Law & Order
173629
225706810
2008-07-15T00:27:44Z
24.3.76.168
/* Actors on different crime shows */
{{refimprove|date=June 2008}}
{{two other uses|the original television series|its spin-offs|Law & Order franchise|other uses|Law and Order}}
{{infobox television |
| show_name = Law & Order
| image = [[Image:Lawandorder01.jpg|230px]]
| caption = ''Law & Order'' title card
| format = [[Police procedural]]<br />[[Legal drama]]
| executive_producer = [[Dick Wolf]] (1990-)<br>[[Edwin Sherin]] (1993-2000)<br>[[Rene Balcer]] (1994-)<br>[[Matthew Penn]] (2003-2007)<br>[[Michael S. Chernuchin]] (1994-2004)<br>[[Peter Jankowski]] (2001-)<br>[[Walon Green]] (1992-2006)<br>[[Jeffrey L. Hayes]] (1994-2004)<br>[[Nicholas Wootton]] (2005-2007)<br>[[Barry Schindel]] (1999-2002)<br>[[William M. Finkelstein]] (2000-2001)<br>[[Arthur Penn]] (2000-2001)<br>[[Fred Berner]] (2008)<br>'''Co-executive producer:'''<br>[[William N. Fordes]] (1999-)<br>[[Richard Sweren]] (1999-)<br>[[Arthur W. Forney]] (1994-)<br>[[Eric Overmyer]] (2002-2005)<br>[[Joseph Stern]] (1990-1993)<br>[[Wendy Battles]] (2001-2006)<br>[[Rick Eid]] (2005-2007)<br>[[Roz Weinman]] (2001-2005)<br>[[Lewis Gould]] (1994-2003)<br>[[David Wilcox]] (2006-)<br>[[Chris Levinson]] (2005-2007)<br>[[Lukas Reiter]] (2006-2007)<br>[[Robert Nathan]] (2006-2007)<br>[[Ed Zuckerman]] (1994-)<br>[[Peter Guiliano]] (2004-2006)<br>[[Stephanie Sengupta]] (2008)<br>[[Kathy McCormick]] (1997-2001)<br>
| producer = [[Kati Johnston]] (1999-2005)<br>[[Marc Guggenheim]] (2002-2004)<br>[[Terri Kopp]] (2001-2003)<br>[[Jill Goldsmith]] (2002-2003)<br>[[Nick Santora]] (2004-2005)<br>[[Lorenzo Carcaterra]] (2003-2004)<br>[[Aaron Zelman]] (2003-2004)<br>[[Lynn Mamet]] (1999-2001)<br>[[Lois Johnson]] (2004-2005)<br>[[Greg Plageman]] (2005)<br>[[David Shore]] (1997-1998)<br>'''Co-producer:'''<br>[[Steve Wertimer]] (2006-)<br>[[Jamie Blank]] (2006-2007)<br>[[Tim Deluca]] (2008)<br>[[Gina Gionfriddo]] (2008)<br>[[David Slack]] (2008)<br>[[Sean Jablonski]] (2001-2002)<br>[[Rebecca Saionz]] (2004-2005)<br>[[Jeremy R. Littman]] (1997)<br>[[Morgan Gendel]] (1995-1996)<br>[[I.C. Rapoport]] (1998-1999)
| runtime = 60 [[minutes]]
| creator = [[Dick Wolf]]
| starring = ''current cast''<br>[[Jeremy Sisto]]<br>[[Anthony Anderson]]<br>[[S. Epatha Merkerson]]<br>[[Linus Roache]]<br>[[Alana de la Garza]]<br>[[Sam Waterston]]
| opentheme = Music by [[Mike Post]]
| country = [[United States]]
| language = [[English language|English]]
| location = '''New York:'''<br>[[Bethesda Fountain]], [[Central Park]], [[Manhattan]], [[New York City]], [[New York]]<br>[[Brooklyn]], [[New York City]], [[New York]]<br>[[Grimaldi's Pizzeria]], [[Brooklyn]], [[New York City]], [[New York]]<br>
[[Hoyt-Schermerhorn Street Subway Station]], [[Brooklyn]], [[New York City]], [[New York]]<br>[[Katz's Delicatessen]] - [[205 East Houston Street]], [[East Village]], [[Manhattan]], [[New York City]], [[New York]]<br>[[New York City]], [[New York]]<br>
