NEW YORK -- November 8, 2004 -- Emmy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner Kyle MacLachlan ("Sex & the City") guest-stars as a psychiatrist whose son is murdered at the hands of a juvenile sociopath on NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," (Tuesdays, 10-11 p.m. ET). Additionally, Judith Light ("Who's the Boss") reprises her role as Elizabeth Donnelly, the bureau chief for the sex crimes division.

"What do you do with a 13-year-old boy who is a sociopath -- and has committed murder -- when most psychiatrists believe they are untreatable?" said executive producer Neal Baer. "Do you put them away, or release them at age 18? It is a social issue we have not come to terms with. What should society do?"

In the episode, a 5-year-old boy disappears from a playground, and Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Chris Meloni) search for suspects, but the case takes a grim turn when the boy is discovered dead by suffocation -- and all clues lead to Jake, (guest star Jordan Garratt), the boy's 13-year-old neighbor. Novak (Diane Neal) and her boss Donnelly, (Judith Light) are faced with this complex case, and Jake faces a shocking verdict. Richard Belzer, Ice-T, B.D. Wong, and Dann Florek also star.

MacLachlan is perhaps best known for his performance as FBI Agent Dale Cooper in David Lynch's groundbreaking series "Twin Peaks," for which he received two Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe award. MacLachlan is also known for his starring role on "Sex & the City." Currently, he can be seen playing the role of Cary Grant in Sony Pictures Classics "Touch of Pink."

Light is well known for her portrayal of Angela Bauer on "Who's the Boss?" Early in her career, Light won two Daytime Emmy awards for her performance on "One Life to Live" and has since earned a niche for emotional drama while starring on stage and in several TV movies. Light was also in the critically acclaimed and Pulitzer Prize winning Off-Broadway play "Wit."

CHARISMA (6-07) NEW!
11-16-04 10:00PM

When twelve-year-old Melanie, (guest star Holliston Coleman) is hospitalized with pregnancy complications, Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Chris Meloni) make a hospital call. They discover that Melanie's husband (guest star Jeff Kober), the father of her unborn child, is the leader of a cult in which Melanie is involved. The investigation takes an emotional turn when the detectives pay a visit to the cult leader and make a horrifying discovery. Tamara Tuni also guest stars. Richard Belzer, Diane Neal, B.D. Wong, Dann Florek also star.

CONSCIENCE (6-06) NEW!
11-09-04 10:00PM

When a five-year-old boy disappears from a playground, Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Chris Meloni) are on the scene, searching for suspects. They meet the boy's thirteen-year-old neighbor, Jake (guest star Jordan Garratt) who witnessed the boy being watched by a man earlier that day. The case takes a grim turn, when the boy is discovered dead by suffocation and all clues lead to Jake as the killer. Jake admits his crime but claims he has been mentally unstable since he suffered abuse at a camp he attended upon suggestion of the victim's psychiatrist father (guest star Kyle Mclachlan, "Sex & the City"). Tamara Tuni also guest stars. Richard Belzer, Ice-T, Diane Neal, B.D. Wong and Dann Florek also star.

CHARISMA (6-07) NEW!
11-16-04 10:00PM

DOUBT (6-09) NEW!
11-23-04 10:00PM

WEAK (6-10) NEW!
11-30-04 10:00PM

HAUNTED (6-08) NEW!
12-??-04 10:00PM

CONTAGIOUS (6-11) NEW!
12-??-04 10:00PM

IDENTITY (6-11) NEW!
12-??-04 10:00PM

• CONTAGIOUS (6-11)
  - ??-??-04
  
  

• CONSCIENCE (6-07)
  - ??-??-04
  
  (The following is a spoiler. Highlight the area in the square brackets to read it.)[ Jake (13) accidentally kills a neighbor's cat. When his friend Henry threatens to tell, he kills him because he is afraid that his mom will sent him back to a tough-love camp where he was tortured by other kids. ]

OBSCENE (6-03)
10-12-04 10:00PM

(Guest Star: Dana Delany)

