Law & Order season 5

The fifth season of Law & Order aired on NBC between September 21, 1994, and May 24, 1995.

Law & Order
Season 5
Season 5 U.S. DVD cover
No. of episodes	23
Release
Original network	NBC
Original release	September 21, 1994 (1994-09-21) – May 24, 1995 (1995-05-24)
Season chronology
List of episodes

Critic Alan Sepinwall considers the season's casting lineup to be the best out of all the seasons of Law & Order.

Cast changes

Jack McCoy (played by Sam Waterston) replaced Ben Stone (Michael Moriarty) as Executive Assistant District Attorney.

Main cast

• Jerry Orbach as Senior Detective Lennie Briscoe
• Chris Noth as Junior Detective Det. Mike Logan
• S. Epatha Merkerson as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
• Sam Waterston as Executive Assistant District Attorney Jack McCoy
• Jill Hennessy as Assistant District Attorney Claire Kincaid
• Steven Hill as District Attorney Adam Schiff

Recurring cast

• Dann Florek as Captain Don Cragen
• Carolyn McCormick as Dr. Elizabeth Olivet

Departure of Chris Noth

After the fifth season, Chris Noth, who played Junior Detective Mike Logan, was let go from the series. His departure made Steven Hill the sole remaining cast member since the show's first season. Noth later reprised his role of Logan in the 1998 television film Exiled: A Law & Order Movie, and later on Law & Order: Criminal Intent from 2005 to 2008.

Episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Prod. code	U.S. viewers (millions)
89	1	"Second Opinion"	Ed Sherin	Michael S. Chernuchin & Jeremy R. Littman	September 21, 1994 (1994-09-21)	69408	18.3[1]
A woman's death exposes an unorthodox method of treating cancer that new Executive Assistant DA McCoy intends to prove is negligent homicide. Guest starring: Elizabeth Ashley, Tony Roberts, Jan Maxwell, Mitchell Greenberg, Linda Pierce, Polly Adams, Aleta Mitchell, George Bamford, Sasha Nanus, Jeff Brooks, Michael John McGann, Ann Crumb, Lars Hanson, Marcus Olson, Michael Crider, Peter Ratray, Lianne Kressin, Lauren Kyke, Blake Bashoff, Leslie Nipkow, Lioel Pina, Donna Jean Fogel, Mark Lolito and Mary Huner First appearance of Sam Waterston as Executive Assistant District Attorney Jack McCoy.
90	2	"Coma"	Jace Alexander	Ed Zuckerman	September 28, 1994 (1994-09-28)	69406	19.5[2]
A comedy-club owner Michael Dobson comes under suspicion for having shot his wife, now comatose with a bullet in her head, after it is discovered he was abusive and she was about to divorce him. Guest starring: Debra Monk, John Cunningham, Heather Gottlieb, Frank Girardeau, Erik Jensen, Terry Layman, David Pittu, Jayden Lund, Ed Jupp Jr., Brittany Slattery, Bill Cohen, Sidney Armus, Phil Parolisi, Lee Summers, Raúl Dávila, Glenn Herman, Robb Pruitt, Joe Gonzalez, Michael C. Mahon, Joanna Heimbold, Beth Emelson and Brian Conners The events of this episode continue in the following season's episode "Encore".
91	3	"Blue Bamboo"	Don Scardino	S : Hall Powell; T : Morgan Gendel; S/T : René Balcer	October 5, 1994 (1994-10-05)	69402	15.5[3]
The killing of Shinro Hayashi a Japanese nightclub owner who was visiting New York City leads to the arrest of singer Martha Bowen (Laura Linney), whose lawyer uses the "battered-woman syndrome" as a defense. While assisting on the case, Olivet remembers her own prior sexual assault. Guest starring: Laura Linney, Aida Turturro, Chuck Cooper, Ilene Kristen, Dan Desmond, Tibor Feldman, Michael Mastro, Tom Shillue, Katrina Lantz, Melissa Justin, Virginia Wing, Glenn Kubota, Mike Girard Sheehan, Vanessa Marshall, Hynden Walch, John Scurti, Jim Doerr, Rufus Collins, Daniel Hagen, Robert Phelps, Barbara Christie, Akira Takayama and Susan Willerman
92	4	"Family Values"	Constantine Makris	René Balcer & William N. Fordes	October 12, 1994 (1994-10-12)	69401	17.7[4]
A missing victim Laura Madsen, a suspicious ex-husband Victor Connor, and a family hiding something all contribute to the ADAs' decision to risk their licenses on a hunch. After ruling out suicide, McCoy and Kincaid turn their focus on the missing woman's daughter (Sarah Paulson) – and take a giant leap to prove their far-fetched theory. Guest starring: Stephen Shellen, Sarah Paulson, Thomas Kopache, Victor Raider-Wexler, Anna Holbrook, Robert Ari, Will Lyman, Cynthia Hayden, Bill Cwikowski, E. Katherine Kerr, Teresa Yenque, Mary Beth Peil, Tracy Lee Bell, Edward D. Murphy, Erol Landis, Mark Kenneth Smaltz, John Ventimiglia, Joey Dedio, Marc Coppola and Jerome Preston Bates This episode was the basis for the Law & Order: UK episode "Fatherly Love".
93	5	"White Rabbit"	Steven Robman	Ed Zuckerman & Morgan Gendel	October 19, 1994 (1994-10-19)	69411	18.2[5]
A burglary unlocks a decades-old case. A safety deposit box company unwittingly exposes a female political activist-fugitive who has been hiding for over 20 years. Detectives locate and arrest one of the four involved in the burglary, and ultimately catch the female fugitive who is accused of killing a policeman during a 1971 robbery. Guest starring: Peter Friedman, Mary-Joan Negro, Peggy Roeder, Dick Anthony Williams, Marilyn Chris, William Kunstler, Norman Snow, Philip LeStrange, Jonathan Teague Cook, Tom Cappadona, Don Billet, Brett Rickaby, Sonny Jim Gaines, José Ramón Rosario, Paul Hebron, La Donna Mabry, Alison Martin, Sonja Lanzener, Mateo Gómez, Nik Tyler, Anibal O. Lleras, Elizabeth Flax and Scott Nicholson
94	6	"Competence"	Fred Gerber	Michael S. Chernuchin & Mark B. Perry	November 2, 1994 (1994-11-02)	69409	17.9[6]
When Lt. Van Buren is the victim of an attempted holdup by two teens, she fires her gun and kills one of them, and the detectives are faced with the fact that she shot an unarmed child in the back. Guest starring: Samuel E. Wright, Jude Ciccolella, Omar Scroggins, Lisa Louise Langford, Marcella Lowery, Jacklin Brooke Sanford, Fredro Starr, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Jerry Grayson, Sharon Martin, Gia Galeano, J. C. MacKenzie, Sharif Rashed, Tse-Mach Washington, Fanni Green, Chris McGinn, Nicholas Garr and George Hosmer
95	7	"Precious"	Constantine Makris	René Balcer & I.C. Rapoport	November 9, 1994 (1994-11-09)	69410	17.5[7]
When Briscoe and Logan suspect that a missing infant may have been murdered rather than kidnapped, they uncover a terrible family secret. Guest starring: Kevin O'Rourke, Julie Boyd, Nada Rowand, Joel Leffert, Brooks Rogers, Becky Borczon, Gibby Brand, Kim Staunton, Keely Eastley, Eileen Galindo, Aita Withers, Floyd Vivino, Jackye Roberts, Holley Stewart, Michael Bias, Craig Noble, John Louis Fischer and Constance Tizard-Lewis
96	8	"Virtue"	Martha Mitchell	Mark B. Perry & Jeremy R. Littman	November 23, 1994 (1994-11-23)	69412	18.7[8]
McCoy uses a charge of "larceny by extortion" against Spencer Talbert a councilman, whose former colleague claims he demanded sex in exchange for a law-firm partnership. Guest starring: Anthony Heald, Regina Taylor, Christopher Cousins, Lily Knight, Anne Lange, Erik LaRey Harvey, Nancy Addison, Sharon Cornell, Cynthia Darlow, Seth Barrish, Catharine Boyd, Chris Walker, Paul Schulze, Deirdre Lovejoy, David Edward Jones, Robert Trumbull, Robert Shampain, Geraldine Bartlett, Merri Ann Milwe and Marvin Klompus
