"Law & Order" Canceled?
by Andrew Scott
posted May 13th 2010


Sources for the online news site claim the decision was made due to NBC's upcoming development slate and "Law & Order's" sagging ratings, which have been weak all season.

If confirmed, "Law & Order" would end after 20 seasons on NBC, thus preventing it from breaking "Gunsmoke's" record as the longest-running drama in television history.



As previously reported by TV Squad, the fate of "Law & Order" was called into question in March over contract disputes with its cable partner, TNT.

On the bright side, Deadline is also reporting that the latest "L&O" spinoff, "Law & Order: Los Angeles", will premiere next season.




Breaking News Update: NBC has reportedly pulled the plug on its longrunning legal series, "Law & Order", Deadline is reporting.


http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/05/13/nbc-cancels-law-and-order/

Get ready to bid bye-bye to the bum-bum.

NBC has canceled Law & Order, E! News has confirmed. The cast and crew of the mothership procedural were informed of the show's fate earlier today.

The upcoming season of Dick Wolf's brainchild would have been its 21st, passing Gunsmoke as the longest-running TV drama series in history. (The Simpsons holds the longevity record for any scripted series.)

NBC has not yet responded to a call seeking comment

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b180908_law_order_dead_buried.html#ixzz0nqp7Nynn

Law and Order doesn't really deserve to break Gunsmoke's record. It's been dead for years.

NBC is engaging in 11th-hour negotiations to keep veteran procedural "Law & Order" on its schedule for a record-setting 21st season.

The network has long intended to bring back the Dick Wolf-produced drama for one final season, allowing the show to top "Gunsmoke" as the longest-running drama in TV history.

But NBC's testy relationship with Wolf came to head Thursday when the producer rejected the network's offer to continue the show at a reduced license fee. Wolf's office told producers and some cast members that the drama had been canceled, triggering online reports that the show was finished.

Not so fast, countered NBC, which had yet to ax the series and wants to continue negotiations.

As of late Thursday afternoon, talks were set to continue, with most NBC executives in transit to New York for the network's upfront presentation on Monday.

If there's a stalemate, "L&O" will end its run after 20 seasons.

There also is the possibility that Wolf will shop the series to cable. TNT tried to pick up rights to "L&O" in 2007, convincing NBC to renew the series and move spinoff "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" to USA.

But if NBC can't afford Wolf's price tag, could a cable network? For TNT, at least, the answer seems to be no, with a network rep saying that Turner is not in talks with Wolf for the show.

If "L&O" departs NBC's schedule, it would not be much of a loss to the network. The pickup was seen as, if anything, a bit of a favor in a year in which NBC is rekindling relationships with top producers. "L&O" ratings have been dismal, and the network is pleased with its new crop of drama series, which include J.J. Abrams' "Undercovers" and conspiracy thriller "The Event."


http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i12fe2557a938259770431d48b61e090a

So the whole cancellation thing was just a negotiating ploy. How stupid.

Can we say - :horse:

"Law & Order" Officially Canceled
by Andrew Scott
posted May 13th 2010


UPDATE: NBC has officially canceled its cornerstone legal series "Law & Order", the network confirmed today in a press release.



"The full measure of the collective contributions made by Dick Wolf and his "Law & Order" franchise over the last two decades to the success of NBC and Universal Media Studios cannot be overstated.

The legacy of his original "Law & Order" series will continue to make an impact like no other series before," Jeff Gaspin, Chairman of NBC Universal Television Entertainment said in a statement.



Executive producer Dick Wolf had only this to say: "Never complain. Never explain."

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/05/13/nbc-cancels-law-and-order/

Sad to hear this, but not surprised. The show had been struggling for a while and with all the cast changes, etc, and the fact that it's been on for 20 years, well...

I stopped watching years ago. After Jerry Orbach died, it was never the same.

My favorite L&O lineup of all time: Orbach/Noth/Merkerson/Hennessey/Waterston.

Yeah, I lost interest in the post-Jerry Orbach seasons myself. Although Sam Waterston was certainly a very worthy EADA/DA, I also think the show wasn't quite the same without Michael Moriarty and Steven Hill.

Yeah, I lost interest in the post-Jerry Orbach seasons myself. Although Sam Waterston was certainly a very worthy EADA/DA, I also think the show wasn't quite the same without Michael Moriarty and Steven Hill.

