I have an unconfirmed report that NBC’s Law & Order has been given an order for 4 more episodes this season (which would bring the season total to 20 episodes). I am attempting to confirm this with NBC now.
If so, I think there’s now a chance NBC keeps it around for a 21st season. If this proves to be true, I’ll have to change it to orange in the Renew / Cancel Index.
I gave up on Law and Order last season. I only watch SVU now.
That’s a step closer to a 21st season pickup for this great series.
“Law & Order is already dead.”
-Bill Gorman, circa 10/21/09
It would also prove that despite your little index and fussy calculations, you really don’t know much about how the TV business actually works.
Don’t like the new cops on L&O so I stopped watching it.
Bryan Bell, if those “fussy calculations” prove wrong and L&O does return next fall on NBC, the appropriate crow will be eaten. But if it’s not on the NBC schedule announced in May, I’m sure you’ll be long gone.
If you’d like sunshine and rainbows showered upon you about all your favorite shows, this is not the place to look.
Might also be that these were ordered to fill in developing gaps that have already developed in the schedules from the craters some shows have already made in NBC’s financial books and programming schedules. If it is steady enough to merit being on the schedule, then, renewal or not, a few more episodes won’t hurt much (L&O is an old reliable for this network), it will keep the L&O crowd happy, and they can rerun it several times to keep the accountants happy (to a point) since L&O flavored shows seem to be the designated rerun hitters anyway.
I gave up on L&O over a decade ago, btw… just for the record… so this news is neither here nor there with me. The rumor (possible fact) they ordered more hints at plugging a few holes and having more options for reruns from something that, while not great, is at least a recognized brand with longevity that *might* shore up a few nights in the future.
Law & Order is like Julio Franco.
More like Generalissmo Franco, JR… :p
It’s performing well enough for Friday that this doesn’t surprise me. I’m sure they make enough in syndication that they don’t really need much in the way of ratings to justify it from an accountant’s viewpoint. The way I see it, when they do their overhaul for next season, which they of course will, since everyone listens to me
this means they can ignore Friday while they are ignoring 10 pm for one season. After their brilliant overhaul and ridiculous amount of money spent in development pays off for 8-10 Monday – Thursday in the 10-11 season, they can worry about Fridays along with 10 pm in the 11-12 season.
Hmmm…. given the massive amounts that is made by the L&O shows in syndication, this seems to make sense
My guess is that these 4 episodes were given to help wrap up the series. But I can’t imagine a world without Law and Order. I was born September of 1990 so Law and Order has always been here.
Law & Order’s strength has always been its attention to procedure and its reluctance to delve into the characters’ private lives. As much as i love S. Epatha Merkerson’s character, i am appalled at the show’s resorting to a cancer subplot (possibly in an attempt to feminize the waining audience). These guys are best when they’re doing their jobs. Nobody wants to watch a major character slowly die or suffer each week in a subplot that has nothing to do with anything else.
I hope they come to their senses.
Law and Order is 2 years older than I am lol
LAW & ORDER is still the best cop/legal show on all 5 networks (and even cable).
I Love Law & Order and even though the show isnt nearly as good as the Lenny Briscoe Years, I still watch the show and enjoy it. I would LOVE for this show to be renewed for a 21st season(that would set the record for Longest running Drama surpassing Gunsmokes 20 years) but I just dont see it happening. The show is doing terrible in its 8pn Friday Slot. My Prediction, The Show wont be renewed for a 21st season But I hope I am Wrong!
I agree Sarah, they dont make em like Law & Order anymore!
For some reason, maybe it’s because I was born in the 90’s, but I can’t get into the original Law and Order. The only crime shows I watch are CSI, SVU, Crimal Minds and The Mentalise.
NBC’s only good drama. If they can keep the costs same as they are now — and the ratings stay the same as they are now — it has a pretty decent chance of another season. It’s turned the lights back on for NBC Friday, and it’s helping give “Dateline” (guess who helped develop that?) the best ratings that show has seen since Reilly yanked it off Friday. It’s also the kind of programming that works on Friday. The old-skewing kind.
law and order id the best show on tv today! season 20 is amazing!!