97	9	"Scoundrels"	Marc Laub	Ed Zuckerman & Charles C. Mann	November 30, 1994 (1994-11-30)	69415	18.3[9]
Among the suspects in a lawyer's murder are a swindler who conned a woman out of her family fortune, and the woman's once-wealthy son. Guest starring: Michael Zaslow, Jonathan Hogan, Lisa Emery, Larry Pine, Jane Hoffman, David Little, Georgine Hall, Yusef Bulos, Ellen Whyte, Ross Bickel, Dan Grimaldi, James Saito, Karen Evans Kandel, Jeffrey Ware, Al DeChristo, Elizabeth Ann Townsend, Leila Danette, Alan Gordon, Mario Mendoza, David H. Kramer, Mitch Kolpan and Joel Blake
98	10	"House Counsel"	James Quinn	Michael S. Chernuchin & Barry M. Schkolnick	January 4, 1995 (1995-01-04)	69413	16.4[10]
The killing of David Lampert a man who had served as a juror in a mob trial leads to a battle of wills between McCoy and his long-time friend, the suspect's attorney. Guest starring: Ron Leibman, Vincent Pastore, Leslie Ayvazian, Anthony Fusco, Jessica Walter, Claiborne Cary, Fil Formicola, Lauren K. Woods, Michael Willis, Stanja Lowe, Terry Donahoe, Joanne Genelle, Barry Squitieri, P.J. Benjamin, John Norman Thomas, Izzy Flores, Laurie Taylor-Williams, Martin LaPlatney, Tom Bloom, David De Beck, Chris Cantwell, Nicholas B. Daddazio, Matt Myers and John Rainer
99	11	"Guardian"	Christopher Misiano	S : Brad Markowitz; T : William N. Fordes; S/T : René Balcer	January 11, 1995 (1995-01-11)	69404	16.6[11]
After the body of a young female junkie is identified as Katie Blanchard the daughter of a wealthy family, Briscoe and Logan try to find out who left her to die in the yard of a day-care center.
100	12	"Progeny"	Don Scardino	S : Mark B. Perry; T : Ed Zuckerman; S/T : Morgan Gendel	January 25, 1995 (1995-01-25)	69416	16.4[12]
After the murder of Eleen Reed an abortion-clinic doctor, Briscoe and Logan are led to a suspect who belongs to a radical anti-abortion movement and their suspicion soon turns to the group's leader, who admits that he's glad the doctor died. McCoy faces the unpleasant task of charging the respected and charismatic former priest with murder, and the public debate over whether the secular community should interfere in spiritual matters.
101	13	"Rage"	Arthur W. Forney	Michael S. Chernuchin	February 1, 1995 (1995-02-01)	69414	17.1[13]
A Wall Street broker Benjamin Greer accused of murdering his mentor Wallace Holbrook uses the defense of "black rage" in court. Courtney B. Vance who appears in a major role in this episode, would later star as Assistant District Attorney Ron Carver in Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
102	14	"Performance"	Martha Mitchell	S : René Balcer; T : Ed Zuckerman; S/T : Jeremy R. Littman	February 8, 1995 (1995-02-08)	69419	16.2[14]
Briscoe and Logan set out to identify the apparent victim Corey Russell in a snuff film, but find her alive and the victim of a points-for-sex club at her prestigious high school.
103	15	"Seed"	Don Scardino	Michael S. Chernuchin & Janis Diamond	February 15, 1995 (1995-02-15)	69420	16.8[15]
A routine investigation into a woman's death leads Briscoe and Logan to a fertility doctor guilty of unethical practices, but who apparently cannot be touched because of confidentiality rules, and patient reluctance to talk.
104	16	"Wannabe"	Lewis H. Gould	René Balcer & I.C. Rapoport	March 15, 1995 (1995-03-15)	69417	16.0[16]
The shooting of Bill Presscott a board member of an exclusive private school leads to a blue-collar family and a classist system.
105	17	"Act of God"	Constantine Makris	Ed Zuckerman & Walter Dallenbach	March 22, 1995 (1995-03-22)	69422	16.0[17]
A bomb at a construction site kills a 12-year-old boy, and the suspects include the bankrupt contractor and a jealous husband.
106	18	"Privileged"	Vincent Misiano	Jeremy R. Littman & Suzanne O'Malley	April 5, 1995 (1995-04-05)	69418	14.6[18]
The investigation into David and Eileen Lerner a double homicide leads to a young alcoholic whose family once lived in the victims' house and admitted to his AA group that he had nightmares about the killings.
107	19	"Cruel and Unusual"	Matthew Penn	René Balcer & Michael S. Chernuchin	April 19, 1995 (1995-04-19)	69423	15.5[19]
The death of Kevin Jeffries an autistic youth (Steven Burns) in custody reveals a multitude of unusual and possibly illegal therapies being used, but also parents reluctant to pursue a prosecution.
108	20	"Bad Faith"	Dann Florek	René Balcer	April 26, 1995 (1995-04-26)	69426	13.4[20]
Logan relives unhappy childhood memories when a friend Det. Marino is found dead; a presumed suicide, until the investigation reveals recent contact with a former priest who has a history of pedophilia.
109	21	"Purple Heart"	Arthur W. Forney	Morgan Gendel & William N. Fordes	May 3, 1995 (1995-05-03)	69421	14.1[21]
The investigation into a taxi driver's murder involves a loan shark, a missing plumber, a forged check, and the victim's wife.
110	22	"Switch"	Christopher Misiano	Jeremy R. Littman & Sibyl Gardner	May 17, 1995 (1995-05-17)	69425	14.1[22]
Suspects in a psychiatrist's murder include the victim's ex-husband, a patient suffering from multiple-personality disorder and her obstructive father.
111	23	"Pride"	Ed Sherin	Ed Zuckerman & Gene Ritchings	May 24, 1995 (1995-05-24)	69427	13.4[23]
Gay city councilman Richard Durban is murdered and the trail leads to Joe Gibb a male prostitute found with Durban's Belongings, and Kevin Crossley a bigoted rival politician who Durban had removed from city council. Last appearance of Chris Noth as Junior Detective Mike Logan.

