Law & Order

This article is about the original television series. For other uses, seeLaw and Order.For the current season, seeLaw & Order season 24.

Law & Order
The font used in the series title card,Friz Quadrata,is used in the identifying sign ofOne Police Plaza,headquarters of theNYPD.
Genre	Police procedural Legal drama Mystery
Created by	Dick Wolf
Showrunners	Walon Green(1993–1994, 2004–2006) Michael S. Chernuchin(1994–1996, 2002–2004) René Balcer(1996–2000, 2008–2010) William M. Finkelstein(2000–2001) Arthur Penn(2000–2001) Barry Schindel (2001–2002) Nicholas Wootton(2006–2007) Rick Eid (2022–present)
Starring	George Dzundza Chris Noth Dann Florek Michael Moriarty Richard Brooks Steven Hill Paul Sorvino Carolyn McCormick Jerry Orbach S. Epatha Merkerson Jill Hennessy Sam Waterston Benjamin Bratt Carey Lowell Angie Harmon Jesse L. Martin Dianne Wiest Elisabeth Röhm Fred Dalton Thompson Dennis Farina Annie Parisse Michael Imperioli Milena Govich Alana de la Garza Jeremy Sisto Linus Roache Anthony Anderson Jeffrey Donovan Camryn Manheim Hugh Dancy Odelya Halevi Mehcad Brooks Reid Scott Tony Goldwyn Maura Tierney
Theme music composer	Mike Post
Opening theme	"Theme of Law & Order"
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No.of seasons	23
No.of episodes	501(list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Dick Wolf Joseph Stern(1990–1993) Ed Sherin(1993–2000) Peter Jankowski(2001–present) Matthew Penn(2003–2007) Fred Berner(2008–2010) Arthur W. Forney (2022–present)
Producers	Lorenzo Carcaterra (2003–2004) Aaron Zelman(2003–2004) Nick Santora(2004–2005) Lois Johnson(2004–2005) Greg Plageman (2005–2006) Christopher Ambrose (2008–2010)
Camera setup	Single-camera
Running time	40–48 minutes
Production companies	Wolf Entertainment Universal Television
Original release
Network	NBC
Release	September 13, 1990(1990-09-13)– May 24, 2010(2010-05-24)
Release	February 24, 2022(2022-02-24)– present(present)
Related
Law & Order(franchise)

Law & Orderis an Americanpolice proceduralandlegal dramatelevision series created byDick Wolfand produced byWolf EntertainmentandUniversal Television,launching theLaw & Orderfranchise.

Law & Orderaired its entire run on NBC, premiering on September 13, 1990, and completing its 20th season on May 24, 2010.On September 28, 2021, after an 11-year hiatus, NBC announced that the series would be revived for a 21st season, which premiered on February 24, 2022. The revival saw the debut of new regular cast members, and the reprise of two roles by series veterans: District AttorneyJack McCoy(Sam Waterston), and DetectiveKevin Bernard(Anthony Anderson).The 22nd season premiered on September 22, 2022.On April 10, 2023, the series was renewed for its 23rd season, which premiered on January 18, 2024.On March 21, 2024, the series was renewed for a 24th season.

Set and filmed inNew York City,the series follows a two-part approach: the first half-hour is the investigation of a crime (usually murder) and apprehension of a suspect byNew York City Police Departmenthomicide detectives, the second half is the prosecution of the defendant by theManhattan district attorney's office.Plots are based on real cases that recently made headlines, although the motivation for the crime and the perpetrator may be much different.

The show started using revolving-door casting in season 2. Among the longest-running main cast members areSteven Hillas District AttorneyAdam Schiff(seasons 1–10),Jerry Orbachas DetectiveLennie Briscoe(seasons 3–14),S. Epatha Merkersonas LieutenantAnita Van Buren(seasons 4–20),Sam Waterstonas District AttorneyJack McCoy(season 5–23; formerly Executive Assistant District Attorney), andJesse L. Martinas DetectiveEd Green(seasons 10–18).

Law & Order's 23 seasons are second only to its spin-offLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999–present) for thelongest-running live-action scripted American primetime series.The success of the series has led to the creation of additional shows, makingLaw & Ordera franchise, with a television film, several video games, and international adaptations of the series. It has won and has been nominated for numerous awards over the years, including a number ofEmmy Awards.

Production

History and development

In 1988,Dick Wolfdeveloped a concept for a new television series that was going to depict a relatively optimistic picture of the American criminal justice system. He initially toyed with the idea of calling itNight & Daybut then hit upon the titleLaw & Order.The first half of each episode was going to follow two homicide detectives (a senior and a juniordetective) and their commanding officer as they were investigating a violent crime.

The second half of the episode was going to follow the district attorney's office and the courts as two prosecutors, with advice from the district attorney, were attempting to convict the accused.Law & Orderwas going to be able to investigate some of the larger issues of the day by focusing on stories that were based on real cases making headlines.

Wolf took the idea to then-president ofUniversal TelevisionKerry McCluggage,who pointed out the similarity to a 1963 series titledArrest and Trial,which lasted one season. The two watched the pilot of that series, in which a police officer (Ben Gazzara) arrested a man for armed robbery in the first half, and the defense attorney, played byChuck Connors,gets the perpetrator off as the wrong guy in the second half; this was the formula of the show every week.

