Comments on: Law & Order: Will the NBC TV Series Really Break Gunsmoke’s Record?

By: CJ WEST

CJ WEST — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:12:12 +0000

During Gunsmoke’s era casts worked extremely hard to make 39 episodes a year.
I applaud L&O for their longivity, I enjoy the show (not as much as I did a few years ago when Lennie Briscoe was making his wisecracks, but the current detective team is good).
Gunsmoke lasted because of a stellar cast, great scripts and most of its first ten seasons in the top 5.
There is really no comparison relating to longivity, Gunsmoke is the winner.

By: Betty

Betty — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:13:34 +0000

I agree with Jason – L & O is in a more competitive era and is more of an acheivement.

By: Kieran Mullen

Kieran Mullen — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 02:31:14 +0000

Shows lasted longer years ago because writers didn’t have such a stranglehold on the industry. Even with a new show there may be a few new ones and then repeats right away.
If writers get paid per episode you would think that they would write more and get more money. So I can only assume that they have contracts that they get paid for working a particular season and they only have to write enough scripts for so many shows.

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:11:09 +0000

While I agree that Gunsmoke had more episodes.. it should be noted that TV was different then… shows could last forever because of less choices presented to the public…

For a show to keep lasting, in this environment where networks expect a show to be a hit within the first 13 episodes (otherwise you are dust).. its an achievement.