I’m with Julia on this. The extra episodes are not surprising, and I’ve already argued that L&O should be orange on the renew/cancel. It’s been getting a 1.5, which is about as much as could be expected with the move to Friday. I can also see them renewing it just because it’s a utility player that they know can at least survive in nearly any slot. No, it will never get great ratings again, but it’s an easy place-holder while they fix the much bigger problems in their schedule. (That, and if Dick Wolf really wants to break the record instead of just matching it, they might be able to work out a cheaper licensing fee. Wolf can get a lot of the extra back in syndication.)
I think there is a good chance it will return because it’s been solid on Friday nights. Certainly not getting the 18-49 demo but what show on Friday really is? and in total numbers watching it’s doing pretty well after 20 years. Friday is a good fit for an aging show like this.
What else is NBC going to air on Friday – that also gets syndication money?
And yeah, at this rate L&O will def. be back for Fridays next year, especially if the Comcast takeover continues to drag (and NBC doesn’t want to spend major development dough prior to that).
L&O has done well for NBC over the years and certainly they may be factoring how well it does on their various cable outlets. I agree it’s not as good as the Briscoe years. Bring it back for the 21st season just so it can break the record. Then say goodbye.
I’m with Julia and Holly on this one. A 1.5 demo on Friday is respectable on any network, and down right awesome for NBC this year. It’s a win/win for them if they renew it next season, They keep Dick Wolf happy by not only letting him tie the record but break it. It’s doing well enough that NBC can focus on their other problems. Not to mention the extra value it adds when it comes to syndication.
God, this show has more lives than Keith Richards. Die, run of the mill procedural without an ounce of character development, DIE! You are not welcome anymore. CSI will follow you soon.
Of course, it’s also possible that NBC gave them these extra four episodes in order to properly wrap up the series, but a renewal is definitely looking better than it was a couple weeks ago.
I hope everyone is right and it does get renewed. A Tv Season without Law & Order just doesnt seem right. It would be the end of an era. Besides, This is the first time I have actually watched a tv show on Fridays since way back in the days of Dallas! Hard to believe that a show that aired on Fridays was actually the #1 Rated Show, those were the days!
An extra four episodes! What a great Halloween treat!! To the show’s detractors, its resistance to delve into extraneous character development is in large part why the series is almost certainly going to be celebrating a 21st birthday on NBC. It has worked well over the various detective and prosecutor incarnations. Admittedly, the series is not what it was five seasons ago, however, this year, there is a freshness we haven’t seen in a while. The writing is hard-hitting and edgy. The acting always above par, especially among the many unknown guest stars. It’s 1.5 demo, as has been cited here already, is quite respectable in its timeslot. NBC has too many other worries on its schedule to be throwing the proverbial baby (or, in this case, grand-daddy) out with the bath water. Bring it back for a 21st season, announce that it will be its last, and bring a series closure worthy of such a landmark television drama.
One final comment – I’m fairly certain that none of the other popular crime dramas (the over-wrought CSI’s and impossibly unimaginative NCIS’s) on the air today could possibly imagine getting to 15, let alone 20.
With franchises like L & O, there are other numbers to look at besides the ratings and this is something none of is really privy to; i.e., what goes on in the corporate boardroom. L & O is not doing respectable ratings this year, but the franchise itself has cable deals, DVD box sets and syndication deals coming up. It might make good business sense to NBC to keep the franchise going with their other business deals in place. They can still make a profit based off of those commodities.
I wish I could be a participant in some of these boardroom meetings.
The obvious political bias that is part of this show has caused us to stop watching it. We also do not care for the new cops as their acting sucks. We still love SVU but this one can easily go away.
Bill, I think no crow would be necessary if L&O did come back. Who knows what the ego boost of ‘the longest running show in TV history’ (or whatever) is worth to NBC. Lord knows the whole business is built on ego and money. The renew/cancel index is based on ratings=money. Once in a while ego is going to come first.
I think you should give yourself one ‘Get out of the Dollhouse’ free card each season for when the networks do some damn thing that doesn’t make a bit of ratings sense for reasons we, as mere mortals unlike Mr. Bell above, cannot fathom.
law and order will be renewed for the twenty first year. it is a show
This is not a big surprise to me at all. Considering that L&O is coming in 2nd for its time slot on a Fri night, I really don’t think that NBC is that dissatisfied with it.
This is a show that is flexible also. They could recast it, and it would still function. That’s part of the reason for its longevity. If people scream loud enough, maybe Anthony Anderson and Jeremy Sisto would go away. I’m assuming those are the cops that some of you don’t like, no?
I think a much better logical case could be made for renewing L&O for a 21st season than any case that was presented in the Fox board room for bringing Dollhouse back for a second one.