[[Pier 59 Studios]], [[Chelsea Piers]], [[Pier 59]] - [[West 18th Street]] & [[West Side Highway]], [[Chelsea, Manhattan]], [[New York City]], [[New York]]<br>[[Times Square]], [[Manhattan]], [[New York City]], [[New York]]<br>'''New Jersey:'''<br>[[Hoboken]], [[New Jersey]]
| network = [[NBC]]
|picture_format = [[480i]] ([[Standard-definition television|SDTV]])<br />[[1080i]] ([[High-definition television|HDTV]])
| first_aired = [[September 13]] [[1990]]
| last_aired = present
| num_seasons = [[List of Law & Order seasons|18]]
| num_episodes = 410 <!--(as of May 14, 2008)-->
| website = http://www.nbc.com/Law_&_Order/
| imdb_id = 0098844
| tv_com_id = 180
|}}
'''''Law & Order''''' is an [[United States|American]] [[police procedural]] and [[legal drama]] [[Television program|television series]] created by [[Dick Wolf]]. It has been broadcast on [[NBC]] since its debut on [[September 13]], [[1990]]. Set in [[New York City]], the series mainly follows the professional lives of several police officers and prosecutors who represent the public interest in the [[criminal justice system]]. The characters frequently encounter dilemmas and frustrations as cases go through the stages of investigation, arrest, negotiation and trial. Matters are rarely resolved easily or satisfactorily for the people involved.
The success of the series has led to the creation of additional shows under the [[Law & Order franchise|''Law & Order'' franchise]]. It is the longest-running [[primetime]] drama currently on American television.
==Broadcast==
The [[Television pilot|pilot]] episode was produced to be sold to [[CBS]] in 1988, but was rejected by that network. When [[NBC]] picked up the series in 1990, the pilot aired as episode six.<ref name="eppy 6">{{cite web |url=http://www.tv.com/law-and-order/everybodys-favorite-bagman/episode/9465/summary.html |title=Everybody's Favorite Bagman |work=TV.com |accessdate=1990-10-30}}</ref> The show is produced by [[Universal Media Studios]], formerly known as [[NBC Universal Television Studio]], [[Universal Television]], and [[Studios USA]]. It has been [[Television syndication|syndicated]] on other [[United States]] networks since 1994, as well as worldwide. According to news reports in 2005, the ''Law & Order'' franchise (including all the different series) generates around $1 billion in annual revenues for NBC Universal and its cable partners (a February 2005 NBC financial presentation states that NBC's share of this revenue (including syndication and advertising) is more than $550 million).
''Law & Order'' has been shot on film in widescreen format since its inception, as evidenced by syndication on TNT-HD. This also presents the unique oddity that since reruns of older seasons began broadcasting in HD in 2005, they have provided more (previously cropped) material than when the episodes were first run broadcast in 4:3. Since 2002, first run episodes have also aired in HD. Since [[May 9]], [[2008]], TNT has broadcast Law and Order episodes in widescreen.
