IN NETWORK FIRST, NBC EMPOWERS AUDIENCE TO VOTE ON ALTERNATIVE 'KILLER' ENDINGS FOR NEW EPISODE OF 'LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT' ON OCTOBER 17

BURBANK, Calif. -- October 6, 2004 -- In a network first, NBC's "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (Sundays, 9-10 p.m. ET) original episode "Great Barrier" will give viewers the option to choose their favorite "killer" ending in an episode to be broadcast on Sunday, October 17 (9-10 p.m. ET). Two versions of the episode's ending have been shot, in which a female murderer (guest star Olivia D'Abo, "The Wonder Years") will either live or be killed -- based on the outcome of a vote conducted on www.nbc.com.

On the night of October 17, one ending will be telecast to viewers in the Eastern time zone while the other will be telecast to those living in the Central, Mountain and Pacific time zones (including Alaska and Hawaii). Immediately following the episode, fans will be able to log on to www.nbc.com to view both endings and cast their vote, determining the fate of the character Nicole Wallace (D'Abo). Voting will be live through Wednesday, October 20.

The most popular ending to "Great Barrier" will be revealed during the following week's Sunday, October 24 broadcast. The audience will be alerted at the beginning of that night's new episode that the people's final choice from the previous week's episode will be shown at the end of the hour.

In the episode, Detectives Goren (Vincent D'Onofrio) and Eames (Kathryn Erbe) track a mysterious young diamond "swallower" (guest star Grace Shu) who is being manipulated by Nicole Wallace (D'Abo) ? Goren's murderous and chameleon-like nemesis. As Goren closes in on Wallace, he discovers a horrifying secret that may allow him to finally close the book on his lethal adversary.

The fourth-year series stars D'Onofrio as Goren, an exceptionally bright and compassionate homicide investigator with well-honed instincts that are a match for his most devious criminal quarry. Likewise, his partner, Eames (Erbe), brings a no-nonsense and stylish edge to her work that meshes well with Goren. Jamey Sheridan and Courtney B. Vance also star.

The drama is a production of Wolf Films in association with NBC Universal Television Studio. Dick Wolf, Rene Balcer, Fred Berner and Peter Jankowski are executive producers.