Content deleted Content added
m format |
|||
Line 1:
{{two other uses|the original TV series|the spin-offs|Law & Order franchise|other uses|Law and Order}}
{| align="right"
|-
|
{{infobox television |
| show_name = Law & Order
| image = [[Image:Lawandorder01.jpg|210px]]
| caption =
| format = [[Police procedural]]/<br/>[[Legal drama]]
| runtime = 60 minutes
| creator = [[Dick Wolf]]
| starring = (current cast)<br>[[Sam Waterston]]<br>[[Jesse L. Martin]]<br>[[Jeremy Sisto]]<br>[[Milena Govich]]<br>[[Alana de la Garza]]<br>[[S. Epatha Merkerson]]<br>[[Fred Dalton Thompson]]<br/>
| country = {{USA}}
| network = [[NBC]]
|picture_format = 480i (SDTV) <br> 1080i (HDTV)
| first_aired = [[September 13]] [[1990]]
| last_aired = present
| num_episodes = [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 17)|393]]<!--(as of May 18, 2007)-->
| website = http://www.nbc.com/Law_&_Order/
| imdb_id = 0098844
| tv_com_id = 180
|}}
|-
| {{Law-and-order}}
|}
'''''Law & Order''''' is a long-running [[United States|American]] [[television]] [[police procedural]] and [[legal drama]] set in [[New York City]]. Created by [[Dick Wolf]], the award-winning ''Law & Order'' is broadcast on the [[NBC]] [[Television network|network]], since its debut on [[September 13]]th, [[1990]], and [[Television syndication|syndicated]] on other [[United States|US]] networks since [[1994]], as well as worldwide. The show is produced by [[Universal Media Studios]], formerly known as [[NBC Universal Television Studio]], [[Universal Television]], and [[Studios USA]].
''Law & Order'' first appeared on the NBC network in the fall of [[1990]], and its success has resulted in the creation of additional shows under the [[Law & Order franchise|''Law & Order'' franchise]]. It is the longest-running primetime drama currently on American television.
The [[Television pilot|pilot]] episode was produced to sell the show to [[CBS]] in 1988, but was rejected by that network. When [[NBC]] picked up the series in 1990, the pilot aired as episode six.<ref name="eppy 6">{{cite web |url=http://www.tv.com/law-and-order/everybodys-favorite-bagman/episode/9465/summary.html |title=Everybody's Favorite Bagman |work=TV.com |accessdate=1990-10-30}}</ref>
''Law & Order'''s seventeenth season on NBC began on Friday, [[September 22]] [[2006]], at 10 p.m. EST, and continued as an anchor of the network's Friday lineup throughout the 2006-2007 season; the show had aired on Wednesdays since 1992, and on Tuesdays before that. On [[May 14]] [[2007]], the network announced tentative plans for an eighteenth season, with its start to be delayed until January 2008, as well as a shift to Sundays.<ref name="S18">{{cite web |url=http://www.tv.com/law-and-order/show/180/story/9527.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=headlinessh&tag=headlines;title;0om_act=convert&om_clk=headlinessh |title=NBC rolls out fall lineup |work=TV.com |accessdate=2007-05-14}}</ref>
The series is broadcast in [[Canada]] on [[CTV]]. Reruns can be seen regularly each weeknight on [[Turner Network Television|TNT]] (U.S.) and weekdays at 1:00 p.m. and weeknights at 11 p.m. on [[Bravo! Canada|Bravo!]] (Canada). It can be seen in the [[UK]] with new episodes first showing on the cable and satellite channel [[Sky One]] and later on [[Sky Two]] with a terrestrial airing on channel [[Five (channel)|Five]] and repeats of the early seasons are being shown on the [[Hallmark Channel (UK)|Hallmark Channel]]. It was recently announced that the [[Law & Order franchise]] would be screened on [[Five US]].<ref name="FiveTV">{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/programming/a45289/five-hangs-on-to-key-acquisitions.html
|title=Five hangs on to key acquisitions |work=Five.tv |accessdate=2007-04-16}}</ref>
==Overview==
The following statement, narrated by [[Steven Zirnkilton]], is spoken at the beginning of nearly every episode:
<!--The Torrents of Greed: Part 2 (and possibly other episodes) featured an alternate introductory speech.-->
: ''In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the police who investigate crime and the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders. These are their stories.''
The show follows a small team of [[New York City]] [[homicide]] detectives from the fictional 27th Precinct, who occasionally investigate other types of serious crime. Generally, about halfway through the hour-long program, the focus shifts from the investigation of the crime to the [[prosecutor|prosecution]] of the alleged offender, which is always handed over to the same small team of lawyers from the [[Manhattan]] [[District Attorney]]'s office.
===Two-tiered format===
The two-tiered format of the program, with investigation of the crime and prosecution of the crime, is almost identical to a 1960's series titled ''[[Arrest and Trial]]'', although the similarities are considered to be coincidental. ''Law & Order'' creator Dick Wolf was reportedly unaware of them when he created his series.
The prosecution portion of ''Law & Order'' is unusual in that it shows more legal proceedings than just a trial. The second half almost always opens with an arraignment and then proceeds to trial preparation. However the show does on occasion deviate from this format and centers on either indictment proceedings before a [[Grand Jury]], a [[motion]] hearing. ora an [[allocution]] upon entering a plea of guilty, usually in consideration for a plea bargain. It is very uncommon for legal dramas to show Grand Jury proceedings. This format is usually seen once or twice per season, with a trial being the norm. Grand Jury episodes focus on the difficulty of obtaining an indictment for a particular accused and often end with a guilty plea and [[allocution]] to wrap up the show quickly.
===Show format===
Most ''Law & Order'' episodes are self-contained, with only a few exceptions over the many years of production.
