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280 Original 'Law and Order' Trivia Questions, Answers, and Fun Facts

How much do you know about Original 'Law and Order'? This category is for trivia questions and answers related to Original 'Law and Order' (Television). Each one is filled with fun facts and interesting information.
1 In the season 1 episode "Sonata for a Solo Organ," what is the solo organ?
Answer: a kidney

This episode takes its basic plot device from what is known as an "urban legend," a term coined by folklorist Jan Harold Brunvand. Urban legend experts David and Barbara Mikkelson, who operate the Snopes urban legends website refer to it as the "Kidney heist hoax." As told, it usually involves a person waking up in a bathtub full of ice, with a note to call a doctor.
  From Quiz: "Law & Order": Great Episodes
2 When the Grobmans return from their country home, why is Judge Grobman the one who parks the car?
Answer: so Walter can carry groceries in with the doorman's help

Later, we learn from the doorman that never in the many years the couple went to the country house did Judge Grobman park the car instead of Mr. Grobman.

In the "Law & Order: UK" version of this episode, which is titled "Denial," they substituted a large painting for the groceries the husband carried in.
  From Quiz: "Law and Order" Episode: "DNR"
3 The series is set (and filmed) in which U.S. city?
Answer: New York City, NY

The closing credits say that the show is filmed on location in New York City. The intro for "Criminal Intent" starts, "In New York City's war on crime..."
    Your options: [ Baltimore, MD ] [ Los Angeles, CA ] [ New York City, NY ] [ Miami, FL ]
  From Quiz: "Law & Order" Trivia
4 Here are pairs of detectives in "Law and Order." Which of the pairs were never partners on the show?
Answer: Ed Green and Kevin Bernard

Ed Green and Kevin Bernard were never partners. Bernard was actually the investigator who ran the internal affairs investigation on Green. Ed Green was replaced by Kevin Bernard. Briscoe and Green were partners during seasons 10 through 14. Cerreta and Logan were partners in seasons 2 and 3. Fontana and Green were partners during seasons 15 and 16.
    Your options: [ Ed Green and Kevin Bernard ] [ Phil Cerreta and Mike Logan ] [ Lennie Briscoe and Ed Green ] [ Joe Fontana and Ed Green ]
  From Quiz: The Past and Present Characters of 'Law and Order'
5 Adam: "Great--a prosecution based on debt-refinancing. It's gonna get you real far with a jury." Ben: "I'll lay it out for them--I'll draw 'em a Monopoly board if I have to." Adam: "I'd like to see them get from _____ to GO."
Answer: Park Place

This is from the episode entitled "The Serpent's Tooth." It really shows Adam's cynicism, the source of many of his memorable lines.
    Your options: [ Marvin Gardens ] [ Park Place ] [ Community Chest ] [ Reading Railroad ]
  From Quiz: The Adam Schiff Quiz
6 Which member of Lennie Briscoe's family is shot by a drug dealer?
Answer: daughter

Lennie's daughter is arrested and charged with drug possession. To avoid jail time, she takes a plea bargain, agreeing to testify against her dealer. Before she can do so, she is shot.
    Your options: [ sister ] [ son ] [ daughter ] [ ex-wife ]
  From Quiz: The Characters of "Law and Order"
7 What were the circumstances that led to Det. Max Greevey no longer working at the 27?
Answer: He was shot and killed

Det. Greevey as gunned down in front of his house.
  From Quiz: The Original "Law & Order"
8 Who portrays Detective Benson?
Answer: Mariska Hargitay

Olivia Benson is portrayed by Mariska Hargitay.
  From Quiz: Another "Law and Order" Quiz
9 He played Detective Lennie Briscoe. He was also in "Dirty Dancing."
Answer: Jerry Orbach

He once worked as a chauffeur for Mae West.
    Your options: [ Steven Hill ] [ Jack McCoy ] [ Jerry Orbach ] [ Paul Sorvino ]
  From Quiz: People of "Law and Order"
10 The detectives head to the Garrison home to interview the family. Mrs. Garrison explains that they left the Vance home at 10:00pm because Mr. Vance was tired, given that he was undergoing chemotherapy for which type of cancer?
Answer: Prostate

Mr. Vance, a neighbor of the Garrisons, mentions that he was expecting his chauffeur Sammy but he is unusually late, which makes the detectives suspicious. Briscoe presses Vondie, the cook at the Garrison home and Sammy's mother, but she denies that Sammy has anything to do with the murder. In the meantime, Green interviews Christie's mom, who says she imagines her daughter was outside smoking in secret because she can't think of another reason for her to have been outside. Mrs. Garrison also says that Sammy drove them from the Vances', since Mark Vance was tired from his chemo treatment for prostate cancer.
    Your options: [ Lung ] [ Prostate ] [ Brain ] [ Skin ]
  From Quiz: "Law & Order" - "Merger"
11 In the second season episode "Vengeance", a woman is killed by a recently released serial killer. Her parents lie and say that she spoke to him on the phone from their house in Connecticut, and he knew this. Why?
Answer: Luring her from Connecticut makes him eligible to be tried there, in a death penalty state.

