Judge is completely right. The attorney was using his clients for his own purpose. As for the congressman even appearing in court, that could be seen as a violation of the separation of powers.
Separation of powers.... Yes and no. Not so fast on that conclusion, please. He was there as a citizen. He was not legislating. So, no breach there. Just undue use of influence for his own grandstanding., Call it unethical, but not illegal.
@@showcaseSampa if he's being introduced by the lawyer as a congressman, he's not just a citizen. If he had a connection to the case, and just happened to be a congressman that would be different. But his involvement and attachment to the incident is purely based on his political position, so it would be an overreach.
@@KappaKiller108 His involvement here was as a politician not a congressman despite being introduced with the title of congressman. A politician is just a citizen exercising their civil right to be involved in politics. That fact that he was a politician using the title of congressman is irrelevant no matter if that title was earned or not. If he had been interjecting himself in the lawful proceeding of the court by abusing the function of his position within the legislative branch then that would be a violation of the separation of powers but that is not the case here. All he did was talk. Talking is not a function of the office he holds any more than breathing is; he can talk in court just as much as any citizen can. Of course the judge was correct in her ruling: The lawyer had no cause to call on the congressman to speak at the hearing, especially after the judge had already made her ruling. However that fault is on the lawyer more than it is on the witness. The lawyer should have known better (and probably did know better) than to do what he did so the judge was more than justified in ruling the way she did. Admonishing the lawyer for what he did was entirely justified.
@@g00gleminus96Couldn’t that lawyer be disbarred for doing the opposite of representing his clients for their best interest? He basically betrayed them.
Totally true, he was not even making a legal argument in their defense and instead just reiterating the Congressman's talking points. As for the Congressman I agree he had no standing and should not have been allowed to speak.
One of the best episodes ever. Scripting was a gem. I still recall the Judge from the bench chiding ....” Thread lightly Mr ....I am becoming annoyed “. And her scowling eyes, priceless.
That defense lawyer knew she was right on all accounts, and knew damned well that she wouldn't hesitate to knock his ass down if he pushed too hard. Amazing scene.
@@Swarm509 That's why he didn't say anything after the sentence was given because he knew that the judge was on the verge of blowing up on them. Of course, big mouthed Congressman Eden just HAD to run his mouth for the sake of grandstanding.
Me too. Paul Robinette also deserves credit too. Justice applies to everyone, and if you think that just because you have a particular skin pigment that you should get some leniency, then you're in a whole realm of idiocy.
@@foolslayer9416 ...not only are you right, but absolutely right 100%. Justice serves, and is supposed to serve, everyone. While watching these clips I was thinking about how George Floyd might have been scripted into this sort of episode back then...and I was inwardly shuddering at the supposed repercussions, script or no script...
@@terencedove5047 George Floyd's death had the exact same scenario as this situation. The only difference was that politicians didn't start cowering. Racial rights should not be acknowledged in a lie. Those rights will be lost the moment the world is informed of those lies or someone acknowledges those lies. Martin Luther King stood up for the likes of Rosa Parks that just wanted to seat where she was comfortable, the 6 black women and men that just wanted to sit in a diner and eat or the employee that didn't want to go to a different bathroom because of their skin colour. George Floyd's death was unfortunate but not as a poster boy for minorities rights. Intelligent people can clearly see that he was resisting arrest and the circumstances of his death is still unclear.
@@shahidulkhan9566 Wholeheartedly agree. He didn't deserve to die, of course, but that man was no hero and it sickens me to see him revered as one. If he'd been white the reaction would have probably been "Well, that's too bad but good riddance." Not long before that happened, a black man threw a white child from the top level of the Mall of America because he was in a bad mood. And big shock... no protests, no riots, no paying that child's family millions in restitution. As far as I'm concerned, we were basically being told that innocent white child's life was worth nothing compared to a criminal just because the criminal was black and the kid wasn't.
I like how Robinette carries himself here. He is facing down the dad and Eden who are both bigger than him physically and politically, respectively. But he exudes this presence that overpowers them and does so successfully because of his confidence and body language. It is supported by the fact that the case was started on false pretenses. Also by the fact that he knows these people. He understands their background, general history, and how they think. He has that cultural experience
I love the Judge in this scene: The congressman stands up and tries to impugn her, only for her to verbally saw his legs off from underneath him. Also, the actress has a great expression at 2:34 that says "Oh, I'm sorry, you thought this was my first rodeo?!"
Well, no matter how many ways you look at it. You can't always hide beyond Black Lives Matter. Sometimes I think they forget the world is made up of many different types of people and they would also have a rough time too.
When he called him the N word as if he was a traitor. He is the freaking traitor. The guy that played the bad guy in the crow city of Angel's shined in this episode. Those eyes though. Knives!
Fancy words can be twisted. Good intentions can be grown in deceit. I'd rather use truth as a blunt force instrument than try and work around a lie with a scalpel.
@@anndeecosita3586 I don't remember what episode it was, but I vaguely recall a Law & Order episode with a pre-fame Viola Davis using the word with a -ka at the end instead of the hard R or -ga.
