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Post by Patcat on Feb 20, 2005 21:54:05 GMT -5
I enjoyed this episode. It seemed there was more teamwork in this episode until Goren's aria at the end. I liked Deakins' blase attitude towards everything. I also liked Goren's loss of concentration whenever one of the Honeys appeared--he seemed genuinely embarassed. Maybe Goren is actually shy around women? Particularly women who aren't working with him?
I expected some outrage from Eames, but she was extremely professional.
Patcat
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MelTex
Detective
"I want a Jonny 7 all-in-one gun..."
Posts: 336
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Post by MelTex on Feb 20, 2005 22:22:35 GMT -5
I liked this episode. There were some great stuff from the guest stars Arquette and Peter Bogdonovich. Bogdonovich was the perfect Heffner-esque playboy. Great interaction bewteen Eames and Goren -- I liked seeing Eames handle more of the interviews, and give her hypothesis in Deakins' office about Kate's motives to get the lil black book.
I also loved seeing the embarrased "gentlemen detectives" in the bull pen "jump to" when Deakins came out seeing all the Honeys hanging out with his men. *giggle* Goren had a funny grin on his face, tilting his head to watch the "playboy group" leave the squad room...*grin* He did seem to blush when Bogdonovich showed him the film pic of the Honey centerfold. Eames had this "oh my god, give me a break" look on her face when the Honeys were kissing and hanging all over Peter's character.
Maybe Goren isn't used to being around so many scantily-clad porn-mag models...*giggle*
Enjoyed this episode...pretty good case overall.
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Post by darmok on Feb 20, 2005 22:23:33 GMT -5
I liked Goren's line with the slides "Oh, did I do that?"
We also got to see his sense of smell again when he could smell the guy's body. Apparently he hadn't been dead too long since Eames didn't smell it right away. She's used to Goren's keen sense of smell by now.
There were parallels between this episode and The Faithful. This time Carver was party to what was going on, and he was fine with it. The perp admits to a killing but doesn't have to say why the crime was committed. In The Faithful it was to protect the priest's ex-lover's family; this time it was to protect her relationship with her daughter.
Carver had another strong episode. He got to give the weak argument in court so that the ex-husband could look at the evidence. He also said lines that Goren played off of to convince the mother to confess so that her ex couldn't look at the book.
One technical nit-pick: who still uses a non-cross-cut shredder? Even in the show, they've pieced documents together that were shredded with the kind that just cuts paper into strips. I even own a cross-cut just for personal use. (This is not an important point - I just can't help but get technical occasionally. Sorry).
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Post by trisha on Feb 20, 2005 23:36:14 GMT -5
Meltex, ITA on that scene in the bull pen! I missed some parts due to the move up in schedule. The moppets don't go to bed until 9, so, I am hoping for a good recording [fingers crossed]
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MelTex
Detective
"I want a Jonny 7 all-in-one gun..."
Posts: 336
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Post by MelTex on Feb 20, 2005 23:54:51 GMT -5
I just watched my tape of SEX CLUB again. Did one of the Honeys actually have one of the detective's neck ties in her hand, twirling it playfully and making the man blush!? That whole scene was hilarious, no wonder Eames is shaking her head bemused, when they all jump back to work, like a bunch of eighth-grade boys caught red-handed doing something they shouldn't.
Trisha, hope your recording comes out good, some great stuff in this ep.