At the time this episode aired, New York did not have the death penalty. Connecticut did, but only in certain circumstances. One circumstance was felony murder, and luring the victim from Connecticut to New York could be construed as kidnapping, and a predicate crime, making the murder felony murder.
  From Quiz: "Law & Order": Great Episodes
12 Walter and Rudy, the doorman, are in the lobby when they hear gunshots. They race to the garage to find Walter's wife, Judge Grobman, bleeding on the ground and her car missing. What was the make of the car?
Answer: Jaguar

When detectives Briscoe and Green arrive, they learn the couple's Jaguar is missing. They soon learn that one of the other tenants made a Mercedes in the lot ripe for the taking: tired of losing his keys, he just left them in his car. Anyone looking for a car would have taken his instead of the Jaguar -- one of the first clues the Judge was a target rather than a random victim.
  From Quiz: "Law and Order" Episode: "DNR"
13 In episode two a bounty hunter was found murdered in his motel room. Who was eventually charged and tried for the crime?
Answer: a journalist

The journalist had fabricated information about the criminal the bounty hunter was pursuing. The bounty hunter got wind of this and threatened to expose the journalist. In his defense the journalist pointed to the tremendous pressure he was under to produce.

The situation of a newspaper reporter fabricating stories was based on a number of highly-publicized real-life examples in the U.S. These include Janet Cooke of the "Washington Post", Jayson Blair of the "New York Times", and Jack Kelley of "USA Today".
  From Quiz: "Law and Order," Season Fourteen
14 The detectives find an important clue in Mary Donovan's car. What is it?
Answer: A flier from an anti-abortion group

The flier names an organization called "Women for Life." Group members say they are opposed to violence, and just as surprised as anyone else by the outcome of events. This group is fictional and has no relationship to any real organizations with similar names.
  From Quiz: "Law and Order" - "Life Choice"
15 "Last time I checked, ____ was a small town upstate... different zip code from the criminal courts building."
Answer: Utopia

"Utopia" is the name Thomas More gave to the ideal society he created in his book of the same name. It literally means "Nowhere."
  From Quiz: The Adam Schiff Quiz
16 How many female assistants did Jack McCoy have before Claire Kincaid?
Answer: three

Claire (Jill Hennessey) brings up his reputation for dating his colleagues. He says that he has dated only three female assistants and ended up marrying one of them, hence the daughter and ex-wife of whom he sometimes speaks. At the end of the episode, Claire tells Jack (Sam Waterston), "I've done my homework. You only had three female assistants."
  From Quiz: The Characters of "Law and Order"
17 Who played Det. Mike Logan?
Answer: Chris Noth

Logan was teamed with three different partners. Chris went on to star as Mr. Big (whose real name was John) on the series "Sex and the City" and its subsequent feature films. Chris Meloni starred on "Law and Order: SVU".
  From Quiz: The Original "Law & Order"
18 Who's Detective Benson's partner from seasons 1-12?
Answer: Elliot Stabler

Elliot Stabler is played by Christopher Meloni.
  From Quiz: Another "Law and Order" Quiz
19 He played Assistant D.A. Jack McCoy. He was also in "The Killing Fields", "Heaven's Gate", and "The Matthew Shepard Story."
Answer: Sam Waterston

In 2001, he received an honorary degree from Yale!
    Your options: [ Richard Brooks ] [ George Dzundza ] [ Sam Waterston ] [ Michael Moriarty ]
  From Quiz: People of "Law and Order"
20 In the fourth season, S. Epatha Merkerson took over for Dann Florek as head of the police unit; which role did she play?
Answer: Anita Van Buren

Ms. Merkerson portrayed the tough but soft-hearted Lieutenant Anita Van Buren. She assayed the same role in the 1998 "Law and Order" movie "Exiled", as well as appearing on the spin offs "Criminal Intent" in 2002 and "Trial by Jury" in 2005. A.D.A Serena Southerlyn was played by Elisabeth Rohm, Alana de la Garza played Assistant D.A. Connie Rubirosa and Dianne Wiest was District Attorney Nora Lewin in the later years of the series.
    Your options: [ Connie Rubirosa ] [ Nora Lewin ] [ Serena Southerlyn ] [ Anita Van Buren ]
  From Quiz: "Law and Order": The Original Series
21 The detectives trace the shooter through the stolen car. When they get to his house, they find him bleeding from ___________.
Answer: the two bullets the Judge fired off before going unconscious

The Judge was a quick shot and eventually the shooter died of those injuries. The detectives learned from his cousin, however, that he had been talking about money coming his way. This is another clue that the shooting of Judge Grobman was more than a carjacking.

