May 14, 2010

An End To Law & Order?

Will "Law and Order" disappear from the airwaves? Rumors are flying as NBC executives apparently discuss furiously with Dick Wolf over broadcasting a final year of the long-running drama. Keeping the veteran series for the 2010/2011 season would mean L&O would have outlasted legendary oater "Gunsmoke" (1955-1975) as longest running TV drama. Read more here in a post from James Hibberd's blog The Live Feed and here in an article from the Washington Post.

Update: It seems as if L&O has been axed. Mr. Wolf may try for a home for his flagship series on TNT at another network. He is, according to at least one source, George Carlinly angry at the cancellation.

Update to the update: It's official, according to the Hollywood Reporter. L&O has finished its run on NBC. Dick Wolf's comment: "Never complain. Never explain." L&O: SVU still airs on NBC, and L&O: Criminal Intent airs on the USA Network. Another series, Law & Order: UK, airs on the British network, ITV1.

Here's a quick look at the roll of some names that have graced the L&O roster. Meanwhile, fans can look forward to "Law & Order: Los Angeles" (aka LOLA) for the fall.

For analyses of L&O, see:

Keetley, Dawn, Law & Order, in Prime Time Law (Jarvis, Bob, and Paul Joseph, Carolina Academic Press, 1998).
Mader, Shannon, Law & Order, in Lawyers in Your Living Room 117 (Michael Asimow, ed. ABA: 2010).
Rapping, Elayne, Law and Justice as Seen on TV (NYU Press, 2003).

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