As she should. He was there as a citizen, but he pressured her as a congressman. She stood for separation of powers, the independence of her function as a judge and her power to decide matters that come to her
The more false evidence in favor of a claim, the more it will look like there is no real evidence. People need to learn that, when the example they've been running with turns out to be fraudulent, that doesn't mean their claim is
@@wessltovyou're right. But when built upon a false foundation, other similar claims that are real are cast under a bad light. It builds a lot more doubt in the minds of people which does a disservice to the real claims
The system isn't perfect, no system is. But this congressman obviously doesn't know the real Ben Stone. Stone doesn't care what color someone is. If you commit crime he's going to prosecute you. Black, white, asian, muslim, hispanic, slavic; it's all the same to Stone. If he doesn't like you, it's because of your actions, not the color of your skin, cast of your eyes or any other such nonsense. That's why I always liked the character. He's one of the most non-racist people I've ever seen.
He and Dann Florek were axed because the show needed women for balance. Too bad Brooks was not a part of SVU or Criminal Intent, he would have been excellent.
@@generatorx By that point though he'd already done some cameos as a defense attorney. His entire personality & viewpoint had done a full 180, almost in agreement with this congressman.
@@diosoth The character was written that way for his return, of course, but I always though of it as an FU to the guys who got rid of him. There was a seen with him and Claire that made it clear that they were and had been friends which was interesting.
I agree with Paul, he's spent his adult life trying to help his fellow Blacks out by fighting for change from within the system while promoting racial equality and how is he thanked for it by large numbers of his people? By being called a sellout, a traitor to his people, an oreo, a corrupt puppet of Whites, etc. People like Congressmen Eden /the politician fanning the flames/ seem to think that the only "true" Blacks are ones who want to tear down the existing system and replace it with ones where Blacks either rule and oppress Whites or where only Blacks exist and White people are all dead and burning in Hell......
What the writers made Robinette say at the end about hearts and minds is so true. And the Tawana Brawley tactic of *falsely* blaming the majority who's suspicious of your ability to function in society is stupider than I can possibly imagine.
Robinette came back a couple times in guest spots as defense counsel in later seasons. Saw these early seasons recently on Sundance TV. Good stuff. Greevey/Logan and Stone/Robinette are aces.
Yes, I never really understood why people slept on Robinette. The original cast is the best because if they had never made it work, there would be no spinoffs or 20 seasons of L&O.
Loved Robinette's time as an A.D.A. and was sorry to see him go. I was ecstatic when I heard he was coming back in season 6 in a guest spot.....but I did NOT like the change in him once he became a defense attorney. He became too much like the congressman in this episode for my liking. (SPOILER ALERT) In Custody in season 6, he practically blackmailed a judge to recuse himself from the case based on some racist remarks the judge supposedly had made in an old case Robinette had worked on with Ben Stone. This is a tactic that the congressman in this episode would have thoroughly approved of. Stone had the right idea at the end of this episode that Robinette should think of himself as a lawyer who happened to be black, not a black man who's a lawyer. Unfortunately, at the end of Custody, Robinette tells McCoy for a long time he agreed with Stone, but has now reached the opinion that he was wrong, he was just a black man who happened to be an attorney. I always wondered what had happened to Robinette to make him change his point of view.
Layer: justice silenced is justice denied Judge: oh this should be good Loved that lady. She was incredible and I think those people needed the perspective
How are there no comments about the look the judge gave when the prosecution asked for jail time to be delayed? That look of knowing and respect from the actress in .5 seconds is gold.
The first couple seasons of L&O had some of the best episodes. I miss this show. I can't stand the SVU crap, I miss good police work AND legal wrangling in my crime dramas.
by far one of my most favorite episodes; powerfully scripted and wonderfully portrayed by the a talented cast of actors. I could watch this clip many times and not tire of it...
Looking back on a great series there are a lot of stand out moments, and this is among one the of the best. Acted well and important issues discussed. No solutions because the issues haven't been resolved, but it made it clear that we have to continue moving forward together.
Sometimes the saddest and toughest part about confronting racism is how difficult it can be to tell who the actual racists really are. Funny how racism can actually transcend skin color.
It’s why I roll my eyes when I see fellow black people say “black people can’t be racist because racism is a form of systematic power”. Like no, racism exists in all forms and colors. And it saddens me how on social media you see hundreds of black people being openly racist but have no idea that they are being racist.
Close to 70 percent of White Americans had a negative view of MLK in 1966, two years before a White man killed him. You only like King now because he’s dead.
@@giovannirastrelli9821 I mean it's likely if King were still alive he'd be respected now. It's less that he's dead and more that 50-60 years has passed and the country has changed its mindset. But in King's day most white people didn't like him. Their attitude towards him mirrors attitudes toward the Black Lives Matter movement today. MLK was also far more radical than the way he's presented today.
Lesson to be learned...... Don't ever cross an educated black momma on her wrong side,, judge or not judge, you are going to get a tong lash from her to set you back to the floor. Mind and mince your words, that is the subliminal lesson.
I am a Big Fan of the Original Law and Order, but I don't remember ever seeing this Episode. Someone told me on the Comments that TNT doesn't show a lot of the first season of the Original Law and Order. This is obviously based on the Tawana Brawley incident.
Racism is alive and well unfortunately, and there have been people on all sides who've tried to manipulate it or lie about it to further big or small goals. It's ugly, sad, but true
Paul Robinette was definitely one of the most interesting characters in the show. I wish he appeared more often after he left the DA's office and went into private practice.