The [[cold open]] or lead-in segment of the show usually shows a slice of New York life (walking a dog in Manhattan, jogging in [[Central Park]], etc.) apparently unrelated to the main story until the (usually non-recurring) characters in the scene suddenly discover, witness, or become victims of a crime (most often, [[murder]]). Careful attention to these opening segments often reveals subtle connections or hints foreshadowing key aspects of the case. The scene immediately cuts to the police making a preliminary examination of the crime scene in which the featured detectives make their first observations and theories followed by a witty comment or two before the [[title sequence]] begins.
The plots often have a resemblance to actual cases, such as in the 1998 episode "Tabloid", in which a woman is killed in an auto accident after being pursued by a gossip reporter. This followed the similar death of [[Diana, Princess of Wales|Princess Diana]] the previous summer. This "ripped from the headlines" nature can also be seen in the opening credit sequence which flows from newspaper headlines, print copy, and photographs into photographs of the actors that evolve from newspaper [[halftone]]s into high resolution photos. Promotional advertisements of episodes with especially close parallels to real-life cases often use the actual phrase "ripped from the headlines," although a text [[disclaimer]] within the actual episode emphasizes that the story and its characters are fictional. The format lends itself to exploring different outcomes or motives that similar events could have had under other circumstances.
Because of the nature of the format, the detectives rarely encounter a simple murder where the perpetrator does little to hide his guilt (which is actually very common). Instead, the detectives often have few or no good clues to start with — they may not even know the identity of the victim — and must chase down several dead ends before finding a strong suspect. Towards the middle of a show, the police begin working with the prosecutors to make the arrest, and an [[arraignment]] scene is usually shown. The police may appear again to testify in court or arrest a subsequent suspect, but most investigation in the second segment is done by the assistant DAs, who always consult with the District Attorney for advice on the case.
The format includes not delving too much into the private lives of the recurring characters. Some personal information is given, but it is usually incidental, such as conversation that goes on during the course of an episode. In contrast to many other detective shows (''[[Perry Mason]]'' and ''[[Matlock (television series)|Matlock]]'', for example), the protagonists of ''Law & Order'' do not always win their cases; episodes frequently finish without full resolution. Sometimes the true facts of the crime are left ambiguous to the audience. Sometimes the case against the offender is won, but justice still seems lacking. Often the viewer identifies with the defendant and wonders whether punishment under the [[law]] is even appropriate. For example, in the first-season episode "Subterranean Homeboy Blues", a woman shoots 2 black teenagers, who she claims were going to attack her. In a 1990 episode, "The Reaper's Helper", an [[HIV]]-positive man is found dead and it is revealed that he asked a friend to kill him, to avoid developing full-blown [[AIDS]]. At the time, there were few effective treatments for HIV infection.
===Stylistic touches===
====Local color====
The series has a number of distinctive stylistic touches. The show is shot [[on ___location]] in [[New York City|New York]] and is known for its extensive use of [[local color]]. In recent seasons, NYC Mayors [[Rudy Giuliani]] and [[Michael Bloomberg]] have both appeared on the show, adding a realistic dimension to the program.
While most of the locations are real, there are two notable exceptions. The fictional Stuyvesant College (which resembles [[New York University]]) and [[Hudson University (Law & Order)|Hudson University]] are often used for college settings and ''The [[New York Ledger]]'' is typically the tabloid newspaper mentioned and is heavily based on the real-life ''[[New York Post]]''. In one episode ''The Sentinel'' was used as a competing paper similar to the ''[[The New York Times]]''. All are amalgams of actual New York institutions.
The real-life ''[[New York Daily News]]'' has also appeared in the series.
On [[September 14]] [[2004]] in New York City, a road leading to Pier 62 at [[Chelsea Piers]] (where the series is mostly shot) was renamed "Law & Order Way", in tribute to the long-running series.<ref name="Street">{{cite web |url=http://www.nyc.gov/html/film/html/news/091604_commissioner_oliver_presents.shtml |title=Commisioner Oliver Presents "Law & Order Way" |work=NYC.gov |accessdate=2004-09-14}}</ref>
====Legitimate theater talent====
Because both the interior and exterior filming all occur in [[New York City]], the series has access to a wide variety of regular and guest actors who perform in the [[legitimate theater]]. Many times these actors are available for shooting during the day while performing on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] in the evening or between engagements.
====The card, and the sound====
Most [[Scene (fiction)|scene]] changes are preceded with a black screen with white text at the bottom. This title card indicates the ___location and date of the events to be portrayed. In episodes where the passage of time is an element (such as the episode "Mayhem", in which Briscoe and Logan had to finish part of an investigation in time for Briscoe to get to a [[New York Knicks]] game), the time to the second is also shown, sometimes accompanied by ticking. These cards are almost always accompanied by a dramatic form of [[Sting (percussion)|musical sting]], perhaps best known as "[[Media:Law and Order music string.ogg|the sound]]."
This has been described as a "DUN dun" or "thunk thunk" sound. It was originally developed to sound like a barred door in a jail cell slamming shut (Law). Other fans think it sounds more like a gavel (Order). In promos for ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]'' reruns on the [[USA Network]], actor [[Dann Florek]] refers to the sound as the "boink boink"<ref name ="doink">{{cite web |url=http://blog.rickbreslin.com/blog/law_and_order_doink_doink_sound.asp |title=The Law & Order Doink Doink Sound |work=RickBreslin.com |accessdate=2005-10-22}}</ref>, while [[Richard Belzer]] refers to it as the sound of a judge's gavel. According to Imdb.com, it "was created by combining close to a dozen sounds, including that of a group of monks stamping on a floor."
===Portrayal of characters===
The show's cast of [[police]] and [[lawyer]]s are portrayed as basically honest professionals who rarely stray from the boundaries of accepted procedure and usually solving crimes by the book, although occasional cases hit home and the detectives and/or ADAs become somewhat personally invested in the case. With the exception of several episodes at the end of Season 8, the show does not employ [[subplot]]s, and the private lives of the characters are only mentioned in passing. Perhaps the scenes involving lawyers stray from reality a little more, with a far higher proportion of cases going to trial than in real life (although [[plea bargain]]ing plays a far greater role than in other television series), and with [[trial (law)|trial]] lawyers sometimes acting as pseudo-detectives.