I agree on Steven Hill, but I thought Michael Moriarty was boring. Too straight.

I thought Steven Hill's replacement, Dianne Wiest, was terrible. Not because she was a woman, but because she was such a wimp. I liked Fred Dalton Thompson as Arthur Branch better, but not as much as I liked Steven Hill as Adam Schiff.

Well, to each his own. I actually have autographed pictures of both Michael Moriarty and Steven Hill!! :cool: :D

Well, to each his own. I actually have autographed pictures of both Michael Moriarty and Steven Hill!! :cool: :D

*coughs* name dropper *coughs*

:)

Well, to each his own. I actually have autographed pictures of both Michael Moriarty and Steven Hill!! :cool: :Ddid you write steven hill for an autograph in my 20 years of autograph collecting i have never seen one

did you write steven hill for an autograph in my 20 years of autograph collecting i have never seen one
Yes, I did! I wrote him on a Monday and got an autograph back just 5 days later!!!! :D

*coughs* name dropper *coughs*

:)
:D :D :D :D :D

Yes, I did! I wrote him on a Monday and got an autograph back just 5 days later!!!! :Dthats great congrats on getting it:)

Why It's Good That "Law & Order" Is Over
by Allison Waldman
posted May 15th 2010


1. It's going out on top.

Too many shows overstay their welcome, lingering long after they're still a viable program on the schedule or have good stories to tell. That's not the case with "L&O".

In fact, this season has been a good one and the pairing of Linus Roache with Sam Waterson has been dynamic. For all intents and purposes, "Law" is going out while still something special.






2. It had become too formulaic.

The 'ripped from the headlines' formula that was been "Law & Order's" bread and butter had become a twisted mess in the past couple of years.

Maybe it was the headlines, but the roman a clef storylines were cutting too close to the bone and with every new scandal, you just waited for "Law & Order" to do their spin on it.

Elliot Spitzer? Did it.
Mel Gibson? Yes.
Heidi Fleiss? Check.






3. NBC needs to move on.

After the year that NBC has had, this was no time for sentiment to trump practicality.

It's true that Angela Bromstad, NBC Entertainment President, said that she didn't want to be the executive to pull the plug on "Law & Order", but I give her credit for making the tough decision. NBC doesn't need to hold onto the past; it's time to embrace the future.

That means new drama series that might have a run half as long as "Law".






4. Television history has already been made.

Does the record book really matter to anyone? Most people don't even remember that "Gunsmoke" had the longest run in television history.

So "Law & Order" will be tied with that CBS western, big deal. They're both still way behind "Guiding Light" which had 72 years on the air -- radio and television -- before ending in September 2009.

And if you want to know about history, Fox's "The Simpsons" currently wrapping year 21 and will be back for a 22nd.






5. It's not really gone.

While NBC will not be producing new episodes of "Law & Order", the show will hardly be gone and forgotten. It's a huge fixture in syndication as well as on USA Network.

The program plays all over the world in television markets and the DVDs are available for sale and rent. Also, since there really won't be an ending to "L&O", it wouldn't shock me if two or three years from now creator/executive producer Dick Wolf convinces NBC to do a TV movie, reuniting some of the original cast members.

If not a reunion movie, perhaps a series of TV movies.
Don't be shocked ... it could happen.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/05/15/why-its-good-that-law-and-order-is-over/

Why It's Good That "Law & Order" Is Over
by Allison Waldman
posted May 15th 2010


1. It's going out on top.

Too many shows overstay their welcome, lingering long after they're still a viable program on the schedule or have good stories to tell. That's not the case with "L&O".

In fact, this season has been a good one and the pairing of Linus Roache with Sam Waterson has been dynamic. For all intents and purposes, "Law" is going out while still something special.






2. It had become too formulaic.

The 'ripped from the headlines' formula that was been "Law & Order's" bread and butter had become a twisted mess in the past couple of years.

Maybe it was the headlines, but the roman a clef storylines were cutting too close to the bone and with every new scandal, you just waited for "Law & Order" to do their spin on it.

Elliot Spitzer? Did it.
Mel Gibson? Yes.
Heidi Fleiss? Check.






3. NBC needs to move on.

After the year that NBC has had, this was no time for sentiment to trump practicality.

It's true that Angela Bromstad, NBC Entertainment President, said that she didn't want to be the executive to pull the plug on "Law & Order", but I give her credit for making the tough decision. NBC doesn't need to hold onto the past; it's time to embrace the future.

