Law & Order Forum

I want this to be a horrible lie, part of some diabolical scheme to make every blood vessel in my head burst like shoddy plumbing, but the story's appearing on Deadline, and those players don't play.
 
Sigh. Nikki Finke, you do the talking. I just can't say it... 

Veteran crime drama Law & Order will not get its shot at history after all. I hear that after long deliberations, NBC has decided to cancel the long-running procedural, which will end its run at 20 seasons, tied with Gunsmoke. This is very surprising as NBC brass had indicated lately that they would bring L&O for a record-breaking 21 season. But with strong development, especially on the drama side, and soft ratings for L&O, NBC apparently opted not to keep the aging series, which spawned several successful spinoffs.

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFOkay. I'm Okay. Breathing exercises, calm blue ocean...sigh....
 
The story goes on to say that Dick Wolf Productions may start shopping the series to cable, a la what they did for Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Also, nothing's been said about L&O: SVU, or that L&O: Los Angeles spinoff that launches this fall, but I assume that means they're fine.
 
Here's the thing: There is not really any great reason to be super angry about this. L&O hasn't been truly great since Jerry Orbach left, or even really watchable since Sam Waterston stopped being the regular DA and took over the head DA role. At the same time, network TV without a proper Law & Order just feels...sullied. It just ain't right. And that the show was one season away from being the longest running broadcast network show of all time...yeah, that's a real kick in the dick.
 
The update in Deadline's story describes Dick Wolf as "so fucking angry" about the situation. Have you seen that dude? I would not want to be on the wrong end of a Dick Wolf coke-fueled rage fit. Hey Jeff Zucker, hide under your desk! The Wolf-Man's coming for you!

As long as Ice-T is o.k, it's all good.

I haven't actually watched this show. Sucks that they're cancelling it anyway.

NBC making bad decisions all around these days

I refuse to believe this.

I'll get over it.

SVU rocks, sure it is a cop procedural but it is very fun and exciting. Isn't that the only successful L&O?

Potential end of an era, though I wouldnt count it out entirely yet. End a 20 season long show with no finale designed to befit a cancellation/series end? Could piss off a lot of people, even for a procedural like this.

someone put Jerry Orbach as a female. BASTARD!

I wasnt really sad to hear this. I used to watch all 3, but lately, I havent really cared for them. Criminal Intent was awesome with Vincent D'Onofrio, but he left, so I stopped watching that, SVU just doesnt seem as good anymore, and while Law and Order is still good, its had a great run, better then most, but if its canceled, I will not be sad.

God it's like NBC is staffed by people with the judgment of monkeys on mescaline. What the eff.
 
I agree that Law and Order hasn't been great since Jerry Orbach or Sam Waterston, but TV without Law and Order? What kind of sick joke is that?

retards

I stopped caring about the original series a long long time ago personally, it sucks it can't break its record but SVU is just the more entertaining show for me anyway. I haven't watched a single episode of the original show in years but I still watch SVU every week.

They can't do that!

didn't really care for it so meh

How can you cancel Law & Order? HOW?
You can't! YOU JUST CAN'T!

Law & Order is a TV show, not a movie.

That really sucks. I love Law and Order and it is so amazing at making everything seem gritty and realistic. I hope it ports to cable. And I hope that Law and Order LA and Law and Order SVU stay on. Really ashame. 

Eh, I like the spin-offs better anyway, and it's had a good run.
 
It is sort of weird to imagine a world where L&O no longer exists, though.

Law and Order is the best Drama show on TV. Period. If this gets cancelled, I will officially stop watching TV.