Bill and Mel,
Ratings alone don’t equal all the money a show represents. The equation is ad revenue+cable+syndication+foreign+downloads+dvd. And since NBC is a two-headed monster (network and studio), it has an interest in keeping a show on the air that is a perennial in its library. An episode of L&O made today will keep making money for NBC/Universal long after we’re all dead.
Not to mention, when your company’s in play, you want to be able to demonstrate to a potential buyer that you have long-term revenue-makers in your stable of products.
And Mel, in this case “ego” (namely Jeff Zucker’s) has worked against Law & Order. Zucker has had nothing to gain from keeping a show on that he cannot claim credit for. Quality being a subjective thing, numbers are the ONLY thing that has kept L & O on the air these last six years.
Bill, when you have a web site that calls itself “TV By The Numbers”, you should try to consider ALL the numbers, not just the ones that are dropped in your lap every morning by Nielsen. I know you’d like to sell your website for some big Nikki Finke numbers, but like Nikki Finke you’re gonna have to work your ass off to do it.
I’m a LONGTIME fan of L&O (and L&O:CI), but I haven’t enjoyed this year’s L&O episodes. The writers have resorted to lots of very transparent, broad-brush opinions spoken/argued between Cutter, McCoy and the lovely Connie about the issue at hand, instead of using events within the episode to demonstrate both sides of issues. Show me, don’t tell me.
That said, I do hope L&O is renewed, and I hope they get back on track.
One man’s opinion, of course…
Happy Halloween!
My hunch is these four will serve to wrap up the storylines and give the series an end worthy of such a long run.
But, Law & Order was airing before I was even born, so my guess is just a guess.
Bryan the renew/cancel index isn’t intended to take everything into account.
It uses the 18-49 demo as an indicator — a proxy or predictor, like an SAT score is a proxy or predictor for how well a student will do at college — for those other factors that nobody but the networks themselves can calculate because they are the only ones with all the actual information and facts.
We are merely speculating regarding the revenue and so forth that NBC gets from L&O.
OK, regarding Zucker, then Bill could use ‘the get out of the Dollhouse free’ card for why a show with good numbers was cancelled despite being green on the renew/cancel index.
bryan,
My Renew / Cancel Index prediction about L&O has always been about it’s return to NBC next season. It could certainly go to new episodes on USA (ala, L&O:CI) and almost none of your points would change:
- Ad revenue would be less, but likely appropriate for USA ratings levels.
- Future syndication revenue (for repeats) would presumably be the same.
- Foreign revenue would be little unchanged for the series as a whole
- Download and DVD revenues would be little changed for the series as a whole, while the newer episodes would suffer a bit
- 21st season, It wouldn’t be the 21st “broadcast” season, but I think the record books could handle it.
We take all the numbers into account. The most important ones for broadcast renewal are 18-49 ratings. The others are both less important for broadcast renewal and unlikely to differ substantially under a first run cable scenario.
As for numbers, if you think Nikki Finke landed some giant pile of money upfront for her site, please pass what you’re smoking. She likely received a small sum and an employment contract. I’m happy for her, but I stopped working for someone else 11 years ago, and don’t ever plan to start again.
This makes sense for NBC that doesn’t have any socko rating winners — The Office and 30 Rock included.
I think the show would do better if it replaced the current ADA, he couldn’t be more dull, with a healthy bit of annoying in the character. He certainly ain’t no Sam Waterston.
Law and Order has been going down for years. Nowadays the only villians are white christian males. The vicious anti-christian bigotry is disgusting and I’m an atheist.Conservative views are considered immoral if not illegal in most episodes. Like most shows liberal ideology trumps cash and ratings. It’s sad to see what has happened to a once great show.
To the people who’re saying the 4 eps are going to be so they can “wrap it up” – Dick Wolf’s already said numerous times that when the series DOES end, it won’t have a big bang of an ending — it’ll be just another day of work for the cops and lawyers. They’ve had cancellation scares in the past where the last season finale would’ve been the last episode. I agree w/ the people who’ve said it’s to fill in the gaps left by cancellations and whatnot. I’m surprised they didn’t do it sooner, especially because it IS doing decently on Friday nights and proving that people still watch it, no matter the timeslot (which is also something that Mr. Wolf has said before – people will watch, no matter what timeslot you put it in. The show’s proved this before).