SCAVENGER (6-04)
10-19-04 10:00PM

CRIMINAL (5-21)
10-23-04 10:00PM

OUTCRY (6-05)
10-26-04 10:00PM

BIRTHRIGHT (6-01)
10-30-04 10:00PM

CHARISMA (6-06)
11-??-04 10:00PM

CONSCIENCE (6-07)
11-??-04 10:00PM

HAUNTED (6-08)
11-??-04 10:00PM

DOUBT (6-09)
11-??-04 10:00PM

WEAK (6-10)
12-??-04 10:00PM

HAUNTED (6-08)
??-??-04 10:00PM

DOUBT (6-09)
??-??-04 10:00PM

BIRTHRIGHT (6-01)
09-21-04 10:00PM

Six-year-old Patty Branson (guest star Abigail Breslin), is almost abducted in Central Park while her father reads the paper. Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Chris Meloni) investigate to find out that the men who attacked her are actually P.I.'s, and have been hired by Michele Osborne (guest star Lea Thompson) to kidnap Patty, claiming she is Patty's real mother. M.E. Warner (guest star Tamara Tunie) conducts a DNA test to prove the child's true biological mother. Meanwhile, Benson traces the source of the confusion about the child's origins back to a fertility doctor. Dann Florek, Richard Belzer, Ice-T, Diane Neal, and B.D. Wong also star.

DEBT (6-02)
09-28-04 10:00PM

After Detectives Benson and Stabler find two small Chinese children mysteriously abandoned by their missing mother, they soon discover that the mother is an illegal immigrant whose older daughter is being held against her will until the mother can pay off the smugglers' fee for bringing the family to America. The police use the missing woman's sister, Li Mei (guest star Ming-Na), to penetrate the secretive society and find out what happened to her -- but their plan backfires when Li Mei is found severely beaten while bearing an ominous message from the kidnappers.

OUTCRY (6-03)
??-??-04 10:00PM

SCAVENGER (6-04)
??-??-04 10:00PM

OBSCENE (6-05)
??-??-04 10:00PM

(Guest Star: Dana Delany)

CHARISMA (6-06)
??-??-04 10:00PM

CONSCIENCE (6-07)
??-??-04 10:00PM

• BIRTHRIGHT (6-01)
  - 09-21-04
  
  Six-year-old Patty Branson, is almost abducted in Central Park while her father reads the paper. The detectives investigate to find out that the men who attacked her are actually P.I.'s, and have been hired by Michele Osborne to kidnap Patty, claiming she is Patty's real mother. M.E. Warner conducts a DNA test to prove the child's true biological mother. Meanwhile, Benson traces the source of the confusion about the child's origins back to a fertility doctor.

• BIRTHRIGHT (6-01)
  - 09-21-04
• DEBT (6-02)
  - ??-??-04
• OUTCRY(6-03)
  - ??-??-04
• SCAVENGER (6-04)
  - ??-??-04
  
  While jogging in Central Park, a personal trainer and her client find a baby in a stroller with a note. Benson and Stabbler look for the abducted mother as a rapist and murderer leaves them little clues leading them to his victims.
• OBSCENE (6-05)
  - ??-??-04
  
  While shooting a crime scene for a the TV show 'Undercover Girl', a dog leads the crew to a trailer to find the 16-year-old star of the show, Jessie Dawning, drugged, beaten and raped in her trailer but still alive. (The following is a spoiler. Highlight the area in the square brackets to read it.)[ Her doctor, Dr. Payne, has prescribed tons of drugs with which she gets high every night in her trailer after her last scene. Stabler and Benson's investigation leads them to BJ, a radio celebrity who promised listeners to put them on the air if they can bring him a pair of Jesse's panties...]
• CHARISMA (6-06)
  - ??-??-04
  
  Melanie is 12 years old and 30 weeks pregnant with her second child (the first died after he was born). The father is her husband Abraham. When Benson goes to interrogate him, she can see at least four children inside the house, which has no phone or electricity. (The following is a spoiler. Highlight the area in the square brackets to read it.)[ Abraham slams the door in her face, fires at them and somehow manages to shoot all his children before escaping with police surrounding the house. He abducts Melanie from the hospital, whom we later find out has a two-million-dollar trust fund waiting for her when she turns twenty one or has a child, whichever comes first.]
• CONSCIENCE (6-07)
  - ??-??-04