That means new drama series that might have a run half as long as "Law".






4. Television history has already been made.

Does the record book really matter to anyone? Most people don't even remember that "Gunsmoke" had the longest run in television history.

So "Law & Order" will be tied with that CBS western, big deal. They're both still way behind "Guiding Light" which had 72 years on the air -- radio and television -- before ending in September 2009.

And if you want to know about history, Fox's "The Simpsons" currently wrapping year 21 and will be back for a 22nd.






5. It's not really gone.

While NBC will not be producing new episodes of "Law & Order", the show will hardly be gone and forgotten. It's a huge fixture in syndication as well as on USA Network.

The program plays all over the world in television markets and the DVDs are available for sale and rent. Also, since there really won't be an ending to "L&O", it wouldn't shock me if two or three years from now creator/executive producer Dick Wolf convinces NBC to do a TV movie, reuniting some of the original cast members.

If not a reunion movie, perhaps a series of TV movies.
Don't be shocked ... it could happen.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/05/15/why-its-good-that-law-and-order-is-over/
and Gunsmoke actually began on Radio in 1952 so overall it still has a few years on L&0. It also has 635 Episodes, the most for a script show with a continuing cast. L&O has been dying for years. Gunsmoke was ranked #28 in it's last year. It's cancelation was a surprise. L&O's is a blessing. The show at one time was one of the best Police Drams on TV but that ended when Jerry Orbach died.

Well, to each his own. I actually have autographed pictures of both Michael Moriarty and Steven Hill!! :cool: :D

Well, excuuuuuuuuuse meeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

Well, excuuuuuuuuuse meeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
Anytime. :lol:

Why It's Good That "Law & Order" Is Over
by Allison Waldman
posted May 15th 2010


1. It's going out on top.

Too many shows overstay their welcome, lingering long after they're still a viable program on the schedule or have good stories to tell. That's not the case with "L&O".

In fact, this season has been a good one and the pairing of Linus Roache with Sam Waterson has been dynamic. For all intents and purposes, "Law" is going out while still something special.






2. It had become too formulaic.

The 'ripped from the headlines' formula that was been "Law & Order's" bread and butter had become a twisted mess in the past couple of years.

Maybe it was the headlines, but the roman a clef storylines were cutting too close to the bone and with every new scandal, you just waited for "Law & Order" to do their spin on it.

Elliot Spitzer? Did it.
Mel Gibson? Yes.
Heidi Fleiss? Check.






3. NBC needs to move on.

After the year that NBC has had, this was no time for sentiment to trump practicality.

It's true that Angela Bromstad, NBC Entertainment President, said that she didn't want to be the executive to pull the plug on "Law & Order", but I give her credit for making the tough decision. NBC doesn't need to hold onto the past; it's time to embrace the future.

That means new drama series that might have a run half as long as "Law".






4. Television history has already been made.

Does the record book really matter to anyone? Most people don't even remember that "Gunsmoke" had the longest run in television history.

So "Law & Order" will be tied with that CBS western, big deal. They're both still way behind "Guiding Light" which had 72 years on the air -- radio and television -- before ending in September 2009.

And if you want to know about history, Fox's "The Simpsons" currently wrapping year 21 and will be back for a 22nd.






5. It's not really gone.

While NBC will not be producing new episodes of "Law & Order", the show will hardly be gone and forgotten. It's a huge fixture in syndication as well as on USA Network.

The program plays all over the world in television markets and the DVDs are available for sale and rent. Also, since there really won't be an ending to "L&O", it wouldn't shock me if two or three years from now creator/executive producer Dick Wolf convinces NBC to do a TV movie, reuniting some of the original cast members.

If not a reunion movie, perhaps a series of TV movies.
Don't be shocked ... it could happen.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/05/15/why-its-good-that-law-and-order-is-over/
I have to disagree with #1 - I think if it had gone off the air 5 years ago, it might have gone out on top.

Well i guess i can't say i'm upset it's getting cancelled because the one right now with Jeremy Sisto and Anthony Anderson isn't all that good. Not enough action.

Wow, I'm barely a Law & Order fan myself, and I'm actually shocked to hear that the show's ending its long run this year. However, let's just say my two favorite episodes were the ones that aired on December 11, 2002 and October 8, 2003 (there's a reason I have both of these episodes taped).