This episode seems loosely based on the Tawana Brawley case in New York from 1986. And Robinette's strong words to the (based on Al Sharpton) congressman contain more than just a bit of truth. Too bad Sharpton himself hasn't changed much since then.
I've seen pretty much every episode of the first twenty seasons...this was, in my opinion, the best-every actor was so present and you could honestly feel their hurt and struggles...I've always felt his line...King, walked with the angles...was the greatest line of the entire series...this was such a powerful episode!!
Fun fact. Two characters appeared in ever episode of Law & Order. Robinette and Stone. They are on the steps of the courthouse during the opening credits.
Yeah ... I remember thinking that in all the years, they never re-shot the intro to the show ... just changed the actors at the end walking down a corridor
Law and Order the early seasons is great !!! Great cast !!! Great acting !!!! Great set locations !!! Great writing, just from this scene !!! The main character is the story.
The scenes.. That pelt coat search through the garment district. NY as its finest, a mix of posh and derelict, a far cry from the sanitized and posh gentrified self it became.
No they aren't a lot of people still like Special Victims Unit but they also like the original as well. You know I see you video after video talking shit about Special Victims Unit. And like I've said before when you have to talk shit about another show to make yours look better you make your show look shittier in response.
It's probably somewhat based on it, or something quite like it. Law and Order in all it's iterations was/is famous (infamous?) for using events "ripped from the headlines" to quote the trope to inform and inspire their episodes.
In the 80's? That pompous little punk was spreading his victimhood crap well into the 2000's, basically telling black Americans they would never amount to anything, even after we had a black President. He didn't stop his poverty pimp speeches until the police officers in NY were murdered by one of his followers. He was threatened with legal action for indirectly inciting the murders, and he ran for cover, leaving the moms of several gun-victims standing alone at the podium.
I saw this episode for the first time when I was around 10. Robinette’s rebuttal of the race-baiting Jesse Jackson stand-in set my entire attitude on race for the whole of my life. Let those with hatred in their hearts die and their hatred with them. “We’re in the hearts and minds stage.” Powerful sentiments that stick with me to this day. It’s sad to see how far backwards we’ve gone these days.
One of the best Law and Order episodes EVER! And unfortunately it is likely true that it would never be allowed to air today. Only because it is so true. :)
Well, once the network bigwigs then must've given some artistic latitude, from the pilot to season 1-2. Once the series took off and became a gravy train for producers, advertisers, you know it is bound to get meddled and diluted. Advertisers pay the bills, and they are going to have a say, not for the show artistic quality's best interest. So much is true, Michael Moriarty left, and last I heard, he was running acting workshops for wannabe playwright artists.
Season One was far and away the best of the series. And while all the other principal actors were superb, Richard Brooks really elevated these episodes. The show went from the best television ever to "just" superior televison when it losts Brooks (and Moriarity).
I like both Robinette and Stone's presence in Law and Order. The first few seasons with these two, Reeves, Logan, Cerreta, Cragen and Hill were the best.
Fun fact - there are two characters who appeared in every episode of L&O. It's Stone and Robinette. They are on the court steps in the opening sequence.
@@anon6116 It depends on what you mean by that statement. If you're talking about the blatant racism of the far left Antifa types, I'd agree. But if you're talking about regular Americans, I would not.
@@crucisnh Whine about stupid antifa all you want, but don't ignore Charlottesville, corruption among the police force, or actual hate crimes still going on today.
@@juliantapia1407 Who IGNORES Charlottesville? The media brought it up every change they got because morons who should have been removed from the evolutionary chain kept taking a quote by the 45th president out of context in regard to the incident. I see them ignoring the statistics about Asian hate crimes (it's not white people who commit the majority). I see them ignoring the fact that Floyd autonomous zone is has become a ghetto. I see them ignore the fact that Antifa is STILL committing acts of violence in Seattle and Portland. Defunding the police only hurts the black community.
This episode is incredible. It’s so true that we can’t go all in one direction or another. Not everything should be white and not everything should be black. We forgotten that we need balance and harmony. My mama would tell me that revenge is not sweeter than equality. I hope we can live in a world where people can trust each other. I could just cry for humanity.
All the way to 3:04 both the congressman and the lawyer really pissed me off with the judge and I'm black. Hate it when people try to the race card that's have no purpose in their case. Don't try cause civil matter in a race just to save your tail and may start a race riot. And that's to everyone
I have several tv heroes: Alexander Scott, Sgt. James “Kinch” Kinchloe, Barney Collier, Lt. Uhura, Theodore “TC” Calvin, Elijah Morgan, Captain Ben Sisko, and Captain Raymond Holt. I’m adding Paul Robinette to that list.
Judge is completely right. The attorney was using his clients for his own purpose. As for the congressman even appearing in court, that could be seen as a violation of the separation of powers.
Separation of powers.... Yes and no. Not so fast on that conclusion, please. He was there as a citizen. He was not legislating. So, no breach there. Just undue use of influence for his own grandstanding.,
Call it unethical, but not illegal.
@@showcaseSampa if he's being introduced by the lawyer as a congressman, he's not just a citizen.
If he had a connection to the case, and just happened to be a congressman that would be different.
