Law & Order (TV Series) Publish and Perish (2005) User Reviews

She's huge on the web. A top-tier adult video star.

[Mrpalli77 · 8/10 · 22 December 2017]

Two teenage boys were looking through binoculars at the building across the street before school. One of them noticed a woman in lingerie dead in her bedroom. The victim was shot in the chest and she was a well-known pornstar; she recently published a best selling book and that's why she went to New York (she's from LA), to promote her new second book. Her last editor held a grudge against her because the actress ran off to the competition; a local drug dealer put her at the crime scene and some blood stains belonged to the victim were found inside her car. Anyway, after she bailed out, someone shot her as well at close range in a parking garage. A corrupt cop turned up, a man who owed something to a police commissioner (Kevin Dunn): the plot becomes more and more twisted...

Nice episode, McCoy was two times harrassed by suspects: they should have known he doesn't like anyone giving him names.

Literary murder

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 29 July 2022]

"Publish and Perish" is not a new premise, mysteries centered around literature and publishing are very popular in this type of show. That doesn't stop the 'Law and Order' franchise from executing most of them to have this scenario very well. Season 15 was never terrible and considering the amount of change it underwent it could have been a lot worse than it turned out. It is interesting for the first appearance of the brief stint of Green's temporary replacement Imperioli.

Although not a consistent or exceptional episode, or even one of the best of the season, "Publish and Perish" has a lot that is impressive and it is pretty decent. Did have a few issues with it, none unfortumately small, and as far as Season 15 episodes (while up ad down none of the lesser episodes were terrible, all watchable at least) go it leans towards being in the lesser end. But a lot of the usual strengths can be seen in "Publish and Perish" at the same time.

Imperioli always struck me as a very bland temporary replacement for Green, his type of character has been done before so many times and there is no real spark and edge. The chemistry between him and Fontana doesn't gel, although it took a while for Fontana to settle his personality was pretty strong.

Did think that some of the story later on was on the over complicated side and that one of the murders was not necessary, truly silly and didn't make sense.

However, a lot is good. Other than Imperioli, the acting is very good. Particularly Sam Waterston. The script is intelligent, lean enough and thought-provoking on both sides of the arguments, although it doesn't quite have the extra spark. It is particularly good in the legal interactions. The story does pick up in the second half, where the material becomes richer.

Moreover, the production values are still fully professional, the slickness and subtly gritty style still remaining. The music is sparingly used and is haunting and thankfully non-overwrought. The direction shows some nice tension in the legal scenes.

In summary, not great but very worthwhile and with more than enough to show why 'Law and Order' was so great in its prime. 7/10.

What a love life

[bkoganbing · 3/10 · 5 October 2016]

A Marilyn Chambers/Georgina Spelvin type porn star is found shot to death with what is most likely her own licensed weapon from California and Dennis Farina and Michael Imperioli catch the case. This was the first of several episodes where Imperioli temporarily partners with Farina while Jesse Martin was filming Rent.

The gun is found and turned over to Farina and Imperioli who eventually make an arrest of Randy Page the publisher of a tell all book that the deceased had written. Then Page is shot to death.

Who gets increasingly more involved in this case is a former Police Commissioner Kevin Dunn who is up for a big time job with Homeland Security. He's got a lot of connections. To both women as well.

This was not one of the better episodes in the series. The second murder of Page was an incredibly stupid act. You'll see if you watch the episode.