Law & Order: Criminal Intent

Contract

Season 7, Episode 12, Aired 6/15/08

Episode Summary

A gossip columnist who used his insider knowledge to feed his habit is murdered, which leaves Wheeler and Logan to work through a list of suspects that grows longer the more they probe his life.

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Cast & Crew

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Chris Noth

Detective Mike Logan
Julianne Nicholson

Detective Megan Wheeler
Eric Bogosian

Captain Danny Ross

Fan Episode Reviews (3)

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It kept you thinking...

8.5

"Great"

By XMLarry, Jun 21, 2010 Report Abuse

A so-so plot with more twists and turns than a roller coaster to keep one's interest. Gossip columnist gets too greedy and bites the dust via a car cigarette lighter (rather ingenious). Logan and Wheeler must get dizzy going through all these turns of events going from "investors" to an actress having an affair to her husband, a movie mogul, who ends up being the one to teach her a lesson. I love the ending where Logan entices the mogul into thinking how weak he (Logan). Mogul pulls out recording device only to find Logan had one too. Entrapment or not, still a good episode.moreless

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Covoluted

7.0

"Good"

By Shardyk, Jun 24, 2008 Report Abuse

Other than Jeff Garlin, I about gave up on this epsiode. Every once in a while an episode becomes completely convoluted. This was one of them. Logan's partner is a little annoying and I really miss Alicia Witt. I hope Dick Wolf finds something to do with her in the future. I highly prefer the Goren/Eames episodes, and I guess I just get disappointed when I watch a Logan episode and the writing isn't top notch. I shouldn't complain that we're getting new episodes in the summer though. Everything else has long gone into hiatus. USA knows how to market their shows.moreless

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Mo Rocca?

9.0

"Superb"

By Fitzycent, Jun 16, 2008 Report Abuse

Another great episode

Mo Rocca as a goofy spoof of 1930's gossip columinist. He managed to pull it off even with the corny hat and act.

Jeff Garlin as a dirty Hollywood type and Detective Wheeler returns from god knows where. Guess we get to see her new man soon?

Throw in a little hollywood movie making backstage politics and you got an interesting mix. Toss in the the mob and witness protection and you have my attention. Toss in a former Sopranos actor and you complete the cycle.

Liked the in plain sight cameo by Mary McCormick as well. Howard Stern will be so proud to brag about that.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- When the detectives talk to the screenwriter, there is a Carolina Heat poster in the background. This was used more prominently in the episode "Courtship"; one of the characters was the star. Edit
- When Logan first arrives at the crime scene, a police officer tells him to think of "Spitzer, not McGreevy" in regards to the prostitution angle. While the analogy is appropriate for the case, it creates a continuity error in the L&O universe. On the Law & Order episode, "Excalibur", it is revealed that the Governor of New York (who was involved in a prostitution ring but not caught) is named Donald Shalvoy, not the real Elliot Spitzer. Edit
- Detective Wheeler returns to Major Case (and the US) in this episode, having been undercover in Europe for 6 months. Logan also reveals that Nola Falacci left Major Case to study at Quantico. Edit
Notes
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- International Episode Titles: Czech Republic "Nájemný vrah" (Assassin) Edit
- Original International Air Dates: Czech Republic May 10, 2010 on TV Nova Edit
- This is the first episode with a crossover outside of Dick Wolf's programs since Homicide: Life on the Street. It features Mary McCormack as her In Plain Sight character, US Marshal Mary Shannon. That show aired its pilot two weeks prior to this episode. Edit
Quotes
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- Barry Freeburg: Detective, if you're thinking you're getting over on me, you're not, 'cause I got you're number. Mike Logan: How's that? Barry Freeburg: Oh, how's that? Let's see (pulls out a recorder) I've got you recorded accepting a bribe and agreeing to a cover-up. Mike Logan: (chuckling) Huh. (reveals his recorder) Right back at you, pal. Statutory rape and felony murder. Edit
- Megan Wheeler: (about Dr. Jacoby) A doctor who keeps a criminal defense lawyer's card in his pocket. Do you think that's a bad sign? Mike Logan: I'd say so. Edit
- Mike Logan: So you're overseas for six months, the city's quiet. You come back, all hell breaks loose. Megan Wheeler: I missed you too, Logan. Edit
Allusions
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- Logan: I wonder what you do in Albuquerque on a Sunday night at 10? This was likely an in-joke reference to In Plain Sight, the show from which the character Molly Shannon (Mary McCormack) originates. At the time of broadcast, In Plain Sight was paired with Law & Order: Criminal Intient, following its 9:00 pm broadcast in the 10:00 pm timeslot. Edit
- Mike Logan: The Sweet Smell of Success, "I Love This Dirty Town!" Logan references the 1957 Alexander Mackendrick film based on the Ernest Lehman book. He compares the victim (a gossip columnist) to Burt Lancaster's character, J. J. Hunsecker. The film looks at the ruthless world of a powerful, evil and morally corrupt New York newspaper columnist, J.J. Hunsecker. Lancaster's role was based on a composite of a half-dozen columnists on the Broadway beat including famed New York columnist Walter Winchell. The film is an exposé of the poisonous world of New York City tabloid publicity as it exposes the under-side of New York City's glamorous night life. The victim, T. K. Richmond, is based on J. J. Hunsecker down to the younger sister, the typewriter, and the ugly eyeglasses. It is not quite clear from the script whether Richmond is supposed to be trying to imitate Hunsecker or whether the writer, director, and costume/set folks are just having fun. Edit
- Al Himes: Think Spitzer, not McGreevey. Eliot Spitzer was the governor of New York from January 2007 to March 2008 when his platform of public reform and ethics collapsed under a federal investigation that revealed his use of a high-class prostitution ring. Jim McGreevey was the governor of New Jersey from 2002-2004 when, amidst allegations of corruption, he resigned and announced that he was gay Edit