But his involvement and attachment to the incident is purely based on his political position, so it would be an overreach.
@@KappaKiller108 His involvement here was as a politician not a congressman despite being introduced with the title of congressman. A politician is just a citizen exercising their civil right to be involved in politics. That fact that he was a politician using the title of congressman is irrelevant no matter if that title was earned or not. If he had been interjecting himself in the lawful proceeding of the court by abusing the function of his position within the legislative branch then that would be a violation of the separation of powers but that is not the case here. All he did was talk. Talking is not a function of the office he holds any more than breathing is; he can talk in court just as much as any citizen can.
Of course the judge was correct in her ruling: The lawyer had no cause to call on the congressman to speak at the hearing, especially after the judge had already made her ruling. However that fault is on the lawyer more than it is on the witness. The lawyer should have known better (and probably did know better) than to do what he did so the judge was more than justified in ruling the way she did. Admonishing the lawyer for what he did was entirely justified.
@@g00gleminus96Couldn’t that lawyer be disbarred for doing the opposite of representing his clients for their best interest? He basically betrayed them.
Totally true, he was not even making a legal argument in their defense and instead just reiterating the Congressman's talking points. As for the Congressman I agree he had no standing and should not have been allowed to speak.
“Cut the crap, Congressman. There are no cameras here.”
Then how are we seeing it?
Lol your logic is impeccable.
@@adriansrealm Good one.
Politicians nowadays get their powers from the abundance of leering eyes, not truth.
@@adriansrealm Because the cameraman is always invisible. 🤷🏿♂️
I learned that from every social media video on earth. 🤨
"You beat her again, I'll come at you every way I know how." Damn right.
I loved this part!!!!
Yeeeessss!!!!
Deep
✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿
so he moved to baltimore and became the chief of police
"King walked with the angels, you slide on slime with your belly to get what you want."
Dang that's a good line
Describes sharpton and jackson to a T
@@hint0122 and anyone else claiming "Social Justice" for that matter...
@@RavenheartIndustries Seriously?! 🙄🙄🙄
And the way Richard Brooks said the line was perfect.
@@blf112761 a phenomenal actor, love his moments like this.
One of the best episodes ever. Scripting was a gem. I still recall the Judge from the bench chiding ....” Thread lightly Mr ....I am becoming annoyed “. And her scowling eyes, priceless.
Never annoy a judge! :D
That defense lawyer knew she was right on all accounts, and knew damned well that she wouldn't hesitate to knock his ass down if he pushed too hard. Amazing scene.
I felt that line from here.
Antonio Costa i can tell u like L&O cuz i see your comments everywhere
@@Swarm509 That's why he didn't say anything after the sentence was given because he knew that the judge was on the verge of blowing up on them. Of course, big mouthed Congressman Eden just HAD to run his mouth for the sake of grandstanding.
The judge really set the congressman straight!
She sure did.
Me too. Paul Robinette also deserves credit too. Justice applies to everyone, and if you think that just because you have a particular skin pigment that you should get some leniency, then you're in a whole realm of idiocy.
@@foolslayer9416 ...not only are you right, but absolutely right 100%. Justice serves, and is supposed to serve, everyone. While watching these clips I was thinking about how George Floyd might have been scripted into this sort of episode back then...and I was inwardly shuddering at the supposed repercussions, script or no script...
@@terencedove5047 George Floyd's death had the exact same scenario as this situation. The only difference was that politicians didn't start cowering. Racial rights should not be acknowledged in a lie. Those rights will be lost the moment the world is informed of those lies or someone acknowledges those lies. Martin Luther King stood up for the likes of Rosa Parks that just wanted to seat where she was comfortable, the 6 black women and men that just wanted to sit in a diner and eat or the employee that didn't want to go to a different bathroom because of their skin colour. George Floyd's death was unfortunate but not as a poster boy for minorities rights. Intelligent people can clearly see that he was resisting arrest and the circumstances of his death is still unclear.
@@shahidulkhan9566 Wholeheartedly agree. He didn't deserve to die, of course, but that man was no hero and it sickens me to see him revered as one. If he'd been white the reaction would have probably been "Well, that's too bad but good riddance." Not long before that happened, a black man threw a white child from the top level of the Mall of America because he was in a bad mood. And big shock... no protests, no riots, no paying that child's family millions in restitution. As far as I'm concerned, we were basically being told that innocent white child's life was worth nothing compared to a criminal just because the criminal was black and the kid wasn't.
I like how Robinette carries himself here. He is facing down the dad and Eden who are both bigger than him physically and politically, respectively. But he exudes this presence that overpowers them and does so successfully because of his confidence and body language. It is supported by the fact that the case was started on false pretenses. Also by the fact that he knows these people. He understands their background, general history, and how they think. He has that cultural experience
Robinette was such a wonderful character
@@missaniebananie6473totally agree he was amazing
Richard Brooks has a great presence in this.
Robinette was never one to handle things without being smart about it.
Robinette had balls, either as a DA or as a defense attorney later. Really solid character and really well acted.
I love the Judge in this scene: The congressman stands up and tries to impugn her, only for her to verbally saw his legs off from underneath him. Also, the actress has a great expression at 2:34 that says "Oh, I'm sorry, you thought this was my first rodeo?!"
