"Knock Off:" New Season 19 episode

[annabelleleigh]

Have only the title and casting call so far. The real fun (for me) is guessing which headlines were ripped for a particular mothership episode.

AL

[Jefferaldo]

This case reminds me of Siren Call as it deals with a small town sheriff's department and its interference in an investigation.

Looks like Lupo gets arrested by these sheriffs too

[DonnaJo]

Jeff, may I ask how you know that Lupo gets arrested? Is it in the casting call that annabelle mentioned? Is this casting call available for public viewing?

Spill it, you two! Detective Lupo is my new favorite mothership character. If he's in trouble, I'd like to know.

[Jefferaldo]

It's from character sides posted over at sidesexpress. If you want to know what happens, read on:

Lupo and Connie go to serve a deputy sheriff with a material witness warrant (at this point the deputy is the lead suspect). All his buddies turn up claiming that Connie had to notify the county about the warrant before taking the deputy -- she claims that she can take him and file the warrant with in 24 hours. She stands her ground and the buddies manhandle her out of the way. Lupo steps in to defend her and is arrested for interfering with a police officer. There is also a scene where Lupo is being arraigned and puts his first year law school lessons to practice.

[DonnaJo]

Thanks Jeff. May I say that this episode sounds fantastic - a real nail biter.

On a side note, I'll be curious to see if the relationship between Lupo & his sister-in-law continues. She was working as an admin at his precinct and she used to date Lupo before marrying his brother, who was killed in last season's opener. This is how they introduced the Lupo character.

No one who posts about the show on other sites wants them together. Hear that, Mr. Balcer, Mr. Wolf & NBC? ;D

OT: Jeff, I noticed your title, "Staff." Are you a staff member here? Is this new, or have you always displayed this title... and I've been to stupid to notice?

[annabelleleigh]

My take of "Knock Off" is this:

An upstate man is murdered while on a church-sponsored bus holiday to NYC, and the rest of the episode is spent finding out why.

Unlike the mothership shows that try issues of great societal import, this one is basically a whodunnit. The story is rife with red herrings -- and of places and people who aren't as they first appear.

Every act of the drama suggests a "knock off" -- from cheap designer goods to the small town's flimsy imitation justice. The motif is everywhere. In addition to which, "knock off" is also slang for "to kill."

I confess I had to read the script twice to appreciate the elegance and economy of its construction. (The first time around I was just confused by the red herrings.) It's still under revision and I expect that, once it's completed, there won't be a single extraneous word (or confusing moment).

I wonder: Do TV writers really write for viewers, or do they write for themselves and for other writers? (Or it is just the money?)

AL

P.S. The correct title is "Knock Off" not "Knock Out." My mistake, originally. Now that I understand the importance of the title, "Knock Out" makes no sense,

If the other two posters could change that in their own messages this thread would be fully accurate Thanks.

[DonnaJo]

Your wish is my command, annabelle. I have corrected my posts accordingly with the correct title.

Now, you need to correct your last post. It still says "Knock Out".

[annabelleleigh]

Oct 1, 2008 7:06:20 GMT -5 Jefferaldo said:

It's from character sides posted over at sidesexpress.

Hi Jeff

As you know SidesExpress is a professional site. Subscribers are limited to registered talent agents. Just mentioning that in case other members here think they can grab the character sides freely.


AL

[annabelleleigh]

When I went googling to find out which headline -- or headlines -- were ripped to make this mothership episode I pulled up nearly 15,000 hits just with the words "New York sheriff" "corruption" and "drugs."

Jaw-dropping.

My search parameters also brought me to dozens of sites run by people who obviously have a dim view of the criminal justice system and like to name names. This one rails against specific cases of perceived judicial misconduct:

www.victimsofjustice.net

The mothership writers could probably pull anecdotes and colorful characters out of this site all day.

AL

[annabelleleigh]

"Knock Off" has been rescheduled for Wednesday, December 3, 2008. In this episode Jack McCoy gets a political rival in the upcoming Manhattan District Attorney race. (See my boldface below).

Ah, the political arc begins!

Will Jack McCoy overcome opposition to his candidacy, run as an independent, and win an Obama-like victory?

Or will Sam Waterston (who annually has always signed only a one-year L&O contract) decide to call it quits? Fade away Jack McCoy?

What a plot turn to keep (or better -- build) mothership tune-in!

AL
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Description (by Amber James and Julie Rothman):

A SIMPLE MURDER CASE TURNS INTO A POLITICAL GAME FOR NEW YORK CITY'S D.A. OFFICE WHEN A REVERED SHERIFF BECOMES A POSSIBLE CONSPIRATOR IN A MURDER CASE.

A tourist from upstate New York has come to the city to settle his past, but his trip ends quickly when he is suspiciously murdered. When Detectives Bernard (Anthony Anderson) and Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) travel upstate to New York they find more to the story. A.D.A Michael Cutter (Linus Roache) and Detective Lupo (Sisto) believe the town's crowned king of drug busting is Sheriff John Burkhart (Guest Star Clancy Brown) and his deputies are involved in the murder but have no way to prove it when the case becomes a game of dirty politics.

D.A. Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) faces new competition when a new District Attorney is nominated for the election. Also stars Alana de la Garza and S. Epatha Merkerson.

From the NBCUMV site.



Alana de la Garza as Connie Rubirosa in "Knock Off."

Photo credit: Nicole Rivelli, NBC



Guest actor Katee Sackhoff in "Knock Off."

Photo credit: Nicole Rivelli, NBC