"Law & Order" Canceled!?

[Vyse]

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b180908_law_order_dead_buried.html


Get ready to bid bye-bye to the bum-bum.

NBC has canceled Law & Order, E! News has confirmed. The cast and crew of the mothership procedural were informed of the show's fate earlier today.

The upcoming season of Dick Wolf's brainchild would have been its 21st, passing Gunsmoke as the longest-running TV drama series in history. (The Simpsons holds the longevity record for any scripted series.)

NBC has not yet responded to a call seeking comment.

Developing...

Shocking. I don't watch the show but I thought it would be around forever.

EDIT: Deadline is reporting the same thing (http://www.deadline.com/2010/05/nbc-to-cancel-law-order/) and has a tad bit more. Apparently two of them:

-renewing L&O was tied to the syndication deal with TNT, which is up at the end of this season
-the next L&O series, Los Angeles, debuts next season (also, don't worry about SVU and Criminal Intent, as they will stay)

[Maenos]

-renewing L&O was tied to the syndication deal with TNT, which is up at the end of this season

Wait, so...does this mean TNT won't be showing reruns anymore? Hope not, I love catching the reruns (even if I've seen them a million times by now). Can never have enough Lenny.

Pity to hear this.

[xmendude]

I've never watched this show but it's shocking to hear since this show has been around for 20 seasons.

[Michael24]

I figured it would have to end sometime, though personally I'd rather see SVU or Criminal Intent get canned instead. I haven't watched it much since Angie Harmon left, though.

[Wounded_Dragon]

With so many seasons, syndication reruns can feel like new episodes...if they ever went back to the early ones.

[Vyse]

More news just spilling out. Check the Deadline link at the top of the thread or read on...

Here's the latest news on this fast-moving story. A deal was in place if NBC picked up the Law & Order flagship for a 21st season consisting of 16 episodes. But insiders say Dick Wolf is now accusing the network of "reneging" on that deal: "He's so f****** angry, you have no idea."

As recently as the start of this week, even NBCU chief Jeff Zucker was privately telling people that L&O would get one more season. That's certainly what Wolf and his longtime reps (UTA and Ziffren Brittenham legal eagle Cliff Gilbert) were led to believe from NBC suits Marc Graboff and Jeff Gaspin. That is, until last night.

Wolf simply wanted NBC to live up to the deal that both sides had agreed to back in March. According to that arrangement already in place, NBC/Universal Media Studios was supposed to go to TNT and negotiate a new deal (the old one was up) whereby the cable channel would finance some original episodes of Law & Order in order to continue getting runs of the show. "And, for whatever reason, NBC was unwilling to engage in a serious way with TNT. They didn't do it. At the last minute, they said, 'We'll pick the show up and this is how we're going to do it'. Which was ludicrous." That's when NBC threw its agreement with Wolf out the window and demanded Wolf kick in to help "finance the pickup of Law & Order out of all the money he's made. And his reps said, 'Never going to happen'," according to an insider. Another source explained the situation: "Graboff broke off the negotiations last night when they fell apart based on Team Dick's unwillingness to make certain deal concessions deemed unreasonable."

But that's not all. Immediately, Team Dick contacted Gaspin. And that email exchange revealed that Gaspin didn't realize the show had been cancelled. Evidently, there was a lack of communication between Graboff and Gaspin, who didn't even know the negotiations had broken off. But then Gaspin confirmed it. This morning, the producers began calling reps for the show's stars and telling them about the cancellation.

Now Wolf wants to try to make a deal to take the Law & Order flagship to TNT, the same place that John Wells and Warner Bros took Southland after it, too, was cancelled by NBC. In that case, NBC tried to hold up the switch. And that could happen this time as well, or even something much more complicated since Law & Order is a UMS show.

NBC so far has not issued any public statement confirming the cancellation. It is possible, just possible, that this could be a game of chicken -- and NBC come back to Wolf's reps honoring the deal made in March. Don't be surprised if talks start up again.