Bojack727 lmao the judge slapped his ass down and it was glorious to watch
As my mentor once said to me. Often the best way to use the truth is as a blunt force instrument.
Fool Slayer Your mentor is sharper than a katana.
Truly a popcorn moment!
Well, no matter how many ways you look at it. You can't always hide beyond Black Lives Matter. Sometimes I think they forget the world is made up of many different types of people and they would also have a rough time too.
When he called him the N word as if he was a traitor. He is the freaking traitor. The guy that played the bad guy in the crow city of Angel's shined in this episode. Those eyes though. Knives!
Fancy words can be twisted. Good intentions can be grown in deceit. I'd rather use truth as a blunt force instrument than try and work around a lie with a scalpel.
The Crow City of Angels? That's a deeeeeep cut
I didn't expect to hear that word used in a tv show, it's usually a movie thing
@@o.g.francis9361Usually but I have heard it on tv shows a few times.
@@anndeecosita3586 I don't remember what episode it was, but I vaguely recall a Law & Order episode with a pre-fame Viola Davis using the word with a -ka at the end instead of the hard R or -ga.
That judge took no crap from the congressman. Respect for that judge.
As she should. He was there as a citizen, but he pressured her as a congressman. She stood for separation of powers, the independence of her function as a judge and her power to decide matters that come to her
Bruh. Robinette really lit it up in this episode. What a powerful scene at the end.
And a great cinematic choice to select that particular diner with the street scene outside the windows. It really captured the mood.
@@lucygray6162 Great way to end this episode!
Robinette was hot!!!🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Indeed!!!
It is funny a year ago I saw this and I was like you get him judge. How after so many events in the wold the congressmen has a point.
9:05 - 9:20. 20 + plus years after that line was said. Still the best statement to end an episode of Law and Order.
Totally. The acting makes it really flow well.
Season one is one of the best.
@@gawainethefirst Yup!
Over 30 actually, time to get out the walker, my fellow grannies and grandpas 😂
There's also the fact that this guy just made life a lot harder for real victims by spotlighting a false report.
The more false evidence in favor of a claim, the more it will look like there is no real evidence.
People need to learn that, when the example they've been running with turns out to be fraudulent, that doesn't mean their claim is
@@wessltovyou're right. But when built upon a false foundation, other similar claims that are real are cast under a bad light. It builds a lot more doubt in the minds of people which does a disservice to the real claims
@@rafsolototally agree
The system isn't perfect, no system is. But this congressman obviously doesn't know the real Ben Stone. Stone doesn't care what color someone is. If you commit crime he's going to prosecute you. Black, white, asian, muslim, hispanic, slavic; it's all the same to Stone. If he doesn't like you, it's because of your actions, not the color of your skin, cast of your eyes or any other such nonsense. That's why I always liked the character. He's one of the most non-racist people I've ever seen.
Dude, muslim is a religion, not a race. Not every arab is a muslim, far from it.
@@randallflagg3700 You're right. There are plenty of Southeast Asians that are muslims.
Congressman Eden didn't care what Stone was like, he just wanted to advance his career and used everyone in his attempts to do so.
ryan macdonald stone was great, a times too idealistic. One of the the best DA.
Nah
Robinette makes me want to watch the whole season 1. His character and performance is amazing.
Richard Brooks is an excellent actor.
He and Dann Florek were axed because the show needed women for balance. Too bad Brooks was not a part of SVU or Criminal Intent, he would have been excellent.
@@generatorx By that point though he'd already done some cameos as a defense attorney. His entire personality & viewpoint had done a full 180, almost in agreement with this congressman.
@@diosoth The character was written that way for his return, of course, but I always though of it as an FU to the guys who got rid of him. There was a seen with him and Claire that made it clear that they were and had been friends which was interesting.
@Bub the Zombie He was also cast as a villain last episode of Firefly - he did a great job of playing a stone sociopath.
"And everyone thinks I'm a damn oreo!" 😂 oh man Robinette was one of the best.
Living in northern europe. What is meaning of this Oreo thing? It's a kind of cookie?
@@ichijiroo yes it's a cookie but think about what an original Oreo looks like and there's your answer.
@@ichijiroo Looks "Black" on the outside, acts "White" on the inside.
I agree with Paul, he's spent his adult life trying to help his fellow Blacks out by fighting for change from within the system while promoting racial equality and how is he thanked for it by large numbers of his people? By being called a sellout, a traitor to his people, an oreo, a corrupt puppet of Whites, etc.
People like Congressmen Eden /the politician fanning the flames/ seem to think that the only "true" Blacks are ones who want to tear down the existing system and replace it with ones where Blacks either rule and oppress Whites or where only Blacks exist and White people are all dead and burning in Hell......
I shouldn't find it funny watching a pot call a kettle _white,_ but I do.
I'm no defense attorney, but even I know talking that way to a judge leads to nothing but trouble.
Judge at 1:08 -- "I'm becoming annoyed."
At 2:09 -- She's annoyed...
2:26 -- Very annoyed!
Ostsol She basically said “Try Jesus, not me”.
What the writers made Robinette say at the end about hearts and minds is so true. And the Tawana Brawley tactic of *falsely* blaming the majority who's suspicious of your ability to function in society is stupider than I can possibly imagine.