The series is broadcast in [[Canada]] on [[CTV Television Network|CTV]] and Sister Station [[A-Channel]]. Reruns can be seen regularly each weeknight and weekday afternoons on [[Turner Network Television|TNT]] (U.S.) and weekdays at 1:00 p.m. and weeknights at 11 p.m. on [[Bravo! Canada|Bravo!]] (Canada). It can be seen in the [[UK]] with new episodes first showing on the cable and satellite channel [[Sky One]] and later on [[Sky Two]] with a terrestrial airing on [[Five (channel)|Five]] and repeats of the early seasons are being shown on the [[Hallmark Channel (UK)|Hallmark Channel]]. It was recently announced that the [[Law & Order franchise]] would be screened on [[Five US]].<ref name="FiveTV">{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/programming/a45289/five-hangs-on-to-key-acquisitions.html
|title=Five hangs on to key acquisitions |work=Five.tv |accessdate=2007-04-16}}</ref>
In late March 2006, a shift of time slot resulted in a significant drop in ratings<ref>[http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/zap-ratings032206,0,877188.story?coll=zap-tv-ratings-headlines FOX Makes It 'Unan1mous' Wednesday]. Zap2It: March 22, 2006.</ref>, but a return to the original time slot on [[April 5]], [[2006]],<ref name="switch">{{cite web |url=http://us.imdb.com/news/sb/2006-04-03#tv5 |title=NBC To Return 'Law & Order' to Former Time Slot |work=IMDB.com |accessdate=2006-05-03}}</ref> triggered an improvement of ratings,<ref name="heat">{{cite web |url=http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/zap-ratings040506,0,1270406.story?coll=zap-tv-ratings-headlines |title=New timeslots don't help 'Race,' 'Heist' |worZap2it.com |accessdate=2006-05-06}}</ref> For the 2006-2007 season, both ''Law & Order'' and ''Criminal Intent'' were placed in new time slots. In this season's time slot — Fridays at 10pm — Law & Order averaged 9.3 million viewers, down again from 11.6 million in the previous season. By comparison, ''Criminal Intent'' averaged 9.7 million viewers on Tuesdays at 9pm and ''SVU'' averaged 12.9 million viewers during its time slot.
On [[May 14]], [[2007]], the network announced plans for an eighteenth season with the series moving to Sundays at 8pm.<ref name="S18">{{cite web |url=http://www.tv.com/law-and-order/show/180/story/9527.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=headlinessh&tag=headlines;title;0om_act=convert&om_clk=headlinessh |title=NBC rolls out fall lineup |work=TV.com |accessdate=2007-05-14}}</ref> Under NBC's agreement, ''Law & Order'' premiered its 18th season on NBC in January 2008 while new episodes of ''Criminal Intent'' now premiere on NBC Universal's [[USA network]] with reruns slated to appear on NBC.<ref name="S18">{{cite web |url=http://www.tv.com/law-and-order/show/180/story/9527.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=headlinessh&tag=headlines;title;0om_act=convert&om_clk=headlinessh |title=NBC rolls out fall lineup |work=TV.com |accessdate=2007-05-14}}</ref> This is an unusual role reversal in NBC and USA's [[Television syndication|shared or second window syndication]] arrangement. When the future of the ''Law & Order'' staple was in doubt, [[Turner Network Television|TNT]], which airs re-runs of the show, emerged as a contender to become the new home either of ''Law & Order'' or ''Law & Order Criminal Intent''.<ref name="TNT">{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/a46346/law--order-may-live-on-if-axed.html |title='Law & Order' |work=Digitialdisplay.co.uk |accessdate=2007-05-09}}</ref> The series was to return mid-season on Sundays at 8pm but on [[December 3]], after the writers' strike had begun, NBC announced that it would begin airing the already-filmed eighteenth-season episodes starting on [[January 2]], [[2008]], thus returning the series to Wednesday evenings.<ref name="nbc fresh plans">{{cite web |url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2007/12/cbs-announces-j.html#more |title=CBS announces 'Jericho's' return and NBC shakes up 'L&O' franchise |work=chicagotirbune.com |accessdate=2007-12-03}}</ref>
Despite its recent ratings troubles, producer Dick Wolf expressed optimism about the show's future, also saying that his "ultimate dream" is for the series to continue long enough to surpass ''[[Gunsmoke]]'' (1955–1975) as the longest-running network drama series on American television.<ref name="nbckeeps">{{cite web |url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/2007-05-13-3357411223_x.htm |title=NBC keeps 'Law & Order' for 18th season |work=usatoday.com |accessdate=2007-09-20}}</ref> Recently, NBC released its 2008-09 lineup, and Law & Order is included in the January - May schedule, indicating the show will be back for a 19th season.<ref name="lineup0809">{{cite web |url=http://www.cinemablend.com/television/NBC-Posts-Their-2008-2009-Primetime-Lineup-9774.html |title=NBC Posts Their 2008-2009 Primetime Lineup |work=cinemablend.com |accessdate=2008-04-03}}</ref>
According to Digitalspy<ref>http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/programming/a82616/itv-in-talks-for-uk-law-order.html</ref>, ITV1 is in negotiations for the rights to create a UK version of ''Law and Order'', to be titled ''Law & Order: London''. It remains to be announced if the new series will go ahead.