Wow, I'm barely a Law & Order fan myself, and I'm actually shocked to hear that the show's ending its long run this year. However, let's just say my two favorite episodes were the ones that aired on December 11, 2002 and October 8, 2003 (there's a reason I have both of these episodes taped).
I know - the reason has the initials K.H. (I watched those eps). ;)

I know - the reason has the initials K.H. (I watched those eps). ;)

Once again, you are amazing. :) Unfortunately, I don't think a certain "Barney Miller" cast member whose initials are G.S. ever guest-starred on L&O, though.

Once again, you are amazing. :) Unfortunately, I don't think a certain "Barney Miller" cast member whose initials are G.S. ever guest-starred on L&O, though.
No, unfortunately. Several other Barney Miller cast members have popped up on the L&O shows, however. Abe Vigoda (Fish), Barbara Barrie (Elizabeth Miller), Steve Landesberg (Dietrich) and George Murdock (Scanlon) have all guested on L&O. Hal Linden (Barney) and Linda Lavin (Wentworth) did guest on Criminal Intent.

thats great congrats on getting it:)
Thanks! :cool:

I agree on Steven Hill, but I thought Michael Moriarty was boring. Too straight.

I thought Steven Hill's replacement, Dianne Wiest, was terrible. Not because she was a woman, but because she was such a wimp. I liked Fred Dalton Thompson as Arthur Branch better, but not as much as I liked Steven Hill as Adam Schiff.
Personally, my favorite cop team was Orbach/Noth (with either Dann Florek and S. Epatha Merkerson as the superior officer), and Moriarty/Brooks/Hill as the DAs. Yes, I like 'em old school. :cool:

Personally, my favorite cop team was Orbach/Noth (with either Dann Florek and S. Epatha Merkerson as the superior officer), and Moriarty/Brooks/Hill as the DAs. Yes, I like 'em old school. :cool:

I sort of agree, but with Waterston/Hennessey/Hill.

Close enough for me, Monika.;)

Nothing wrong with that! I also liked the Paul Sorvino episodes.

Nothing wrong with that! I also liked the Paul Sorvino episodes.

I'm going to disagree with you on this one, Monika. I liked George Dzundza (never understood why he left -- he could have had a long run on L&O), but I never cared for Paul Sorvino's character. He's too nice.

I'm not saying he has to be a jerk, but I liked Lennie Briscoe, because he was a tough, battle-hardened officer who'd been at the bottom and was working his way up. Lennie was a nice guy, but he was cynical and more like I'd imagine a NYC cop after decades on the force.

Just my take on it.

Jerry Orbach was born and raised in the Bronx - plus he made a VERY believable cop. He had seen it all, done it all, was cynical and didn't care what others thought. Loved his wisecracks - they always kept me in stitches. I don't know anyone who watched L&O who doesn't love Jerry/Lenny.

L&O also had fantastic minor/recurring characters like Carolyn McCormick as Dr. Elizabeth Olivet, J.K. Simmons as Dr. Emil Skoda, Leslie Hendrix as M.E. Rodgers, and David Lipman as Morris Torledsky, easily my favorite of the bail hearing judges. Hopefully we'll still see them on the other L&O shows.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/attachment.php?attachmentid=158451&stc=1&d=1274897230

It's too bad that my favorite L&O cast only had one season.

And thanks to Monika (I borrowed one of your photos for this post).;)

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/attachment.php?attachmentid=158451&stc=1&d=1274897230

It's too bad that my favorite L&O cast only had one season.

And thanks to Monika (I borrowed one of your photos for this post).;)
No problem!! The 1994-95 season was definitely a worthy one with some standout episodes ("Seed", especially, is still chilling after all these years).

I'm going to disagree with you on this one, Monika. I liked George Dzundza (never understood why he left -- he could have had a long run on L&O), but I never cared for Paul Sorvino's character. He's too nice.

I'm not saying he has to be a jerk, but I liked Lennie Briscoe, because he was a tough, battle-hardened officer who'd been at the bottom and was working his way up. Lennie was a nice guy, but he was cynical and more like I'd imagine a NYC cop after decades on the force.

Just my take on it.
In the bonus feature on L&O S2's DVD set, all the show's stars from the first 3 years (with the exception of Steven Hill) were interviewed. George Dzundza said there were several factors as to why he left the show - one was that he and Chris Noth were always fighting (but in the years since they've patched things up).