Wolf, after all still has L&O: SVU, L&O: Criminal Intent, and now the newest spinoff, L&O: Los Angeles on NBC. I hear the next test of wills may come immediately because Wolf wants LOLA (the new show's nickname) to be given the Wednesday 10 PM time slot right after L&O: SVU. There may be more to report today, so stay tuned.In short, money. Ah, money. We don't want to part with you sometimes. Even if it is to make an investment that could produce more money.

[Storm Eagle]

I don't watch this show either, but for some reason, and I know I shouldn't be, but I'm a bit surprised that the later incarnations get to continue while the original gets axed. It makes me wonder if the entire CSI franchise would end up going this route too.

[DisneyBoy]

For a second there, I wondered as well "Will SVU be cancelled". It might as well, as the writing really went down in quality a year or two ago.

I didn't much watch this version of the show. Wasn't interested in the two new cops walking the beat, although the last twenty minutes of the show - the courtroom stuff - always held my interest.

[defunctzombie]

I'm surprised they wouldn't hold out the extra year to break the record.

My favorite was CI, but only the ones with Goren. I don't like Logan, and the Goldblum character is just too Monk.

[KPTitan]

The hell? No more McCoy!? I really hope that TNT will keep the reruns... My favorite series are the original and SVU... SVU being my favorite since it has a little more character developement on the detectives as opposed to the original. I haven't watched much of CI, although I thought Goren was pretty awesome.

[RonDrakenfan17]

I didn't even know this show was still going :eek:

[purplehairedwonder]

I'm disappointed to hear this. While I prefer SVU (and have recently turned to Criminal Minds), I really enjoyed the original close behind. I never got into Criminal Intent, but I guess you can only watch just so many crime dramas :sweat:

[Hanshotfirst113]

All things must come to an end, I suppose.

[King Cocopuff]

Well, that's a pity. Unless Dick Wolf's successfully tears through all the red tape to TNT, it had a long run.

But am I the only one who went upon reading this threat, "Wait, there's going to be a Law & Order Los Angeles?!"

[mumbo]

I'm surprised because I had thought Law & Order's 21st season renewal was official, but I guess not.

I really thought they'd want to beat the Gunsmoke record.


It makes me wonder if the entire CSI franchise would end up going this route too.
CSI: NY is the weak link in that chain right now, and while it will probably get renewed this season, its time may be dwindling.

Miami has passed the mothership in the ratings though, much like SVU with the L&O mothership.

[StormBlue]

NBC, NBC, NBC. Why do you continue to make bad move after bad move?

Law & Order has not been picking up its weight for several years, even though in my personal opinion these last few years with Jack as DA have been great. However, NBC has been well aware that L&O hasn't been the ratings juggernaut it once was. The network could have canceled the show years ago, but continued to move forward because of the prime-time drama record. Now that you're ONE YEAR away from beating the record, you want to pull the plug? How does that make sense? It seems as if there were scenarios on the table to help reduce costs or share those costs with TNT, but instead you decide to play hard ball with Dick Wolf? Really?

I just hope this mess gets cleared up soon. At the least, allow Dick to send L&O off with the kind of send off the show and its stars (especially Sam Waterston) deserves. Seriously.

[Storm Eagle]

CSI: NY is the weak link in that chain right now, and while it will probably get renewed this season, it's time may be dwindling.


Yeah I read about that.

[defunctzombie]

Did we get an actual confirm from NBC? This one says they haven't confirmed yet:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100514/ap_on_en_tv/us_tv_law___order

[defunctzombie]

Scratch that:

NBC cancels L&O (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100514/ap_on_en_tv/us_tv_law___order)

Well that sucks. I would have preferred the original version instead of them jumping on the LA bandwagon.

[Invidente 7]

Scratch that:

NBC cancels L&O (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100514/ap_on_en_tv/us_tv_law___order)

Well that sucks. I would have preferred the original version instead of them jumping on the LA bandwagon.

First Raising the Bar got canceled and now THIS?! :mad: I can at least hope that Sam Waterson gets more appearances on the other Law and Order shows, but even so this sucks AND blows ... and the worst part of this is that Mike Cutter will never get the development he needed, oh well :ack:

[Ryoutarou]

Has it been announced if it will have a finale or just a final episode? I'm thinking it's too late into the season to really work a finale up.