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Post by Marie on Feb 21, 2005 5:36:42 GMT -5
I've seen a lot of inspired casting over the years, but it's been a while since I've smiled at one so gleefully ironic as getting Peter Bogdanovich to essentially do a send-up of Hugh Hefner! For Bogdanovich was less than kind to Playboy let alone his ol' pal Hefner in his 1984 book "The Killing of the Unicorn", which tells the tragic story of 1980 Playmate of the Year Dorothy Stratten - who'd moved in with Bogdanovich in 1980 following a bitter separation from husband/manager Paul Snider (who later murdered Stratten before turning the gun on himself. Note: there was a film about it: "Star 80".) How Bogdanovich must have revelled in his role! Playing "George Merrit" with all the politically incorrect ooze of a dated 1950's hipster - complete with open-necked shirts and the Austin Powers-like affectation of neck scarfs! I dare say he took wicked delight in every hedonistic line of dialogue - at Hefner's expense; for he was clearly parodying him! I loved the scene early on inside "Honey Headquarters" so to speak, when Goren & Eames were questioning George Merrit - how Goren appeared focused on the task at hand but not entirely "blind" to their appeal (the brunette in the pink top, the blonde who tapped his shoulder so he'd move aside etc.) It's almost as if he didn't know "where" he could safely look - while wanting to look all the same; chuckle! Equally as entertaining was Erbe; the look on her face speaking VOLUMES. Oh, and nice piece of dialogue from George here: "Only fun people got in my book baby - and fun people don't have regrets". (Note: downloaded ep. Boy, ya sure see more when it's widescreen! ) I'm glad Eames got more to do in this ep; she was up front and center when confronting the political candidate - her line about "bragging to your buddies about meeting Merrit at an orgy better than telling them about how you subjected your wife to.. etc". Note worthy moments: Squad room scene - Goren's distaste - turning his back to Merrit's "hand gesture" in response to his being asked about "choo-choo" - ie: "she saw more traffic than the Holland Tunnel..." (Goren may like sex, but he's no pig about it.) The grinning look on Carver's face when they were showing Merrit out the door - the squad room overflowing with honey's and yes, MelTex; one of them was playing with an officer's tie. To be sure, the male cast members didn't seem to mind being surrounded by the bevy of beauties hired for this episode; I saw a lot of smiles on the set. And I liked how Goren tilted his tall frame to get in one last look as they departed, before returning to business. As for the plot and how it unfolded, I thought it was written well enough, over all. There was a lighter tone to this episode, despite its heavier ending - which was a nice change; although the juxaposition of humour and pathos sometimes left "Sex Club" feeling a little uneven in terms of its emotional pacing, for switching inbetween the two as often as it did - ie: funny, serious, funny, serious etc. That said, I felt a genuine measure of empathy for Arquettes' character - the shame she felt, her fear she'd lose her daughter's trust and how it might lead to more than just "cuts on her wrists". And the compassion and understanding Goren showed her, urging her to confess for knowing it was the only way "out" without losing her, was a nice moment for it not being played like the final act of Hamlet. There was no moral judgement, on his part. The only sign of disgust he ever showed was towards the crass and insensitive. So thumbs up! At least I enjoyed it! Better than the one with Chris Noth, at any rate.
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Post by kissyfit on Feb 21, 2005 7:56:33 GMT -5
That said, I felt a genuine measure of empathy for Arquettes' character - the shame she felt, her fear she'd lose her daughter's trust and how it might lead to more than just "cuts on her wrists". ***** I loved this episode for many of the reasons above... The plot was not too preposterous, there was a good rhythm to the pacing leading up to Goren's concluding speech/denouncement/synopsis (whatever you'd like to call it ) at the end, and all of the guest stars added something unique to their parts... The only thing that bothered me was how much they borrowed from the Senator Jim Ryan scandal for Arquette's character. He and his ex-wife (actress Geri Ryan) had wanted to keep their divorce settlement out of the press when he was running "to protect their five year old son." Ultimately, some of the tawdrier details were revealed... He'd taken her to sex clubs (but in Paris I think) and it freaked her out... and that "cyring isn't a turn-on" line was used verbatim. Maybe it was using the typical (but more usual in the original) L&O "ripped from the headlines...but only halfway til we took creative license and now you can't say we stole the whole thing" method, but it seemed...with the quote...a bit, I don't know...insensitive, given the circumstances... That being said, I thought Arquette was the perfect actress to play the part, and that she did a subtle job with it all. kissy
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Post by Metella on Feb 21, 2005 10:12:07 GMT -5
MelTex; I also think I saw the tie swirling; but just watched it once, so I'm not sure.
If the titles have been given by the writers & producers up until now, I am sorely disappointed in them. Where is the hidden double/triple meaning? Where is the search for any meaning? Was this a blatant attempt to get the voyeur sex watchers from housewives? As far as the title goes, my mind could come up with some good ones. Boooo to whoever picked this title.
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MelTex
Detective
"I want a Jonny 7 all-in-one gun..."