===Technical accuracy===
{{Original research|section}}
The same detectives always working with the same prosecutors is not a realistic depiction of the legal system, nor is the number of high-profile, highly complicated cases taken on, nor their success in solving nearly all of them (and with their failures often a result of societal prejudice or by unethical actions by the plaintiff or opposing counsel). In the actual legal system, most real cases do not go to trial and are settled with a [[plea bargain]], whereas the trial is a signature part of nearly every ''Law & Order'' episode (though a large number of cases are indeed resolved in plea bargains). Nonetheless, the characters and process depicted can be seen as amalgams of the entire legal system, and the technically unrealistic legal process (the same 4 people investigating and trying every high-profile murder in New York) as a simplifying [[plot device]] necessary for the show to be possible, thus maintaining [[suspension of disbelief]].
Alternatively, viewers can take this point of view: the cases depicted on the show are not ''all'' the ones the detectives handle, but ''only'' those in which they are working with the specific prosecutors. Likewise, the cases depicted may not represent all those on which the prosecutors work, but only major, complicated cases which proceed to trial. A significant amount of time compression (compressing events that may occur over a period of months into a one-hour show format) may also be assumed. There is usually a date on the cards used for scene transitions, supporting this theory.
The lawyers, police, accused, perpetrators, defendants, judges, psychiatrists, and forensic experts on the show, as well as the the victims and witnesses of crimes, speak in pithy, perfunctory sentences (usually with a tone of arrogance) that help to expedite the plot with a minimum of dialogue, even when the same characters are visibly upset or under cross examination. Frequently, questioning of key witnesses lasts a minute or less, even in real time. Expert witnesses typically perform infallibly under cross examination without equivocation. Nevertheless, the defense's expert witnesses, particularly psychiatrists, are regularly shown to be advocates of controversial or fringe ideologies such as [[Repressed memory]] or [[Black rage (law)|Black rage]]. Forensic experts are portrayed as almost omniscient and forensic evidence is rarely portrayed as botched or questionable; acquittals are generally gained in the face of forensic evidence only when a defense lawyer successfully argues for its inadmissibility on a sophistic or cynical "technicality". Like many legal dramas the show has thus been accused of providing an unrealistic portrayal of the criminal justice system (see the [[CSI effect]]).
In addition to the issues regarding accuracy in relation to the legal system in general, the show inaccurately represents the judicial system of New York County specifically. While the death penalty is often a significant plot point in Law and Order episodes, no one has ever been charged with capital murder in Manhattan during the period when New York had a functional capital punishment statute. Likewise, the election of a conservative Republican in the mode of Arthur Branch, is virtually inconceivable in overwhelmingly Democratic Manhattan.
==Revolving cast==
{{main|Law & Order characters}}
For all Past and Present characters see [[Law & Order Characters (All Series)]]
''Law & Order'' is noted for its revolving cast; in fact, none of the original six regulars are with the show any longer, and many stay for only a few seasons. This continual replacement of actors has not appeared to harm the program's popularity. In fact, it has been speculated that the transforming cast has contributed to the series's longevity. Also, the regular appearance of new faces in the cast has constantly changed the show's dynamic, allowing it to repeatedly reinvent itself.
Four long-serving exceptions are [[Steven Hill]] (1990–2000) as [[Adam Schiff (fictional character)|Adam Schiff]], [[Sam Waterston]] (1994–present) as [[Jack McCoy]], [[Jerry Orbach]] (1992–2004) as [[Lennie Briscoe|Det. Lennie Briscoe]], and [[S. Epatha Merkerson]] (1993–present) as [[Anita Van Buren|Lt. Anita Van Buren]], who is the show's longest-serving actor. Steven Hill was the last member of the original cast to leave the show, though even he did not appear in the series' pilot episode, but appeared in all the rest of the series' episodes. The role of [[Alfred Wentworth]] was played by [[Roy Thinnes]]. This is the only time Alfred Wentworth appeared, although Thinnes has returned to the series several times since then (in other roles).
It is widely believed that the Adam Schiff character was based on real life [[Manhattan|New York County]] District Attorney [[Robert M. Morgenthau]] who still serves in the post, aged 87.
Cast changes were announced in 2004 when longtime performer Orbach left the series at the end of Season 14 to star in the spinoff, ''[[Law & Order: Trial by Jury]]''. Orbach died shortly after producing the first two episodes after a prolonged bout with [[prostate cancer]].
[[Dennis Farina]] replaced Orbach, joining the cast as [[Joe Fontana (Law & Order)|Det. Joe Fontana]]. In addition, [[Elisabeth Röhm]], who played [[Serena Southerlyn]] for three and a half years, left the series midway through the 2004–2005 season; her successor was [[Annie Parisse]], who played [[Alexandra Borgia]].
In December 2004, [[Michael Imperioli]] was announced as a temporary replacement for [[Jesse L. Martin]] for the last four episodes of the 15th season. This was in order to allow Martin to fulfill a movie contract (the film version of ''[[Rent (musical)|Rent]],'' in which Martin starred on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]]); Martin returned for the 16th season. In the show, Det. Ed Green is wounded in a shootout and takes medical leave in order to recuperate. Michael Imperioli appeared as the same character, [[Nick Falco|Det. Nick Falco]], in a guest-starring role in a later episode in Season 16.
On [[April 26]] [[2006]] [[Fox News]] reported that Parisse had quit her role as Alexandra Borgia on ''Law & Order'' amid rumors of the show's imminent cancellation. The show, however, has been renewed for a 17th season. This departure was followed, on [[May 30]] [[2006]] by the announcement that Dennis Farina would be leaving the cast in a story reported by the [[Associated Press]]. With Farina's departure, [[Jesse L. Martin]]'s character was promoted to "senior partner" status. [[Milena Govich]], who played one of the assistant district attorneys on series creator Dick Wolf's drama series ''[[Conviction (TV series)|Conviction]]'' joined the cast the "junior partner", [[Nina Cassady]]. This was the first time that a woman has played one of the main investigating police officers. As of the beginning of the seventeenth season, [[Annie Parisse]] has been replaced by [[Alana de la Garza]].