[Blankments]

This is just plain idiotic. I don't watch Law and Order but to cancel it one year before it breaks the record is easily one of the stupidest decisions NBC has ever made.

[MarineCorps]

Yeah. I'm surprised that they would cancel it before it could break the record. I would think NBC would pimp the hell out of it being both the final and record breaking season

[Shredhead]

I dont watch this show but my dad loves it. I'm going to hate telling him his favorite show is over.

[Wounded_Dragon]

Sheesh NBC, are you trying to offend me off your network. Crapped over late night, now moving onto prime-time again.

[KJ Styles]

Man this really sucks. Law & Order is one of the best shows of all time. I agree that it should have been given one more season just to beat the record out of respect. I can't say I'm completely shocked though, because NBC is the worst of the four major networks by far. They always cancel good shows (Ed, My Name Is Earl, Las Vegas, etc).

While SVU is currently a better show, I think the original in it's prime was better than SVU ever was, and I never really cared for CI.

I hope that they at least have the decency to give it a proper finale, it deserves that much. Throughout the 90's, L&O was the best drama on either network OR cable TV and even in the 2000's then only The Sopranos and The Shield were better IMO.

[StormBlue]

New "information" about Law & Order's death (and possible brief resurrection): http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/37214684/ns/today-entertainment/

[wonderfly]

New "information" about Law & Order's death (and possible brief resurrection): http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/37214684/ns/today-entertainment/

Welcome news, indeed! So there's rumors of a final Law and Order "made for TV" movie? I guess that's better than nothing (the show needs a proper finale). I still hope they can squeeze a few more episodes out of the network (it doesn't even have to be a full 20+ episodes, just shoot for 13 more episodes to finish things off).

[stephane dumas]

It could be interesting how they'll end it? A big finale like the original series "The Fugitive" was or like the final episode of NYPD Blue when it was just another day at the job when Spicowitz moved in a new office at the 15th precinct? Btw, it's already five years ago, then ABC aired the last episode of NYPD Blue.

Also, I wonder if they'll do a tribute to Jerry Orbach?

[Jacob T. Paschal]

How long must an episode order be before it is considered a 'season'? Thirteen? If not, wouldn't just making one episode and calling that the season work? :sweat::p

[Vyse]

The description to the final episode is below in or in the link with more spoilers. But, pay attention to the bold print and laugh: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/finale_of_law_is_class_ic_7H9BukiJUFZI4vfFCuDgcL

"Law & Order" is going out with a bang -- taking a snarky swipe at the city's infamous "rubber rooms" for teachers in its series swan song.

NBC's war-horse drama, famous for using New York City as its backdrop, ends its 20-season run May 24 with an episode that pulls no punches, titled "Rubber Room."

There's a tangible sense of disdain shown toward the "rubber-room" system, in which city teachers collect full salaries for sitting on their butts while awaiting disciplinary hearings -- or "doing crossword puzzles, sorting recipes," according to a school administrator who's interviewed by "L&O" Detectives Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) and Bernard (Anthony Anderson).

That system, which cost taxpayers $30 million a year, has now been abolished, thanks in part to The Post's crusading coverage.
In the "Rubber Room" episode, Lupo and Bernard are assigned to investigate a rogue Web site run by an anonymous blogger named "Moot," who's apparently armed to the teeth and threatening to blow a city school to smithereens.

[defunctzombie]

Geez, I feel like I'm reading the news with that one. There's no way a disclaimer is going to make me think it's fictional. :p

[JPPT1974]

There is talk however of Dick Wolf putting it either as a two hour movie or going to TNT to either tie up loose ends or to break the record respectedly.
He doesn't want Law & Order to end. But despite it going downhill for the past couple of years, all things must come to an end.
It was really good from 2000-2006.
And with Lennie Briscoe, played by the dearly missed Jerry Orbach! RIP!:sweat:

[dmxx116]

If you have a facebook page Law & Order fans have started a Facebook page to save the the show, It for Betty White to get to host SNL:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Save-Law-Order/116943315009046?ref=mf