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"Aria"
L&O, Episode 2.03
Production number: 67411
First aired: 1 October 1991
  th of 456 produced in L&O  
th of 456 released in L&O
  th of 1271 released in all  
Cerreta Logan Aria
Teleplay By
Christine Roum

Story By
Michael S. Chernuchin

Directed By
Don Scardino

Plot[]

A young actress dies of a drug overdose and the investigation leads the detectives and the District Attorney to an aggressive stage mother and a pornographic movie director and uncovers the reason behind the young actress' death.

Cast[]

Main cast[]

Recurring cast[]

Guest cast[]

References[]

References

Quotes[]

Patricia Blaine: My mother couldn't decide if I was Martha Graham or Helen Hayes.
Phil Cerreta: Who were you?
Patricia Blaine: I was Patty Blaine. So I got out before I wasn't.

Benjamin Stone: In your new film, was Priscilla Blaine expected to perform sex acts on screen?
Franklin Frome: Tastefully, yes.

Paul Robinette: It's like a fairy tale.
Benjamin Stone: Which one?
Paul Robinette: Mirror, mirror, on the wall...

Elizabeth Blaine: But I loved her. She was my life!
Benjamin Stone: No, she was your daughter. She had a life of her own.

Background information and notes[]

  • This is actress Tovah Feldshuh's first appearance as Defense Attorney Danielle Melnick.
  • This episode appears to be based on the the death of famous actress Marilyn Monroe. Monroe was a major sex symbol and one of the most popular Hollywood stars during the 1950s and early 1960s. She died of a barbiturate overdose late in the evening of August 4, 1962, at her home in Los Angeles, California. Her body was discovered before dawn. Her death was officially ruled a suicide by the Los Angeles County coroner's office, based on precedents of her overdosing and being prone to mood swings and suicidal ideation. No evidence of foul play was found, and accidental overdose was ruled out due to the large amount of barbiturates she ingested. Despite the coroner's findings, several conspiracy theories suggesting murder or accidental overdose have been proposed since the mid-1960s. Many of these involve President John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert, as well as union leader Jimmy Hoffa and mob boss Sam Giancana. Due to the prevalence of these theories in the media, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office reviewed the case in 1982, but it found no evidence to support them.
  • In the time period that this episode was shot, Maura Tierney wasn't a famous actress. She would rise to stardom with her roles as Lisa Miller on NewsRadio, and Dr. Abby Lockhart on ER in the years following.
  • In this episode, it is revealed that Sergeant Phil Cerreta and his wife Elaine have five children.
  • Goof: William Severs is credited as "Judge Freitag" but the nameplate shown lists his character's name as "Henry Fillmore".

Episode scene cards[]

1 2 3

Academy of Dramatic
Arts
712 W. 39th Street
Wednesday, June 12

51st Street Diner
Friday, June 14

Office of District
Attorney Adam Schiff
Tuesday, August 6

4 5 6

Surrogate's Court
New York County
Monday, August 19

Supreme Court
Trial Part 23
Wednesday, October 2

Office of District
Attorney Adam Schiff
Thursday, October 3

Previous episode:
"The Wages of Love"
"Aria"
Law & Order
Season 2
Next episode:
"Asylum"
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