'Law & Order': A 104-Disc DVD Set & 10 Top 'Ripped From the Headlines' Eps

'Law & Order': A 104-Disc DVD Set & 10 Top 'Ripped From the Headlines' Eps

Published: November 07, 2011 @ 11:55 pm
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By Kimberly Potts

It weighs nearly 10 pounds, holds 104 DVDs and is bigger than a breadbox. And speaking of bread … even if you catch a sale, the new "Law & Order: The Complete Series" DVD box set, which retails for $699.99, is going to set you back a nice chunk of dough.

But few shows can offer such a sizable collection to its fans, because "Law & Order" remains the longest-running crime drama in TV history.

All 20 seasons of producer Dick Wolf's iconic series -- that's 456 episodes and thousands of "doink doink" sound effects -- are included in the set, which also features deleted and extra scenes, a tribute to star Jerry Orbach, interviews with Wolf, Orbach, and stars Jesse L. Martin and Fred Thompson and a tour of the show's set led by Orbach.

Read more: Ronni Chasen Murder Inspires 'Law & Order: Los Angeles' Episode

In 2001, "Law & Order" producers were planning a spin-off miniseries called "Law & Order: Terror." In five episodes, the storyline would have revolved around a group of al Qaeda terrorists who blew up a station in Times Square, then unleashed an anthrax attack on New York City. The project was announced on Sept. 10, and was quickly scrapped when real-world headlines intervened on Sept. 11.

But throughout its 1990-2010 run, "Law & Order" was more famous for stories "ripped from today's headlines" than for predicting real-life events.

Here, 10 of the show's most memorable episodes that spun good fiction from strange real world drama:

"Melting Pot," Season 17
"Law & Order" plot:
Detectives scramble to prove that the alleged suicide of an actress was actually a murder.
Based on: The 2006 murder of actress Adrienne Shelly, writer, director and co-star of the award-winning 2007 movie "Waitress." A construction worker killed her and tried to make it look like she committed suicide after she complained about noise he was making in an apartment below hers. Shelly had guest-starred in the season 10 episode "High & Low."

Read more: Banned 'Family Guy' Abortion Episode Will Live on DVD

"Empire," Season 9
"Law & Order" plot:
A millionaire with a heart condition dies from a Viagra overdose, and his partner in a deal to build a pro football stadium in New York City is a suspect.
Based on: The real-life battle between Donald Trump, George Steinbrenner and Rudy Giuliani over plans to build an NFL stadium on the west side of Manhattan. More star power: Julia Roberts -- who was dating series star Benjamin Bratt at the time -- made a guest appearance in the "L&O" episode as a woman who'd had pre-death sex with the millionaire.

"Obsession," Season 15
"Law & Order" plot:
A conservative talk show host is murdered shortly after making a settlement in a sexual harassment suit filed against him.

Tags: DVD, Jerry Orbach, Law & Order, Law & Order DVD, ripped from the headlines, ripped from today's headlines, Television
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