==Format==
<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:Law and Order 1999.jpg|right|400px]] -->
The program generally follows a two-tiered format, with the first portion of each episode devoted to the investigation of a crime and the second portion depicting its prosecution. The format is almost identical to a 1960s series titled ''[[Arrest and Trial]]'', although the similarities are considered to be coincidental (though both shows are currently owned by [[NBC Universal]]). ''Law & Order'' creator Dick Wolf was reportedly unaware of them when he created his series. Most ''Law & Order'' episodes are self-contained, with only a few exceptions over the many years of production.
The following statement, narrated by [[Steven Zirnkilton]], is spoken at the beginning of nearly every episode (but not those shown on [[Five (channel)|Five]] in [[United Kingdom|Britain]])
<!--The Torrents of Greed: Part 2 (and possibly other episodes) featured an alternate introductory speech.-->
{{Cquote|In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the police who investigate crime, and the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders. These are their stories.}}
The [[cold open]], lead-in of the show usually is a slice of [[New York City|life in New York]] (walking a dog in Manhattan, jogging in [[Central Park]], etc.) unrelated to the main story until the character(s) in the scene suddenly discover, witness, or become victims of a crime (mostly [[murder]]). The scene cuts to the police's preliminary crime scene examination wherein the featured detectives make their first observations and proffer theories followed by a witticism, or two, before the [[title sequence]] begins.
The [[police]] are represented in the show by the police [[lieutenant]] of [[Manhattan]]'s fictional 27th Precinct and two [[homicide]] detectives, a senior partner and a junior partner. The detectives investigate the crime, collect evidence and interview witnesses, then regularly report to the lieutenant. The evidence leads to the arrest of one or more suspects. The matter then is taken over by the prosecutors of the [[Manhattan]] [[District Attorney|District Attorney's office]], comprising the district attorney, the executive assistant district attorney, and an assistant prosecutor. They discuss deals, prepare the witnesses and evidence, and conduct the people's case in the trial. Both the detectives and prosecutors work with the medical examiner's office, the crime laboratory, and psychiatrists from the police and district attorney offices.
Unlike most legal dramas (e.g. ''[[Perry Mason (TV series)|Perry Mason]]''), the proceedings are from the prosecution's point of view and indicate that it can be as difficult to convict the guilty as it is to clear the innocent. The prosecution portion also is unusual in that it shows more legal proceedings than just the trial. The second half mostly opens with an [[arraignment]] and proceeds to trial preparation; however, the show does, on occasion, deviate from format and centers either on indictment proceedings before a [[grand jury]], a [[motion]] hearing, [[jury selection]], or an [[allocution]] upon entering a plea of guilty, usually as a part of a plea bargain. It is very uncommon for legal dramas to show grand jury proceedings; this usually is seen once or twice per season, with a trial being the norm. Grand jury episodes focus on the difficulty of obtaining an indictment for a particular accused person and often end with a guilty plea and [[allocution]] to quickly conclude the show.
