'Law & Order' drama turns a few shades of 'Grey'

LOS ANGELES (AP) — NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" is taking on several shades of gray.

The show's producer says Wednesday's episode (9 p.m. EDT) dramatizes the potential legal effect of bondage novels like the best-selling "50 Shades of Grey."

Anna Chlumsky guest stars as a bondage romance author who's assaulted by a TV host, then is reluctant to press charges. Roger Bart plays the host.

The story explores how a sexual-assault case might be complicated by the allegation that a victim invited "rough" treatment, executive producer Warren Leight said.

There's more "ripped-from-the-headlines" in store for the "Law & Order" series. An upcoming episode guest stars Scott Bakula as a lawyer who's being considered for the U.S. Supreme Court and is accused of fathering a child outside of marriage.

"People might make the comparisons to John Edwards," Leight said, referring to the onetime Democratic hopeful who admitted to having a child with his mistress.