Law & Order

Season 13

American Jihad

1. In joining the cast for the Fall of 2002, Fred Dalton Thompson (District Attorney Arthur Branch) became the first serving U.S. Senator to take a regular TV acting job. His Senate term wasn't officially over until January 2003.
2. Donna Hanover plays a judge overseeing a trial of a Muslim. She is married to Rudy Giuliani who was Mayor of New York during the September 11th attacks which were attributed to Muslim extremists.
3. For the shows filmed after 9/11/01 for season 13 (aired from Oct. 2002 until May 2003) all badges shown had the addition of a black mourning band.

Shangri-La

1. This "ripped from the headlines" case is based on the true story of Briana Stewart a.k.a. Treva Thorneberry.
2. Valerie Keenan was murdered on September 24, 2002.

True Crime

1. D.A. Arthur Branch asks, "Since when does freedom of the press apply only to the nattering nabobs of negativism?" This is a phrase used by former Vice-President of the United States Spiro Agnew (reportedly created by speech writer William Safire).

Tragedy on Rye

1. Based on the true story of the murder of Dirty Dancing (1987) extra Jennifer Stahl, who was shot and killed in her apartment above the Carnegie Deli in New York City on May 10, 2001. Five of Ms. Stahl's friends were killed as well. Two men were later convicted of the murders.

The Ring

1. Kelly Sommers was born on August 12, 1978 and was murdered on September 11, 2001.
2. The closing card of this episode was dedicated to the memory of psychologist Dr. Paul Chernuchin who passed away 27 July 2002, father of writer Michael S. Chernuchin.

Hitman

Open Season

Asterisk

1. Based on the case involving former NBA player Jayson Williams, who pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in the accidental shooting of a limousine driver, and was convicted at trial of covering up the shooting.

The Wheel

1. 4 years prior to shooting this episode, Tzi Ma (Li Chien) and Ken Leung (Tommy Wong) portrayed major characters in the comedy film "Rush Hour."

Mother's Day

Chosen

Under God

Absentia

1. Despite its opening disclaimer that the story is fictional, the second half of the script is reminiscent of the Philadelphia murder of Holly Maddux by hippie ''guru'' Ira Einhorn.
2. During the explaining of "The Griffin" to Serena, Branch defines a griffin as a mythical creature, half dragon and half lion, when in fact a griffin or gryphon is a mythical creature, half lion and half eagle.

Star Crossed

B*tch

1. Jackie Scott says "First Martha, then me", a reference to the Martha Stewart insider trading case.

Suicide Box

Genius

1. This episode was inspired by Jack Abbott, who wrote the acclaimed book In the Belly of the Beast while in prison. He was granted parole in 1981 then moved to New York City and became a star of the literary scene until he killed a waiter at a restaurant 6 weeks later. He returned to prison and committed suicide in 2002.

Maritime

1. May have been based on the 2002 disappearance of Bison Dele, former Detroit Piston center, who, along with his girlfriend and skipper of the catamaran Hakuna Matata disappeared from the boat with only his brother Miles Dabord being seen after July 8th of that year. His brother was later arrested and committed suicide from an overdose of insulin.

Seer

Kid Pro Quo

1. When Detective Brisco and Detective Green examine the victim's apartment, they come across a Playbill program and ticket for the opera La Boheme. Briscoe is derisive, but Green tells him that "You don't have to love opera to love La Boheme. It's a Broadway play, bro." Detective Green is played by Jesse L. Martin who was an original cast member of the Broadway play Rent, which is based on La Boheme. (The play Rent was adapted into Rent (2005).)

House Calls

1. The store clerk thanks "Winona" for the security cameras after he states she tried to rob the store, obviously reference to Winona Ryder's 2001 arrest for shoplifting.

Sheltered

1. At the end of this episode, Jack mentions that he's a father. Previously in this season (episode 3), it's revealed that the character of Jack McCoy is divorced and has an adult daughter.

Couples

1. Lennie Briscoe says, "Love- a devastating disease instantly cured by marriage." This is a variation on Ambrose Bierce's definition in his book "The Devil's Dictionary," which described love as a temporary insanity that is curable either by marriage or a removal of the influence causing the distraction.
2. Unlike most numbers used on television, the Social Security Number displayed on the computer screen for Marcela (158-46-6532) was a real number issued to a male subject born in 1952 that passed away in 2004.
3. Raphael Celaya and Ana Carrazza [a.k.a. Marcela Celaya] were married on June 18, 1995.
4. Marcela Celaya was born on December 18, 1979.
5. Marcela Celaya's social security number was 158-46-6532.

Smoke