September 7th is a day that's VERY crowded with TV-on-DVD releases, as we mentioned in our Will & Grace news yesterday. There are over 2 DOZEN titles scheduled for release on that day, many of them high-priced box sets. Among the shows that have been planned to hit stores on that particular day are Will & Grace, Alias, Columbo, Without A Trace, American Dreams, Magnum P.I., Everwood, Keen Eddie, Angel, The Twlight Zone (2002), Are You Being Served? Again!, and a pair of Doctor Who releases.

Up until now, that list also including the most recent seasons for:
Law & Order - The 14th Year/2004 Season
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - The 5th Year/2004 Season
Law & Order: Criminal Intent - The 3rd Year/2004 Season

Now the first Tuesday in September doesn't include those three titles any longer. Universal Studios Home Video has pushed all three back 1 week, to a Sept. 14th street date. The 14th is a bit lighter than the 7th, with this change bringing the for-sure count of releases on that second Tuesday of the month to an even dozen, with a lower percentage of multi-disc box sets.

Still, that month is going to hit our wallets hard, with at least 50 TV-DVD titles scheduled for September debuts. The goal, of course, is to get these on the market, and on the public's mind, in time for the upcoming holiday gift-giving season. For those among our readers who are familiar with big-business accounting at all, then you'll also recognize that month as being part of a fiscal quarter in which businesses tend to want to see strong revenue numbers. It's going to be a very competitive month, though, as the TV-on-DVD market becomes saturated with tons of new stock. How will it fall out? Only time - and sales numbers - will tell. In the meantime, don't be surprised if more titles are rescheduled from this timeframe. If they are, we'll report on it, so stay tuned.

Many fans expressed disbelief that Universal Studios Home Video would do this: the original series has the first 2 seasons already out, and the 3rd was expected next. Likewise, both spin-offs had the rookie season in release, and the second season was expected to be the follow-up, especially where Criminal Intent is concerned, since it's only just finished airing its third season.

Not to worry, our sources say! Retail sources have confirmed what our thoughts were here all along: that NBC-Universal is trying to market on DVD the just-finished seasons of each show at the beginning of the Fall Premiere timeframe, to help promote the new seasons of each series. But for the next release of each show, current plans are to return to the in-order lineup of series, picking up where each show left off. The thinking is that there are fans who want the entire set of episodes from the very beginning of the run, but that there are also fans who want to see more of what's been happening recently with their current favorite characters.

So relax, sit back, and enjoy the latest that these fine shows have to offer. Here's a first look at the cover art of all three, clearly promoting that these are from the 2004 Season of the show. Hopefully we'll be back soon with full-size versions of each package:

• CARELESS (5-18) NBC ONLY
  06-05-2004 10:00PM
• SICK (5-18)
  06-08-2004 10:00PM
• HATE (5-13)
  06-15-2004 10:00PM
• RITUAL (5-14)
  06-22-2004 10:00PM
• FAMILIES (5-15)
  06-29-2004 10:00PM

• HEAD (5-25)
  - 05-18-04

  In the season finale, after being caught in the act of videotaping women in a Manhattan restroom, a disturbed voyeur informs Detectives Stabler (Christopher Meloni) and Benson (Mariska Hargitay) of a sexual assault against a minor whom he caught on tape -- changing the scope of their investigation as they now hunt for the pedophile. Based on the limited evidence from the videotape, the detectives attempt to retrace the events leading up to the assault and focus their attention on the victim's female school principal -- and are surprised to find that their suspect is preparing up a bizarre defense. Diane Neal, Dann Florek, Richard Belzer and Ice-T also star.

• BOUND (5-23)
  - 05-04-04

  When a wealthy senior citizen is found raped and murdered in her luxury brownstone apartment, Detectives Stabler (Christopher Meloni) and Benson (Mariska Hargitay) track down the victim's most recent gentlemen callers. However, when the homicide matches two previous senior murders, the detectives believe they have a serial killer on the loose, and attempt to find a connection between these victims. Dann Florek, Richard Belzer, Ice-T and Diane Neal also star.

