Skin Deep (23 Sep. 1992)

Logan and Cerreta investigate the death of a fashion model photographer and discover that the photographer's real business was prostitution. One of his "clients" is implicated, but she may be covering for the real killer.

Director:

Daniel Sackheim

Writers:

Dick Wolf (creator), Robert Nathan,

Stars:

Paul Sorvino, Chris Noth, Dann Florek

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Sorvino	...	Sergeant Phil Cerreta
Chris Noth	...	Detective Mike Logan
Dann Florek	...	Captain Donald Cragen
Michael Moriarty	...	Executive A.D.A. Ben Stone
Richard Brooks	...	A.D.A. Paul Robinette
Steven Hill	...	D.A. Adam Schiff
Alberta Watson	...	Angela Brandt
Lorraine Toussaint	...	Shambala Green
Scotty Bloch	...	Judge Naomi Baum
Murphy Guyer	...	Jeffrey Brandt
Claire Danes	...	Tracy Brandt
Fia Porter	...	Betty Ann Carter
Maeve McGuire	...	Celeste Foxx
John Rothman	...	O'Hara
David Bailey	...	'Allan' Rohmer

Storyline

Detectives Cerreta and Logan investigate murder of professional photographer Julian Decker who is found with a pair of scissors in his back. The forensic evidence indicates he had sex not long before being killed and they initially focus on some of the many women he used as models. Decker's accountant admits to the police that hew supplemented his income as a photographer by pimping for some of his models. DNA evidence says there's an 80% probability that Angela Brandt, a divorced mom with a teenage daughter, is the woman he had sex with. When the judge throws out the DNA evidence they try to find another way to link her to the murder. They soon realize they've arrested the wrong woman.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 September 1992 (USA)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Wolf Films, Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Conan: Bye-Bye, Albino's Alibi (2011)

User Reviews

A Joy Until It Fades.

A cheesy fashion photographer who has been pimping off some of his models is found with a pair of scissors sticking out of his back. Serreta and Logan trace it to one of his clients, now 38 and slightly over the hill, who's been making extra cash to keep her 15-year-old daughter in private school. The problem is that she didn't do it. She's arranging circumstances to make herself look guilty in order to shield someone else.

The episode rather stands out, even from the other this early in the life of the series, for two reasons. One is that there's more deadpan humor in the script, usually in wisecracks, and they're funnier, if not wittier, than most. I'm trying to think of an example but none comes to mind. If any does, later, I'll give you a call.

The other reason is that the acting is just fine, and not only from the usual cast. They don't get all that much screen time but Lorraine Toussaint, with her bandanna and Rastafarian braids is intimidating and her anger is frightening, until she becomes gentle and compassionate. Claire Danes as an exploited young model has a good grasp of the role, though her later parts in features were too few. Lauren Ambrose makes a brief appearance in a bit part, a splendid actress whose chief flaw was not looking more like Anne Hathaway or Jennifer Connolly.

It's about as good as the series gets.