Often the plot of an initial portion of an episode resembles a recognizable aspect of an actual case, such as the 1998 episode "Tabloid", wherein a woman is killed in a car crash after being chased by a gossip reporter, similarly to [[Diana, Princess of Wales|Princess Diana]]'s death in August 1997. This "ripped from the headlines" theme is reflected in the opening credits sequence that evolves from newspaper [[halftone]]s to high-resolution photos. The rest of the plot, however, usually diverges significantly from the actual events that may have inspired the episode. Promotional advertisements of episodes with close real-life case parallels often use the "ripped from the headlines" phrase, although a textual [[disclaimer]], within the actual episode, emphasizes that the story and characters are fictional. This format lends itself to exploring different outcomes or motives that similar events could have had under other circumstances.
Because of the format's nature, the detectives rarely encounter a simple murder where the murderer does little to hide his or her guilt (actually very common). Instead, the detectives often have few or no good clues — they might not know the victim's identity — and must chase several dead ends before finding a likely suspect. Towards the middle of a show, the police begin working with the prosecutors to make the arrest, and an [[arraignment]] scene follows. The police may reappear to testify in court or to arrest another suspect, but most investigation in the second segment is done by the assistant DAs, who always consult with the district attorney for advice on the case.
Virtually all episodes employ [[In limine|motions to suppress evidence]] as a plot device, and most of these end with evidence or statements being suppressed, often on a [[technicality]], that provide a dramatic obstacle to continued prosecution. This formulaic device begins with the service of the motion to the ADAs, often by the defense attorney, follows with argument and case citations of precedent before a judge in some setting, and concludes with visual reaction of the losing attorney, usually [[Jack McCoy]].
Another dramatic staple occurs either during a confession to police, or at trial, or a rationalization of the defendant's actions at trial, guilt notwithstanding. Whether it is given as an account of the crime, by a witness, or a trial confession, by the defendant, it emphasizes the raw humanity of the event, sometimes eliciting sympathy for the [[defendant]]. Another dramatic tradition is when the prosecutors order a particular suspect arrested and the scene immediately cuts to the detectives barging into whatever activity the suspect is engaged to make the arrest.
==Stylistic touches==
===Local color===
The series has a number of distinctive stylistic touches. The show is shot [[Filming location|on location]] in [[New York City|New York]] and is known for its extensive use of [[Regionalism (literature)|local color]]. In recent seasons, New York City mayors [[Rudy Giuliani]] and [[Michael Bloomberg]], attorney [[William Kunstler]] and Bronx Congressman [[Jose E. Serrano]] all have appeared on the show as themselves, adding a realistic dimension to the program.
While most of the locations are real, there are two notable exceptions. The fictional Stuyvesant College (which resembles [[New York University]]), Gramercy College, and [[Hudson University (Law & Order)|Hudson University]] (which resembles [[Columbia University]]) are often used for college settings and ''The [[New York Ledger (Law & Order)|New York Ledger]]'' is typically the tabloid newspaper mentioned and is heavily based on the real-life ''[[New York Post]]''. In one episode ''The Sentinel'' was used as a competing paper similar to the ''[[The New York Times]]''. All are amalgams of actual New York institutions.
The real-life ''[[New York Daily News]]'' has also appeared in the series.
Local personalities also have had recurring cameos as fictional characters, such as [[Donna Hanover]] and [[Fran Lebowitz]] as judges.
On [[September 14]] [[2004]], in New York City, a road leading to Pier 62 at [[Chelsea Piers]] (where the series is mostly shot) was renamed "Law & Order Way" in tribute to the series.<ref name="Street">{{cite web |url=http://www.nyc.gov/html/film/html/news/091604_commissioner_oliver_presents.shtml |title=Commissioner Oliver Presents "Law & Order Way" |work=NYC.gov |accessdate=2004-09-14}}</ref>
===Legitimate theater talent===
Because both the interior and exterior filming all occur in [[New York City]], the series has access to a wide variety of regular and guest actors who perform in the [[legitimate theater]]. Many times these actors are available for shooting during the day while performing on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] in the evening or between engagements. [[Jerry Orbach]] ([[Lennie Briscoe|Detective Lennie Briscoe]]) had a long career on the Broadway stage, as has his series partner [[Jesse L. Martin]] ([[Ed Green|Detective Ed Green]]). Other stage talent with recurring roles include [[Tovah Feldshuh]] and [[Philip Bosco]]. [[Linus Roache]] also joined the cast last season and has done considerable work with the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]].
