Law & Order Season 20 |
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The final season cast (2009–2010) of Law & Order; from left, S. Epatha Merkerson, Jeremy Sisto, Anthony Anderson, Sam Waterston, Alana de la Garza, and Linus Roache. |
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Country of origin | United States | ||
No. of episodes | 23 | ||
Broadcast | |||
Original channel | NBC | ||
Original run | September 25, 2009 | – May 24, 2010||
Season chronology | |||
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The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' twentieth and final season (2009–2010).[1] The long-running series entered its final season on September 25, 2009, for which it was moved from its previous time slot to air on Fridays at 8 p.m. ET for the NBC broadcast.[2] L&O was moved to Monday nights on March 1, 2010 with a two-hour telecast at 9 p.m. ET, before settling into its new time slot at 10 p.m. the following week, March 8.[3]
During the season, The Jay Leno Show in primetime was cancelled and Leno returned to the 11:35 pm Tonight Show because of affiliate dissatisfaction. Three more episodes of Law & Order were ordered to fill the primetime gap, increasing the number of episodes for the season to 23.[4] On May 14, 2010, NBC cancelled Law & Order after 20 seasons on the air, tying it with Gunsmoke as American network television's longest-running, regularly scheduled primetime drama. The final episode aired on NBC May 24, 2010.[5]
The late announcement of the cancellation resulted in Law & Order not having a "series finale" episode. Had the series continued, it would have been the last to feature S. Epatha Merkerson, who prior to the cancellation announcement had herself announced that she would not return for the 21st season.[6]
Although NBC cancelled Law & Order, AMC Network investigated its revival;[7] however, attempts to revive it failed, and according to series creator Dick Wolf, the series has now "moved to the history books."[8]
Contents |
№ | Ep | Title | Directed by | Written by | Airdate | Prod. code | Viewers (millions) |
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434 | 1 | "Memo from the Dark Side" | Fred Berner | Keith Eisner, René Balcer |
September 25, 2009 | 20001 | 6.29[9] |
The body of a young war veteran is found in a parking garage and the murder is connected to a law professor who used to work for the Department of Justice. | |||||||
435 | 2 | "Just a Girl in the World" | Marisol Torres | Richard Sweren, Christopher Ambrose |
October 2, 2009 | 20002 | 6.68[10] |
A crime scene investigator is murdered in her apartment. Her fiance is suspected, but then a journalist is attacked and DNA is found at the scene that links this crime to the murder. | |||||||
436 | 3 | "Great Satan" | Michael Dinner | Luke Schelhaas, Ed Zuckerman |
October 9, 2009 | 20003 | 7.23[11] |
Detectives Lupo and Bernard investigate when an aspiring musician is found dead. A bag of cash leads them to multiple suspects.
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437 | 4 | "Reality Bites" | Constantine Makris | Luke Schelhaas, Ed Zuckerman |
October 16, 2009 | 20004 | 7.60[12] |
A mother of ten adopted special needs children is murdered.
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438 | 5 | "Dignity" | Jim McKay | Julie Martin, Richard Sweren |
October 23, 2009 | 20005 | 7.17[13] |
A doctor who performs late-term abortions is murdered in church. | |||||||
439 | 6 | "Human Flesh Search Engine" | Darnell Martin | Matthew McGough, Ed Zuckerman |
October 30, 2009 | 20006 | 7.00[14] |
An investigation into the death of a fashion company owner leads to a threatening website.
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440 | 7 | "Boy Gone Astray" | Rose Troche | Keith Eisner, René Balcer |
November 6, 2009 | 20007 | 7.99[15] |
A young woman is murdered in her apartment. A security video from the lobby reveals a connection to a drug cartel. | |||||||
441 | 8 | "Doped" | Mario Van Peebles | Christopher Ambrose, Richard Sweren |
November 6, 2009 | 20008 | 8.41[16] |
A nasal spray that can disorient its user is found at the scene of a terrible car crash and the detectives become suspicious of the victim's boss. | |||||||
442 | 9 | "For the Defense" | William Klayer | Luke Schelhaas, Ed Zuckerman |
November 13, 2009 | 20009 | 7.50[17] |
After a key witness in a murder trial is found dead outside her hotel room, the detectives suspect that Marcus Woll, a former district attorney, may be involved in a series of murders of witnesses that may also implicate Connie Rubirosa. | |||||||
443 | 10 | "Shotgun" | Roger Young | Richard Sweren, Julie Martin |
November 20, 2009 | 20010 | 7.52[18] |
A man defends his store from an armed robbery that may have been a scare tactic for a shakedown.