[[Fred Thompson]] asked May 30, 2007 to be released from the show after five seasons. It is widely suspected that he will officially declare his candidacy for [[President of the United States]], which would have required him to leave the show anyway (under the [[equal-time rule]]).
Milena Govich left the show after one season on [[June 1]], [[2007]], and will be replaced by [[Jeremy Sisto]].[http://tv.yahoo.com/news/article/urn:newsml:tv.reuters.com:20070601:sisto_dc__ER:21924;_ylt=Aj9aaa1FbXwv8PEPFCqNETr6o9EF]
On June 7, 2007, it was confirmed that [[Sam Waterston]]'s character, [[Jack McCoy]], would be replacing [[Fred Thompson]]'s character, [[Arthur Branch]], as District Attorney. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070607/ap_en_tv/tv_law___order_waterston;_ylt=Ao_UN4q5ROw36EB.IJdlP7txFb8C]
Many main cast members had previously appeared in earlier episodes as different characters, a phenomenon known as "same actor, different character", which has been much discussed on Internet forums such as [[Jumping the Shark]]. Fans sometimes refer to these actors as "repeat offenders." [[S. Epatha Merkerson]] made a guest appearance as the grief stricken mother whose children were shot in the 1st season episode "Mushrooms." [[Jerry Orbach]] made a guest appearance as a defense attorney in the 2nd season episode "The Wages of Love." [[Annie Parisse]] made a guest appearance as a stripper in the 12th season episode "Attorney Client." [[Milena Govich]] made a guest appearance in the 16th season episode "Flaw." In addition, new cast member [[Jeremy Sisto]] played a defense attorney in the 17th season finale "The Family Hour." Therefore, Sisto will be the first Law & Order actor to go from being a guest star in one episode to being a permanent cast member in the very next episode.
==Current Cast==
{{main|Law & Order characters}}
===Police Officers===
[[Ed Green|Det. Ed Green]] ([[Jesse L. Martin]]) </br>
[[Anita Van Buren|Lt. Anita Van Buren]] ([[S. Epatha Merkerson]]) </br>
===Prosecutors===
[[Jack McCoy]] ([[Sam Waterston]]) </br>
[[Connie Rubirosa]] ([[Alana de la Garza]]) </br>
==Former Cast==
{{main|Law & Order characters}}
===Police Officers===
Sgt. [[Max Greevey]] ([[George Dzundza]]) </br>
Sgt. [[Phil Cerreta]] ([[Paul Sorvino]]) </br>
Det. [[Lennie Briscoe]] ([[Jerry Orbach]]) </br>
Det [[Joe Fontana (Law & Order)|Joe Fontana]] ([[Dennis Farina]]) </br>
Det. [[Mike Logan (Law & Order)|Mike Logan]] ([[Chris Noth]]) </br>
Det. [[Rey Curtis]] ([[Benjamin Bratt]]) </br>
Capt. [[Donald Cragen]] ([[Dann Florek]]) </br>
Det. [[Nick Falco]] ([[Michael Imperioli]]) </br>
Det. [[Nina Cassady]] ([[Milena Govich]]) </br>
===Prosecutors===
Executive A.D.A. [[Benjamin Stone]] ([[Michael Moriarty]]) </br>
A.D.A. [[Paul Robinette]] ([[Richard Brooks (actor)|Richard Brooks]]) </br>
A.D.A. [[Claire Kincaid]] ([[Jill Hennessy]]) </br>
A.D.A. [[Jamie Ross]] ([[Carey Lowell]]) </br>
A.D.A. [[Abbie Carmichael]] ([[Angie Harmon]]) </br>
A.D.A. [[Serena Southerlyn]] ([[Elisabeth Röhm]]) </br>
A.D.A. [[Alexandra Borgia]] ([[Annie Parisse]]) </br>
D.A. [[Adam Schiff (Law & Order)|Adam Schiff]] ([[Steven Hill]]) </br>
Interim D.A. [[Nora Lewin]] ([[Dianne Wiest]]) </br>
D.A. [[Arthur Branch]] ([[Fred Dalton Thompson]]) </br>
== Episodes ==
{{main|List of Law & Order seasons}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Season !! Start !! End !! # of episodes
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 1)|Season 1]]
| [[September 13]] [[1990]]
| [[June 9]] [[1991]]
| 22
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 2)|Season 2]]
| [[September 17]] [[1991]]
| [[May 14]] [[1992]]
| 22
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 3)|Season 3]]
| [[September 23]] [[1992]]
| [[May 19]] [[1993]]
| 22
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 4)|Season 4]]
| [[September 15]] [[1993]]
| [[May 25]] [[1994]]
| 22
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 5)|Season 5]]
| [[September 21]] [[1994]]
| [[May 24]] [[1995]]
| 23
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 6)|Season 6]]
| [[September 20]] [[1995]]
| [[May 22]] [[1996]]
| 23
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 7)|Season 7]]
| [[September 18]] [[1996]]
| [[May 21]] [[1997]]
| 23
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 8)|Season 8]]
| [[September 24]] [[1997]]
| [[May 20]] [[1998]]
| 24
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 9)|Season 9]]
| [[September 23]] [[1998]]
| [[May 26]] [[1999]]
| 24
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 10)|Season 10]]
| [[September 22]] [[1999]]
| [[May 24]] [[2000]]
| 24
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 11)|Season 11]]
| [[October 18]] [[2000]]
| [[May 23]] [[2001]]
| 24
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 12)|Season 12]]
| [[September 26]] [[2001]]
| [[May 22]] [[2002]]
| 24
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 13)|Season 13]]
| [[October 2]] [[2002]]
| [[May 21]] [[2003]]
| 24
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 14)|Season 14]]
| [[September 24]] [[2003]]
| [[May 19]] [[2004]]
| 24
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 15)|Season 15]]
| [[September 22]] [[2004]]
| [[May 18]] [[2005]]
| 24
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 16)|Season 16]]
