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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 9 Episode 16

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5.8

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EPISODE REVIEWS
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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 4/22/08

After investment banker Jeremy Haynes is found dead, suspicions turns to his boyfriend Lincoln Haver, a professional football player who could lose everything if the truth of his sexuality became public. When news of Haver's sexual preference comes out, Benson comes under fire for her relationship with a reporter.moreless

Fan Episode Reviews (8)

Elliot and Olivia investigate the death of a gay man. Olivia reveals she's dating a newspaper editor, and her job is in jeopardy when she is accused of leaking information to the press.moreless

9.5

By SVU_IsMyGod, Mar 01, 2011

I'm so releived! When I read the spoilers for this episode, I expected Olivia's new love life to take over, but it was very subtle, very true to the Law and Order style. Elliot's reaction to her boyfriend was very in character, which I was also worried about. He was happy for Liv, and not really surprised, as it should be.

The storyline was very interesting. A pro football player is accused of killing his boyfriend. He is outed to the press, and Olivia is accused of being the leak, resulting in a suspension. Elliot plays the role of protective partner by talking to Kurt Moss. Both men want to settle the matter with IAB for Olivia, but, classic Olivia, she doesn't want their help. In the end she gives in and lets Moss call IAB to clear things up for her. I'm glad her suspension didn't play a huge role, after Undercover they needed to give other characters the spotlight. Excellent one liner from Casey: 'How did you miss their big fat gay wedding?' Not at all insulting homosexuals, just showing her anger towards the detectives. She was blinsided during trial when Jeremy's boyfriend confesses they were already married in Canada, she definately had the right to be angry.

In the end another great twist with Gary actually being the killer. Very interesting storyline, the brain injury was pretty bad if he actually thought he killed his boyfriend. Overall, great episode, it felt like classic SVU, which is a nice contrast to Undercover. Great job!moreless
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Great episode but tv preview was misleading...

9.0

By stitchfan85, Mar 01, 2011

First off, I have to say that the TV preview of this episode was misleading. It claimed that Benson's career was in "peril" because she was dating the editor of the NY Ledger and may have revealed details of the NYPD SVU's current case, but she obviously did not. Bill Pullman guest starred as the Ledger's editor, but he was only on for about 10 minutes at the most and only had 5-6 lines. Hardly contributed to the storyline. Anyway, the bulk of the episode focused on the death and murder of a businessman. SVU discover that he was gay and look at everyone close to him, like his employees and his lover, the #1 quarterback who was not "out" yet. Eventually, his lawyer tells the court that he didn't kill his lover on purpose, but "football" made him do it.

The one thing I liked about this episode was the twists that were common with the older episodes of L&O, but I wish Bill Pullman had a bigger role in this episode. Can't wait to see next week's episode with Robin Williams!moreless
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gay man gets killed liv and el have to find out who did it

9.1

By pinkydog123, Mar 01, 2011

OMG!!

it was so good!!! ^_^

bill was only in the ep for 3 mins, he came talked a peck on the cheek ok, hes gone, lets move on, works for me i thought it was just nice how she talked around him, you could tell she liked him, but nothing more, she didnt even look like she enjoyed the kiss, (if you can call that a kiss) i dont get though, why go out with him, when she didnt even give a sh!t when she broke up with him, she was basically celebrating, i just luved this ep it had so many little EO moments had theyre starting to show how their relationship is gradually getting back to where it was before all that sh!t happened in fault, i just luved it but god, how did they get so close so quickly, they never stood more than 2 inches away from eachother, alot more touching, making alot more comments to one another, the tension that has been between them when talked just seemed, gone. and the plot was ok, but the dialogue was better than it had been, well done ^_^ luved the bar scene, luved how they ate lunch, luved the little pissy match between bill and el, luved the flinging of livs arm, luved how elliot looked hes been doing something diffrent thats best hes looked this whole seasonmoreless
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A gay football star is the main suspect in murder, but my main question of the episode is: Why did we not know Olivia Benson was in a relationship??

7.5

By Steve509, Mar 01, 2011

Benson and Stabler are called to a scene where a man is found dead in his bed. It is discovered that the man is actually gay and was having a relationship with a star pro-football player. I think the writers were trying to allude to Tom Brady or Peyton Manning or I guess any NFL quarterback. It was a good storyline, I will give it that, but one thing that I enjoy about SVU is that we are not subjected the character's personal lives very often and when things are revealed like Olivia has been dating a reporter at the New York Post for several months and she is thinking about moving in with him, you are shocked! Olivia nor Stabler have ever been open with their relationships but you always knew what the other was doing. You knew that Elliot Stabler is married to Kathy and that Olivia's last boyfriend was killed. If SVU wants Olivia to be happy, why have her break off her relationship with Pullman and leave her alone again? Maybe like me, they are hoping that Olivia and Elliot will get together some day.moreless
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Down, set, dead!

9.0

By lawgotham, Mar 01, 2011

A gay football player is outed while a boyfriend is killed. Whodunit?

A fine episode where Olivia inadvertantly spills the beans, first to the ballplayer's girlfriend, then as pillow talk to her own pressman-boyfriend. Elliot does his best to try to get the pressman to keep quiet and it allprovides the usual twists and turns.