Wolf decided that he wanted a fresh approach to the genre. His detectives occasionally were going to be fallible. He wanted to go from police procedural to prosecution with a greater degree of realism. The prosecution was going to be the hero, a reversal of the usual formula in lawyer dramas.

Foxinitially ordered 13 episodes based on the concept alone, with no pilot. Then-network headBarry Dillerreversed the decision. He did not believe it was a "Fox show", although he loved the idea. Wolf then went toCBS,which ordered a pilot, "Everybody's Favorite Bagman",written by Wolf about corrupt city officials involved with the mob. The network liked the pilot but did not order it because there were no breakout stars.

NBC's top executives,Brandon TartikoffandWarren Littlefield,screened the pilot and liked it in the summer of 1989. They were concerned that the intensity of the series was not going to be able to be repeated week after week.NBC executives had enough confidence by 1990 that the innovative show may appeal to a wide audience, and they ended up ordering the series for a full season.

Filming

The series was shot on location in New York City and is known for its extensive use oflocal color.The interior sets were located atChelsea Piers.In early episodes courtroom scenes were shot atTweed Courthousebefore a courtroom set was built.The exterior of the fictional 27th precinct police station was shot outside the New York County Surrogate's on Chambers St, while hospital scenes were filmed at the VA New York Harbour Medical Centre on East 23rd St, and Goldwater Memorial Hospital before its demolition.

In later seasons, New York City mayorsRudy GiulianiandMichael Bloomberg,attorneyWilliam Kunstlerand Bronx CongressmanJosé Serranoall appeared on the show as themselves. Local personalities also had recurring cameos as fictional characters, such asDonna HanoverandFran Lebowitzas judges. On September 14, 2004, in New York City, a road leading to Pier 62 atChelsea Piers(where the series was mostly shot) was renamed "Law & Order Way" in tribute to the series.

Music and sound effects

The music forLaw & Orderwas composed by veteran composerMike Postand was deliberately designed to be minimal to match the abbreviated style of the series.Post wrote the theme song using electric piano, guitar, and clarinet. In addition,scenechanges were accompanied by a tone generated by Post. He refers to the tone as "The Clang",whileEntertainment WeeklycriticKen Tuckerhas referred to the sound as the "ominouschung CHUNG",actorDann Florek(in a promo) as the "doink doink",andRichard Belzeras "the Dick Wolf Cash Register Sound".

According to writer David Allan, 2021:

"The tone moves the viewer from scene to scene, jumping forward in time with all the importance and immediacy of a judge's gavel – which is exactly what Post was aiming for when he created it. While reminiscent of a jail door slamming..."

But according to authors Susan Green and Randee Dawn:

"...it is actually anamalgamationof 'six or seven' sounds, including the sound made by 500 Japanese men walking across a hardwood floor. "The sound has become so associated with theLaw & Orderbrand that it was also carried over to other series of the franchise. "

The UK-airedChannel Fiveversions of seasons 7–16 ofLaw & Orderfeature the song "I'm Not Driving Anymore" byRob Douganin the opening credits, while seasons 17–20 used the US theme.

Casting and characters

Main article:List ofLaw & Ordercharacters

Actor	Character	Rank/Position	Seasons			Notes
			Regular	Recurring	Guest
George Dzundza	Max Greevey	Sergeant	1
Chris Noth	Mike Logan	Junior Detective	1–5			Appeared inExiled
Dann Florek	Donald Cragen	Captain	1–3		5, 10 & 15
Michael Moriarty	Ben Stone	EADA	1–4
Richard Brooks	Paul Robinette	ADA	1–3		6, 16 & 17
Steven Hill	Adam Schiff	DA	1–10
Paul Sorvino	Phil Cerreta	Sergeant	2 & 3		3
Jerry Orbach	Lennie Briscoe	Senior Detective	3–14			Appeared inExiled
Carolyn McCormick	Elizabeth Olivet	Psychologist	3 & 4	5–7, 13, 14, & 16–18	2, 9, 10, 19 & 20
S. Epatha Merkerson	Anita Van Buren	Lieutenant	4–20			Appeared inExiled
Jill Hennessy	Claire Kincaid	ADA	4–6
Sam Waterston	Jack McCoy	EADA, Interim DA & DA	5–23			Appeared inExiled
Benjamin Bratt	Rey Curtis	Junior Detective	6–9		20
Carey Lowell	Jamie Ross	ADA	7 & 8		10, 11 & 21
Angie Harmon	Abbie Carmichael		9–11
Jesse L. Martin	Ed Green	Junior Detective, Senior Detective	10–18
Dianne Wiest	Nora Lewin	Interim DA	11 & 12
Elisabeth Röhm	Serena Southerlyn	ADA	12–15
Fred Dalton Thompson	Arthur Branch	DA	13–17
Dennis Farina	Joe Fontana	Senior Detective	15 & 16
Annie Parisse	Alexandra Borgia	ADA
Michael Imperioli	Nick Falco	Junior Detective	15		16	Temporarily assigned
Milena Govich	Nina Cassady		17
Alana de la Garza	Connie Rubirosa	ADA	17–20
Jeremy Sisto	Cyrus Lupo	Junior Detective, Senior Detective	18–20
Linus Roache	Michael Cutter	EADA
Anthony Anderson	Kevin Bernard	Junior Detective, Senior Detective	18–21		18
Jeffrey Donovan	Frank Cosgrove		21 & 22
Camryn Manheim	Kate Dixon	Lieutenant	21–23
Hugh Dancy	Nolan Price	EADA	21–present
Odelya Halevi	Samantha Maroun	ADA
Mehcad Brooks	Jalen Shaw	Junior Detective, Senior Detective	22–present
Reid Scott	Vincent Riley	Junior Detective	23–present
Tony Goldwyn	Nicholas Baxter	DA
Maura Tierney	Jessica Brady	Lieutenant	24–present

Cast ofLaw & Order

Season 1 (1990–91),from left:George Dzundza,Michael Moriarty,Chris NothandRichard Brooks

Season 2 (1991–92),from left:Paul Sorvino,Moriarty, Noth and Brooks (This was also initially the cast of season 3, until Sorvino was replaced byJerry Orbachmid-way through the season.)