| [[September 21]] [[2005]]
| [[May 17]] [[2006]]
| 22
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 17)|Season 17]]
| [[September 22]] [[2006]]
| [[May 18]] [[2007]]
| 22
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 18)|Season 18]]
| [[January 2008]]
| —
|}
==Awards and nominations==
===Awards won===
'''[[Emmy Awards]]:'''
* Outstanding Drama Series (1997)
'''[[Screen Actors Guild]]:'''
* Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series [[Jerry Orbach]] (2005)
* Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series [[Sam Waterston]] (1999)
'''[[Edgar Award]]s:'''
* Best Episode in a Television Series Teleplay [[René Balcer]] and [[Michael S. Chernuchin]], for "Conspiracy" (1993)
* Best Episode in a Television Series Teleplay [[I. C. Rapoport]] and [[Ed Zuckerman]], for "Deadbeat" (1997)
* Best Episode in a Television Series Teleplay [[Richard Sweren]], [[Simon Wincelberg]], and [[Ed Zuckerman]], for "Double Down" (1998)
* Best Episode in a Television Series Teleplay [[René Balcer]] and [[Richard Sweren]], for "Bad Girl" (1999)
* Best Episode in a Television Series Teleplay [[René Balcer]], for "Refuge, Part 2" (2000)
Writers Guild Award
* Best Teleplay, Rene Balcer and Richard Sweren for "Entrapment" (1998)
Silver Gavel Award (American Bar Association)
* Best Television Episode, "DWB", written by Rene Balcer (1998)
* Best Television Episode, "Hate", written by Rene Balcer (1999)
Peabody Award, 1997
Norman Felton Award (Producers Guild of America), Producer of the Year, (1996)
===Awards nominated===
'''[[Emmy Awards]]:'''
* Outstanding Drama Series (1992–1996, 1998–2002)
* Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series [[Sam Waterston]] (1997, 1999–2000)
* Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series [[Jerry Orbach]] (2000)
* Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series [[Michael Moriarty]] (1991–1994)
* Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series [[Steven Hill]] (1998–1999)
* Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series [[Benjamin Bratt]] (1998)
'''[[Golden Globe Awards]]:'''
* Best TV Series-Drama (1992, 1994–1995, 1998–1999)
* Best Performance by an Actor in a Drama Series-Drama [[Sam Waterston]] (1995)
* Best Performance by an Actor in a Drama Series-Drama [[Michael Moriarty]] (1994)
'''[[Screen Actors Guild]]:'''
* Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (1995–2002, 2004)
* Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series [[Sam Waterston]] (1998)
==DVD Releases==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|rowspan="2" bgcolor="#f2f2f2"|<div align="center">'''DVD Name'''</div>||rowspan="2" bgcolor="#f2f2f2"|<div align="center">'''Cover Art'''</div>||colspan="3" bgcolor="#f2f2f2"|<div align="center">'''Release dates'''</div>
|-
|bgcolor="#f2f2f2"|<div align="center">Region 1</div>||bgcolor="#f2f2f2"|<div align="center">Region 2</div>||bgcolor="#f2f2f2"|<div align="center">Region 4</div>
|-
|The Complete 1<sup>st</sup> Season||[[Image:LawAndOrderS1.jpg|120px|The Complete First Season]]||[[October 15]] [[2002]] || [[June 16]] [[2003]] || [[April 14]] [[2003]]
|-
|The Complete 2<sup>nd</sup> Season||[[Image:LawAndOrderS2.jpg|120px|The Complete Second Season]]||[[May 4]] [[2004]] || [[February 28]] [[2005]] || [[January 19]] [[2005]]
|-
|The Complete 3<sup>rd</sup> Season||[[Image:LawAndOrderS3.jpg|120px|The Complete Third Season]]||[[May 24]] [[2005]] || [[November 21]] [[2005]] || [[March 8]] [[2006]]
|-
|The Complete 4<sup>th</sup> Season||align="center"|[[Image:Law OrderS4.jpg|90px|The Complete Fourth Season]]||[[December 6]] [[2005]] || [[July 17]] [[2006]] || N/A
|-
|The Complete 5<sup>th</sup> Season||align="center"|[[Image:Law & Order Ssn5.JPG|90px|The Complete Fifth Season]] || [[April 3]] [[2007]] || [[July 23]] [[2007]] || N/A
|-
<!--
|-
|The Complete 6<sup>th</sup> Season|| ||N/A || N/A || N/A
|-
|The Complete 7<sup>th</sup> Season|| ||N/A || N/A || N/A
|-
|The Complete 8<sup>th</sup> Season|| ||N/A || N/A || N/A
|-
|The Complete 9<sup>th</sup> Season|| ||N/A || N/A || N/A
|-
|The Complete 10<sup>th</sup> Season|| ||N/A || N/A || N/A
|-
|The Complete 11<sup>th</sup> Season|| ||N/A || N/A || N/A
|-
|The Complete 12<sup>th</sup> Season|| ||N/A || N/A || N/A
|-
|The Complete 13<sup>th</sup> Season|| ||N/A || N/A || N/A -->
|-
|The Complete 14<sup>th</sup> Season||[[Image:LawAndOrderS14.jpg|120px|The Complete Fourteenth Season]]||[[September 14]] [[2004]] || N/A || N/A
|}
==Future of ''Law & Order''==
In late March [[2006]], the show witnessed a drop in ratings after NBC moved new episode showings to a different time slot;[http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/zap-ratings032206,0,877188.story?coll=zap-tv-ratings-headlines] however, speculation still exists that it may reach the record for longest-running American [[prime time]] drama, currently held by ''[[Gunsmoke]]'' ([[1955]]–[[1975]]).{{Fact|date=February 2007}} According to news reports in 2005, the ''Law & Order'' franchise (including all the different series) generates around $1 billion in annual revenues for NBC Universal and its cable partners (a February 2005 NBC financial presentation states that NBC's share of this revenue (including syndication and advertising) is more than $550 million).
