AllMovie

One of the most highly anticipated episodes of Law & Order's ninth season, "Empire" guest starred Hollywood luminary Julia Roberts (then the girlfriend of series regular Benjamin Bratt) in a story of corporate intrigue and murder. A millionaire dies just after investing in a spectacular new sports arena to be built by entrepreneur Julian Spector (Daniel Hugh Kelly). It turns out that the dead man succumbed to the aftereffects of a sex-enhancing drug. Enter professional fund-raiser Katrina Ludlow (Julia Roberts), who claims she has evidence that will lead to the victim's killer. But there's a catch: Katrina will deliver that evidence only to detective Rey Curtis (Benjamin Bratt), a proviso that leads to unforeseen complications in court. Julia Roberts won an Emmy award for her performance in this, the 201st episode of Law & Order (advertised as "Episode 200" by NBC due to a technicality involving the series' pilot).