@Cassie – On the final episode being “just another day” I call BS on that. I don’t care what Dick Wolf says NBC is not going to let Law and Order just fade away with no fanfare. Beyond that Dick Wolf is always changing his mind. After Benjamin Bratt left he said he felt it was a mistake to focus on the characters outside of the individual cases yet the last season was all about the McCoy’s election and the crooked Mayor.
As far as “people will watch no matter what timeslot” I suppose that’s technically true (people can be as many as 2) but not true in the sense you’re presenting it. Law and Order essentially tied Supernanny in the demo last night and is pulling in almost a million fewer viewers than Dateline (which follows it). Even with the cast cuts the show has to be expensive and I can’t imagine
Anyway, I think the extra 4 episodes are either to have a goodbye arc or to prep the series for USA by somehow jettisoning McCoy and Van Buren (hence bringing the cost down to cable levels)
Bill, If I understand you, you’re saying the economics would remain roughly the same if L & O went to USA for first run?
You actually believe TNT would continue paying @$1M per episode for exclusive cable rights if the show was first-run on USA?
Mel,
The numbers are out there if you dig for them — which anyone can do if they’re journalistically inclined. The problem is that some half-assed websites would rather wait for Nielsen to email them the ratings in the morning and then make semi-informed guesses and pass them off as somehow scientific. I would hope that this website would distinguish itself from the pack and do some actual research.
Cassie,
The reason NBC only ordered 4 episodes probably has more to do with the fact that the company’s up for sale and NBC wants to make its financial numbers as attractive as possible and drive up the book value of the company. One way you do that is by booking as much revenue as possible while limiting expenses. Ordering only as many episodes as you need until the company gets sold is one way to limit expenses. No doubt more episodes will be ordered (up to the usual 22-episode order) if sale negotiations drag on or if and when the sale to Comcast is finalized.
@Capitalist Infidel – It’s funny you mention that because I was going to watch (or at least DVR) this season but I saw the commercial with Cutter saying “You want to prosecute the Bush Administration” and decided I’d just skip it. I didn’t even like the Bush administration but I’ve had more than enough of TV characters continually bashing it.
bryan, “You actually believe TNT would continue paying @$1M per episode for exclusive cable rights if the show was first-run on USA?”
Perhaps not, but the price wouldn’t go to zero, or alternatively, NBCU (and USA) could make up some portion (perhaps a large portion) of that money repeating the 21st season’s episodes on USA or NBC the same way they do with L&O:CI. My point is that the alternate revenue streams would not be tremendously effected by a move to first run on cable.
And if the NBCU/Comcast deal is as close as has been reported (who knows), tiny things like the number of episodes of L&O ordered aren’t going to make any difference at all. The difference between zero episodes and 4 or 6 is insignificant on the NBCU corporate level.
Could they move the show to another night/time?
@Tom
“After Benjamin Bratt left he said he felt it was a mistake to focus on the characters outside of the individual cases yet the last season was all about the McCoy’s election and the crooked Mayor.”
Crooked governor, and while there was focus on the election, it was integrated into the story arcs of the cases being prosecuted. Character-wise, we didn’t learn a lot about McCoy that we didn’t already know – the focus on the election was actually somewhat necessary in transitioning the character from EADA, which he’d been for 13-14 years, to DA.
I’d also argue that we’ve seen various levels of characterization throughout the years – the Ben Bratt years, especially seasons 7 and 8, were pretty heavy on personal stuff. Season 20 has been going that direction as well, but overall, they usually try to strike a balance. You can’t get that balance exactly right every year, especially with different writers coming and going, along with a revolving door cast of characters. I don’t see that as Dick Wolf changing his mind about anything, so much as I see it as the natural progression of the show over the course of 20 years.
Either way, I’m happy we’re getting four new episodes, if this turns out to be correct, regardless of whether they’re used as a boost to get to Season 21 (which I’d obviously prefer) or an end to the series (which would be sad, but hey, I’ve got 20 years of episodes to watch and re-watch!)
@MattStephens – this season? I doubt it, but then again I didn’t think we’d be getting more episodes, either. Next season…I’m guessing it depends on the Leno mess and what other dramas they’re ordering and all of that.
Bill — “Perhaps not, but the price wouldn’t go to zero, or alternatively, NBCU (and USA) could make up some portion (perhaps a large portion) of that money repeating the 21st season’s episodes on USA or NBC the same way they do with L&O:CI. My point is that the alternate revenue streams would not be tremendously effected by a move to first run on cable.”
