NBC’s granting Law & Order creator Dick Wolf’s longtime wish: His series will, in fact, tie Gunsmoke’s 20-season record, thanks to a renewal for next year that the net will announce today. Wolf totally deserves this televisual equivalent of a gold watch for 20 good years of service (and I will briefly pause while we all contemplate what L&O being on for two decades now says about how quickly our lives are slipping away and our own mortality is creeping up on us). Wolf has been with the network from the good times (the Seinfeldian ’90s) to the bad, plugging schedule leaks and stabilizing nights like few could. He perfected an age-old TV trope: Why not make episodes that always wrap up by the 60th minute and stand alone so they can repeat anytime, anyplace? Why not put plot before character so no actor is indispensable? You may not be a fan of the procedural — I’m not, because I dig the kind of character-driven, serialized stuff that, frankly, doesn’t always get big numbers. (RIP, Everwood and Veronica Mars.) But TV is for making money, and Wolf figured out how to work the business end of television artfully. So congrats, Mr. Wolf. (And we won’t think too hard about the fact that this order is apparently for 16 episodes, while Gunsmoke was churning out 24-a-season until the end.)
Whether the show itself truly deserves a pick-up is a tougher call. It’s not the ratings force it used to be, and it even has that whiff of is-that-still-on to those who don’t tune in regularly. But it can still hold down any timeslot, even as a repeat, better than a lot of untested new shows. And, well, it has Jeremy Sisto, who should always be on television so I can find him any time I want. What do you think, PopWatchers? Is more Law & Order in order? Does it deserve to tie — or, next year, break — the Gunsmoke record?
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Though I miss “The Robinette Years” of “L & O”, I admit that the show gets better every season. It is like a fine wine. However, the question is how long can it continue? I mean lets face it, the show is not “The Simpsons.”
This orginial Law & Order has always been my favorite and I watch it every week. I watch it on TNT, I watch it when they have marathons of the show. My second favorite is Law and Order CI. My least favorite is SVU, I am pretty much done with this one. Congratulation Law and Order!
Jennifer, have you actually ever seen a Gunsmoke episode? I’ve seen a few and whew, they’re nothing to write home about. So does that mean Gunsmoke was better? That they were able to last 20 years with much lower quality? Or are we thankful to live in a time when the show that’s lasted 20 years has actually been fantastic?
Still a fan of this show after 20 years. I even watch reruns on cable. I, for one, am happy it is being renewed.
Stephanie,
I have only watched the Simpsons once or twice and I truly can not stand the stupidy of the show, so it is not even worth comparing to Law and Order. I would like to see the orginal go at least to 21 years.
So glad it got a renewal, Law & Order is quality TV period.
As someone who is actually old enough to comment, Gunsmoke was one of the better western series and at one time churned out 39 episodes a year back in the 50s (it was a half hour show back then.)
Does this mean Law and Order was just as good? No. You can’t compare apples and oranges. A western is timeless in its appeal– modern shows often feel dated twenty years down the line.
I’m not a L&O watcher, and tend to dismiss it when one of my friends starts discussing each “Ripped from the Headlines!” episode.
This said, TV was different back in the day — Gunsmoke ran for 20 seasons, yes; but it also consisted of 635 episodes.
L&O will barely break 450, with the 20th season being little more than an NBC concession to Dick Wolf’s ego.
Now 450 episodes is a hell of an accomplishment, but while great procedurals like Homicide and The Wire will be regarded as classic television, L&O will be remembered fondly only by its (dwindling) fan base.
What I meant was that “The Simpsons” are in a timeslot in which you can’t really show anything else except family cartoon fodder. I mean, Fox once tried to fill that spot with shows like “Hermans Head”, and look how that turned out.
“Law and Order” is one of those intelligent shows in which every now and then, you can pick out legal mistakes. It is a timeless classic, but what if there is a chance at another classic (not Southland)?
Love L&O still. Especially with the new cast. Glad it will stick around.
I was so happy last night when I hear it was coming back. Then I hear they put it on FRIDAYS! Seriously NBC, is that the respect this show deserves?
This network will fall so far down next season, it’s gonna be fun to watch. Stupid decision after stupid decision.
http://tvdonewright.com/2009-2010-season-preview/
I am very happy that Law & Order is coming back. I LOVE the show and have watched it from the beginning. Great entertainment, always a tidy story that wraps up nicely, and I love the ‘ripped from the headlines’ gimmick. Friday at 8? Doesn’t bother me, I record it whenever it’s on and watch it whenever I like, so who cares?