• FAMILIES (5-15)
  - 05-08-04
• POISON (5-24)
  - 05-11-04

  The poisoning of couple's adopted son prompts Detectives Stabler (Christopher Meloni) and Benson (Mariska Hargitay) to suspect the child's mother based on testimony from her 6-year-old daughter that she abused the child. However, when prosecuting the case, A.D.A. Novak (Diane Neal) battles against an arrogant trial judge (guest star Tom Skerritt, "Picket Fences") with a reputation for holding himself as the true moral legal authority inn the New York City criminal justice system. Marlo Thomas ("That Girl"), Cynthia Gibb ("Fame") and Barry Bostwick ("Spin City") also guest-star. Dann Florek, Richard Belzer and Ice-T also star.

• HOME (5-16)
  - 05-15-04
• ESCAPE (5-11)
  - 05-18-04 airtime: 9:00pm
• HEAD (5-25)
  - 05-18-04

• RITUAL (5-14)
  - 05-01-04
• BOUND (5-23)
  - 05-04-04

  When a wealthy senior citizen is found raped and murdered in her luxury brownstone apartment, Detectives Stabler (Christopher Meloni) and Benson (Mariska Hargitay) track down the victim's most recent gentlemen callers. However, when the homicide matches two previous senior murders, the detectives believe they have a serial killer on the loose, and attempt to find a connection between these victims. Dann Florek, Richard Belzer, Ice-T and Diane Neal also star.

• FAMILIES (5-15)
  - 05-08-04
• POISON (5-24)
  - 05-11-04
• HEAD (5-25)
  - 05-18-04

• CRIMINAL (5-21)
  - 04-20-04

  The discovery of the body of criminology student who was raped and murdered leads Detectives Stabler (Christopher Meloni) and Benson (Mariska Hargitay) on the trail of rapist with an expert knowledge of forensics. However, when the victim's advisor turns out to be an ex-con whom Captain Cragen (Dann Florek) arrested as a teenager for murder and sexual assault, the squad focuses their investigation on this convicted killer. Richard Belzer, Ice-T and Diane Neal also star.

• PAINLESS (5-22)
  - 04-27-04

  When a team of maids stumbles across a female resident bound and nearly suffocated in her bed, Detectives Stabler (Christopher Meloni) and Benson (Mariska Hargitay) believe the woman to be a rape victim and search for her attacker. However, when the victim commits suicide while recovering the emergency room, the detectives discover the alleged rape was actually staged as part of a suicide pact the woman had with a local physician (guest star Marlee Matlin, "The West Wing"). Dann Florek, Richard Belzer, Ice-T and Diane Neal also star.

• RITUAL (5-14)
  - 05-01-04

  The discovery of the torso of a 7-year-old Nigerian boy leads Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) in search for a rogue Santeria practitioner reviving the old traditions of human-sacrifice. However, when the Detectives discover that the sacrifice could have been staged to hide a sex related homicide, they uncover an illegal slave smuggling business. Dann Florek, Richard Belzer, Ice-T and Diane Neal also star.

• BOUND (5-23)
  - 05-04-04
• POISON (5-24)
  - 05-11-04
• LAW (5-25)
  - no airdate set
• HEAD
  - 05-25-04 (tentative)

• CRIMINAL (5-21)
  - 04-20-04

  The discovery of the body of criminology student who was raped and murdered leads Detectives Stabler (Christopher Meloni) and Benson (Mariska Hargitay) on the trail of rapist with an expert knowledge of forensics. However, when the victim's advisor turns out to be an ex-con whom Captain Cragen (Dann Florek) arrested as a teenager for murder and sexual assault, the squad focuses their investigation on this convicted killer. Richard Belzer, Ice-T and Diane Neal also star.