The fact you would even suggest that repurposing fees could even come close to making up for the loss of an exclusive cable deal indicates you don’t have the foggiest notion of the economics of this business. It wouldn’t make up half, not even a third, not even a quarter of the loss.
As for your last comment about the sale being so close to being finalized that the number of episodes wouldn’t matter again speaks to your ignorance of the corporate culture that predominates here. GE/NBC is a company that counts paperclips. If they can push off the expense of a $3-4 million episode into the next quarter and keep it off this quarter’s books, they will. They will do anything to make the current quarter’s bottom line look good. That’s their horizon — the current quarter. Tomorrow doesn’t exist at GE-NBC.
Cassie, I agree with your assessment of the degree to which L&O has explored personal lives of the principal characters. The Bratt years were almost an experiment that happily ended when they did. I’ve remained faithful to the show since its beginning for that very reason. I can get my share of soap opera elsewhere. I also agree, Cassie, with your rebuttal on the “crooked governor”. It was absolutely essential for promoting McCoy to the office of DA. It was non-exploitative the way, I fear, the Van Buren arc may turn into. I love that character and Merkerson is portraying the journey with aplomb. I can’t bear watching a “friend” undergo such life-threatening challenges. And I’m unsure why Wolfe sees it fit to potentially end the character’s run in this way. I’m watching with caution not quite ready to pass judgement on Wolfe. However, if the story helps to keep the series alive for an additional four episodes and potentially 21st season, I’ll endure.
Bill, may I put you on the spot? Do you believe, at this point, that we’ll see a 21st season on NBC?
Trevvy, I still think a 21st season on NBC is unlikely.
Thanks, Bill. Not what I was hoping to hear, however, hope springs eternal!
Law & Order I’m guessing has earned HUGE money in syndication. It always amazes me that many of the top 10 rated shows end up not doing well in syndication and some shows that never were that well rated do fantastic. From what I’ve read, guest actors love being on shows that do well in syndication since they make a lot in residuals. The L&O franchise, the CSI francise and NCIS have done fantastic in syndication.
Folks – if you aren’t satisfied with this site’s quick hypothesis regarding 18-49 demos being an approximation of the renewal prospects of scripted television programs, I have to say this:
1 – I hate 18-49 demo being the idee fixee of advertisers, and would love to see all advertising agencies’ executives and their aides-de-camp fall from Washington’s nose, by having their hands stomped on by Martin Landau, while being machine-gunned by a dozen T-6100 Terminators from Binford. But it is what it is – and there’s no realistic way for us to change that – think “Zombieland” (notice the title on the commercial looks a bit like the Universal titles?) on rabbit reproductive steroids – that’s the scale of the challenge we have in order to defeat it.
2 – Other factors are discussed, caveated, and ran through a Bass-a-Matic 76 (Dan Aykroyd not included) here so fast, Bill and Robert need to buy a new one every six days, on average (summers, one a month – during Chuck or Dollhouse runs, possibly two a day!).
3 – Since #1 is what it is, it wouldn’t make sense, except for considering the mad, mad, mad, mad world inside Dawn Ostroff’s head, for Bill and Robert to make their main hypothesis anything else but 18-49 demos as a proxy for renewal decisions makes no sense…
4 – …if they really wanted to make no sense, they would have stayed at their old jobs, where they would have continued to be miserable.
5 – The only way to get all the information you think Bill and Robert should get before the relevant decisions are made is to own 20 percent of each of the networks, and have very senior executive positions at all of them.
6 – If you still think they need to consider anything else save the 18-49 demos, for your convenience, please send your $8 billion certified check to:
TV By The Numbers
714 Webb Way
Los Angeles CA 90028-2288
They also will take transfers of over $1 billion using Diners’ Club and AMEX
Carol,
L&O was a top ten show, from @1997 to @2002. Four or five seasons. Then it was a top 20 show for a few seasons after that.
The other franchises you mention are also top ten shows and have been over the course of several seasons. That’s the key — “over the course of several seasons.”
A show needs 80 to 100 episodes to syndicate (so it can be stripped five days a week) and shown in several cycles a year. A show that’s a top ten hit for one or two seasons and then sinks probably won’t get that many episodes under its belt, or if it does, it won’t generate much interest (or high fees) in the syndication/cable aftermarket. Alias and Heroes are two such examples.
