After 20 seasons, NBC canceled Law & Order. Ratings had softened in recent years and with its strong development season, NBC made the decision to end the show's run. Law & Order now ties Gunsmoke! for the title of longest-running drama in the history of American primetime TV - both at 20 seasons.
The NBC staple holds a record 11 nominations for Outstanding Drama Series, an honor it finally won in 1997. Its series finale aired on 24 May 2010, getting a quiet 1.9/5 in Adults 18-49, down 5% from last season's finale. 7.6 million viewers tuned in to watch its send-off. TNT acknowledged the finale by running a day-long marathon of notable Law & Order episodes including some of the actors' favorites, introductory and send-off episodes of important characters, and even fan favorites.
Law & Order Spin-offs Continue
While it'll produce no new episodes of the Law & Order mothership, NBC continues on with the show's various spin-offs. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has been renewed for its 12th season. NBC also picked up new series, Law & Order: Los Angeles, for the 2010-2011 season with an unusual straight-to-series order. Law & Order: Criminal Intent airs its original episodes on USA Network, which is owned by parent NBC Universal, and it continues to do so.
Surprising Cancellation
NBC offered to renew Law & Order for its historic 21st season, but only with an order for 6 to 10 episodes (NBC Offered to Renew Law & Order, But Did Dick Wolf Play Chicken? 13 May 2010). The network reportedly wanted producer Dick Wolf to reduce the budget or even use some of his share of Law & Order profits to make the season more financially feasible. Deadline Hollywood called the decision "a shocker" and noted that Jeff Zucker had said that the show would get its 21st season even a week before the announcement (NBC Cancels Law & Order Flagship, 13 May 2010). Since the show's deal to air repeats on TNT was up, per the agreement between NBC and Wolf, NBC would have had to negotiate with TNT to get the latter to pay for some of the 21st season. NBC didn't do so and instead wanted Wolf to finance part of the new season himself. Wolf refused.
Initially, Wolf's sole statement about the cancellation was this: "Never complain. Never explain" (Official: NBC cancels 'Law & Order,' 14 May 2010).
Law & Order on TNT?
Speculation swirled that perhaps the original Law & Order might find a new life on TNT, a la Southland. News that Wolf was thinking of taking the show to TNT persisted, despite an e-mail from TNT officials to New York Magazine saying, "TNT is not in ongoing discussions about picking up the series for first-run episodes" (NBC Offered to Renew Law & Order, But Did Dick Wolf Play Chicken? 13 May 2010). At an NBC luncheon for its upfront presentation, Wolf reportedly said, "The flagship series is in a medically induced coma, waiting for a live-saving medicine" ('Law & Order' Heading To TNT? 17 May 2010). Some indicated that after the upfronts, Wolf and NBC might discuss the details of moving the show to another network. Despite that, post-upfronts Turner released a statement that said, "We are not in current talks, and we are not interested in a Season 21" (TNT arrests 'Law & Order' rumors, 25 May 2010).
Law & Order Wrap-Up
The Law & Order series finale had been shot before news of the cancellation, so the show couldn't offer much in the way of closure. Sources report that NBC and Wolf planned to meet after the upfronts to discuss "closure opportunities" (Official: NBC cancels 'Law & Order,' 14 May 2010). Some possible ideas include having Law & Order cast appear on the new Law & Order: Los Angeles or even doing a two-hour television movie to wrap up the show. It remains an open question.
NBC Praises Law & Order Franchise
Even though they were announcing the cancellation of the Law & Order mothership, NBC's statement went to great lengths to praise the series and its impact. NBC Universal Television Entertainment Chairman Jeff Gaspin said, "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." NBC's Angela Bromstad, President of Primetime Entertainment, added, "'Law & Order' has been one of the most successful franchises in the history of television, which is why it is so critical that we continue this important brand and our relationship with Dick Wolf and his team with ‘LOLA’ and ‘Law & Order: SVU'" (Official: NBC cancels 'Law & Order,' 14 May 2010).
The series continues to run in repeats. It is also available on DVD. But for now, it appears Law & Order has closed its last case.
Kimberly Shumway - Kim has worked all over the entertainment industry, from reality networks to film companies, from the agency world to the production ...
