TMC
03-05-2023, 04:06 AM
https://www.looper.com/1213780/what-crime-procedurals-always-get-wrong-about-the-law/
BY HANNAH WYLIE/MARCH 4, 2023 7:15 PM EST
Suspension of disbelief is usually required for people to enjoy a large majority of the fictional stories that air every day. Of course, stories aren't real-life, and they sometimes need a little leeway on reality. With crime procedurals, though, it is very easy to see technical and legal institutions operating on screen and assume that it's a pretty direct reflection of reality. After all, so much of the law and its systems are complex and not studied widely in school, there isn't much of a standard level of knowledge that can be assumed of any average citizen. In fact, some people's main exposure to the legal system can be through crime procedurals.
In Season 9 of "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver," Oliver's main segment centered around the cultural kahuna that is "Law & Order" and the world that's been built around it by TV producer Dick Wolf. Oliver talked about many important issues surrounding Wolf's cultural contribution to the perception of law enforcement and America's legal system, his main point being that audiences need to be better equipped to understand the difference between entertainment and reality.
Even though some shows, like "Law & Order," have consultants who work in the legal and law enforcement fields (as Oliver explained in his show), the most important thing to writers and producers is not to present what is most accurate, but rather what is most entertaining. Here are the things that crime procedurals almost always get wrong about the real-world legal system.
BY HANNAH WYLIE/MARCH 4, 2023 7:15 PM EST
Suspension of disbelief is usually required for people to enjoy a large majority of the fictional stories that air every day. Of course, stories aren't real-life, and they sometimes need a little leeway on reality. With crime procedurals, though, it is very easy to see technical and legal institutions operating on screen and assume that it's a pretty direct reflection of reality. After all, so much of the law and its systems are complex and not studied widely in school, there isn't much of a standard level of knowledge that can be assumed of any average citizen. In fact, some people's main exposure to the legal system can be through crime procedurals.
In Season 9 of "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver," Oliver's main segment centered around the cultural kahuna that is "Law & Order" and the world that's been built around it by TV producer Dick Wolf. Oliver talked about many important issues surrounding Wolf's cultural contribution to the perception of law enforcement and America's legal system, his main point being that audiences need to be better equipped to understand the difference between entertainment and reality.
Even though some shows, like "Law & Order," have consultants who work in the legal and law enforcement fields (as Oliver explained in his show), the most important thing to writers and producers is not to present what is most accurate, but rather what is most entertaining. Here are the things that crime procedurals almost always get wrong about the real-world legal system.