Season 6 (1995–96),from left:Benjamin Bratt,Sam Waterston,Jerry OrbachandJill Hennessy(This was the first cast line-up to not feature any of the originals, with the exception ofSteven Hill.)

Seasons 7 & 8 (1996–98),from left:Bratt, Orbach, Waterston andCarey Lowell

Pilot

For the 1988 pilot,George DzundzaandChris Nothwere cast as the original detectives, SergeantMax Greeveyand DetectiveMike Logan.The producers felt that Dzundza would be a perfect senior police officer as he was someone the producers felt they could see themselves riding along with in a police cruiser.Noth andMichael Madsenwere candidates for the role of Logan. Madsen initially was considered the perfect choice for the role, but, in a final reading, it was felt that Madsen's acting mannerisms were repetitive, and Noth received the role instead.Rounding out the police cast,Dann Florekwas cast as CaptainDonald Cragen.

On the prosecutor's side,Michael Moriartywas Dick Wolf's choice to play Executive Assistant District AttorneyBenjamin "Ben" Stone.The network, however, preferredJames Naughton,but, in the end, Wolf's choice would prevail, and Moriarty received the role.As his A.D.A.,Richard BrooksandEriq La Sallewere being considered for the role ofPaul Robinette.The network favored La Salle but, once again, the producers' choice prevailed, and Brooks received the role.As their boss,Roy Thinneswas cast as District Attorney Alfred Wentworth.

Seasons 1–3

Nearly two years passed between the pilot and production of the series. The producers held options on Dzundza, Noth, Moriarty and Brooks. Each was paid holding money for the additional year and brought back. Florek also returned. Thinnes, however, was starring inDark Shadowsand declined to return. In his place, the producers tappedSteven Hillto portray District AttorneyAdam Schiff,a character loosely based on real lifeNew York County District AttorneyRobert Morgenthau.Hill brought prestige and experience to the show, and as such, the producers allowed Hill to give insight on the direction he thought the character should go.

Seasons 4–7

By the end of season 3, NBC executives still felt the show did not have enough female characters. On the orders of then network presidentWarren Littlefield,new female characters had to be added to the cast or the show would face possible cancellation on its relegated Friday nighttime slot. Wolf realized that, since there were only six characters on the show, someone had to be dismissed. He chose to dismiss Florek and Brooks from the regular roster, and later said it was the hardest two phone calls he had ever made. Though producers initially claimed the firings, especially that of Brooks, who was said not to get along with Moriarty, were for other reasons, Wolf confirmed that the firings were on the orders of Littlefield.

To replace Florek,S. Epatha Merkersonwas cast as new squad leader LieutenantAnita Van Buren.(Merkerson had previously guest starred as a mother of a gunshot victim in the season 1 episode "Mushrooms".)To replace Brooks,Jill Hennessywas cast as Assistant District AttorneyClaire Kincaid.Though no initial explanation was given on the show for the departures of Florek's or Brooks's characters, they would both later return in guest appearances, with Captain Cragen having been reassigned to the Internal Affairs Bureau and A.D.A. Robinette having become a defense attorney. Florek also returned to direct a few episodes, and his character was eventually added to the cast ofLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Meanwhile, Moriarty's behavior both on and off the set became problematic for Wolf. After a public statement in which Moriarty called Attorney GeneralJanet Renoa "psychopathicNazi"for her efforts to censor television violence, Moriarty engaged in a verbal confrontation with Reno at a dinner in Washington, D.C. Wolf asked Moriarty to tone down his comments, and Moriarty responded by quitting the show the next week. The final storyline for Ben Stone involves his resignation over guilt after a woman he compelled to testify against a Russian mobster was murdered by his cohorts. To replace Moriarty,Sam Waterstonwas Wolf's first choice for the role of Executive Assistant District AttorneyJohn James "Jack" McCoy Jr.;Waterston's character was markedly different from Moriarty's in that Jack McCoy was conceived as more emotionally stable and having more sex appeal.

Wolf dismissed Noth when his contract expired at the end of season 5, because he felt that Lennie Briscoe and Mike Logan had become too similar to each other, and the writers were having difficulty in writing their dialogue together. Furthermore, Noth had been disgruntled with the show since the dismissals of Florek and Brooks, and remained embittered against Wolf, who he felt was not a friend to his actors. The final storyline for Detective Logan involved his banishment to work onStaten Islandin adomestic violencecrimes unit as punishment for punching a city council member who had orchestrated the murder of a gay colleague and had managed to get acquitted of the charges. (The made-for-television filmExiled: A Law & Order Movie,in which Noth starred, centers on Logan's attempt to get back into the department's good graces.) Noth was replaced byBenjamin Brattas DetectiveReynaldo "Rey" Curtis,who was hired in an attempt to find an actor even sexier than Noth to join the cast.