Richard Brooks was always excellent whenever they gave him something of substance to work with. Excellent charismatic actor there!
Keep these 90s L&O clips coming.
Robinette came back a couple times in guest spots as defense counsel in later seasons. Saw these early seasons recently on Sundance TV. Good stuff. Greevey/Logan and Stone/Robinette are aces.
Yes, I never really understood why people slept on Robinette. The original cast is the best because if they had never made it work, there would be no spinoffs or 20 seasons of L&O.
I really liked him when he came back as a defense attorney pointing out the inequality still in the system. Fighting for justice still.
I liked the original crew.
Stone, Robinette, and all the original cops. Even Cragen.
@@TheBatugan77 they were good, but I also liked Paul Sorvino and Jill Hennessy too.
Ha ha ha.
Loved Robinette's time as an A.D.A. and was sorry to see him go. I was ecstatic when I heard he was coming back in season 6 in a guest spot.....but I did NOT like the change in him once he became a defense attorney. He became too much like the congressman in this episode for my liking.
(SPOILER ALERT) In Custody in season 6, he practically blackmailed a judge to recuse himself from the case based on some racist remarks the judge supposedly had made in an old case Robinette had worked on with Ben Stone.
This is a tactic that the congressman in this episode would have thoroughly approved of.
Stone had the right idea at the end of this episode that Robinette should think of himself as a lawyer who happened to be black, not a black man who's a lawyer.
Unfortunately, at the end of Custody, Robinette tells McCoy for a long time he agreed with Stone, but has now reached the opinion that he was wrong, he was just a black man who happened to be an attorney.
I always wondered what had happened to Robinette to make him change his point of view.
What an amazing judge! The system is not perfect whether you're white, black or yellow. This is my most favorite episode.
9:08 BEST five words in the entire series...."King, walked with the angels!" And, so he does now!
Both the Defense Attorney and Congressmen Etan were very lucky they didn’t wind up being held in contempt, as well.
Layer: justice silenced is justice denied
Judge: oh this should be good
Loved that lady. She was incredible and I think those people needed the perspective
The guy who plays the lawyer (can’t think of his name) is such an incredible actor. He speaks with such confidence. It’s wonderful!
How are there no comments about the look the judge gave when the prosecution asked for jail time to be delayed? That look of knowing and respect from the actress in .5 seconds is gold.
"We're at the hearts and minds stage" beautiful words. Words we need right now.
You think because a Black man said it, it means a Black man wrote it, directed it, thought it?
@@kernalbert4939 I did not notice them mention skin color.
@@masteroftheuniverse9929 You don't have to mention it when there is a visual. It's two Black men talking contextually and conceptually about race...
@@kernalbert4939 You mentioned race in regards to who wrote it, directed it, thought it.
@@masteroftheuniverse9929 Yup.
Go Robinette!! one of the best scenes I've seen on the show yet.
The first couple seasons of L&O had some of the best episodes. I miss this show. I can't stand the SVU crap, I miss good police work AND legal wrangling in my crime dramas.
Jamie Garrity you look so beautiful.
Jamie Garrity did you graduate from high school back in 2006?
Jamie Garrity do you wear a Size 10 or Size 12 Shoe and Flip Flop?
Jamie Garrity did you graduate from high school back in 2006?
Robinette was a great character, and I missed him when he left. He helped make the show!
by far one of my most favorite episodes; powerfully scripted and wonderfully portrayed by the a talented cast of actors. I could watch this clip many times and not tire of it...
Looking back on a great series there are a lot of stand out moments, and this is among one the of the best. Acted well and important issues discussed. No solutions because the issues haven't been resolved, but it made it clear that we have to continue moving forward together.
Robinette is an absolute suffer no fools badass. And Richard Brooks rocks. He's my fav.
You consider him to be one of "THE GOOD ONES", huh?
This episode speaks volumes to what’s been happening the last few months . I wish all people would watch this
Sometimes the saddest and toughest part about confronting racism is how difficult it can be to tell who the actual racists really are. Funny how racism can actually transcend skin color.
It’s why I roll my eyes when I see fellow black people say “black people can’t be racist because racism is a form of systematic power”. Like no, racism exists in all forms and colors. And it saddens me how on social media you see hundreds of black people being openly racist but have no idea that they are being racist.
Robinette makes a good point at the end. Martin Luther King, Jr. would’ve been mortified by the actions of Tawana Brawley and Al Sharpton.
Close to 70 percent of White Americans had a negative view of MLK in 1966, two years before a White man killed him. You only like King now because he’s dead.
Jamaal Shelton Sure, Jan.
@@giovannirastrelli9821 I mean it's likely if King were still alive he'd be respected now. It's less that he's dead and more that 50-60 years has passed and the country has changed its mindset. But in King's day most white people didn't like him. Their attitude towards him mirrors attitudes toward the Black Lives Matter movement today. MLK was also far more radical than the way he's presented today.
@@giovannirastrelli9821 “Jan.” Their name is Jamaal, Harold.
@@Bheliar *woosh*
UGH THAT JUDGE IS SO AMAZING!!! 🙏🏻🙌🏻
“The witness will address this court as Judge or Your Honor. I’m pretty sure I’VE earned that! Take your seat, colonel.”