But he said the main reason why he left was because his family was in L.A. and his wife was pregnant during that 1990-91 season. He couldn't stand the separation and became a strictly L.A. based actor.

I have to admit I really liked the partnership of "Mikey" Logan and Phil "Big Daddy" Cerreta - but the magic really happened once Jerry Orbach/Lenny Briscoe came on the scene. He and Noth were my favorite cop team, second to his pairing with Jesse L. Martin/Ed Green. (Wasn't that crazy about Ben Bratt's Rey Curtis).

And finally, I found these screen captures from 1973's TV adaptation of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie. The only two males in the cast were...Michael Moriarty (who won an Emmy for the role) and Sam Waterston. I got a kick out of seeing the two of them together on screen.

One of the things that lent L&O authenticity was the fact that interiors (I think) and exteriors were shot in New York. A lot of shows will be set in NY, but you know they filmed it somewhere else, oftentimes Canada.

I know shooting in NYC is not easy because of the unions, so kudos to Dick Wolf and crew for doing it anyway.

And it was interesting to find out that Chris Noth was really fired after the fifth season for wanting too much money. But at least he came back later on Criminal Intent.

Yup, the show was filmed ENTIRELY in New York. Dick Wolf and others have said that the "real star" of the show was/is NYC. Not only that, you get the best NYC stage/TV actors on the show to add to the local flavor. :cool:

Entertainment Weekly had a great line about the cancellation of L&O, saying that NBC's cancellation of L&O reduces your chances of seeing it by zero percent.:lol:

Entertainment Weekly had a great line about the cancellation of L&O, saying that NBC's cancellation of L&O reduces your chances of seeing it by zero percent.:lol:
Truer words have never been spoken. :rofl:

Although I'm definitely more of an SVU fan, I'm sorry to see L&O go. It seems like it's been on forever. It's weird thinking it's just over. (Although there will still be 78,000 reruns on TNT, I'm sure! LOL)

As for fave casts/characters, I have to agree about Jerry Orbach. Lennie was always one of my fave detectives. I also liked Ed Greene, and Anita Van Buren. As far as the DA's office goes, I liked Serena Souternlyn, Connie Rubirosa, Abbie Carmichel, and Mike Cutter. Oh, and of course Jack McCoy. You can't forget him! I might be forgetting someone, but those are the ones that stick out most to me.

- Kristen

With all the L&O shows and amount of episodes of each one - that's enough for its own channel!!! :lol:

Although I'm definitely more of an SVU fan, I'm sorry to see L&O go. It seems like it's been on forever. It's weird thinking it's just over. (Although there will still be 78,000 reruns on TNT, I'm sure! LOL)

As for fave casts/characters, I have to agree about Jerry Orbach. Lennie was always one of my fave detectives. I also liked Ed Greene, and Anita Van Buren. As far as the DA's office goes, I liked Serena Souternlyn, Connie Rubirosa, Abbie Carmichel, and Mike Cutter. Oh, and of course Jack McCoy. You can't forget him! I might be forgetting someone, but those are the ones that stick out most to me.

- Kristen
Kristen, have you ever seen the earliest seasons with Michael Moriarty, Richard Brooks, Chris Noth, George Dzundza, Paul Sorvino, Steven Hill and Dann Florek (before he went to SVU)? I still think the earliest episodes are the best...raw, grittier and just more compelling writing. It goes without saying that the acting was always A-1. The fact that Michael Moriarty came in with two Emmys, a Golden Globe and a Tony under his belt sure didn't hurt!! :cool:

did you write steven hill for an autograph in my 20 years of autograph collecting i have never seen one
Other L&O autographs I have are:

Jerry Orbach
Jesse L. Martin
S. Epatha Merkerson
Sam Waterston

From SVU:

Mariska Hargitay

From CI:

Vincent D'Onofrio
Kathryn Erbe
Jamey Sheridan

So the whole cancellation thing was just a negotiating ploy. How stupid.

To make a long story short, Dick Wolf shut the whole show down, seemingly out of spite. Neither him nor NBC would budge regarding how much money NBC would pay for another season. There was no formal series final because it was a very last minute decision. After the 20th season finale had been shot, everyone thought they were coming back. Supposedly, had the show come back for Season 21, Kathryn Erbe's character, Lt. Eames, from Criminal Intent would've replaced S. Epatha Merkerson as the precinct commander.