On [[April 5]] [[2006]], the show returned to its old timeslot.<ref name="switch">{{cite web |url=http://us.imdb.com/news/sb/2006-04-03#tv5 |title=NBC To Return 'Law & Order' to Former Time Slot |work=IMDB.com |accessdate=2006-05-03}}</ref> This produced an improvement of ratings. <ref name="heat">{{cite web |url=http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/zap-ratings040506,0,1270406.story?coll=zap-tv-ratings-headlines |title=New timeslots don't help 'Race,' 'Heist' |worZap2it.com |accessdate=2006-05-06}}</ref>
The show lost 1.8 million viewers in the sixteenth season.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Both ''Law & Order'' and ''Criminal Intent'' were placed in new time slots for the 2006-2007 season. Law & Order currently averages 9.3 million viewers on Fridays at 10pm, down from 11.6 million a year ago, while ''Criminal Intent'' averages 9.7 million viewers on Tuesdays at 9pm and ''SVU'' averages 12.9 million viewers during its timeslot.
NBC Universal announced on [[May 14]] [[2007]] that all three shows under the ''Law & Order'' banner have been renewed for the 2007-2008 season. Under NBC's agreement, ''Law & Order'' will premiere its 18th season on NBC in January 2008 while new episodes of ''Criminal Intent'' will now premiere on NBC Universal's [[USA network]] with reruns slated to appear on NBC.<ref name="S18">{{cite web |url=http://www.tv.com/law-and-order/show/180/story/9527.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=headlinessh&tag=headlines;title;0om_act=convert&om_clk=headlinessh |title=NBC rolls out fall lineup |work=TV.com |accessdate=2007-05-14}}</ref This is an unusual role reversal in NBC and USA's [[Television_syndication|shared or second window syndication]] arrangement. When the future of the Law & Order stable was in doubt, [[Turner Network Television|TNT]] which airs re-runs of the show, emerged as a contender to become the new home either of ''Law & Order'' or ''Law & Order Criminal Intent'' may live on if axed .<ref name="TNT">{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/a46346/law--order-may-live-on-if-axed.html |title='Law & Order' |work=Digitialdisplay.co.uk |accessdate=2007-05-09}}</ref>
==Related series==
===Spin-offs===
The show's popularity has resulted in a [[Law & Order franchise|''Law & Order'' franchise]] with the creation of three other television dramas under the same brand: ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]'' (1999), and ''[[Law & Order: Criminal Intent]]'' (2001). These two shows focus more on the police side of a case. A short-lived spinoff, ''[[Law & Order: Trial by Jury]]'' (2005), which lasted only 12 episodes, focused almost entirely on [[courtroom drama]], but was pulled off due to low ratings, becoming the first series of the franchise to be canceled. Every spinoff uses the same theme music as the original series, albeit with differing [[arrangement]]s (harder guitars for the ''Criminal Intent'' theme, for instance).
The latest and now canceled spinoff, ''[[Conviction (TV series)|Conviction]]'', was only loosely related to the original. While [[Alexandra Cabot]] ([[Stephanie March]]) from ''SVU'' was one of the lead characters, and a cameo by [[Fred Dalton Thompson]] tied it into the same continuity, it did not bear the "Law & Order" title, nor did it use the ''Law & Order'' theme music and scene transitions. In addition, ''Conviction'' had no coverage of the police investigations and followed the prosecutors' entire lives, rather than just the cases they argue in court.
===Crossovers===
''Law & Order'' [[fictional crossover|crossed over]] six times with other NBC shows:
* '''"Charm City" (''L&O'' ep 6–13)''', continued in "For God and Country" (''[[Homicide: Life on the Street]]'' ep 4–12)
* '''"Baby, It's You – Part I" (''L&O'' ep 8–6)''', continued in "Baby, It's You – Part II" (''[[Homicide: Life on the Street]]'' ep 6–5)
* '''"Sideshow – Part I" (''L&O'' ep 9–14)''', continued in "Sideshow – Part II" (''[[Homicide: Life on the Street]]'' ep 7–15)
* "Entitled – Part I" (''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]'' ep 1–15), continued in '''"Entitled – Part II" (''L&O'' ep 10–14)'''
* '''"Tombstone" (''L&O'' ep 15–20)''', continued in "Skeleton" (''[[Law & Order: Trial by Jury]]'' ep 1–8)
* "Design" (''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]'' ep 7–2), continued in '''"Flaw" (''L&O'' ep 16–2)'''
While not considered a cross over episode, Chris Noth appears in the before-the-credits sequence of the ''Homicide'' episode "Law and Disorder" (H:LotS ep 3–15). Taking place entirely in a Baltimore train station, Logan hands off a prisoner ([[John Waters (filmmaker)|John Waters]]) to [[Frank Pembleton]] ([[Andre Braugher]]). The two detectives engage in some friendly banter about which city is better: [[New York City]] or [[Baltimore]]. They argue over topics such as [[Babe Ruth]] and [[Dorothy Parker]].
===TV movie===
{{main|Exiled: A Law & Order Movie}}
There was also a [[TV movie]] called ''[[Exiled: A Law & Order Movie]]'' (1998), which featured the fate of [[Mike Logan (Law & Order)|Mike Logan]] (played by [[Chris Noth]]), one of the popular characters who departed the series. Noth has since returned to the role of Detective Mike Logan starting in the 2005–2006 season of ''Criminal Intent''.
===Reality series===
{{main|Crime & Punishment}}
The producers crafted a [[reality television]] series, ''[[Crime & Punishment]]'' (also sometimes called ''Law & Order: Crime & Punishment'') (2002), which focused on actual trials.