Danny's cousin, Bobby Ward, is played by Dominic Chianese, Jr.; you may recommend that name if you're a fan of "The Sopranos." This actor is the son of the man who played Uncle Junior in the HBO series.
    Your options: [ the two bullets the Judge fired off before going unconscious ] [ a fight with his girlfriend and a frying pan ] [ the mouth, nose, and ears ] [ nothing, he wasn't bleeding ]
  From Quiz: "Law and Order" Episode: "DNR"
22 The episode "Blaze" was about a tragic fire. Where did this fire take place?
Answer: in a crowded night club

A band used pyrotechnics as part of its night club act, and when they overdid it a horrible fire resulted. As usual, the detectives have to work their way through many twists and turns in the evidence before uncovering the truth about what happened.
    Your options: [ in Central Park ] [ in a crowded night club ] [ in a high-rise apartment building ] [ in a police station ]
  From Quiz: "Law and Order," Season Fourteen
23 In the eighth season of the show, Detective Rey Curtis's wife was diagnosed with what illness?
Answer: multiple sclerosis

This premise ran for several episodes, eventually leading to Rey Curtis leaving at the end of the ninth season to spend more time with her.
  From Quiz: "Law & Order" Trivia
24 The police speak to Mary's family. Her brother Kevin, who works in a lumber yard, says that Mary's father has struggled to deal with the shock of the event. What did her brother say was a sign of this?
Answer: Her father made some coffee and poured it down the drain

Mary's brother is, understandably, also deeply shaken. "Just like that, I had a sister, and now I don't."
  From Quiz: "Law and Order" - "Life Choice"
25 When Adam says that "Youth has no patience with the elderly, particularly the troublesome and cantankerous," Ben tells Claire, "Sounds like personal experience." How does Adam respond?
Answer: "I'm a sweetheart--and middle-aged!"

This comes from the episode fittingly entitled "The Golden Years."
Adam has one son named Josh, so his remark about youth most probably does come from personal experience, despite his objection.
  From Quiz: The Adam Schiff Quiz
26 Which actor, before portraying a cop, guest-starred in the second season as a defense attorney?
Answer: Jerry Orbach

Jerry Orbach (Lennie Briscoe) portrays a defense attorney in one episode. I think most people would agree he makes a much better cop :)
    Your options: [ Chris Noth ] [ Benjamin Bratt ] [ Jerry Orbach ] [ Jesse L. Martin ]
  From Quiz: The Characters of "Law and Order"
27 Which assistant of Jack McCoy's did he have a romantic relationship with (she was a regular cast member)?
Answer: Claire Kincaid

Although it was only mentioned here and there, it was clear that Jack & Claire were in a serious relationship; not his first with one of his assistants.
    Your options: [ Claire Kincaid ] [ Jill Lewiston ] [ Amber Heard ] [ Ana Smythe ]
  From Quiz: The Original "Law & Order"
28 She played Assistant D.A. Abbie Carmichael.
Answer: Angie Harmon

Her boyfriend proposed to her on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno!" She said "Yes!" and is now married to Jason Sehorn, a safety with the NY Giants.
    Your options: [ S. Epatha Merkerson ] [ Jill Hennessy ] [ Angie Harmon ] [ Carey Lowell ]
  From Quiz: People of "Law and Order"
29 In season 3's "The Corporate Veil", a teenager with a heart condition dies despite having a pacemaker implanted. It turns out the pacemaker was used. What caused it to fail?
Answer: It came from the factory with corroded leads, which had nothing to do with its being used.

It may seem shocking that things like pacemakers get reused, but this is the only way some people who need them can afford them. Even pacemakers from cadavers are used, as long as pacemaker failure did not contribute to the patients' deaths.
  From Quiz: "Law & Order": Great Episodes
30 The stolen car was sold a few times before landing with a certain character named Robert Petkoff. The detectives came to see Petkoff at his place of work. What was his profession?
Answer: Doctor

Arrogant, scrubs-wearing Dr. Petkoff is brought down to the station to be interrogated about his ill-gotten luxury automobile.