Was “The Nanny” ever a top 10 show? What about the George Lopez show? Because it does well in syndication. Of course the classic example is the original Star Trek series which had bad ratings, only 80 episodes, and was cancelled and did fantastic in syndication. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel though never got good ratings compared to the other networks (even considering their own network 7th Heaven got the best ratings) but they have done very well in syndication. Ghost Whisperer and Medium I can see doing well in syndication.
It used to be that a show had to either be over or have at least 5 years worth of episodes for syndication but these days it seems that some shows that are airing will go into syndication much earlier.
And my guess is that Ugly Betty despite its current poor ratings will do OK in syndication.
21 is coming!!
I hope it stays around. I love Sam Waterston and the two Lawyers. I usually watch Supernanny from 8 – 8:30 then tune in for the Law part or is that the Order part?? well whatever part includes, Batman’s Father and Sam Waterston and Delko’s pot-smoking sister LOL Not a big fan of the cops on the show nowadays.
Bill,
I will bet you that if L & O averages between a 1.5 and 2 in its present slot , it will be renewed for a 21st season.
If I lose, I will send you a $25 gift certificate to the lunch place of your choice.
If I win, you make a $25 donation to the Saban Free Clinic in L.A. — just post the thank you note from the clinic as proof.
Deal?
If so, I’ll shut up. (that alone maybe be worth $25 to you).
Capitalist Infidel – that’s because Conservative views are generally tinged with just a hint of insanity. Being an Atheist myself I enjoy seeing Conservative nutballs getting ripped once in a while. Christianity is all about ‘be like me or don’t be at all’ That’s not cool.
@Cassie – My point was that Dick Wolf said they wouldn’t focus on the characters lives outside the individual cases and then reversed it last season. So what he said about there being no finale isn’t really relevant because he could change his mind and probably will be pressured by NBC to change his mind.
(and for the record McCoy’s election storyline in S20 is almost identical to Schiff’s election storyline during the Bratt years)
Honestly, I really don’t care either way since I haven’t been watching this season. My main problem is that I don’t have any paticular attachment to either of the cops and I like the assisst. ADA (Connie not going to look up how to spell the character’s last name) more than I like ADA Cutter (who frankly comes across as a wannabe Jack McCoy with all the attitude and none of the intellectual heft)
@aaronhotchner – I love how you say “Conservative views are generally tinged with just a hint of insanity” and then go to criticize Conservatives for having an attitude of “be like me or don’t be at all”. Pot, this is Kettle, you’re black.
Also (thought of this right after I posted the last comment) the finale issue is a big mark against USA. I’m sure NBC wants to milk a L&O series finale for all it’s worth and they couldn’t really do that if they’ve sent it packing to USA (Hey folks, here’s the finale to that show you thought was cancelled 2 years ago but was really just demoted to a cable series!)
Love Law and Order, but then I am “old” (53).
Sorry Tom, your pot, kettle crap doesn’t fly. In my life as an Atheist I’ve never once tried to convert anyone to my way of thinking. To me, whatever someone believes is just fine as long as they don’t try to inflict it upon me. Try to make an argument that Christianity isn’t all about conversion. And sorry, Right Wing Conservatives ARE often a little unhinged. I don’t have a problem with religion but fanatics are nutjobs. That’s just the truth of it. If someone doesn’t want to be an Atheist, that’s 100% fine by me. Ask 100 Conservative Right Wingers how OK it is for someone to be an Atheist then get back to me with your Pot, Kettle Black crap LOL
bryan, First of all, I don’t want you to shut up! I welcome reasoned disagreements. Because while I am never in doubt, I am often wrong.
Second, if L&O averages between a 1.5-2.0 rating in its current timeslot, particularly when you consider that NBC’s overall 18-49 average will drop in the spring (post Football, and Olympic weeks factored out), I think it will get renewed too!
And while Robert and I do make the occasional wager with each other, which is probably a mistake for me given my previous record, I shy away from starting a general trend of wagering with commenters, or I might have to pick up a W-2 job before too long again.
I think it’ll be renewed 1. to beat the Gunsmoke record 2. it’s Friday demo is respectable (especially for a show that doesn’t skew young), why risk putting a new drama (or comedies? ha) on there that’ll do worse and have no syndie value after cancellation 3. NBC probably doesn’t want all unscriped/repeats for the start of next season. Friday is a sucky night, but networks still kinda/sorta try to develop shows for it, unlike Saturday.
