Everybody's Favorite Bagman

"Everybody's Favorite Bagman"
Law & Order episode
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 6
Directed by	John Patterson
Written by	Dick Wolf
Original air date	October 30, 1990 (1990-10-30)
Guest stars
William H. Macy Roy Thinnes
Episode chronology
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Law & Order (season 1)

"Everybody's Favorite Bagman" originally aired on October 30, 1990 as the sixth episode of NBC's legal drama Law & Order. It was produced in 1988 and was the intended pilot episode of the series.^[1]

Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 2.1 Law 2.2 Order 2.3 Guest Stars 3 Production Notes 4 Notes

Plot

After local councilman and former bagman Charles Halsey is mugged and his throat slashed, Logan and Greevey investigate the case and the two young black male suspects initially caught. Their suspicion turns to organized crime when they link the victim to Masucci soldier Tony Scalisi.

As Stone and Robinette continue their investigation, they uncover a corruption scandal involving a dirty councilman; the collection of parking meter violation fines has been awarded to a firm connected to organized crime. To avoid the appearance of impropriety, District Attorney Wentworth won't allow Stone to offer Scalisi immunity. However, in order to win their case, their only option might be to make a deal with the mobster.

Stone discovers that the case involves not only organized crime, but also elected city officials and a deputy police commissioner whom he accuses of changing his testimony and doctoring evidence in a past case. Stone is unable to use the police because of suspected corruption within the department, so he consults Assistant U.S. Attorney John McCormack.

Cast

Law

• George Dzundza - Sgt. Max Greevey
• Chris Noth - Det. Mike Logan
• Dann Florek - Capt. Don Cragen

Order

• Michael Moriarty - Exec. A.D.A. Ben Stone
• Richard Brooks - A.D.A. Paul Robinette
• Steven Hill - D.A. Adam Schiff (Credit only)

Guest Stars

• Trey Wilson - Eddie Cosmatos
• Roy Thinnes - D.A. Alfred Wentworth
• Paul Guilfoyle - Anthony Scalisi
• Dick Latessa - Conti
• Michael Wikes - Lasco
• Marcia Jean Kurtz - Alice Halsey
• Debra Stricklin - Alicia Heslin
• Ron Foster - William Jefferson
• William H. Macy - Assistant U.S. Attorney John McCormack
• Leo O'Brien - Tremaine Lewis
• Ronald Guttman - Farber
• Stuart Burney - Wentzel
• Sully Boyar - Swersky
• David Chandler - Dr. Goldberg
• Mark Boone Junior - Garage Manager
• Anthony K. Means - Simonize Jackson
• Audrey Matson - Maggie, NYPD Cop
• Stephen Pearlman - Rosen
• Marc Plastrik - Paramedic (uncredited)
• Mike Starr - Truck Driver (uncredited)

Production Notes

• NBC decided to air Prescription for Death as the premiere episode when it picked up the series in 1990 and aired this one as the sixth. In syndication and on the DVD, the two episodes appear in the order in which they were aired.
• Steven Hill does not appear in this episode as Adam Schiff, despite being in the credits. Roy Thinnes, who was listed as a guest star in this episode, was part of the cast when this episode was produced, but he declined to continue his role when NBC picked up the show.
• Steven Zirnkilton, best known as the opening credits narrator for all L&O series, makes his sole onscreen appearance in this episode. He is one of the NYPD technicians conducting covert surveillance of a restaurant where corrupt politicians are dining. He has one line of dialogue: "Look at that. Do you believe these guys?"

Notes