I loved that entire scene. A Few Good Men, one of my favorite movies.
Lesson to be learned...... Don't ever cross an educated black momma on her wrong side,, judge or not judge, you are going to get a tong lash from her to set you back to the floor.
Mind and mince your words, that is the subliminal lesson.
I love that this show was never afraid to be honest and tell a good story.
This was really good. The conversation in the diner, priceless.
I have always thought that Paul Robinette was one of the best characters on TV and Richard Brooks just nails it !!!
Judge Crutcher exudes EXTREME “You picked the wrong judge on the wrong day” energy.
I truly love judges that take no bullshit and take their jobs as they are. Show ones and real ones.
I am a Big Fan of the Original Law and Order, but I don't remember ever seeing this Episode. Someone told me on the Comments that TNT doesn't show a lot of the first season of the Original Law and Order. This is obviously based on the Tawana Brawley incident.
What's the Tawana incident.
@@celsiuskelvon6328 - Tawana Brawley Incident. YOu should be able to Google that or go to Wikipedia to find out the informaiton you need.
Celsius Kelvon She supposedly faked a racial attack on herself that gained national attention (that’s the simplest summary but it’s worth a google)
Obviously
They show them all now.
That was amazing. That last part was so good. That last exchange would fit in with today’s issues perfectly.
The world could use this episode today for sure talk about dividing president's the past 20 years have been dividing
Racism is alive and well unfortunately, and there have been people on all sides who've tried to manipulate it or lie about it to further big or small goals. It's ugly, sad, but true
@@juliantapia1407 Which is why Americans deciding to elect a segregationist with dementia as the 46th is funny.
6:28: "you beat her again, I'll come at you every way I know how." dam,. that's good stuff!
Paul Robinette was definitely one of the most interesting characters in the show. I wish he appeared more often after he left the DA's office and went into private practice.
This episode seems loosely based on the Tawana Brawley case in New York from 1986. And Robinette's strong words to the (based on Al Sharpton) congressman contain more than just a bit of truth. Too bad Sharpton himself hasn't changed much since then.
He lost weight, last time I checked.
I've seen pretty much every episode of the first twenty seasons...this was, in my opinion, the best-every actor was so present and you could honestly feel their hurt and struggles...I've always felt his line...King, walked with the angles...was the greatest line of the entire series...this was such a powerful episode!!
Captain Montgomery from "Castle" dropping in on the "Law and Order" world. Love it!
Fun fact. Two characters appeared in ever episode of Law & Order. Robinette and Stone. They are on the steps of the courthouse during the opening credits.
Prove it. Whenever someone starts with "Fun fact" it's usually not very fun and seldom a fact.
@@FIREBRAND38 He's not lying. It's from the 1st season.
Yeah ... I remember thinking that in all the years, they never re-shot the intro to the show ... just changed the actors at the end walking down a corridor
@@aggressiveattitudeera887 hfjfjfufhhur
Paul was a great character in the show.
Law and Order the early seasons is great !!! Great cast !!! Great acting !!!! Great set locations !!! Great writing, just from this scene !!! The main character is the story.
The scenes.. That pelt coat search through the garment district. NY as its finest, a mix of posh and derelict, a far cry from the sanitized and posh gentrified self it became.
I wish they made Brooks ADA in the series. He was phenomenal.
Just release the original streaming somewhere. It's easy money. People are tired of special victims and want to go back to old fashioned police work.
No they aren't a lot of people still like Special Victims Unit but they also like the original as well. You know I see you video after video talking shit about Special Victims Unit. And like I've said before when you have to talk shit about another show to make yours look better you make your show look shittier in response.
So far as I can find, it's for sell by season on Amazon prime and by the episode on RUclips.
RexTheDinosaur1 >actually looking through another commentors channel
@hiddenhandmusic okay thanks
That’s why it continues to draw ratings hmm ... yeah people totally dislike it I’m one of the new viewers.
It's stories like this that I really miss.
I wish judges were like her 😇
This and Homicide: Life on the Street.
Best cop shows ever. NOT an opinion.
You ever hear of Flashpoint? I'd say it deserves to be right up there.
I wish I could like this more than once. Where have these writers, actors and directors capable of making such brilliant television all gone?
this reminds me of the Al Sharpton thing back in the 80s.
It's probably somewhat based on it, or something quite like it. Law and Order in all it's iterations was/is famous (infamous?) for using events "ripped from the headlines" to quote the trope to inform and inspire their episodes.
@@1stAres it's actually 100% based on Tawana Brawley.
In the 80's? That pompous little punk was spreading his victimhood crap well into the 2000's, basically telling black Americans they would never amount to anything, even after we had a black President. He didn't stop his poverty pimp speeches until the police officers in NY were murdered by one of his followers. He was threatened with legal action for indirectly inciting the murders, and he ran for cover, leaving the moms of several gun-victims standing alone at the podium.
@@lucygray6162 That's why I have no patience for the "Reverand" Al Sharpton.
Levi Bradley he was just breaking balls
"The press will print other people's speculations, but they won't print their own."
How times have changed.
The judge is awesome 😎
This episode is sadly still relevant in this day and age.
I saw this episode for the first time when I was around 10. Robinette’s rebuttal of the race-baiting Jesse Jackson stand-in set my entire attitude on race for the whole of my life.