• PAINLESS (5-22)
  - 04-27-04
• BOUND (5-23)
  - 05-04-04
• POISON (5-24)
  - 05-11-04
• LAW (5-25)
  - no airdate set
• HEAD
  - 05-25-04 (tentative)

• CRIMINAL (5-21)
  - 04-20-04
• PAINLESS (5-22)
  - 04-27-04
• BOUND (5-23)
  - no airdate set
• POISON (5-24)
  - 05-11-04
• LAW (5-25)
  - no airdate set
• HEAD
  - 05-25-04 (tentative)

• LOWDOWN (5-20)
  - 04-06-04

• CRIMINAL (5-21)
  - 04-20-04
• PAINLESS (5-22)
  - 04-27-04
• BOUND (5-23)
  - no airdate set
• POISON (5-24)
  - 05-11-04
• LAW (5-25)
  - 05-25-04 (tentative)

• LOWDOWN (5-20)
  - 04/06/04
  
  When a Bronx A.D.A. is found strangled to death in a compromising position while parked on a known hooker stroll, Detectives Stabler (Christopher Meloni) and Benson (Mariska Hargitay) examine the prosecutor's recent cases in search of any violent defendents with grudge. However, when DNA evidence raises questions as to the victim's sexual preference, the detectives are left examining a different set of motives for this murder. Dann Florek, Richard Belzer, Ice-T and Diane Neal also star.

• CRIMINAL (AKA RELAPSE) (5-21)
  - 04/20/04
• PAINLESS (5-22)
  - 04-27-04
• LAW (5-23)
  - no airdate set
• BOUND (5-24)
  - no airdate set
• POISON (5-25) SEASON FINALE
  - 05-25-04 (tentative)

• SICK (5-19)
  - 03/30/04
• LOWDOWN (5-20)
  - 04/06/04
• CRIMINAL (AKA RELAPSE) (5-21)
  - 04/20/04
• LAW (5-22)
  - no airdate set
• PAINLESS (5-23)
  - no airdate set
• BOUND (5-24)
  - no airdate set

Heather Tom (One Life to Live) will guest star on an upcoming episode of Law & Order: SVU. She'll serve as an interpreter for Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin.

• SICK (5-19)
  03-23-2003 10:00PM

  When Detectives Stabler (Christopher Meloni) and Benson (Mariska Hargitay) detain a disturbed 12-year-old boy with a recent history of violence after he posted a gruesome plan to hurt his younger sister in an Internet chat room, they discover the child was sexually abused. Searching for the victim's abuser, the detectives follow a trail of money back to a wealthy toy mogul known for his generous donations to children's charities and his hospitality for younger houseguests. Cindy Williams ("Laverne & Shirley") guest stars in the episode as a distraught grandmother who believes her terminally ill granddaughter might be one of the wealthy suspect's victims. Dann Florek, Richard Belzer, Ice-T and Diane Neal also star.

• CRIMINAL (AKA RELAPSE) (5-20)
  - no airdate set
• LAW (5-21)
  - no airdate set
• LOWDOWN (5-22)
  - no airdate set
• PAINLESS (5-23)
  - no airdate set
• BOUND (5-24)
  - no airdate set

HOME (5-16)
02-17-2003 10:00PM

When an upper Westside resident finds a young boy scavenging through his garbage looking for food, Detectives Stabler (Christopher Meloni) and Benson (Mariska Hargitay) track down the child's mother, believing him to be the victim of abuse. However, after the detectives interview the single mother, they discover she rules her home with a tight fist keeping a close watch on both her sons, sharing her paranoia over the dangers of the city with them. Dixie Carter ("Designing Women") also guest stars in the episode as Attorney Denise Brockmorton and Marlo Thomas ("That Girl") portrays a former judge gone into private practice who offers some sage advice. Dann Florek, Richard Belzer, Ice-T and Diane Neal also star.

MEAN (5-17)
02-24-2003 10:00PM

When a teenage girl is murdered, Detectives Stabler (Christopher Meloni) and Benson (Mariska Hargitay) search for a suspect. However, when they discover their victim was a fearsome high school bully who enjoyed tormenting other girls, the detectives are left with a school full of suspects. Dann Florek, Richard Belzer, Ice-T and Diane Neal also star.