During the interrogation, Dr. P. makes a particularly snooty remark about Ford Escorts.
  From Quiz: "Law and Order" Episode: "DNR"
31 Lennie, on being sent out of state on an investigation: "New Hampshire. I spent a ________ there one weekend." What completes the quote?
Answer: year

Lennie Briscoe was nothing if not a born-and-bred New Yorker. Even traveling to New Jersey annoyed him.
  From Quiz: Who Said What in the Original "Law & Order"
32 In the episode "Identity", an eighty-year-old man s accused of killing a man who had stolen his identity. Why had the victim stolen the old man's identity?
Answer: to borrow money against his house

The victim had borrowed a large sum of money against the house, and then allowed it to go into foreclosure. The defendant's son sought to have his father declared incompetent to stand trial, raising questions about when an elderly person is no longer competent to handle his own affairs.
  From Quiz: "Law and Order," Season Fourteen
33 Which assistant district attorney was fired for showing too much sympathy toward the defendants?
Answer: Serena Southerlyn

Serena Southerlyn was fired due to showing too much sympathy to the defendants. Borgia was murdered, Rubirosa is still on the show, and Carmichael left the show because she joined the U.S. Attorney's Office.
    Your options: [ Serena Southerlyn ] [ Connie Rubirosa ] [ Alexandra Borgia ] [ Abbie Carmichael ]
  From Quiz: The Past and Present Characters of 'Law and Order'
34 The detectives talk to Mary's boyfriend. Where does he work?
Answer: A private school

Patrick Dunne is a teacher. So was Mary, prior to her death. Patrick says he and Mary had talked about getting married.
  From Quiz: "Law and Order" - "Life Choice"
35 Ben warns Adam that a defendent "is not your typical killer." What does Adam say?
Answer: "Sure he is. He killed someone."

This is from the episode "Big Bang" and is typical Adam. Apparently Polonius in "Hamlet" is right: "Brevity is the soul of wit."
  From Quiz: The Adam Schiff Quiz
36 Where did Abbie Carmichael work before becoming Jack McCoy's assistant?
Answer: Narcotics

Abbie Carmichael, played by Angie Harmon, worked in the DA's office in narcotics, handling drug cases.
  From Quiz: The Characters of "Law and Order"
37 She played Assistant D.A. Jamie Ross.
Answer: Carey Lowell

She is a former model who has a daughter with Griffin Dunne and a son with Richard Gere.
    Your options: [ Jill Hennessy ] [ Angie Harmon ] [ Carey Lowell ] [ Dianne Wiest ]
  From Quiz: People of "Law and Order"
38 After a brief stop in New Jersey, Briscoe and Green learn that Sammy was at the house but left somewhere else. Where do the detectives find Sammy moments later?
Answer: Car wash

Briscoe and Green travel to New Jersey to look for Regina, who was apparently at her mother's house. Visibly upset, Regina explains that last night, she got a call from Evelyn saying that she was beaten up by her husband. Regina then called Sammy, who "borrowed" Mr. Vance's luxury car to take Evelyn and her kids away from the Queens home. While they are talking, one of the little girls tells Green that her uncle Sammy got mad because her brother vomited on the limo, so Sammy had to take it to the car wash. Unsurprisingly, the detectives find Sammy at a car wash near the house. They accuse him of the murder of Christie and upon finding Christie's ID and her lipstick on Sammy, they take him with them.
  From Quiz: "Law & Order" - "Merger"
39 Briscoe and Green interrogate Bobby Ward at the precinct and conclude that someone wanted Judge Grobman dead. Green suggests that a possible motive is that Grobman recently accepted a position at the Department of Justice; which position is that?
Answer: Assistant Attorney General

Ward's lawyer quickly realizes there's not much room to negotiate with his client's crimes, so he offers to accept a charge of possession and sale of stolen property. Bobby tells the police that his cousin Danny wanted to steal the Jaguar by himself and that he accepted a low sum of money from the used car salesman since he had "something in the works" that would pay much more. Before they can ask Danny about the money, Lt. Van Buren informs the detectives that the suspect died at the hospital. The team now starts thinking about who might want Judge Grobman dead; after all, she was a judge for criminal cases before her move to civil court. Green also points out that the judge recently accepted a job at the federal Justice Department as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, which is one of the divisions within the department.
    Your options: [ Solicitor General ] [ Secretary of Homeland Security ] [ FBI Director ] [ Assistant Attorney General ]
  From Quiz: "Law & Order" - "DNR"
40 In season 4's "Discord", a rape case, Stone initially asks Claire to look for other employment after she neglects to tell him something. What is it?
Answer: that the victim has retained her own lawyer

Claire Kincaid neglects to tell Ben Stone that the victim has hired a lawyer, implying that the victim planned a lawsuit as soon as she had a guilty verdict to back it up.

In the real world, a civil suit does not require a guilty verdict, but it helps-- although, sometimes the civil suit precedes the criminal case, because the time to file the civil suit is shorter than the statute of limitations on the criminal charge. Other times, a civil suit may succeed in spite of a criminal case failing, as in the OJ Simpson case, because the burden of proof is different.

This case is based on the case of Mike Tyson, who was found guilty in 1992 of raping a young woman during the Black expo in Indianapolis.
  From Quiz: "Law & Order": Great Episodes
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