'Law & Order,' 'Homicide' to team up again

November 12, 1997
Web posted at: 4:38 p.m. EST (2138 GMT)

NEW YORK (CNN) -- The last time "Law & Order" joined forces with its NBC partner "Homicide" to solve a case, the shows' detectives were looking for a suicide bomber. The crossover episode proved popular with viewers from both shows, and gave each drama a Nielsens infusion.

So it only makes sense that the two programs' producers would seek out another joint venture. This year, crossover director Ed Sherin says, the teams are trying to solve "the mysterious death of a beautiful model, who happens to be 14 years old."

Watch scenes from the combined shows
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The story line is loosely based on the real-life investigation into 6-year-old beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey's murder last December.

The crossover episodes of "Law & Order" and "Homicide" reunite detectives Briscoe and Munch. While they may appear gruff and competitive on the shows, Jerry Orbach, who plays Detective Lennie Briscoe, says he likes working with Richard Belzer, a.k.a. Detective John Munch.

"Ah, Belzer and I have so much fun together," he said. "Maybe we'll do a sitcom called 'Briscoe and Munch,' kind of like, you know, two retired cops that become private detectives. But we do get along great; the whole cast of 'Homicide' is a shot in the arm for us."

Belzer agreed. "They come to Baltimore and have a great time, we come up here (to New York) and have a great time, we really look forward to working together," he said.

And for "Homicide" newcomer Jon Seda, the crossover episodes enabled him to work with an old acting buddy, Benjamin Bratt, while making some new friends.

The shows are set in different cities -- New York for "Law & Order," Baltimore for "Homicide." And the formats are different -- the former show carries viewers from the crime scene discovery through the accused's trial; the latter is focused on the gumshoes' side.

But the biggest difference between both cop shows is the way they're shot. "Homicide," in particular, is noted for its mood-setting harsh lighting, jerky montages and sometimes grainy video.

Said S. Epatha Merkerson, who plays Lt. Anita Van Buren on "Law & Order," "It's nice to have another type of energy come in and perk things up."

Her costar Benjamin Bratt (Detective Rey Curtis) also finds the crossovers a welcome change. "I love the way 'Law & Order' is shot, but it's nice from an actor's point of view to mix things up. That show is a little more kinetic, a little more frantic if you will."

When both groups of detectives end up interrogating the lead suspect in the box, together, the crossover episodes reach a boiling point. Was the suspect falsely accused of a young girl's murder? Folks at home will just have to tune into NBC on Wednesday and Friday nights for the answer.

Correspondent Bill Tush contributed to this report.

Related story:

• Viewers like to see criminals abused - February 4, 1996

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