(14 January 2006 6:00 pm)

MUMBAI: US media conglomerate NBC Universal's drama show Law & Order: Criminal Intent now in its fifth season on NBC will celebrate a milestone, its 100th episode this week.

The 100th episode airs on 15 January 2006. It will feature the original cast members Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe, Courtney B. Vance and Jamey Sheridan.

The New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting, will present a proclamation to Criminal Intent on behalf of New York City Mayor Bloomberg. In india the Law and Order franchise airs on Star World.

The 100th episode is called Slither. It has been penned by executive producer Rene Balcer, who shepherded the series from its inception, features guest star Michael York Austin Powers as a high-class, slimy European gang leader with a taste for aging blondes and fine wine, who befriends, kills and robs tourists. Detective Goren, however, is shocked to discover that the master murderer shares a connection to his deadly nemesis, Nicole Wallace (Olivia D'Abo).

During season four in a network first, NBC offered viewers the chance to decide the fate of Wallace by voting online. The viewers chose to keep D'Abo's character alive and she has since returned to torment Detective Goren.

Dick Wolf who created the Law And Order franchise says, "Reaching 100 episodes is always a major accomplishment, and for Criminal Intent to be the third Law & Order -branded series to reach this milestone is extraordinary. I have to credit Rene, the writing staff, the superb cast and the entire production team for making this possible. The show has proven to be one of the toughest shows on the network, standing up to the stiffest competition around, while still maintaining its popularity for five years and counting. I thank everyone who has helped us reach this goal, and those who will continue as we go for the next 100."

Balcer said, "After 100 episodes broadcast on three networks in the US, shown in over 150 countries, available on DVD, VOD and iPod, on airlines, as a video game and soon in a French-produced series, I have only six words to our fans: thank you, thank you, thank you. Some people may say the story is everything, but I believe the fans are everything."

This season the show added new partners Chris Noth as Detective Mike Logan and Annabella Sciorra as Detective Carolyn Barek. NBC says that not since Maverick in 1957 has any television series accomplished such a feat.