Hennessy chose not to renew her three-year contract at the end of season 6 to pursue other projects, and Claire Kincaid was written off as being killed in a drunk driving crash.She was replaced byCarey Lowellas Assistant District AttorneyJamie Ross.Lowell remained with the show until the end of season 8, when she left to spend more time with her daughter. (Jamie Ross was written off as leaving the D.A.'s office for similar reasons.)Lowell (who later returned for a couple of guest appearances) was replaced byAngie Harmonas Assistant District AttorneyAbigail "Abbie" Carmichael,who was conceived as being much louder and outspoken than any of her predecessors. Harmon auditioned with 85 other women, includingVanessa Williams,for the role, and was picked after Wolf heard her Texas accent.

Seasons 8–14

Beginning in season 8 (1997),J. K. Simmonshad the recurring role ofDr. Emil Skoda,a psychiatrist who worked with the Police Department. He appeared in 41 episodes until 2004. He then reappeared for three episodes in season 20.

Bratt left the series at the end of season 9, stating it was an amicable departure and he expected to eventually return for guest appearances. (He ultimately returned for the season 20 episode "Fed".) Detective Curtis was written off as leaving the force in order to take care of his wife, who was suffering frommultiple sclerosis,in her final days.He was replaced byJesse L. Martinas DetectiveEd Green,who was conceived of as more of a loose cannon in the mold of Noth's Logan than Bratt's Curtis was.(Briscoe was described as being a recovering alcoholic, as Cragen had been. Green was described as being a recovering compulsive gambler.) In 2000, Steven Hill announced he was leaving the series after season 10. Hill, who was the last remaining member of the original cast, said his departure was mutual with the producers. He was replaced byDianne Wiestas Interim District AttorneyNora Lewin,and Adam Schiff was written out off-screen as departing to work with Jewish charities and human-rights organizations in Europe.

The following year, Harmon left the show after three seasons (with Abbie Carmichael written off as being called on to serve the U.S. Attorney's office) and was replaced byElisabeth Röhmas Assistant District AttorneySerena Southerlyn.The year after that, Wiest left the show after two seasons and was replaced by retiring U.S. SenatorFred Thompsonas District AttorneyArthur Branch,whose character was conceived of as being much more right-leaning than his predecessors in the D.A.'s office, and was a direct reaction to theSeptember 11 attacks.No mention was made on the show of what happened to Nora Lewin, though producers said her character was only supposed to be an interim D.A.

Seasons 15 & 16

After 12 years onLaw & Order,Orbach announced in March 2004 that he was leaving the show at the end of season 14 for the spin-offLaw & Order: Trial by Jury.Lennie Briscoe was written off as retiring from the NYPD and later taking a position as an investigator for the D.A.'s office. He was replaced at the 27th Precinct by DetectiveJoe Fontana,played byDennis Farina.At the time, Orbach would not state the reason for his departure,but it was eventually revealed that he had been battlingprostate cancer(for over 10 years) and that his role onTrial by Jurywas designed to be less taxing on him than his role on the original series was. However, Orbach died from his cancer on December 28, 2004, and was featured in only the first two episodes ofTrial by Jury.(His character was subsequently written off as having also died off-screen, though this was not revealed on the original series until the season 18 episode "Burn Card".)

Season 15 would see the departure of Röhm mid-season. Röhm's final scene on the show, in the episode "Ain't No Love", sparked controversy within the fanbase, as A.D.A. Southerlyn asked Arthur Branch if she was being fired because she was a lesbian, a fact the scripts had never even hinted at until then.Wolf said Röhm's departure was unexpected, and she exited the show in January 2005. For a few seasons, she had often argued opposing points to McCoy and Branch, and he thought she would be better as a defender rather than a prosecutor. Her replacement wasAnnie Parisseas Assistant District AttorneyAlexandra Borgia.

Later that season, Martin departed early to filmRent.Ed Green was temporarily written off as being shot in the line of duty and being replaced during his recovery by Detective Nick Falco, played byMichael Imperioli,who had previously guest starred as a murder suspect in the season 6 episode "Atonement".Parisse left the series at the end of season 16 (with A.D.A. Borgia written off as being murdered), and Farina announced shortly afterward that he too was leavingLaw & Orderto pursue other projects. (Detective Fontana was written off as having retired off-screen.)

Seasons 17–20

By this point, NBC executives believed the series was beginning to show its age, as the ratings had been declining since Orbach's departure.Farina had never been popular with fans when he replaced Orbach, and it was felt that the cast just did not seem to mesh well together anymore.In an effort to revitalize the show, Wolf replaced Parisse withAlana de la Garzaas Assistant District AttorneyConsuela "Connie" Rubirosa,while Martin's Green was promoted to senior detective and partnered with Detective Nina Cassady, played byMilena Govich,who had worked with Wolf on the short-lived seriesConvictionand served as the show's first female detective of the main cast.She also briefly appeared as a bartender in the season 16 episode titled "Flaw".

