Network: NBC
Episodes: 456 (hour)
Seasons: 20

TV show dates: September 13, 1990 — May 24, 2010
Series status: Cancelled

Performers include: S. Epatha Merkerson, Sam Waterston, Jerry Orbach, Steven Hill, Jesse L. Martin, Leslie Hendrix, Fred Dalton Thompson, Chris Noth, Benjamin Bratt, Michael Moriarty, Elisabeth Röhm, Angie Harmon, Dann Florek, Richard Brooks, Carolyn McCormick, Jill Hennessy, John Fiore, Carey Lowell, Alana De La Garza, Dianne Wiest, Dennis Farina, J.K. Simmons, Annie Parisse, Paul Sorvino, Jeremy Sisto, David Lipman, Linus Roache, John Cariani, and Steven Zirnkilton.

TV show description:
A long-running procedural crime drama that focuses primarily on the legal cases, rather than regular characters’ personal lives. Each episode is typically split between a criminal investigation and the trial that follows.

Police detectives include Lennie Briscoe (Jerry Orbach), Joe Fontana (Dennis Farina), Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin), Mike Logan (Chris Noth), Rey Curtis (Benjamin Bratt), Nina Cassady (Milena Govich), and Cyrus Lupo (Jeremy Sisto). Police lieutenants are Don Cragen (Dann Florek) and later, Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson).

From the district attorney office are Adam Schiff (Steven Hill), Nora Lewin (Dianne Wiest), Arthur Branch (Fred Thompson), Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston), Ben Stone (Michael Moriarty), and Michael Cutter (Linus Roache).