New Law & Order episode inspired by Gibson arrest, tirade

The writers of long-running TV series Law & Order have once again taken a page from real life, with an upcoming episode that recallsactor-director Mel Gibson's recent drunk driving arrest and subsequent anti-Semitic tirade.

This week, the filmed-in-New York show has been shooting scenes for an episode entitled In Vino Veritas. This instalment of the hit show features comedian Chevy Chase depicting a TV actor who gets pulled over by police on suspicion of drunk driving and unleashes an anti-Semitic rant on the arresting officers.

However, the episode then veers dramatically away from reality as Chase's character is discovered to have blood on his shirt. Forensic scientists determine the blood to have come from the producer ofthe character'sfailed TV sitcom a woman who happens to be Jewish.

The episode is set to air Nov. 3.

Gibson arrested, charged

Early July 27, Gibson was arrested for drunk driving and made anti-Semitic remarks to one of the arresting officers, who happened to be Jewish.

A few days later, thestar of hits such as Braveheart and the Lethal Weapon series issued a public statement apologizing for his words. He also pleaded no contest to the drunk driving charges.

Gibson has previously courted controversy for remarks made by his father, who is a Holocaust denier, and for his self-financed 2004 film The Passion of the Christ, which Jewish leaders have criticized as blaming Jews for the death of Jesus Christ.

The Oscar-winning actor-director has recently been keeping a lower profile, including wearing a mask and wig to sneak into two pre-screenings of his upcoming Mayan epic Apocalypto in Oklahoma. The movie is set for wide theatrical releaseon Dec. 8.

Long-running show draws from real life

Mixing police procedural and legal drama, Law & Order has often featured plots "ripped from the headlines" during its 17 seasons.

Examples include an episode broadcast a year after the death of Princess Diana, in which a woman is killed in a car accident after being pursued by a gossip reporter, and several others based on killers Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka.

The hit show has also become a franchise, now airing alongside spin-offs Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.