise makes out. As ever, a great job is done with the interesting questions and dilemmas raised when getting a result.
In conclusion, a well executed start to Season 4 but not one of the season's best episodes. 8/10
On first watch, "Sweeps" (thought to be based upon the Geraldo Rivera case) left me pleasantly surprised. It wasn't one of those "loved it" episodes, but actually to me there was a lot recommendable about it. On recent re-watch, my pleasantly surprised thoughts are very much the same and actually appreciated it more. It handles the premise a lot more tastefully than feared and it is not as far-fetched as it sounds. Not one of the show's best, or even one of the best of Season 4, but not a half-bad start at all.
"Sweeps" is not perfect. The case is rather too straightforward, with the anti-thesis of subtle way one character is written there was no doubt that they were either involved in some way or knew more than they let on. The truth did feel too obvious too early, and maybe if the killer and motive were revealed a little later that may have helped things.
There is though a lot to recommend with "Sweeps". It does boast a couple of firsts, with more than promising debuts for character Lieutenant Anita Van Buren (later to become one of the longest serving regular cast members, replacing Cragen) and ADA Claire Kincaid (replacing Paul Robinette). Firsts that proved actually to be a lot more settled feeling than any other previous changes in previous seasons and less thrown upon.
All the acting is great, with Jerry Orbach and Chris Noth being a great authoritative and wise-cracking duo and Michael Moriarty commands the screen effortlessly and makes his already juicy material juicier. Robert Klein is a very larger than life presence as a puppeteer of the action sort of character that one roots for his getting some kind of just desserts, doing so without over-balancing too much (his character too is not too far off from what talk show hosts are prone to be like). Am surprised though that little has been said about the moving performance of David Krumholtz. The writing is intelligent and while there is a lot of talk, as usual, it doesn't ramble and is accessible.
Direction is accomodating but also alert. The production values are slick and have a subtle grit, with an intimacy to the photography without being too claustrophobic. The music isn't used too much and doesn't get too melodramatic. While the story is not extraordinary it is still very interesting and well constructed, not being exploitative and is a lot more intelligent and easy to buy than the premise makes out. As ever, a great job is done with the interesting questions and dilemmas raised when getting a result.
In conclusion, a well executed start to Season 4 but not one of the season's best episodes. 8/10
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- TheLittleSongbird
- Aug 27, 2020
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