Star Struck (7 Jan. 1992)

An obsessed fan is charged with the brutal beating of a soap opera actress. During the trial, he claims that a voice in his head told him to do it.

Director:

Edwin Sherin

Writers:

Dick Wolf (creator), Robert Nathan (teleplay),

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
Blanche Baker	...	Lucy Neven
Stephen Joyce	...	Jack Gaffney
Bradley White	...	Jesse Unger
Jordan Charney	...	Dr. Mandell
Carolyn McCormick	...	Dr. Elizabeth Olivet
Lenka Peterson	...	Olivia
Werner Klemperer	...	William Unger
Cheryl Lynn Bruce	...	Dr. Raphael
David Drake	...	Voorman

Storyline

In broad daylight, a soap opera star is found beaten and robbed in Central Park and literally left for dead. Cerretta and Logan soon learn that it was much more than a robbery and soon led to an obsessed fan, who's been writing to her and buying up all memorabilia pertaining to her.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 January 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?

Trivia

This episode represents a nifty bit of casting references to WWII-themed shows. First, Blanche Baker and Michael Moriarty appeared in the miniseries "Holocaust." Moriarty played a Nazi officer, and Baker played a Jewish prisoner in Auschwitz, condemned to death in the gas chambers. Werner Klemperer was perhaps most famous for his portrayal of Colonel Klink in "Hogan's Heroes." In addition, although his "Klink" was a Nazi, Klemperer himself was a Jew, as were three of his fellow actors in HH who were also featured prominently as Nazi officers. Baker, Moriarty, and Klemperer all won Emmys for their respective portrayals in "Holocaust" and "Hogan's Heroes."

User Reviews

Dx: Idiopathic Idiopathology, with obsessive-processual disintegration.

A good example of the series when it was hitting its stride. A soap opera star is found beaten half to death in Central Park, and Ceretta and Logan are on the case. Leads take them to fans of the series, then into the community of memento collectors, and into the darker depths of stalkers. It all gives the detectives plenty of opportunity to roll their eyes and make wisecracks about the nuts and weirdos who obsess over soap opera characters. The quips aren't too cutting for obvious commercial reasons. (Who knows how many obsessed fans are following "Law and Order"?)

The poor woman who was attacked has lost her career, her voice, her ability to walk properly. When the detective finally present the perp to Moriarty and his gang in the DA's office, he turns out to be a slightly wimpy, smiling, matter-of-fact young man who claims that he and Lucy, the TV star, are one and the same. The DA's shrink declares him fit for trial. The defense's shrink, with the support of the perp's father, a sadly aged Colonel Klink, claims that the perp has been hearing a voice since adolescence and that the voice told him to do it. Is the defense phonying up an insanity plea for attempted murder? If so, the jury doesn't find the argument convincing.

Actually, if the young man is hearing voices, he's lucky that there's only been one. And if he's telling the truth, the hallucinations started at about the age of highest risk, adolescence and early adulthood. Auditory hallucinations aren't pleasant either. They're usually commanding and accusatory. They don't sing an aria from Tosca.

There's one scene that is intended to be amusing, when Ceretta and Logan visit a female impersonator who has bought one of Lucy's dresses for his act. I thought the character was disgusting, using garish female garb and grooming in a night club act. I only wear mine on special Saturday nights, and then only your basic black with cute ruffles on the shoulders. That performer should be ashamed of himself, a nonpareil of flamboyant self display.