===The card, and the sound===
Most [[Scene (fiction)|scene]] changes are preceded with a black screen with white text at the bottom. This title card indicates the location and date and time of the events to be portrayed. Occasionally the card shows the time advancing by seconds, most often used when the episode's plot makes time a concern (such as a kidnapping).
This is accompanied by a tone, which has been described as a "chung chung" sound. It was originally developed to sound like a barred door in a jail cell slamming shut. In promos for ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]'' reruns on the [[USA Network]], actor [[Dann Florek]] refers to the sound as the "doink doink,"<ref name ="doink">{{cite web |url=http://blog.rickbreslin.com/blog/law_and_order_doink_doink_sound.asp |title=The Law & Order Doink Doink Sound |work=RickBreslin.com |accessdate=2005-10-22}}</ref> while [[Richard Belzer]] refers to it as the sound of a judge's gavel. According to IMDb.com, it "was created by combining close to a dozen sounds, including that of a group of monks stamping on a floor."
===Portrayal of characters===
The show's cast of [[police]] and [[lawyer]]s are portrayed as basically honest professionals who rarely stray from the boundaries of accepted procedure and usually solve crimes by the book, although occasional cases hit home and the detectives and/or ADAs become somewhat personally invested in the case. With the exception of the Season 6 finale and several episodes at the end of Season 8, the show does not employ [[subplot]]s, and the private lives of the characters are only mentioned in passing. ''Law & Order'' is thus known as a plot-driven, as opposed to character-driven, police procedural.
===Legal inaccuracies===
{{Unreferencedsection|date=February 2008}}
Starting in Season 5, several episodes dealt with the District Attorneys applying [[capital punishment]] to some of the crimes. In several shows the defendant was convicted and actually executed. However, ever since capital punishment was re-legalized in New York State no defendant has been executed. Several years after the reinstatement, the New York State Court Of Appeals declared capital punishment unconstitutional, effectively abolishing the death penalty, and thus it cannot be used in New York. There has not been a legal execution in New York State since the 1970s. Ironically, many episodes prior to Season 5 have mentioned that New York does not allow the prosecution to seek the death penalty.
==Cast and characters==
{{main|List of Law & Order characters}}
''Law & Order'' is noted for its revolving cast; in fact, none of the original six cast members are currently on the program, although [[Chris Noth]], who played [[Mike Logan (Law & Order)|Detective Mike Logan]], currently appears on ''[[Law & Order: Criminal Intent]]'' and [[Dann Florek]], who played [[Donald Cragen|Capt. Don Cragen]], appears on ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]'', both reprising their characters from the original cast. Though many cast members stay for only a few seasons, the continual replacement of actors has not appeared to harm the program's popularity. Until its seventeenth season, when ratings dropped sharply, it could be suggested that the transforming cast has contributed to the longevity of the series because the regular appearance of new faces has constantly changed the show's dynamic, allowing it to repeatedly reinvent itself.
Five long-serving exceptions are [[Steven Hill]] as [[Adam Schiff (Law & Order)|D.A. Adam Schiff]] (1990-2000), [[Jerry Orbach]] as [[Lennie Briscoe|Detective Lennie Briscoe]] (1993-2004), [[S. Epatha Merkerson]] as [[Anita Van Buren|Lt. Anita Van Buren]] (1993-present), [[Sam Waterston]] as [[Jack McCoy|A.D.A./D.A. Jack McCoy]] (1994-present), and [[Jesse L. Martin]] as [[Ed Green|Detective Ed Green]] (1999-2008). Steven Hill was the last member of the first season cast to leave the show, though even he did not appear in the series' pilot episode.
It is widely believed that the Adam Schiff character was based on real life [[Manhattan|New York County]] District Attorney [[Robert M. Morgenthau]] who still serves in the post, aged 88.
