Law & Order

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NBC (ended 2010)
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Law & Order, the longest running crime series and the second longest-running drama series in the history of American broadcast television, started its 18th season on NBC in the winter of 2008. The brainchild of creator Dick Wolf, Law & Order is the most successful brand in the history of primetime television; the winner of the 1997 Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series; ties Cheers and M*A*S*H for the most consecutive best series nominations (eleven) and the longest-running drama series currently on American television. The series has also turned into one of entertainment's preeminent brands using a distinct ripped from the headlines format, and has spawned the successful spinoffs Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Crime & Punishment and Law & Order: Trial by Jury. Filmed entirely in and around New York City, this realistic yet fictional drama looks at crime and justice from a dual perspective. Law & Order has been renewed through 2009 and delivers some of the highest ratings on television, ranking fourth for any drama on any network among adults 18-49 for the past four full seasons. Season-to-date, the show remains a top-25 series among adults 18-49, a top-20 series in total viewers and one of the most upscale dramas on television. Law & Order was also television's #5 drama in overall total viewers for the 2003-04 season with an average of 15.9 million viewers. The acclaimed crime drama has chased away more than 20 competing dramas from the Wednesday (10-11 p.m. ET) hour since moving to that time period in 1992-1993. In 2006, after nearly fourteen years of airing at 10:00 PM, the series was moved to 9:00 PM to make room for the new NBC series Heist. After only two weeks, NBC opted to return the show to its 10:00 P.M. timeslot after the show fared poorly at 9:00 P.M.moreless
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Episode Guide

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S 20 :  Ep 23 Aired 5/24/10
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S 20 :  Ep 22 Aired 5/17/10
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S 20 :  Ep 21 Aired 5/17/10
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S 20 :  Ep 20 Aired 5/10/10
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S 20 :  Ep 19 Aired 5/3/10
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Fan Reviews (153)

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  • R.I.P. Law and Order...you will be sorely missed.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By jastone837, Oct 22, 2011 Report Abuse
    I will always watch the re runs when they come on...one of the best shows in the last 30 years...
    For 20 years, the original Law and Order showed the trials and tribulations of NY's Finest. we got to see the rise of one Jack McCoy in what has to be one of the longest running character roles in tv history...We saw the strength of Lt. Van Buren..not since Claire Huckstable has a black woman portrayed such courage and strength in her character as S. Epatha Merkerson...showing the various ways that characters left the show points to the versatility of the writers. This show was not afraid to paint a not-so-pretty picture of the police dept. in some episodes..and then turn around and show the true heart and dedication that real police would have doing their duty. I loved this show from beginning to end...An all time classic when the conversation turns to the most entertaining dramas of all timemoreless

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    3 2

  • One of the longest running, all time great crime-legal dramas.

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By jawsthecabbie, May 02, 2011 Report Abuse
    Episode after episode, season after season, Law and Order is one of television's all time great epic crime and courtroom drama shows. I've never seen a poorly written or produced episode in all this time that it's been on the air, no not once. It seems that whenever some bizarre or unprecedented crime happens in real life...something that makes the news and stays there for weeks on end, you can almost expect the writers and producers of Law and Order to base one of their own shows on the general subject and do a slam-bang up job of it. This is the kind of show people remember for years after it's left the air.moreless

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    1 1

  • What does NBC think it's doing?

    10
    "Perfect"
    By lennielives, May 02, 2011 Report Abuse
    The show has a break for 2 weeks for thanksgiving, comes back for a week and now is off until 2 weeks into january 2010, This is one way to lose confidence in a brand for television, no consistency . NBC schedulers must be morons. I would love to know the reason for this , special shows filling in or is it just stretching t5he series over alonger period. Is it going to be the 24 shows per series? I wait with baited breath for answers, waiting waiting waiting waiting waiting waiting for an answer hope a contributor can helpmoreless

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    8 2

  • One of the best dramas on television.

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By Zipitydoodah, Jan 24, 2011 Report Abuse
    I have a particular interest for criminal justice so naturally I would love this show. It's hard to believe that this show got canceled. It was such a great drama program. The first half of this hour-long show usually involves the police searching for the suspect in a murder. The suspect that they arrest can be from all places in today's society. The second half of the show involves the ADA prosecuting the suspect. You never really know what is going to happen at this point. The suspect may plead out, be found guilty, be acquitted, the ADA may dismiss the charges, or suspect may plead out to testify against a newly revealed suspect. There is often a twist in the plot during both parts of the show. I don't think I 'am ever going to be bored with this show even now that it has been canceled. It's an awesome show!moreless

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    1 1

  • Great show that redefined the cop genera and changed

    8.0
    "Great"
    By danharr, Jan 24, 2011 Report Abuse
    Great show that redefined the cop genera and changed the face of television forever. Starting in 1990 the behind the scenes with the lawyers doubled with the cops on the street was a first of it's kind. The cast full of know movie and television stars of the seventies and eighties. Made the stories compelling and the acting was superb. Another genera defying aspect of the show was the then shocking ripped from the headlines stories we were given each week. Never before had true crime been virtually lifted from the news and turned into a work of fiction and the results were riveting. Contrary to what some may say I feel the cast changes helped the show along and kept it fresh. Also this brought in more of who Hollywood had to offer and many really great actors I never would've seen I was able to thanks to this show. The program was an institution don't know why it got canceled but it surely will be missed.moreless

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    2 0
 

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