I think Law & Order will get renewed for a final season, they could easily hype it up like they did with ER and I imagine both NBC and Dick Wolf will want to break the Gunsmoke record for longest running drama on television.
BTW Why does everyone think that L&O would go to USA if NBC passed as they don’t air reruns like CI and to me, TNT would be the more natural home for new episodes.
Speaking of USA, the changes they are making to CI suggest to me that the show is getting too expensive for them as they are getting rid of everyone but Jeff Golblum and if that backfires, USA will simply cancel the show because it’s rates less well compared to other USA show. I imagine had USA not taken it on two years ago, it would have been cancelled anyway.
Well 20 episodes is no guarantee of renewal. Its only a slight extension. 10 episodes will have aired by December which gives the series a little more time to air. The series could get replaced by March or April by a reality series.
Dan, you forget the Olympics. If 10 episodes air by December, chances are at most 12 will have aired by the time the Olympics start. How do you see it being replaced by March or April? There was no way on God’s green earth that Law & Order was going to be replaced prior to now (at least until they pull out FNL), and there’s even less of a chance now. The only question is next season.
20 episodes is nearly a full season, and since everything on NBC will be preempted for a few weeks for the Olympics, I don’t see why it wouldn’t last until the end of the season.
Who’s even talking about the backend? I’m talking about the currentend. Last season (on Wed), “Law & Order” averaged 8 million viewers. This season (on Fri), it’s averaging 7 million. How many other shows do you know that could move from a weeknight that isn’t Friday to Friday and only lose around a million viewers? Second off, NBC (who owned Friday nights from ‘99-’02) has been a wretched 4th place on the night ever since Zucker cancelled “Providence” to spite his face and Reilly started littering the lineup with toxic waste. Now they are second place. And they have a good shot at first. They sure don’t have a good shot at first place on a whole lot of other nights. NBC would have to be pretty damn dumb not to notice that “Ghost Whisperer” is down and “Law & Order” has been nipping at its heels, because they sure weren’t competitive with that show last season.
Cool. (Outside)
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(Inside)
I believe Dick Wolf when he says how the show will end. It’s not like MASH where everyone was waiting for the war to end so they could go home.
It might be a two hour episode at best, and maybe we’ll see McCoy lose an election or something like that, but at the end we’ll likely see the cameras pan out to a view of an office filled with lawyers, filling papers, phones ringing, elevators opening and closing, then maybe an aerial shot of New York city, with cop cars here and there, lights flashing, sirens blaring….
As far as the show and its characters personal lives. For the most part the show stays away from that. I agree with the previous poster that said the shows that focused on the Governor and McCoy’s re-election were not about his personal life and were just story arcs.
Personally some of my favorite episodes are those that break from the half and half norm of L&O, and/or delve into the characters more, however the upside to not doing those types of things too often is that each episode can stand on its own, you don’t have to have seen the previous episode to be able to watch the current or next.
It would be a big deal for NBC to renew L&O for at least one more season so they can at least claim that they have the longest running scripted drama series on television. I also don’t see L&O ever having a huge series finale, considering that the episodes focused more on the cases and less on character development, and also because of the revolving door cast changes which have gone on through its run.
The question is whether NBC will decide to end the series or take advantage of repurposing the series ala L&O:CI to either TNT or USA. Sending off first-run episodes to USA would keep revenue in-house, but since TNT already has the rights to the syndicated episodes, they would probably be a better fit. And as much as some people don’t care so much for Jeremy Sisto and Anthony Anderson, they would be much cheaper to keep around if L&O went first-run to cable.
I just don’t think NBC is in a position where they can get rid of the few dependable shows they have, they literally have just a handful of decent shows, especially considering the numbers L&O gets out of its normal time slot AND day.
Wile I prefer Jeremy Sisto, I don’t think either one is strong enough to carry the other. In other words I could put up with Sisto when he was with Jesse L. Martin, because Martin could carry him, but Sisto can’t carry Anderson, and Anderson can’t carry Sisto.
I’d rather it was two totally different guys, but if I had to choose I’d take Sisto.
Law and Order hasn’t been the same since they promoted Jack McCoy.
The new ‘Jack’ is annoying and doesn’t make you empathize with him.
The new cop pairing (Anderson/Sisto) are fantastic IMO the best combo since Orbach/Bratt.
I don’t know if I want it to die or not…