===Computer games===
In addition, there are three [[computer game]]s of ''Law & Order'' in which the player investigates crimes and then prosecutes the resulting cases: There is also a [[computer game]] based on the "Law and Order: Criminal Intent" Franchise.
* ''[[Law & Order: Dead on the Money]]''
* ''[[Law & Order: Double or Nothing]]''
* ''[[Law & Order: Justice is Served]]''
* ''[[Law & Order: Criminal Intent(game)|Law & Order: Criminal Intent]]''
===Books===
'''''Law and Order: Dead Line''''' When a woman's body is found at the bottom of a hotel air shaft in Times Square, it looks like a routine suicide. Enter Detectives. Lennie Briscoe and Ed Green. Something about the woman seems out of place in the tourist trap. Her clothing suggests wealth. No socialite would be caught dead in a place like this. The trail leads to an about-to-be published tell-all novel destined to be a best-seller. Now Briscoe and Green have to find out what's in it that's worth murder!Following the exact format and pacing of the TV show, this original novel is a must for the millions of L&O viewers.
'''''Law & Order: The Unofficial Companion''''' (published 11/99 by) The Unofficial Companion was written with the cooperation of the show's creator and executive producer, Dick Wolf, and features interviews with the stars, producers, and writers. It is the first-ever guide to this popular, Emmy award-winning police drama. You'll get the inside scoop on: the past and current stars of the show-including Paul Sorvino, Jerry Orbach, Jesse L. Martin, Chris Noth, S. Epatha Merkerson, Sam Waterston, Carey Lowell, Angie Harmon, and Michael Moriarty and find out who was fired, who left willingly, and who remainsthe show's continued problems with censorship issues and advertiser fallout the behind-the-scenes anecdotes about cast regulars, including the fights, both verbal and physical, that have peppered the production, how Wolf was forced to increase the estrogen and decrease the testosterone on the show, the detailed history behind the creation, development of the show, and season-by-season critiques of each episode through the entire 1999 season.
'''''True Stories of Law & Order''''' (published 11/06 by Berkley/Penguin) chronicles 25 real cases that inspired some of the most popular "ripped from the headlines" episodes of the show. Authors Kevin Dwyer and Juré Fiorillo discuss famous cases including the Bernie Goetz subway shootings, the murder of Jennifer Levin in Central Park, and the San Francisco dog mauling of Diane Whipple, as well as lesser-know crimes such as the death by exorcism of Torrance Cottrell and the tragic murder of Anthony Riggs, a soldier who returned from the Gulf War only to be ambushed by a hitman hired by his wife. The book also includes interesting facts about police and legal procedure.
==International Broadcasters==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Country !! Alternate title/Translation !! TV Network(s) !! Series Premiere !! Weekly Schedule
|-
|{{Flagicon|USA}} [[United States]] || || [[NBC]] ''(first run)'' and [[Turner Network Television|TNT]] ''(syndication)'' || [[September 13]] [[1990]] || Friday 10:00pm [[North American Eastern Time Zone|ET]]
|-
|{{Flagicon|Canada}} [[Canada]] || La Loi et l'Ordre (French title) || [[CTV]] & [[NBC]] ''(first run)'' and <br/>[[Bravo! Canada|Bravo]] and [[Mystery (TV channel)|Mystery]] ''(syndication)'' || [[September 13]] [[1990]] || Friday 10:00pm [[North American Eastern Time Zone|ET]]
|-
|{{Flagicon|Argentina}} [[Argentina]] || La Ley y el orden || [[NBC Universal|Universal Channel]] || || Monday 9:00pm [[Time in Argentina|ART]]
|-
||{{Flagicon|Australia}} [[Australia]] || || [[Network Ten]] ''(first run)'' <br/>and [[W Channel|W Channel]] ''(syndication)''|| ||
|-
|{{Flagicon|Austria}} [[Austria]] || Law & Order/ Aus den Akten der Straße <br/> ("From the Files of the Street") || [[ORF (broadcaster)|ORF1]] ''(first run)'' and ''(syndication)'' || || Mondays late nights
|-
|{{Flagicon|Belarus}} [[Belarus]] || Закон и порядок || [[Rossiya-Belarusian]] || shuffle|| Monday-Thursday ~21:55-22:50 [[EET]]
|-
|{{Flagicon|Brazil}} [[Brazil]] || Lei & Ordem || [[Grupo Bandeirantes de Comunicação|Bandeirantes]] and <br/>[[NBC Universal|Universal Channel]] ''(first run)'' || || Monday 11:00pm <br/>(Universal Channel)
|-
|{{Flagicon|Denmark}} [[Denmark]] || I lovens navn <br/>("In the Name of the Law")|| [[TV3 Denmark|TV3]] ''(first run)'', [[TV3 plus|TV3+]], <br/>[[Hallmark Channel]] ''(syndication)'' || ||
|-
|{{Flagicon|Finland}} [[Finland]] || Kova laki ("The Hard Law")|| [[YLE|YLE TV2]] ''(first run)'' and <br/>[[Hallmark Channel]] ''(syndication)'' || || Friday 10:05 pm
|-
|{{Flagicon|France}} [[France]] || New York - Police judiciaire <br/>("New York - Criminal Investigation Department") || [[TF1]] || [[September 11]] [[1994]] ||
|-
|{{Flagicon|Germany}} [[Germany]] || Law & Order/ Die Aufrechten-<br/>Aus den Akten der Straße <br/>("The Upright- From the Files of the Street") || [[RTL Television]] ''(first run)'' and <br/>[[Das Vierte]] ''(syndication)'' || [[October 6]] [[1992]] || Tuesday 11:10pm