However, Govich proved to be even more unpopular with fans than her predecessor was and left the show after one season with the explanation being that Detective Cassady's assignment to the precinct had been temporary and had been transferred out. She was replaced byJeremy Sisto,who had previously guest starred as a defense attorney in the season 17 episode "The Family Hour", as DetectiveCyrus Lupo.Around the same time, Thompson announced he would leave the show to seek the2008 Republican presidential nomination.(No explanation was given within the show regarding Arthur Branch's off-screen departure.) Waterston's character was promoted to Interim District Attorney (later made full District Attorney in season 20) and his former position was filled in by Executive Assistant District AttorneyMichael Cutter,played byLinus Roache.

Martin later announced that he would leave the show for the second and last time near the end of season 18 to pursue other endeavors, and Detective Green was written off as resigning from the force due to burnout. He was replaced byAnthony Andersonas DetectiveKevin Bernard.In 2010, Merkerson announced that she would leave the show at the end of season 20, with Lieutenant Van Buren given a season-long story arc involving her battlingcervical cancer.However, the cancellation of the show rendered this moot.

Season 21–present (Revival series)

InDeadline Hollywood,Nellie Andreeva announced the series was returning.On November 1, 2021,Jeffrey Donovanwas cast as a series regular to portray an NYPD detective, later revealed to be named Frank Cosgrove.At that time it was also reported thatSam WaterstonandAnthony Anderson,who starred in earlier seasons of the series, and additional former cast members were also in talks to return. Waterston previously stated in 2015 that he would be open to returning.Other previous cast members includingS. Epatha Merkerson,Jeremy SistoandAlana de la Garzahold starring roles onChicago MedorFBI,with both also being part of the franchise and Wolf Entertainment series.On November 23, 2021, it was announced thatHugh Dancyhad been cast as an assistant district attorney and that Anderson had signed a one-year deal to return as DetectiveKevin Bernard.On December 10, 2021, it was revealed thatCamryn Manheimhad been cast as Lieutenant Kate Dixon, the successor to Merkerson's character, LieutenantAnita Van Buren.Manheim portrayed minor characters in previous seasons of the series.In December 2021,Odelya Haleviwas added to the cast as Assistant District Attorney Samantha Maroun.A day later, Waterston was announced to have finalized a one-year deal to return as District AttorneyJack McCoy.

On May 10, 2022, the series was renewed by NBC for a 22nd season.Later that same month, it was announced that Anderson would leave the series.On June 7, Waterston signed a new deal to return for the 22nd season, making him the longest-running cast member of the series.A week later,Mehcad Brooksjoined the cast in the new season, replacing Anderson as Detective Jalen Shaw.On November 15, 2023, it was announced that Donovan would be not returning for the 23rd season.A week later,Reid Scottjoined the cast for the 23rd season, replacing Donovan as Detective Vincent Riley.On February 2, 2024, it was announced that Waterston would depart from the series andTony Goldwynwould join the cast as District Attorney Nicholas Baxter.On May 10, 2024, it was announced thatCamryn Manheimwould depart the series after season 23.On July 22, 2024,Maura Tierneywas cast as a new lieutenant for season 24, replacing Manheim as Lieutenant Jessica Brady.

Plot

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.

—Opening narration, spoken bySteven Zirnkilton.

Law & Orderepisodes are structured into two parts. The initial segment involves police investigations, and the subsequent segment portrays legal and courtroom proceedings. The show focuses on the progression of each case rather than character backstories.

Police investigation

In the first half of each episode, the detectives ofNew York City Police Department's fictional 27th precinct investigate a violent crime such as a murder, kidnapping, or rape. The police collect evidence and interview witnesses and potential suspects. When the evidence indicates a likely suspect, the police arrest them.

Legal proceedings

In the second half of each episode, the prosecutors of theManhattan District Attorney's office take over. The prosecutors discuss deals and plea bargains, prepare the witnesses and evidence, and represent the peoples case in the trial of the accused. The prosecutors take it in turns with the defendant's defense attorney to argue the case before a jury until an outcome is decided.

"Ripped from the headlines"

Law & Order episodes are often advertised as being "ripped from the headlines", a slogan that refers to the franchise's practice of conceiving stories that are partially inspired by recent headlines. There might be a few scenes that resemble a well-known headline, while the majority of the episode goes in a different direction, or there could be one character that is based on a famous individual, but the circumstances the person encounters are largely fictional, and the rest of the plot usually diverges significantly from the actual events that may have inspired the episode.This "ripped from the headlines" theme is reflected in the opening credits sequence that evolves from newspaper halftones to high-resolution photos. Advertisements of episodes with close real-life case parallels often use the "ripped from the headlines" phrase, although a textual disclaimer, within the actual episode, emphasizes that the story and characters are fictional.

Some real-life crime victims have felt used and exploited,with one lawyer, Ravi Batra, going so far as to sue the show in 2004 forlibelwith regard to the season 14 episode "Floater",which portrayed a lawyer with a similar name and the distinctive features of Batra.Batra and the show later settled out of court for an unspecified amount.

