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Law and Order: Special Letters Unit title card.

The cast of Law & Order: Special Letters Unit

Law & Order is a television police procedural and legal drama set and shot in New York City. The award-winning Law & Order and its several spin-off series ("Special Victims Unit", "Criminal Intent", "Trial by Jury") are broadcast on the NBC network and syndicated on other networks. The franchise totals more than 700 hour-long episodes, with three series still on the air.

Several Law & Order franchise cast members (such as Christopher Meloni and Richard Belzer) have appeared in Henson/Muppet productions. Additionally, the format of the shows and the large number of episodes require a substantial amount of non-recurring and incidental characters per episode (witnesses, judges, attorneys, etc.) The show is filmed and produced in Kaufman Astoria Studios, the same studio Sesame Street is filmed in. As a result many Sesame Street cast members have played guest roles in episodes, often returning as different characters. When Sonia Manzano appeared as a trial witness in a 2004 episode, she remarked that "the sound guy kept calling me Maria and telling me he grew up watching me. It was funny." ^[1]

Muppet Mentions

• In the Law & Order episode "American Jihad" (October 2, 2002), Detective Lennie Briscoe retorts with the sarcastic wisecrack "I guess I missed that day on Sesame Street" after a suspect makes an overly technical remark about medical research.

• In the Law & Order episode "Patient Zero" (October 8, 2003), when a uniformed cop uses euphemisms to avoid even mild curse words, Briscoe says, "What precinct are you from? Sesame Street?"

References

• Sesame Street Season 37 brought "Law and Order: Special Letters Unit", a parody of the television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, to the show's line-up.

In the alphabet system, there are 26 letters. The detectives who investigate these ABCs are members of an elite squad called the Special Letters Unit. These are their stories.

The sketch features Anything Muppet caricatures of Special Victims Unit cast members Meloni, Hargitay, Belzer, and Florek on a case for a missing letter "M". The sketch also parodies the show's format and infamous musical sting. As they investigate, they find things that start with the letter "M", including a cow named Murray that makes mmooo sounds and a mallard. In the end, the detectives recognize the missing letter "M" walking into the police station wearing a phony moustache, and the case is solved.

MeloniJoey Mazzarino as Det. Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni)

MariskaFran Brill as Det. Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay)

MunchDavid Rudman as Det. John Munch (Richard Belzer)

CaptainMarty Robinson as Capt. Donald Cragen (Dann Florek)

The sketch appears as a bonus feature on the North American DVD release of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit season six.

In a TV Guide interview, Sesame Street producer Carol-Lynn Parente expressed interest in taping more segments for Season 38, possibly featuring the voices of the original actors. Special Victims Unit is filmed and produced in Kaufman Astoria Studios, the same studio Sesame Street is filmed in. However no other segements have been produced.

• In Episode 4148 from Season 38, Christopher Meloni from Law & Order: SVU appeared in a "Word on the Street" segment. He was introduced with the Law & Order series' "chung-chung" transitional sound, and appeared behind an SVU police report to discuss "mail."

• On the November 13, 2008 broadcast of The Today Show, Meloni appeared in a dressing room, supposedly getting ready to appear in promotion of Law and Order: SVU, alongside Miss Piggy, billed as the star of Law and Order: E-I-E-I-O.

Connections

Law & Order

Cast Members:

• Jesse L. Martin as Det. Ed Green
• Sam Waterston as Executive Assistant District Attorney Jack McCoy
• Dann Florek as Captain Donald Cragen
• Josh Pais as Assistant M.E. Borak (15 episodes, 1990-2002)

Guest Appearances:

Sesame Street regulars/Muppet performers

Carlo Alban Damien "Trophy", 1996	Carlo Alban Ramon Soriano, suspect "Surrender Dorothy", 2000	Alison Bartlett Off. Angela Donahue, defendant's girlfriend "Standoff", 2000	Alison Bartlett Sgt. Haywood "Publish and Perish", 2005
Larry Block Feldman "His Hour Upon the Stage," 1991	Larry Block Slater "Cruel and Unusual," 1995	Larry Block Stan "Divorce," 1998	Fran Brill Sondra More, victim's wife "Prisoner of Love," 1990
Fran Brill Mrs. Bartlett, defendant's mother "Privileged," 1995	Fran Brill Mrs. Stark, defendant's mother "Carrier," 1998	Fran Brill Maureen Donovan, defendant's mother "Betrayal,"	Eugene Byrd Tonel Otten, witness "Mushrooms", 1991
Emilio Delgado Elias Soriano, suspect's father "Surrender Dorothy," 2000	Peter Friedman Prof. William Goodwin, suspect "White Rabbit," 1994	Peter Friedman Harold Jensen, defendant "Attorney Client," 2002	Leonard Jackson Marty "Snatched," 1994
Sonia Manzano Barbara Benitez, witness "Hands Free", 2004	Hal Miller Marcus Tate, victim "Conspiracy," 1992	Hal Miller Judge Cyrus Metcalfe "Custody," 1996	Roscoe Orman Judge Allan Kiley, Supreme Court justice "White Lie," 2001
Roscoe Orman Mr. Cameron, victim's father "Coming Down Hard," 2004	Joe Ponazecki Louis, accident witness "Deep Vote," 2001	Jaime Sánchez Mr. Cristobal, second defendant "Prince of Darkness", 1992	David L. Smyrl George Warner "The Wages of Love," 1991
David L. Smyrl Artie Dickson "DWB", 1998	Marilyn Sokol Marylee Katz "His Hour Upon the Stage," 1991	Marilyn Sokol Mrs. Levine "Encore," 1996	Lynne Thigpen Judge Ida Boucher three episodes 1995-1999
Lillias White Streetwalker "By Hooker, by Crook", 1990	Lillias White Ms. Purvis "Born Bad", 1993	Lillias White Susan Monroe "Custody", 1996

Other guests:

• Sônia Braga played Helen ("Genius," 2003)
• Chris Cooper played Roy Payne ("Blood Libel," 1996)
• Taye Diggs played Sky Bell ("Good Girl," 1996)
• Julie Dretzin played Laura Bauer ("Golden Years," 1994)
• Frances Foster played Mary Tillar ("Mother Love," 1993)
• Keith Hernandez played Drew Harding in ("Wager," 1994)
• Bob Gunton played Gil Hines ("Happily Ever After," 1990)
• Russell Horton played Markham ("Prescription for Death," 1990)
• James Earl Jones played Horace McCoy ("Profile," 1993)
• Kelly Karbacz played Jenny Snyder ("Dazzled," [2002)
• John Bedford Lloyd played Jonathan Ryder ("Blood is Thicker," 1992), Dr. Christian Varick ("Double Blind," 1996), and Prentiss's Lawyer ("New York Minute," 2005)
• William H. Macy played Assistant U.S. Attorney John McCormack ("Everybody's Favorite Bagman" (1990), and Jack Powell ("Sisters of Mercy," 1992)
• Julianna Margulies played Lt. Ruth Mendoza ("Conduct Unbecoming," 1993)
• Chris Marquette played Ricky ("Double Down," 1997)
• Michael McKean played Bill Nolan ("Called Home," 2008), and Elias Grace ("Mega", 2000)
• Pippin Parker played Kleinman ("Star Struck," 1992)
• Mandy Patinkin played Glenn Fordyce/Levi 'The Griffin' March ("Absentia," 2003)
• Lonny Price played Dr. Lieber ("Sonata for Solo Organ," 1991) and Frank Hoover ("Prince of Darkness," 1991)
• Kim Raver played Wendy Karmel ("Homesick," 1996)
• Rex Robbins played Steinman ("Intolerance," 1992) and Kettering ("L.A.: Turnaround," 1997)
• Sam Rockwell played Randy Borland ("Intolerance," 1992) and Weddeker ("Manhood," 1993)
• Bill Walsh played ESU Policeman #2 ("Soldier of Fortune", 2001)
• Ellis E. Williams played Ray Bell in "A Death in the Family" (1991)
• Louis Zorich played Judge Milton Erdheim ("Indifference," 1990) and Judge Edgar Hynes ("Jeopardy," 1995)

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Cast Members:

• Christopher Meloni as Detective Elliot Stabler
• Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson
• Richard Belzer as Sergeant John Munch
• Dann Florek as Captain Donald Cragen
• Tamara Tunie as Dr. Melinda Warner
• B. D. Wong as Dr. George Huang

Guest Appearances:

Sesame Street regulars/Muppet performers

Jennifer Barnhart Jessie (and her puppet Sabrina) "Web," 2006	Eugene Byrd Carlos Medina, suspect "The Third Guy", 2000	Barbara Dana Veterinarian "Lust," 2002	Emilio Delgado Enrique Diaz "Inconceivable", 2008
Roscoe Orman Brian animal control officer "Signature," 2008	Lillias White Sacred Spirit Minister "Careless", 2004

Other guests:

• Sandra Bernhard played Priscilla Chaney ("Desperate," 2003)
• Mariette Hartley played Lorna Scarry in multiple episodes
• Melissa Joan Hart played Sarah Trent ("Impulsive," 2007)
• Judith Ivey played Jenny's Attorney ("Blood," 2005)
• Susan Saint James played Monica Bradshaw ("Gone," 2006)
• Shirley Jones played Felicity Bradshaw ("Choice," 2003)
• Kelly Karbacz played Jill Foster ("Runaway," 2001)
• John Bedford Lloyd played Mike Tucker ("Outcry," 2004)
• Kellie Martin played Melinda Granville ("Tragedy," 2003)
• Debi Mazar played Peggy Bernard ("Babes," 2008)
• Bernadette Peters played Stella Danquiss ("Choreographed," 2006)
• [[Rhea Perlman] played Roxana Fox ("Unorthodox," 2008)
• Sean Sanders played Caleb ("Appearances," 2003)
• Taylor Spreitler played Chloe Sellers {"Pure," 2005)
• Nicole Sullivan played Jen Caulder ("Contact," 2000)
• Bill Walsh as Lieutenant Igel ("Trade," 2008)
• Tyler James Williams played Kyle McGovern ("Parts," 2005)

Law & Order: Criminal Intent

Guest Appearances:

Sesame Street regulars/Muppet performers

Carlo Alban James Raphael "Ex Stasis", 2005	Alison Bartlett Allison Dean "Seizure", 2002	Alison BartlettHope Daniels "Prisoner", 2005	Fran Brill Ilene Maxwell "The Gift", 2003
Tyler Bunch Drew Romney "Malignant", 2002	Emilio Delgado Ari Hernandez, defense attorney "Pas de Deux", 2004	Emilio Delgado Rodolfo Delgado "Amends", 2007	Bill Irwin Nate Royce, suspect "Masquerade," 2006

Other guests:

• Tom Arnold played Rev. Calvin Riggins ("Brother's Keeper," 2007)
• Kelly Karbacz played Renata Virgini ("Unchained", 2005)
• Liza Minnelli played Bethany Harner ("Masquerade," 2006)
• Doris Roberts played Virginia Harrington ("Privilege", 2007)
• Paul Shaffer appeared as himself ("Vanishing Act," 2008)
• Bill Walsh played Detective Parsons ("Stress Position", 2005) and Fireman ("Enemy Within", 2001)

Video Games

Several actors in Muppet/Henson productions have also been heard in the Law & Order video games.

• Julianne Buescher provided the voices of Nicole Beaumont and Claire Thomas in "Justice Is Served" (2004) and Jenna Kirkwood, Jennifer Lee, Carla Meyers, Stephanie Novitsky, Barbara Rodriguez, Rosa Sanchez and Rachael Warren in "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (2005).
• Barry Dennen voiced a crime scene tech, George Bennett, Frederick Grant, Tom Kirkwood, Tony Piovani, and Gerald Stokes in "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (2005).
• Sam McMurray voiced Jack Foster and Henry Haskins in "Justice Is Served" (2004)
• Kevin Michael Richardson voiced Mark Rawlins in "Dead on the Money" (2002) and "Double or Nothing" (2003)
• Florence Stanley voiced Judge Emily Greenwood in "Dead on the Money" (2002) and "Double or Nothing" (2003), also playing Mrs. Yost in the latter

Sources

1. ↑ Madden, Mekeisha. "Sesame Street Celebrates 35 Years of Teaching Kids." The Detroit News. 2004