Posts: 336
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Post by MelTex on Feb 21, 2005 10:33:16 GMT -5
*snicker* Yea Metella, the title did leave a little to be desired. Going from the title, I thought it would take place more IN a sex club(we'd at least get to see the place) -- not just references to what had happend in a sex club. Though, the "Honey-house" could be considered a "sex club"...lol.. I guess Wonder what they could have called it..."Sex, Lies and Murder"? Nah, thats too literal, and I like when they use double meanings in their titles. Maybe..."Skeletons in the Closet?" Nope...that doesn't work either... ;D What do you guys think they should have titled this ep?
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Post by Marie on Feb 21, 2005 10:48:32 GMT -5
As far as the title goes, my mind could come up with some good ones. Boooo to whoever picked this title. Oh totally! It's so dull for starters, in terms of creativity. It would have been better to title it "Baccus & Venus" - at least then you'd have a little more to work with. Sex Club doesn't really fit the plot, moreover. It's just a generic term for a place we never see. I guess they liked it because it struck them as titilating?
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Post by Patcat on Feb 21, 2005 11:12:12 GMT -5
Well, the title is not the best thing about this episode (g)
I'm always amazed at the high quality (generally) of the guest stars LOCI finds. Rosanna Arquette was splendid in this episode, as well as the young actress playing the daughter. And I'm still pondering how the show got Peter Bogdonavich to play the Hefner like character. And he played the character with such shameless hedonism.
Patcat
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Post by Marie on Feb 21, 2005 12:39:41 GMT -5
...And I'm still pondering how the show got Peter Bogdonavich to play the Hefner like character. And he played the character with such shameless hedonism. Well... I wasn't a fly on the wall, but I dare say the casting director knew Bogdanovich would JUMP at the chance to stick it to Hefner! And all it would take is a phone call. Bogdanovich distains Hefner in part, for taking advantage of Dorothy Stratten's innocence and gullabilty; she was barely 20 yrs old, from Vancouver Canada (my neck of the woods) and when she got Playmate of the Year - it was big news up here! Even more so when she was murdered; Snider did things post-mortem too disgusting to mention in here. Snider was a creepy low-life; and universally despised by everyone at the Playboy Mansion. But Hefner wanted Dorothy around, she was a hot commodity and everyone wanted a piece of her ($$$) so he accomidated Snider's demands and tolerated his treatment of Dorothy - at least until she left him and moved-in with Bogdanovich; according the book he wrote about that time in his life. He felt Hefner could have acted sooner, booted Snider out - long before his insane jealousy and homocidal rage reached its breaking point. So getting the chance to portray Hefner would have been irresistable. Note: Bogdanovich was so devastated by Dorothy's death, he couldn't let go. He even married her sister - they've since divorced. It's an old story nowadays, but again, if you're from Vancouver, you know all about it. The papers were full of it.
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Post by Patcat on Feb 21, 2005 13:36:30 GMT -5
The Bob Fosse directed film STAR 80 tells the story of Dorothy Stratten, and in that versions, as well as some others, neither Mr. Hefner nor Mr. Bogdonavich come off well.
Although every version I've encountered (and heaven knows I'm not an expert--I think Marie might know much more just from being from the Vancouver area) suggests Dorothy Stratten was a sweet, bright girl.
Patcat
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MelTex
Detective
"I want a Jonny 7 all-in-one gun..."
Posts: 336
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Post by MelTex on Feb 21, 2005 13:58:59 GMT -5
Wow, I didn't know about Bogdonovich and Heffner and all that real life tragity. Thats aweful! Pat-on-the-back to Bogdonovich for taking on this roll in CI, after having to deal with real life parallels.
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Post by Cassie on Feb 21, 2005 16:39:41 GMT -5
There were parallels between this episode and The Faithful. This time Carver was party to what was going on, and he was fine with it. The perp admits to a killing but doesn't have to say why the crime was committed. In The Faithful it was to protect the priest's ex-lover's family; this time it was to protect her relationship with her daughter. The same thing happened at the end of "Maledictus". Goren suggested to Kenny that he just admit to the murder of Ilana, and that way his sister Martha need not know the truth about how their mother died. Det. Bobby Goren can be so gallant In his quest to seek justice for crimes. He knows all is not black and white, that there are many shades of gray, and somethings are just better left unsaid I enjoyed the entire show
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