Episodes

Main article:List of Law & Order episodes

Season	Episodes		Originally aired		Rank	Avg.rating/ Avg. viewers
			First aired	Last aired
1	22		September 13, 1990(1990-09-13)	June 9, 1991(1991-06-09)	#46	12.1
2	22		September 17, 1991(1991-09-17)	May 12, 1992(1992-05-12)	#46	12.3
3	22		September 23, 1992(1992-09-23)	May 19, 1993(1993-05-19)	#56	10.2
4	22		September 15, 1993(1993-09-15)	May 25, 1994(1994-05-25)	#38	11.9
5	23		September 21, 1994(1994-09-21)	May 24, 1995(1995-05-24)	#27	11.6
6	23		September 20, 1995(1995-09-20)	May 22, 1996(1996-05-22)	#24	10.9
7	23		September 18, 1996(1996-09-18)	May 21, 1997(1997-05-21)	#27	10.5
8	24		September 24, 1997(1997-09-24)	May 20, 1998(1998-05-20)	#24	14.1
9	24 + Film		September 23, 1998(1998-09-23)	May 26, 1999(1999-05-26)	#20	13.8
10	24		September 22, 1999(1999-09-22)	May 24, 2000(2000-05-24)	#13	16.3
11	24		October 18, 2000(2000-10-18)	May 23, 2001(2001-05-23)	#11	17.7
12	24		September 26, 2001(2001-09-26)	May 22, 2002(2002-05-22)	#7	18.7
13	24		October 2, 2002(2002-10-02)	May 21, 2003(2003-05-21)	#10	17.3
14	24		September 24, 2003(2003-09-24)	May 19, 2004(2004-05-19)	#14	15.9
15	24		September 22, 2004(2004-09-22)	May 18, 2005(2005-05-18)	#25	13.0
16	22		September 21, 2005(2005-09-21)	May 17, 2006(2006-05-17)	#35	11.2
17	22		September 22, 2006(2006-09-22)	May 18, 2007(2007-05-18)	#54	9.4
18	18		January 2, 2008(2008-01-02)	May 21, 2008(2008-05-21)	#38	9.7
19	22		November 5, 2008(2008-11-05)	June 3, 2009(2009-06-03)	#62	8.2
20	23		September 25, 2009(2009-09-25)	May 24, 2010(2010-05-24)	#60	7.2
21	10		February 24, 2022(2022-02-24)	May 19, 2022(2022-05-19)	#39	5.9
22	22		September 22, 2022(2022-09-22)	May 18, 2023(2023-05-18)	TBA	TBA
23	13		January 18, 2024(2024-01-18)	May 16, 2024(2024-05-16)	TBA	TBA
24	TBA		October 3, 2024(2024-10-03)	2025(2025)	TBA	TBA

Broadcast history

Broadcast

The show premiered September 13, 1990, and ended its first run on May 24, 2010. 456 episodes were aired and produced. The show ran for twenty seasons on NBC. At this time, it was NBC's longest running crime drama, and tied for longest running primetime scripted drama withGunsmoke.The first two seasons were broadcast Tuesdays at 10 p.m. From season 3 through 16 the show aired Wednesday at 10 p.m. For season 17 it moved to Fridays at 10 p.m. For seasons 18 and 19 the show shifted back to Wednesdays at 10 p.m. For season 20 the show was broadcast Fridays at 8 p.m., while in the spring it moved to Mondays at 10 p.m., where it broadcast its initial series finale on May 24, 2010. The revival (Season 21-present) now airs as part of NBC's 'Law & Order Thursday' lineup broadcasting Thursdays at 8 p.m. since February 24, 2022.

Syndication and streaming

Repeats ofLaw & Orderwere first broadcast weekdays on cable TV networkA&Eduring the 1994–95 season. The A&E broadcasts were credited with drawing a new, much larger audience to the current weekly NBCLaw & Orderepisodes. In 2002, A&E did not renew its contract to syndicateLaw & Orderas the price was then four times the original 1995 contract price.

As of 2023, the series is being broadcast onSundance TV,WE tv,Ion Mystery,BBC America,Bounce TV,Paramount NetworkandPop.

Since mid-2020, selected seasons ofLaw & Orderhave been available for streaming onPeacockalong withChicago Fire,Chicago P.D.,Chicago Med,Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,andLaw & Order: Criminal Intent.However, unlike some shows on Peacock such as selected seasons ofSVU,which are free, access toLaw & Orderrequires a paid Peacock subscription.

