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24 Episodes 1997 - 1998
NBC's popular procedural drama "Law & Order" returns for this eighth season, with more investigations shared by the NYPD homicide division and the New York City District Attorney's office. Returning characters this season include DA Adam Schiff (Steven Hill), Senior Detective Lennie Briscoe (Jerry Orbach), detective supervisor Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson), Executive ADA Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston), Detective Rey Curtis (Benjamin Bratt), and Assistant DA Jamie Ross (Carey Lowell); there were no cast changes from Season Seven. Stories this season include a bail bondsman's slaying that leads to an investigation of judicial corruption, the murder of a teen model in New York, claims of extreme mental illness used as defense in a restroom homicide, and the stabbing of a psychologist that leads several of the principals into the middle of a messy divorce case.
Episode 1
Wed, Sep 24, 1997 43 mins
Two teens are accused of killing a fast-food deliveryman.
Episode 2
Wed, Oct 8, 1997 43 mins
Bloodstains in a hotel room lead to a case involving two students and a missing baby who they insist was stillborn. Christina: Mags Chernock. Tommy: Zach Chapman. Talbert: Benjamin Hendrickson. Garnett: James Rebhorn.
Episode 3
Wed, Oct 15, 1997 43 mins
The investigation into a Navy pilot's death leads to a lieutenant (Kate Walsh) who was the deceased's lover. But McCoy faces military opposition over jurisdiction in the case. Miller: Patti LuPone. Mrs. Stroud: Molly Price. Billings: Daniel Von Bargen.
Episode 4
Wed, Oct 29, 1997 43 mins
The shooting of a mother leads to a case involving not only the person who fired the gun but also the doctor who declared her brain dead. Dr. Cosgrove: Michael Nouri. Camacho: Carlos Pizarro. Marty: Armand Schultz. Sutter: Robert Stanton. Judge Schreiber: John Ramsey.
Episode 5
Wed, Nov 5, 1997 43 mins
Killings during a robbery lead to the uncovering of a militia, the members of which declare themselves POW's in a war against the Government. Christie: Denis O'Hare. Judge Scarletti: Ted Kazanoff. Robbins: Gerry Becker. Kay: Betsy Aidem. Ross: Carey Lowell.
Episode 6
Wed, Nov 12, 1997 43 mins
A crossover episode with "Homicide: Life on the Street" involves the murder of a 14-year-old model. Dr. Janaway: Tom Tammi. Mrs. Janaway: Maureen Anderman. Drake: Dan Hedaya. Ramirez: Sam Valle. Falsone: Jon Seda Danvers: Zeljko Ivanek.
Episode 7
Wed, Nov 19, 1997 43 mins
The investigation into an apparent suicide leads to a case involving an adoption, a former spouse, the widower's son, and a person who's been living a lie. Burdett: Stephen Mendillo. Frances: Deborah Rush. O'Brien: Harry O'Reilly. Ryan: Mark Jacoby.
Episode 8
Wed, Nov 26, 1997 43 mins
A murder investigation uncovers a lawyer who's able to fix cases for high fees; and the DA wants to find the attorney's partner within the system. Harmon: David Marshall Grant Baker: Bruce MacVittie. Baez: Roger Pretto. Liriano: Jacinto Taras Riddick. Lisa: Alexandra Neil.
Episode 9
Wed, Dec 10, 1997 43 mins
An answering-machine message begins an investigation that leads to a teen (Sam Huntington) who claims to have set a fire that claimed the life of his stepsister. Anderton: Robert Vaughn. Judge Simons: Anne Jackson. Weaver: Bob Dishy. Elaine: Mia Dillon. McCoy: Sam Waterston.
Episode 10
Wed, Dec 17, 1997 43 mins
The planned circumcision of a couple's daughter (Emmy Rossun) leads to a rift between the American father and the Egyptian mother and then to a killing. Martin: Cotter Smith. Rina: Ava Haddad. Cahill: Steve Landesberg. Mrs. Newman: Abby Lewis. Briscoe: Jerry Orbach.
Episode 11
Wed, Jan 7, 1998 43 mins
A drunken driver kills three persons and is charged with first-degree murder in a case that causes strong disagreements between McCoy and Ross. Dressler: Daniel McDonald. Billings: David Garrison. Judge Feldman: Cliff Gorman. Susan: Kathryn Meisle. Norris: Gene Canfield.