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444 | 11 | "Fed" | Alex Chapple | Keith Eisner, René Balcer |
December 11, 2009 | 20011 | 8.77[19] |
A community organizer who was working on voter registration is found dead with the word "FED" written on his chest. The detectives initially suspect an anti-government motive for the murder, but the case gets more complicated when they learn that the victim was secretly gathering incriminating information about the organization he worked for.
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445 | 12 | "Blackmail" | Marc Levin | Matthew McGough, Ed Zuckerman |
January 15, 2010 | 20012 | 7.32[20] |
A freelance journalist is murdered. The detectives find a connection between her and a talk show host who has had a series of workplace affairs. | |||||||
446 | 13 | "Steel-Eyed Death" | Michael Pressman | Richard Sweren, Christopher Ambrose, Julie Martin |
March 1, 2010 | 20013 | 7.58[21] |
A family of four is murdered in their home and both suspects have questionable mental states.
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447 | 14 | "Boy on Fire" | Rose Troche | Douglas Shaluas, Matthew McGough, Ed Zuckerman |
March 1, 2010 | 20014 | 7.86[21] |
The detectives investigate the death of a high school student, which leads them to questioning the adults in his life.
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448 | 15 | "Brilliant Disguise" | Alex Chapple | Keith Eisner & René Balcer |
March 8, 2010 | 20015 | 5.18[22] |
A young woman is found murdered in a hotel and the evidence leads to a medical student.
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449 | 16 | "Innocence" | Fred Berner | Richard Sweren, Julie Martin |
March 15, 2010 | 20016 | 6.90[23] |
A man is convicted of a hate crime for allegedly killing a gay man, but a group called the Innocence Collective is determined to clear his name.
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450 | 17 | "Four Cops Shot" | Jim McKay | Matt McGough, Luke Schelhaas, Ed Zuckerman |
March 22, 2010 | 20017 | 5.93[24] |
Four police officers are shot in front of several witnesses. The case becomes more complex when it is discovered the victims may have known the shooter.
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451 | 18 | "Brazil" | Jean de Segonzac | Keith Eisner, René Balcer |
March 29, 2010 | 20018 | 6.01[25] |
The poisoning of an environmental scientist at a climate change conference is investigated.
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452 | 19 | "Crashers" | Darnell Martin | Richard Sweren, Christopher Ambrose, Julie Martin |
May 3, 2010 | 20019 | 6.18[26] |
When the body of a model is found burning in an alley, Detectives Lupo and Bernard search for her killer.
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453 | 20 | "The Taxman Cometh" | Fred Berner | William N. Fordes, Ed Zuckerman |
May 10, 2010 | 20020 | 6.17[27] |
When a young heiress dies of an apparent drug overdose, Detectives Lupo and Bernard begin to suspect her cousin, whose inheritance increased after her death.
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454 | 21 | "Immortal" | Jim McKay | Richard Sweren, Julie Martin |
May 17, 2010 | 20021 | 5.91[28] |
A man is mysteriously left at a hospital with fatal stab wounds.
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455 | 22 | "Love Eternal" | William Klayer | Ed Zuckerman | May 17, 2010 | 20022 | 6.24[29] |
A crew from a reality television show discovers a dead man's body locked in a dog cage.
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456 | 23 | "Rubber Room" | René Balcer | René Balcer | May 24, 2010 | 20023 | 7.60[31] |
Detectives search for an anonymous blogger who has posted plans to blow up a school; Lt. Van Buren struggles to keep her personal issues private.
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Preceded by Season Nineteen (2008-2009) |
List of Law & Order seasons (1990-2010) |
Succeeded by None |
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