Reception

Ratings

Viewership and ratings per season ofLaw & Order

Season	Timeslot (ET)	Episodes	First aired		Last aired		TV season	Viewership rank	Avg.viewers (millions)
			Date	Viewers (millions)	Date	Viewers (millions)
1	Tuesday 10:00 p.m.	22	September 13, 1990(1990-09-13)	14.00	June 9, 1991(1991-06-09)	12.2	1990–91	33	12.2
2		22	September 17, 1991(1991-09-17)	16.4	May 12, 1992(1992-05-12)	12.1	1991–92	46	12.1
3	Wednesday 10:00 p.m.	22	September 23, 1992(1992-09-23)	14.90	May 19, 1993(1993-05-19)	15.4	1992–93	56	12.1
4		22	September 15, 1993(1993-09-15)	13.6	May 25, 1994(1994-05-25)	15.4	1993–94	38	15.3
5		23	September 21, 1994(1994-09-21)	18.3	May 24, 1995(1995-05-24)	13.4	1994–95	27	15.3
6		23	September 20, 1995(1995-09-20)	17.3	May 22, 1996(1996-05-22)	15.0	1995–96	24	15.3
7		23	September 18, 1996(1996-09-18)	15.7	May 21, 1997(1997-05-21)	14.9	1996–97	27	15
8		24	September 24, 1997(1997-09-24)	17.58	May 20, 1998(1998-05-20)	14.8	1997–98	24	14.1
9		24	September 23, 1998(1998-09-23)	15.6	May 26, 1999(1999-05-26)	19.28	1998–99	20	13.8
10		24	September 22, 1999(1999-09-22)	18.0	May 24, 2000(2000-05-24)	19.48	1999–2000	13	19.48
11		24	October 18, 2000(2000-10-18)	17.8	May 23, 2001(2001-05-23)	20.0	2000–01	27	17.7
12		24	September 26, 2001(2001-09-26)	17.8	May 22, 2002(2002-05-22)	20.7	2001–02	7	19.5
13		24	October 2, 2002(2002-10-02)	19.1	May 21, 2003(2003-05-21)	19.0	2002–03	10	17.3
14		24	September 24, 2003(2003-09-24)	20.9	May 19, 2004(2004-05-19)	19.5	2003–04	14	15.9
15		24	September 22, 2004(2004-09-22)	18.86	May 18, 2005(2005-05-18)	19.0	2004–05	25	13.0
16		22	September 21, 2005(2005-09-21)	13.0	May 17, 2006(2006-05-17)	13.5	2005–06	35	11.2
17	Friday 10:00 p.m.	22	September 22, 2006(2006-09-22)	11.0	May 18, 2007(2007-05-18)	9.23	2006–07	54	9.4
18	Wednesday 10:00 p.m.	18	January 2, 2008(2008-01-02)	13.45	May 21, 2008(2008-05-21)	8.45	2007–08	38	9.7
19		22	November 5, 2008(2008-11-05)	7.85	June 3, 2009(2009-06-03)	8.79	2008–09	62	8.2
20	Friday 8:00 p.m.(eps 1–12) Monday 10:00 p.m.(eps 13–23)	23	September 25, 2009(2009-09-25)	6.29	May 24, 2010(2010-05-24)	7.6	2009–10	60	8.2
21	Thursday 8:00 p.m.	10	February 24, 2022(2022-02-24)	5.80	May 19, 2022(2022-05-19)	3.94	2021–22	39	5.92
22		22	September 22, 2022(2022-09-22)	4.69	May 18, 2023(2023-05-18)	3.96	2022–23	34	5.88
23		13	January 18, 2024(2024-01-18)	5.32	May 16, 2024(2024-05-16)	3.68	2023–24	34	5.75

Cancellation and revival

On May 14, 2010,NBCofficially canceledLaw & Order,opting instead to pick upLaw & Order: Los Angelesas a series and renewLaw & Order: Special Victims Unitfor a twelfth season.Creator Dick Wolf continued to pressure the series' producerNBCUniversalto make a deal withTNT,which held syndication rights to the show, for a twenty-first season if an acceptable license fee could be negotiated. Talks between the two started up after upfronts.However, TNT said in a statement it was not interested in picking the show up for a new season.

After TNT discussions fell through, cable networkAMCalso considered revivingLaw & Order;however, attempts to revive it failed, and according to creator Dick Wolf, the series "moved into the history books".

In February 2015, NBC considered bringing the series back for a 10-episode limited series.

On September 28, 2021, NBC announced that a 21st season had been ordered.The new season was announced after plans for a newLaw & Orderspin-off,For the Defense,had fallen through during the summer.On November 1, 2021, it was announced thatJeffrey Donovanwas cast as a new series regular, while Sam Waterston and Anthony Anderson would later be announced to return.On November 12, 2021, it was announced that the 21st season would premiere on February 24, 2022.

On November 23, 2021, it was announced thatHugh Dancywould join the cast for the 21st season, and it was announced Anderson would reprise his role as DetectiveKevin Bernard.

On December 10, 2021, it was revealed thatCamryn Manheimhad been cast as Lieutenant Kate Dixon, the successor to Merkerson's character, LieutenantAnita Van Buren.Manheim portrayed minor characters in previous seasons of the series.On December 15, 2021,Odelya Haleviwas announced to be joining the cast as Assistant District Attorney Samantha Maroun.A day later, Waterston was announced to have finalized a one-year deal to return as District AttorneyJack McCoy.Law & Orderofficially aired its first new episode in almost 12 years on February 24, 2022.

On May 10, 2022, NBC renewed the series for a twenty-second season.One week after the twenty-first season ended, On May 26, 2022, it was confirmed that Anderson would not be returning for the twenty-second season.On June 7, 2022, it was announced that Waterston would reprise his role as McCoy for the twenty-second season.On June 13, 2022, it was reported thatMehcad Brookswas cast for the twenty-second season.

On April 10, 2023, the series was renewed for its 23rd season,which premiered on January 18, 2024.

On March 21, 2024, the series was renewed for a twenty-fourth season.

Spin-offs, crossovers, and adaptations

Main article:Law & Order (franchise)

The longevity and success ofLaw & Orderhave spawned six American television series (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,Law & Order: Criminal Intent,Law & Order: Trial by Jury,Law & Order: Los Angeles,Law & Order True Crime,andLaw & Order: Organized Crime)as well as a television film (Exiled: A Law & Order Movie). The commercial potential of theLaw & Ordername outweighed initial fears that failed spin-offs (such asTrial by JuryandLos Angeles) could erode the audience of the original series.To differentiate it from other series in the franchise,Law & Orderis often referred to as "The Mother Ship" by producers and critics.