Let those with hatred in their hearts die and their hatred with them.
“We’re in the hearts and minds stage.”
Powerful sentiments that stick with me to this day. It’s sad to see how far backwards we’ve gone these days.
1:24 Is that the building manager from Coming to America?
Yeah I think so.
He’s also Burrell in The Wire
It's a damn shame what they did to that dog!
Frankie Faison
@9:15 calling him a snake in a somewhat round about way!! Good writing!!!
Snaaaaake! Bzztbep
Richard Brooks was great. He should have had his own series.
I remember the lady who played the mom from when she played in lean on me.
One of the best Law and Order episodes EVER! And unfortunately it is likely true that it would never be allowed to air today. Only because it is so true. :)
Well, once the network bigwigs then must've given some artistic latitude, from the pilot to season 1-2. Once the series took off and became a gravy train for producers, advertisers, you know it is bound to get meddled and diluted. Advertisers pay the bills, and they are going to have a say, not for the show artistic quality's best interest.
So much is true, Michael Moriarty left, and last I heard, he was running acting workshops for wannabe playwright artists.
This clip is more poignant now more than ever.
Its amazing how many of these episodes are still relevant... some more than when they aired! Great show.
@David Bryant who are the sheep ?
@@Overyvonne Don't you love vague comments such as his?
@@Overyvonne White apologetic Democrats
@@PR--un4ub I have your answer
Look Frankie Faison I will always remember him as the manager of the apartment building in Queens.
And Barney in Silence of The Lambs.
Season One was far and away the best of the series. And while all the other principal actors were superb, Richard Brooks really elevated these episodes. The show went from the best television ever to "just" superior televison when it losts Brooks (and Moriarity).
I like both Robinette and Stone's presence in Law and Order.
The first few seasons with these two, Reeves, Logan, Cerreta, Cragen and Hill were the best.
Fun fact - there are two characters who appeared in every episode of L&O. It's Stone and Robinette. They are on the court steps in the opening sequence.
Another Season 1 episode still relevant today.
As a country we've gone back 30 years.
@@anon6116 It depends on what you mean by that statement. If you're talking about the blatant racism of the far left Antifa types, I'd agree. But if you're talking about regular Americans, I would not.
crucisnh No, I wasn't, not even a little. Take your political agenda and take it where it's wanted, it's not wanted here.
@@crucisnh
Whine about stupid antifa all you want, but don't ignore Charlottesville, corruption among the police force, or actual hate crimes still going on today.
@@juliantapia1407 Who IGNORES Charlottesville? The media brought it up every change they got because morons who should have been removed from the evolutionary chain kept taking a quote by the 45th president out of context in regard to the incident.
I see them ignoring the statistics about Asian hate crimes (it's not white people who commit the majority). I see them ignoring the fact that Floyd autonomous zone is has become a ghetto. I see them ignore the fact that Antifa is STILL committing acts of violence in Seattle and Portland.
Defunding the police only hurts the black community.
Brilliant writing in this episode - amazing, eloquent language !
This episode is incredible. It’s so true that we can’t go all in one direction or another. Not everything should be white and not everything should be black. We forgotten that we need balance and harmony. My mama would tell me that revenge is not sweeter than equality. I hope we can live in a world where people can trust each other. I could just cry for humanity.
so much relevance even today
All the way to 3:04 both the congressman and the lawyer really pissed me off with the judge and I'm black. Hate it when people try to the race card that's have no purpose in their case. Don't try cause civil matter in a race just to save your tail and may start a race riot. And that's to everyone
Robinette was truly amazing.
Hey, Will ferrell. 0:01
I hope this clip finds it's way into recommended soon. God would it do people good to hear Paul Robinette's wisdom.
Great episode. Robinette is awesome. Was nice to see him in the most recent season of Bosch
The original show was the best! Everything that followed was just so watered down and regurgitated
He is supposed to be a Al Sharpton type person. One other thing don't mess with Robinett.
Dude that robinette character is awesome
Quick little fact I learned the congressman plays the judge in the movie A Few Good Men.
I thought I recognized him from somewhere else ...
“Take a seat, Colonel!”
@@nigelft thanks on saying that! I wondered where I had seen him!!!
@@Spider_7_7 Take your seat
OMG How did I not see that sooner?!
Interesting he referred to the Congressman as “Eden”...
Coupled with the last line, about angels and snakes, and the episode almost takes on a religious allegory of some sort.
Eaton is his last name
This judge’s voice cures my anxiety.
Out of all the L&O spinoffs and seasons, the original does it for me. Robinette is and will always be my favorite.
Pure gold! It’s down to hurts and minds now! I agree with all of it!
This episode has aged INSANELY well.
J. A. Preston was always a most distinguished actor. I remember him best for playing the judge in A Few Good Men.
My favorite Law and Order episode ever....
I have several tv heroes: Alexander Scott, Sgt. James “Kinch” Kinchloe, Barney Collier, Lt. Uhura, Theodore “TC” Calvin, Elijah Morgan, Captain Ben Sisko, and Captain Raymond Holt. I’m adding Paul Robinette to that list.
Helluva list.
That black defense attorney went on to work for John Milton & Kevin Lomax