Episode 12
Wed, Jan 21, 1998 43 mins
A shooting attack in a bathroom leaves detectives trying to determine who was the intended target.
Episode 13
Wed, Jan 28, 1998 43 mins
The lawyer for a killer whose latest victims are a social worker and a sportscaster uses exposure to TV violence as a defense. Chandler: Mitchell Lichenstein. Pressman: Dennis Boutsikaris. Thatcher: John Benjamin Hickey. Judge Samuel: Gene Saks.
Episode 14
Wed, Feb 4, 1998 43 mins
The brutal beating of a man leads to an investigation that involves two rape incidents, in one of which the victim was comatose.
Episode 15
Wed, Feb 25, 1998 43 mins
The lawyer (Philip Bosco) of a mob don who's a suspect in a hit man's murder, insists his client is mentally unfit to stand trial. Johnny Di Maio: Michael Rispoli. Alberto Napoli: Frank Savino. Vickie: Katherine Narducci. Ronny: John O'Leary. Judge Larkin: Rochelle Oliver.
Episode 16
Wed, Mar 4, 1998 43 mins
The detectives investigate the murder of a psychologist who was involved in helping the Archdiocese to arrange annulments. Atkins: Jill Clayburgh. Molly: Haviland Morris. Redfield: Tony Roberts. Jim: John Wojda. Behrens:Tom O'Rourke
Episode 17
Wed, Apr 1, 1998 43 mins
The death of a student leads to a case involving an HIV-positive male who's seeking to infect as many women as possible, and McCoy wants to charge him with murder. Twist:Jason Hayes. Leslie: Susan May Pratt. Anne Paulsen: Glynnis O'Connor. Lana: Heather Burns. Judge Feist: Merwin Goldsmith.
Episode 18
Wed, Apr 15, 1998 43 mins
A nurse is hospitalized after a fall that she claims resulted from a fight she had with a man who's been stalking her and sending her suggestive e-mail. Andrea: Susan Floyd. Lowry: Stephen Gevedon. Manetti: Joe Lisi. Dutton: Robert Joy. Golofsky: Harry Goz.
Episode 19
Wed, Apr 22, 1998 43 mins
A defendant will not allow an insanity plea, thus complicating matters for the brother who turned him in with hopes of securing medical treatment for him. Matthew: Michael Medeiros. Ben: Ken Welsh. Melnick: Tovah Feldshuh. Fetzer: Steve Mellor. Judge Bourke: Donna Hanover.
Episode 20
Fri, Apr 24, 1998 43 mins
A 12-year-old quadriplegic dies at home, and paramedics claim he was suffocated. The suspects include the boy's parents and sister. Dr. Semenko: John Hickok. Lois: Maryann Plunkett. Sutter: John Procaccino. Mrs Hodge: Jane Connell. Mr. Hodge: Gordon Connell.
Episode 21
Wed, Apr 29, 1998 43 mins
The investigation of a murder leads to a case that challenges Schiff's job; meanwhile, Briscoe tries to help his daughter. Monica: Isabel Gillies. Cathy: Jennifer Bill. Anderton: Robert Vaughn. Mallory: Mark Lotito. Flynn: Neal Jones.
Episode 22
Wed, May 6, 1998 43 mins
A teacher's shooting involves the rape of a mentally challenged coed by students, whose attorney claims they weren't aware of her condition. Valerie: Lauren Ambrose. Cathy: Jennifer Bill. Randy: Gerry Rosenthal. Roscoe: Jon Abrahams. Chris: Robert Clohessy.
Episode 23
Wed, May 13, 1998 43 mins
Tabloid journalism comes under scrutiny during a murder case involving a prominent man who blames his wife's death on a gossip columnist. Abbott: Timothy Carhart. Marco: Joe Mantello. Laura: Leslie White. Fowler: Brian Keeler. Levitt: John Slattery.
Episode 24
Wed, May 20, 1998 43 mins
The hunt is on for a pedophile who left his victim comatose. Meanwhile, Briscoe is offered a deal to avenge his daughter's death. Stokes: Ray Anthony Thomas. Kusevitsky: William Hill. Feldman: Cliff Gorman. Anderton: Robert Vaughn.