Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 3
Season three introduces new recurring characters and alters its opening credits.
The season was notable for its production changes following the September 11 attacks and for introducing several recurring characters who would appear in later seasons.
Quick Facts
- Season number
- 3
- Starring
- Christopher Meloni
- Mariska Hargitay
- Richard Belzer
- Stephanie March
- Ice-T
- Dann Florek
- Episodes
- 23
- Network
- NBC
- First aired
- 28 September 2001
- Last aired
- 17 May 2002
Facts from the source article.
Production
Following the September 11 attacks, several cast and crew members volunteered in rescue efforts. For one episode, the main title voiceover by Steven Zirnkilton was altered to include a dedication, though syndicated airings replaced this with the original voiceover. NBC ordered the opening credits re-edited to remove images of the World Trade Center, which had appeared at the beginning and end; the credit sequences from the first two seasons were not subsequently changed. Neal Baer served as sole showrunner and executive producer after David J. Burke left at the end of season two. During production, Baer convinced Amanda Green, already a consultant for the series while working for the NYPD, to begin writing scripts; her debut episode was "Counterfeit." Tara Butters and Michele Fazekas joined the writing staff and appreciated the lack of a large writer's room, describing the experience as writing their own mini-features.
Cast changes and returning characters
All main cast members from the second season returned. BD Wong continued as forensic psychiatrist Dr. George Huang, originally contracted for two episodes at the end of season two and two at the start of season three; after those four episodes, he was asked to stay on. Wong credited the New York-based show with allowing him to regularly act in theatre. Four recurring cast members debuted in season three: Robert John Burke as NYPD Internal Affairs Sergeant Ed Tucker in "Counterfeit"; Peter Hermann as Defense Attorney Trevor Langan in "Monogamy" (where Hermann and Mariska Hargitay first met, with future seasons hinting at a romantic flame between their characters); Joel de la Fuente as Technical Assistance Response Unit analyst Ruben Morales in "Surveillance" (the character was originally called "Burt Trevor" at auditions, but that name was given to a different technician); and Judith Light as Bureau Chief ADA Elizabeth Donnelly in "Guilt." Light was already a fan of the program.
Cast
Dianne Wiest appeared as Interim District Attorney Nora Lewin. Mariska Hargitay has repeatedly cited "Wrath" as one of her favorite episodes; in it, Justin Kirk played wrongfully imprisoned man Eric Plummer, who kills four people after being freed to exact revenge on police and Olivia Benson. Hargitay described the scene where Benson shoots Plummer as very challenging, noting physical reactions she did not expect. In an interview, Hargitay also mentioned the episode "Inheritance," in which Benson identifies with a suspect who is a child of rape; Marcus Chong played the suspect Darrell Guan. "Ridicule" depicted a man as a victim of gang rape by women for the first time on network television; Pete Starrett played victim Peter Smith, while Paige Turco and Diane Neal (who later joined the cast as ADA Casey Novak in season five) played his rapists. Mike Doyle appeared as Assistant Medical Examiner Karlan in "Prodigy" before later playing CSU Forensics Technician Ryan O'Halloran in season five. Nick Chinlund guest starred as condemned serial killer Matthew Brodus in "Execution"; he had originally auditioned for the role of Detective Elliot Stabler. John Ritter guest starred as Dr. Manning in "Monogamy," praised for his performance in an episode that aired shortly before his death. Martha Plimpton received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her role in "Denial," playing Claire Rinato, a drug addict traumatized by learning about her mother (played by Mary Steenburgen); Detective Tutuola uses his narcotics background to help her. In "Guilt," Bret Harrison played Sam Cavanaugh, a child molestation victim reluctant to testify; this appearance helped him secure his best-known role in Reaper, created by the same writers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who stars in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 3?
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 3 stars Christopher Meloni, Mariska Hargitay, Richard Belzer, Stephanie March, Ice-T and Dann Florek.
How many episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 3 are there?
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 3 has 23 episodes.
More in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Seasons
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