|-
|{{Flagicon|Ireland}} [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] || || [[RTÉ Two]] and [[Channel 6 (Ireland)|Channel 6]] || ||
|-
|{{Flagicon|Israel}} [[Israel]] || Hok VaSeder || Channel 1 and [[Hallmark Channel|The Hallmark Channel]] || ||
|-
|{{Flagicon|Italy}} [[Italy]] || Law & Order- I Due Volti Della Giustizia <br/>("Law & Order- The Two Faces Of Justice") || [[Rai Due|RaiDue]], [[La7]], [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] and Fox Crime || ||
|-
|{{Flagicon|Mexico}} [[Mexico]] || La ley y el orden:<br/>Unidad de Víctimas Especiales, <br/>Law and Order, Law and Order Criminal Intent || [[XHGC-TV|Canal 5]] ([[Televisa]]), [[Axn]], [[Universal Channel]] || [[October 2]] [[2006]] || Monday, 11:00 pm
|-
|{{Flagicon|Montenegro}} [[Montenegro]] || Red i Zakon (''Law and Order'') || [[RTCG]]
|-
|{{Flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Netherlands]] || || [[VARA (broadcaster)|VARA]], [[Net 5]], [[RTL 7 (The Netherlands)|RTL 7]] <br/>and [[Hallmark Channel]]<br/> || ||
|-
|{{Flagicon|Norway}} [[Norway]] || Lov og orden || [[TV3 (Viasat|TV3]] ''(first run)'', [[ZTV]] and <br/>[[Hallmark Channel]] ''(syndication)'' || ||
|-
|{{Flagicon|Philippines}} [[Philippines]] || || [[Crime/Suspense]], [[Hallmark Channel]] || ||
|-
|{{Flagicon|Poland}} [[Poland]] ||Prawo i bezprawie <br/>("Law & Lawlessness") || [[TVP 1]] || ||
|-
|{{Flagicon|Portugal}} [[Portugal]] ||Lei & Ordem|| [[Fox Life]] || ||
|-
|{{Flagicon|Romania}} [[Romania]] || Lege si Ordine:In fata Juratilor <br/>("Order and Law") || [[TVR2]] || ||
|-
|{{Flagicon|Russia}} [[Russia]] || Закон и порядок <br/>(translit: Zakon i Poryadok)<br/>("Law & Order") || [[Rossiya]] || shuffle, now <br/>Benjamin Bratt <br/>(1995-96) || Tuesday-Friday ~0:00-1:00 [[GMT]]
|-
|{{Flagicon|Serbia}} [[Serbia]] || Ред и Закон ("Order and Law") || [[Fox Crime]] || ||
|-
|{{Flagicon|Spain}} [[Spain]] || Ley y orden ("Law and Order") || [[La Sexta]] || ||
|-
|{{Flagicon|Sweden}} [[Sweden]] || I lagens namn ("In the Name of the Law") || [[TV3 (Sweden)|TV3]] ''(first run)'', [[ZTV]], [[TV6 (Sweden)|TV6]] and <br/>[[Hallmark Channel]] ''(syndication)''|| || Sunday 11:10 pm
|-
|{{Flagicon|Thailand}} [[Thailand]] || || [[Hallmark Channel]] || ||
|-
|{{Flagicon|UK}} [[United Kingdom]] || || [[Sky One]] and [[Sky Two]], <br/>[[Five (channel)|Five]] and [[Five US]], <br/>[[Hallmark Channel (UK)|The Hallmark Channel]]<ref name="FiveTV">{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/programming/a45289/five-hangs-on-to-key-acquisitions.html |title=Five hangs on to key acquisitions |work=Five.tv |accessdate=2007-04-16}}</ref> || [[April 8]] [[1991]] ||
|}
==Technical Information==
''Law & Order'' has been shot on film in widescreen format since at least [[1994]], as evidenced by the anamorphic widescreen episodes present on The Fifth Year DVD set. As broadcasters convert the archived film to [[High-Definition Television|1080i high definition]], the show holds the distinction of being the oldest weekly series currently available in High-Definition Television (HD){{Fact|date=May 2007}}. This also presents the unique oddity of reruns in HD, providing more (previously cropped) material than when the episodes were first run broadcast in 4:3. Since 2002, first run episodes have also aired in HD.
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==See also==
* [[List of Law & Order cast members]]
* [[NYPD Blue]]
* [[Homicide: Life on the Street]]
* [[Hill Street Blues]]
* [[Law & Order franchise]]
==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
* [http://www.nbc.com/Law_&_Order Official ''Law & Order'' website]
* [http://www.tnt.tv/title/0,,333808,00.html Official Website for reruns] on [[Turner Network Television|TNT]]
* [http://www.lawandorderdvd.com/ ''Law & Order'' DVD] official [[Universal Studios]] website
* [http://members.aol.com/dwalheim/lawandorder/lofaq.html Law & Order FAQ (compiled 1995-1996 by a fan)]
* [http://www.nyc.gov/html/film/html/locations/sets_law_and_order.shtml Law & Order filming locations], Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting
{{start box}}
{{succession box | before = [[ER (TV series)|ER]] | title = [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series|Emmy - Outstanding Drama Series]] | years = 1997 | after = [[The Practice]]}}
{{end box}}
[[Category:1990 television program debuts]]
[[Category:1990s American television series]]
[[Category:2000s American television series]]
[[Category:Crime television series]]
[[Category:Edgar Award winning works]]
[[Category:Five television programmes]]
[[Category:Law & Order]]
[[Category:Legal television series]]
[[Category:NBC network shows]]
[[Category:Peabody Award winners]]
[[Category:Television shows set in New York]]
[[Category:Television series by NBC Universal Television]]
[[da:Law & Order]]
[[de:Law & Order]]
[[es:Law & Order]]
[[fr:New York police judiciaire]]
[[it:Law & Order - I due volti della giustizia]]
[[he:חוק וסדר]]
[[ms:Undang-undang & Ketenteraman]]
[[nl:Law & Order]]
[[pt:Law & Order]]
[[sk:Zákon a poriadok]]
[[fi:Kova laki]]
[[sv:I lagens namn (TV-serie)]]
| |||