Law & Orderhas hadcrossoverepisodes with other series in its franchise. Additionally, it crossed over withNew York UndercoverandConviction;while neither series belongs to theLaw & Orderfranchise officially, both are part of itsfictional universe,and were also created by Wolf. It also had several crossover episodes withHomicide: Life on the Street.Law & Order's success has spawned two other external franchises that co-exist in the same universe (ChicagoandFBI).ChicagoandLaw & Orderwere connected throughChicago FireandChicago P.D.with crossovers betweenSVU.Chicago P.D.also had crossovers withFBI.

The series has been adapted for British television asLaw & Order: UK,with the setting being changed to London. In 2024, a Canadian produced series,Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intentpremiered onCitytv;this series is based on theCriminal Intentformat and set in the city of Toronto.

There have been a few unofficial "rip-offs" ofLaw & Orderin other countries. For example, Singapore's version of "Law & Order" was entitledCode of Law,starredKeagan KangandJoanne Pehas Jacob Fernandez and Sabrina Wong (the counterparts to Jack McCoy and Serena Southerlyn respectively from the originalLaw & Order), and aired a total of five seasons of 59 episodes between September 2012 and June 2020.

Awards and honors

Main article:List of awards and nominations received by Law & Order

Law & Orderhas been nominated for numerous awards in the television industry over the span of its run.

Among its wins are the 1997Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series,Screen Actors Guild Awardsfor Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series forSam Waterstonin 1999 andJerry Orbachin 2005 (awarded after his death), and numerousEdgar Awardsfor Best Episode in a Television Series Teleplay.

In 2002,Law & Orderwas ranked #24 onTV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.The show also placed #27 onEntertainment Weekly's"New TV Classics" list.

In 2013,TV GuiderankedLaw & Order#14 on their list of the 60 Greatest Shows of All Time.

Home media

A box set titledLaw & Order Producer's Collectionwas released onVHSin 2000.The 3-tape set included six episodes of the series.

Universal Studioshas separately released all twenty seasons on DVD in Region 1, along with the complete series in a box set. Law & Order: The Complete Series boxed set features all 20 seasons. Each season is individually packaged (in tray-stack style), with all new cover-art (including new cover art for the seasons that have been released). The set also includes a 50-page full-color book titled "The Episode Guide". Along with episode names and synopsis, there is trivia, facts about the making of the show, liner notes, and over 80 full-color photos. In Region 2, Universal Playback has released the first seven seasons on DVD in the UK. In Region 4,Universal Pictureshas released all 20 seasons on DVD in Australia and New Zealand.

Title	Ep#	Release dates
		Region 1	Region 2	Region 4
The 1st Year	22	October 15, 2002 / June 4, 2013 (slimline set)	June 16, 2003	April 2, 2003 / August 31, 2011 (slimline set)
The 2nd Year	22	May 4, 2004 / June 3, 2014 (slimline set)	February 28, 2005	August 31, 2011
The 3rd Year	22	May 24, 2005 / June 3, 2014 (slimline set)	November 21, 2005	August 31, 2011
The 4th Year	22	December 6, 2005 / June 3, 2014 (slimline set)	July 17, 2006	August 31, 2011
The 5th Year	23	April 3, 2007 / June 3, 2014 (slimline set)	July 23, 2007	August 31, 2011
The 6th Year	23	December 2, 2008 / May 26, 2015 (slimline set)	February 16, 2009	August 31, 2011
The 7th Year	23	January 19, 2010 / May 26, 2015 (slimline set)	April 12, 2010	August 31, 2011
The 8th Year	24	December 7, 2010 / May 26, 2015 (slimline set)		August 31, 2011
The 9th Year	24	December 6, 2011 (slimline set)		August 3, 2016
The 10th Year	24	February 28, 2012 (slimline set)		August 3, 2016
The 11th Year	24	November 6, 2012 (slimline set)		August 3, 2016
The 12th Year	24	February 26, 2013 (slimline set)		October 5, 2016
The 13th Year	24	November 5, 2013 (slimline set)		October 5, 2016
The 14th Year	24	September 14, 2004 / February 25, 2014 (slimline set)		October 5, 2016
The 15th Year	24	November 4, 2014 (slimline set)		March 2, 2017
The 16th Year	22	November 4, 2014 (slimline set)		March 2, 2017
The 17th Year	22	November 4, 2014 (slimline set)		March 2, 2017
The 18th Year	18	May 5, 2015 (slimline set)		April 5, 2017
The 19th Year	22	May 5, 2015 (slimline set)		April 5, 2017
The 20th Year	23	May 5, 2015 (slimline set)		April 5, 2017
The Complete Series 1–20	456	November 8, 2011 (box set)		November 16, 2016

The DVD box set is all NTSC even though the show switched to ATSC in season 15.

See also

• List of police television dramas

References

General and cited references

• Courrier, Kevin; Green, Susan (1999).Law & Order: The Unofficial Companion(2nd ed.). Los Angeles: Renaissance Books.ISBN1580631088.OCLC42995115.
• Green, Susan; Dawn, Randee (2009).Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: The Unofficial Companion.Dallas: BenBella Books.ISBN9781933771885.OCLC429604907.

External links

• Official websiteonWolf Entertainment
• Official websiteonNBC
• Official websiteonTNT
• Official websiteonChannel 5
• Official Websiteon City in Canada
• Law & Orderfilming locations,Mayor's Office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting
• Law & OrderatIMDb
• Law & Orderatepguides.com