What I liked best about this episode is that it shows that cops are prone to make mistakes, just like the rest of us. Unfortunatly it can have more dire consequences. Olivia has a boyfriend?! Well that's a revelation also and this seems to be a week of plot twists coming to life as shown in the regular Law and Order. This was an above average episode. Good job!moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Christopher Meloni	Det. Elliot Stabler
Mariska Hargitay	Det. Olivia Benson
Richard Belzer	Sgt. John Munch
Diane Neal	A.D.A. Casey Novak
Ice-T	Det. Fin Tutuola
Adam Beach	Det. Chester Lake

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Bill Pullman	Kurt Moss	Guest Star
Bailey Chase	Lincoln Haver	Guest Star
Rick Hoffman	Gary Lesley	Guest Star
Robert John Burke	IA Sgt. Ed Tucker	Recurring Role
Caren Browning	CSU Capt. Judith Siper	Recurring Role
Beverly D'Angelo	Rebecca Balthus	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (0)
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QUOTES (16)
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- Donald Cragen: What did you two do?
  Olivia Benson: Not what you think.
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- Rebecca Balthus: My client doesn't know what happened that night, he's confused.
  Casey Novak: What, he confused committing murder with a little slap and tickle?
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- (At a bar.)
  Olivia Benson: D'ya want another one?
  Elliot Stabler: I can't.
  Olivia Benson: You know, I just broke up with Kurt, and you said you'd be there for me.
  Elliot Stabler: I am. Eli's driving Kathy crazy.
  Olivia Benson: (smiling) I'm kidding, go home.
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- Olivia Benson: I outed you. I'm sorry.
  Lincoln Haver: (slowly standing) It was bound to happen. (to Elliot) You have any leads on his killer?
  Elliot Stabler: Lincoln, we're here to arrest you. You have the right to remain silent.
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- Casey Novak: I got blindsided today. How did you miss their "Big Fat Gay Wedding?"
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- Sgt. Tucker: Now explain why you called Mr. Moss last night.
  Olivia Benson: We've been dating.
  Sgt. Tucker: Who knows about it?
  Olivia Benson: No one.
  Sgt. Tucker: So you're creating this fictional booty call to save your own ass.
  Olivia Benson: He's my boyfriend!
  Sgt. Tucker: And you're his source.
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- Captain Cragen: The Brass is demanding a full investigation.
  Elliot Stabler: You're joking.
  Captain Cragen: I wish.
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- Elliot Stabler: Excuse me. Your manager around?
  Candayce: You're looking at her. (giving Elliot a once-over) Mm. I'm Candayce. You wanna join my club, handsome?
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- Olivia Benson (looks very startled by Elliot's presence in Kurt's office): What are you doing here?
  Elliot Stabler: I'm trying to convince your boyfriend to give you a hand.
  Olivia Benson: I don't need help from either of you.
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- Kurt Moss: You two have worked together for a long time. There must be a reason why she didn't tell you about me.
  Elliot Stabler: Hey, pal, her personal life is her business. I'm here trying to save her job, now if you care for her you'll help me.
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- Olivia Benson: (about Lincoln Haver) So some football player is gay, what is the big deal?
  Elliot Stabler: Look, it is. You got millions of kids with these guy's posters hanging off their walls. They idolize 'em.
  Olivia Benson: As long as he's sleeping with women.
  Elliot Stabler: Lincoln Haver is my kid's hero.
  Olivia Benson: Well, let's go pay him a visit. Maybe Linc will sign an autograph for Dickie.
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- Elliot Stabler: Love sucks.
  Gary Lesley: Yeah, doesn't love SCREW LOVE!
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- Natasha Gorsky (holding her breasts): Nothing wrong with these girls! Just girls!
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- Lincoln Haver: I had it all. Career, someone I loved ... football gave me everything. Then took it all away.
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- Olivia Benson (after Lincoln is beaten): How screwed up is this? Our perp is now the victim.
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- Olivia Benson: (looking at Jeremy's body) Looks like he died laughing.
  Dr. Melinda Warner: Or screaming.
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NOTES (3)
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- International Episode Titles:Czech Republic: "Nepriznana orientace" (Unacknowledged orientation)/p>
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- Original International Air Dates:
  Australia June 5, 2008 on Network 10
  Czech Republic September 28, 2010 on TV Nova
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- Special billing was given to Bill Pullman (Special Guest Appearance by) and Beverly D'Angelo (and) in this episode.
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ALLUSIONS (3)
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- Casey Novak: How did you miss their "Big Fat Gay Wedding?"
  
  This is a reference to the 2002 Joel Zwick film My Big Fat Greek Wedding starring Nia Vardalos, about a young Greek woman who falls in love with a non-Greek and struggles to get her family to accept him.
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- Casey Novak: (to Balthus) Football made him do it. That's almost as good as the Twinkie defense.
  
  "The Twinkie defense" is a generic legal term for a defense claim that some outside force caused the action for which the defendant is accused (diminished capacity, a defense subsequently abolished in the state of California). The term stems from a 1979 case where San Fransisco City Supervisor Dan White shot gay fellow city Supervisor Harvey Milk and mayor George Moscone. His defense argument was that he had been unusually depressed, and his eating a large number of Twinkies was a reflection of, and may have worsened, his depression. They did not actually argue that the Twinkies caused his depressed mind set.
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- Elliot Stabler: So Jeremy and Closet Boy are playing Brokeback Mountain.
  
  Brokeback Mountain was a 2005 Ang Lee film about a turbulent, secretive love affair between two cowboys, played by Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal.
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