One of the surprises of last week’s TV news was the cancellation of Law & Order after 20 seasons. The venerable NBC drama had been on the cusp of becoming the longest-running primetime drama on American television. Tonight marks the series finale of the show, or does it?
Created by Dick Wolf, Law & Order revolves around criminal investigations by the NYPD and the trials that follow. The current performers include Jeremy Sisto, Anthony Anderson, S. Epatha Merkerson, Linus Roache, Alana de la Garza, and Sam Waterston.
The ratings for Law & Order have been pretty low for awhile but, in part because it is produced in-house and in part because the rest of NBC’s schedule has done so poorly, the series has remained on the air.
It looked like it would certainly be back for season 21 but Wolf and NBC couldn’t come to an agreement over the finances. One potential deal even had NBC paying for eight episodes and TNT (which airs syndicated reruns) paying for another eight but the cable channel wouldn’t go for it.
Last week, NBC announced that a new series, Law & Order: Los Angeles, would be joining the schedule in the fall and that the original Law & Order had been cancelled. TNT released a statement that said the cable channel wasn’t in talks to pick it up.
However, it seems Wolf and NBC aren’t giving up. The veteran producer says that he’s seeking “other offers” for the show to try to keep it going as a weekly series. There are now reportedly meetings set up between NBC Universal and TNT execs to revisit the possibility of the cable channel funding original episodes. The NBC folks are apparently going over the numbers to try to figure out a way to make it work financially.
If these efforts don’t succeed, there has been talk of NBC working out a deal with Wolf to film some sort of wrap up for the show. That would most likely take the form of a two-hour movie.
Whatever happens, it doesn’t sound like tonight’s episode will be the last we’ll see of Law & Order. Despite issuing a statement that the series has been cancelled, NBC is now referring to tonight’s installment as merely the season finale.
What do you think? Do you think the TV show will continue on another station, will wrap up in a movie, or just disappear?
Image courtesy NBC.
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63 Comments on "Law & Order: Tonight’s May Not be the Last Episode"
I miss seeing L&O on TNT on a regular basis like it use to be. The Mentalist is nothing compared to L&O series. Please bring it back and do a marathon verfy soontoo. Pat jones
I love L&O and I have tried to watch the new L&O LA but does not come near to the
originial.
This is the one show that I watched every episode from the pilot.
And it is the only show I never get dissapointed or get bored after watching it after season after season.
Law & Order : LA? No! Law & Order seems so real because it’s in NY.
If money is the problem don’t make LA. Let us have the original Law & Order.
Hands down the best program on TV. I watch little other than sports and I make time in my schedule to see Law and order(Original).
I would love to see Law and Order continue on. I think the show is the best show ever on TV showing how the NYC police works and how the Order side prosecutes. I still miss Jerry Orbach. In my opionion, his caracter and lines were very well written. We need more shows like Law and Order. There is not excessive violence, as on L&O-SVU.
I love Law & Order!
I would be very sad to see the show end without a proper, advance-warning send off that unites old and new cast-members and contains more than one obscure reference to Jerry Orbach and Jill Hennessy’s character.
That said, of course I don’ t want it to end! It’s an amazing show with writing, production, and acting that is still fresh after 20 years. I will keep watching as long as it airs.
I think that NBC should try to get another NBC station to pick up season 21. This was the best cast they have had in yrs-2 new dectives and 2 new DAs and Jack finaly getting that promotion. I think another station should pick it up myself. Or at least give the fans a good series finale. If all else fails-bring back this cast for the LA one!
NBC step up and renew law and order.work it out if only to break gunsmoke’s record.
According to the Huffington Post, TNT is no longer interested in Law and Order. NBC should just bring it back for one more year. Just bring it back for the 21st Season. It would be good for the network and it would make the viewers happy. Something that has never been a priority for NBC, making their viewers happy.
I agree with you! If TNT isnt going to buy the 21 season then so be it! NBC owns USA and other channels and so the show can go on there. After the whole Jay Leno thing-they own the fans big time!!