"Challenged:" New Season 19 episode

[annabelleleigh]

The first episode under production for L&O's historic 19th season is called "Challenged." The story centers on a character who, though mentally (and socially) disadvantaged, proves himself invaluable to the NYPD and New York D.A.'s office.

"Challenged" began shooting in the NYC streets in mid-August and (at this writing) is expected to be the premier episode in the January 2009 season debut.

AL

[dragonsback]

Reading the screed here, "Pro Se" of seasons past came to mind. I know that the plotlines sound quite different, but I remember how excruciatingly brilliant PS was crafted, and how affectingly it limned the mind of a murderously violent schizophrenic who is also a gifted attorney. Hope Balcer and Co again bring some of that reality and tragedy to this story.

[annabelleleigh]

My hope too DB.

The show is certainly going for "reality" in its casting of extras for "Challenged."

"LAW & ORDER (Extras - Revised)
Episodic
SEEKING SAG & NON-SAG
RATE: SCALE

SEEKING: (Please note revised description.)

[ MEN AND WOMEN WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES ]
for an upcoming episode of "Law & Order." It will kick off with a disabled man helping them solve a crime. We are looking for individuals who would be interested in doing background work on the show. We are looking for actual individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities to play members of a group home with Down Syndrome & other Intellectual or Development disabilities..."

www.extrasaccess.com

AL

[dragonsback]

On an episode-unrelated point (but I am hesitant to start a thread solely on my own ramblings):

I just watched Submission from last season. LOVED IT! Terrific casting, great characters, compelling storyline. Really classic Balcer.

But there was a clunker. Wouln't have happened years ago.

When Sisto and Green are going through a rather leaden and politically correct Muslim vs Christian morality play clump of dialogue (wish they'd stop doing that didactic stuff), Sisto tosses in the old thing about his memories of nuns and rulers .

Would someone STOP with this dead-as-a-doornail analogy? Not only do nuns not carry rulers in NYC parochial schools any more, THERE ARE NO NUNS.

There has been a drop-of of 94% of teaching orders since Vatican II. For two decades- during which time the 30-ish Sisto would have gone to school - the only 'women religious' he may have possibly encountered was a Sister Principal. In a navy blue suit.

Please, writers: don't fall back on lazy and out-of-date cliches. I am not pro or con the Catholic school system, just pro good research.

The current face-off is Fundamentalism vs Fundamentalism. L&O across the franchise board has dealt with both sides. I just can't recall a head-to-head encounter. Tricky.

In any case, Wolf writers, skip the vicious Irish nuns of decades ago. Your new young series leads are not part of that generation.

[DonnaJo]

Dragonsback, you read my mind about Sisto and his so-called experience with tyrannical nuns in NYC. I remember thinking to myself after his confession about nuns & rulers, that the writers are really out of touch when it comes to parochial schools post 1970. McCoy & Logan's experiences would be one thing, Sisto's would be another.

I work with several good sisters. Neither wear habits and basically dress like Midwest matrons. The kids that attend Religious Ed and church have no idea what these women stand for or why they act the way that they do (strict, no nonsense etc...). That is the current reality.

[annabelleleigh]

I must concur: Nuns as ruler-wielding, poorly paid parochial school teachers pretty much dried up in NYC about 30 years ago.

How old is Lupo supposed to be?

FYI "Submission" was written by Ed Zuckerman, who I believe is a good decade (or two) older than the Lupo character and may have some memory of (or somebody else's memory of) the nun experience.

However...who is reading these scripts for contemporary accuracy and continuity? (Yes, I know: picky, picky, picky. How many Emmys have I won?)

As we also have seen in recent CI episodes (with its mostly New York-based writing staff), the mothership isn't the only L&O franchise show that could use NYC --and also perhaps generational -- fact-checking somewhere in the production process.

AL
former Catholic schoolgirl

[annabelleleigh]

from "Challenged"
Original broadcast date: Wednesday, November 12, 2008




(l-r) Omar Sharif Scroggins as Momo and Jeremy Sisto as Detective Lupo.
Photo credit: Will Hart, NBC