YES! Law & Order still does a fantastic job with storytelling – and as much as I love Jeremy Sisto, the other regular cast members – Anthony Anderson, S. Epatha Merkerson, Linus Roache, Alana De La Garza, and Sam Waterston – also deserve the love!
More Jeremy Sisto! Great news!
This season has been excellent. I might have agreed it was time to go a season or two ago, but the current cast is great!
mrgnexus – You couldn’t be more wrong in saying this, “Now 450 episodes is a hell of an accomplishment, but while great procedurals like Homicide and The Wire will be regarded as classic television, L&O will be remembered fondly only by its (dwindling) fan base.” Any show that goes 20 seasons will be remembered in history as great. The Wire and Homicide??? Those WILL be forgotten in 10 years.
to: mrgnexus — I politely beg to differ. Homicide and The Wire may be “classics” but only a few million have seen them. But, by being on for NBC 19 years and rerun on cable all the time, nearly everyone has seen L&O at least once. And millions have watched way more than once. You have to see something to remember it. Even with a dwindling fan base, at one time it was consistently in the top 10. And even more importantly, the quality has been consistent, even if the audience hasn’t.
I am glad NBC renewed it. I probably have seen every episode about four times thanks to TNT. It is one show I like to watch again and again. I hope NBC adds to the 16 and lets Mr Wolf have the record in 2011.
I’m not trying to get anyone riled up, but: Quality over quantity.
Though the later seasons of Homicide were shaky, The Wire was always at the top of its game.
The few L&O episodes I’ve seen have always been exactly the same thing week after week, with little to no deviation:
1. A death (or deaths)
2. Detectives make amusing quips with coffees in hand.
3. Cops track down/question suspects.
4. DA reluctatly goes to trial with shaky evidence.
5. Courtroom drama.
6. Revelation.
7. End — chung-chung!
However, I realize there is a rabid L&O fan base, and this is (I suppose) the place for them to pat the show on the back.
Congrats on Season 20.
I agree with Marie. I love the original and CI, not so much SVU. Law & Order is still great television and is much superior to the gimmicky CSI. I get a little sick of the leftist commentary of McCoy and his cohorts, but I love his character. I do feel the show was better when Fred Thompson was there to offer a different opinion.
I watch it every time I see that it’s on. I hope it shatters Gunsmoke’s record.
Very happy to see a 20th season for L&O. I really like the new cast, and I think it could go on for another 5-10 years if NBC allows.
I’m happy to say that I have never seen a single episode of L&O the whole 20 years it’s been on. Why would I start now?
LOVE L & A. I don’t think there are many other shows deserving of this kind of run. Yes, it has a certain formula to it, but it has it’s surprises, and never fails to please. I love that it is plot driven, but gives just enough character insight (i.e. the episode where Claire died) Did I mention my dog is named Briscoe? C’mon, it does make a damn cute dog name.
I agree with most of the posters-this season has been top-notch. It’s the best cast in years and has recaptured my attention. I also thought it had run it’s course a few seasons ago, but the cast changes brought new life to the series and the writing has been excellent this year. Keep it coming L&O!!
I still like the show (and SVU, not so much CI). I’m glad it’s coming back. And forget Jeremy Sisto, it’s Anthony Anderson who’s the cutie. Wouldn’t mind seeing him topless at some point.
Im so glad to see that L&O is coming back for another season. The last two seasons have been very strong and I think the current cast is phenomenal. The departure of Fred Thompson did wonders for this show. Fridays at 8pm is a bad timeslot, but after Leno bombs at 10pm maybe it can have its wednesday night berth restored. Glad to see SUV is still going as its still the best of the L&O franchise. CI on the other hand continues to bring up the rear. I fell asleep twice trying to sit through the first Jeff Goldbum ep and always avoid the Goren episodes. Chris Noth was the only good thing that show had and now he has left.
Love this show! Also provides great resume building for aspiring actors. Keep it coming!
I’m a huge fan of Law and Order (original flavor only) and am happy to be able to watch it for at least another year in primetime. It’s TV comfort food, I’ve seen all the episodes in reruns several times each and really like the new cast, although no one will ever replace the great, late, and beloved Jerry Orbach. The thing I like most? It’s all about the case which is a nice break from the personal life melodrama and who’s sleeping with whom that other shows often make the focus. Since they constantly rotate the characters I don’t care if it runs forever. Geez, I’m watching it on TNT even as I write this…
Old as it is, it’s still much better than a lot of the dreck on broadcast channels. Glad it’s coming back.
I love L&O. I hope it breaks the record only because I want to watch new eps of this until the end of time. I love the cast this year, I think it’s one of the greatest they’ve had. Roache is the best, apart from Waterson.