Critical reception

Alan Sepinwall wrote in TV (The Book) that the casting lineup in season 5 was the best out of all the seasons of Law & Order, stating that it was "[t]he '27 Yankees of L&O casts, featuring not only Hall of Famers at every position but the very best example of each respective role in the franchise's history."^[24]

References

1. "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. September 28, 1994. p. 3D.
2. "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. October 5, 1994. p. 3D.
3. Graham, Jefferson (October 12, 1994). "CBS edges into No. 1 spot, but can it stay?". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
4. DeRosa, Robin (October 19, 1994). "Regular series put ABC back on top". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
5. DeRosa, Robin (October 26, 1994). "'Grace' leads ABC to tie with CBS". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
6. DeRosa, Robin (November 9, 1994). "'Cagney & Lacey' makes winning return". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
7. DeRosa, Robin (November 16, 1994). "CBS' 'Scarlett' sweeps to No. 1". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
8. DeRosa, Robin (November 30, 1994). "Reason for CBS to love 'Rockford'". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
9. "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. December 7, 1994. p. 3D.
10. "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. January 11, 1995. p. 3D.
11. DeRosa, Robin (January 18, 1995). "'ER' rolls into the No. 1 spot". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
12. DeRosa, Robin (February 1, 1995). "Super Bowl kicks ABC to the top". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
13. "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. February 8, 1995. p. 3D.
14. "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. February 15, 1995. p. 3D.
15. "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. February 22, 1995. p. 3D.
16. "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. March 22, 1995. p. 3D.
17. "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. March 29, 1995. p. 3D.
18. "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. April 12, 1995. p. 3D.
19. "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. April 26, 1995. p. 3D.
20. "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. May 3, 1995. p. 3D.
21. DeRosa, Robin (May 10, 1995). "Ratings go to the movies". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
22. "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. May 24, 1995. p. 3D.
23. "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. May 31, 1995. p. 3D.
24. Sepinwall, Alan; Seitz, Matt Zoller (2016). TV (The Book). New York, NY: Grand Central Publishing. p. 234. ISBN 978-1-4555-8819-0.

External links

• Episode guide from NBC.com

Preceded by Season Four (1993-1994)

List of Law & Order seasons (1990-2010)

Succeeded by Season Six (1995-1996)