CARELESS (5-18)
03-02-2003 10:00PM

When a child dies in the emergency room after allegedly passing out at a late night church, Detectives Tutuola (Ice T.) and Munch (Richard Belzer) discover the prayer vigil was held to extract the devil from the victim. However, when forensics uncovers the child was smothered to death prior to attending the service, Fin believes the death to the result of prolong child abuse and not faith healing. CCH Pounder ("The Shield") guest stars as the distraught foster mother of the slain child and Julie Hagerty ("Airplane!") portrays social worker Mariel Plummer. Dann Florek and Diane Neal also star.

RITUAL (5-14)
02-03-2003 10:00PM

The discovery of the torso of a 7-year-old Nigerian boy leads Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) in search for a rogue Santeria practitioner reviving the old traditions of human-sacrifice. However, when the Detectives discover that the sacrifice could have been staged to hide a sex related homicide, they uncover an illegal slave smuggling business. Dann Florek, Richard Belzer, Ice-T and Diane Neal also star.

FAMILIES (5-15)
02-10-2003 10:00PM

When the body of a murdered 16-year-old girl is uncovered in the middle of a rape arrest, Detectives Stabler (Christopher Meloni) and Benson (Mariska Hargitay) tract the victims final hours, in the process discovering she was pregnant. However, when a DNA test reveals the girl's pregnancy to be the product of incest, the detectives attempt to sort through possible suspects in her own family as well as that of her boyfriend. Dann Florek, Richard Belzer, Ice-T and Diane Neal also star.

• Ritual (5-14) will air February 3rd
• Families (5-15) will air February 10th -- pics
• Home (5-16) will air February 17th -- pics
• Careless (5-17) (no airdate)
• Mean (5-18) (no airdate)
• Sick (5-19) (no airdate)

Episodic Drama -- any length -- one airing time

• ABOMINATION (Law & Order: SVU), Written by Michele Fazekas & Tara Butters; NBC
• BOUNTY (Law & Order), Written by Michael S. Chernuchin; NBC
• DISASTER RELIEF (The West Wing), Teleplay by Alexa Junge, Story by Alexa Junge & Lauren Schmidt; NBC
• LOSS (Law & Order: SVU), Written by Michele Fazekas & Tara Butters; NBC
• PILOT (The O.C.), Written by Josh Schwartz; Fox
• 7:00 P.M. -- 8:00 P.M. (24), Written by Evan Katz; Fox

• Ritual (5-14) will air February 3rd
• Home (5-15) (no airdate)
• Careless (5-16) (no airdate)
• Mean (5-17) (no airdate)

• Choice is reairing Saturday, January 24th at 10pm on NBC
• Mother is apparently re-airing Tuesday, January 27th also at 10pm
• And finally, Abomination will re-air Saturday, January 31st... again at 10pm

HATE (5-13)
01-13-2004 10:00PM

Two young Arab-American women are found brutally raped and set on fire. Detectives Stabler (Christopher Meloni) and Benson (Mariska Hargitay) discover that both women went to the Interfaith Council and were trying to improve relations between Muslims, Jews and Americans. Detectives turn their sights to a paranoid war veteran who believes all Muslims are a threat to society. The veteran's flashy attorney (guest star Barry Bostwick) devises a highly unorthodox defense that puzzles A.D.A. Novak (Diane Neal). Ice-T, Richard Belzer and B.D. Wong also star.

When an infant disappears at a local park only to be discovered badly beaten in a group of nearby bushes, Detective Stabler -- partnered up with Captain Cragen -- searches for the child's attacker. However, when the victim's life-threatening injuries are determined to be the result of a violent shaking several days before the abduction, Stabler points his suspicion at the child's overworked single mother despite her declarations of love. Mariska Hargitay, Richard Belzer, B.D. Wong, Diane Neal and Ice-T also star.

When a convicted pedophile escapes from prison and heads to Manhattan to look up his former victim, Detective Benson teams up with her ex-boyfriend - U.S. Marshal Andy Eckerson (guest star Craig Bierko, Broadway's "Music Man") to hunt down the fugitive. However, when the pedophile kidnaps his now grown-up victim, Benson pressures his mother into revealing the convict whereabouts, only to find herself his hostage after a confrontation in a cheap motel on the Jersey Shore.