Notable guest stars over the years include [[Julia Roberts]], [[James Earl Jones]], [[Samuel L. Jackson]], [[Chevy Chase]], [[Tom Berenger]], [[Laura Linney]], [[Eric Bogosian]], [[Alan King]], [[Gary Busey]], [[Nancy Marchand]], [[Claire Danes]], [[Harry Hamlin]], [[Chris Cooper (actor)|Chris Cooper]], [[William H. Macy]], [[Jennifer Beals]], [[Werner Klemperer]], [[Candice Bergen]], [[Ellen Pompeo]], [[Edie Falco]], [[Philip Seymour Hoffman]], [[Cynthia Nixon]], [[Mandy Patinkin]], [[Patrick Stump]], [[Mercedes Ruehl]], [[Michael Rooker]], [[Kevin Smith]], [[Michael Imperioli]], [[Vincent Pastore]] and most recently, [[Tom Everett Scott]].
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Season || Senior Detective || Junior Detective || Police Commanding Officer || Executive Assistant District Attorney || Assistant District Attorney || District Attorney || Also Starring
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 1)|1]]
| [[Max Greevey|Sgt. Max Greevey]] ([[George Dzundza]])
| rowspan="6"| [[Mike Logan (Law & Order)|Mike Logan]] ([[Chris Noth]])
| rowspan="4"| [[Don Cragen|Capt. Don Cragen]] ([[Dann Florek]])
| rowspan="5"| [[Benjamin Stone|Ben Stone]] ([[Michael Moriarty]])
| rowspan="4"| [[Paul Robinette]] ([[Richard Brooks (actor)|Richard Brooks]])
| rowspan="11"| [[Adam Schiff (Law & Order)|Adam Schiff]] ([[Steven Hill]])
| rowspan="2"|
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 2)|2]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Phil Cerreta|Sgt. Phil Cerreta]] ([[Paul Sorvino]])
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 3)|3]]
| rowspan="3"| [[Elizabeth Olivet|Dr. Elizabeth Olivet]] ([[Carolyn McCormick]])
|-
| rowspan="12"| [[Lennie Briscoe]] ([[Jerry Orbach]])
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 4)|4]]
| rowspan="20"|[[Anita Van Buren|Lt. Anita Van Buren]] ([[S. Epatha Merkerson]])
| rowspan="3"| [[Claire Kincaid]] ([[Jill Hennessy]])
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 5)|5]]
| rowspan="16"| [[Jack McCoy]] ([[Sam Waterston]])
| rowspan="16"|
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 6)|6]]
| rowspan="4"| [[Rey Curtis]] ([[Benjamin Bratt]])
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 7)|7]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Jamie Ross]] ([[Carey Lowell]])
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 8)|8]]
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 9)|9]]
| rowspan="3"| [[Abbie Carmichael]] ([[Angie Harmon]])
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 10)|10]]
| rowspan="10"| [[Ed Green]] ([[Jesse L. Martin]])
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 11)|11]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Nora Lewin]] ([[Dianne Wiest]])
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 12)|12]]
| rowspan="5"| [[Serena Southerlyn]] ([[Elisabeth Röhm]])
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 13)|13]]
| rowspan="8"| [[Arthur Branch]] ([[Fred Thompson|Fred Dalton Thompson]])
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 14)|14]]
|-
| rowspan="4"| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 15)|15]]
| rowspan="5"| [[Joe Fontana (Law & Order)|Joe Fontana]] ([[Dennis Farina]])
|-
|
|-
| rowspan="3"| [[Alexandra Borgia]] ([[Annie Parisse]])
|-
|
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 16)|16]]
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 17)|17]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Ed Green]] ([[Jesse L. Martin]])
| [[Nina Cassady]] ([[Milena Govich]])
| rowspan="4"| [[Connie Rubirosa]] ([[Alana de la Garza]])
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 18)|18]]
| [[Cyrus Lupo]] ([[Jeremy Sisto]])
| rowspan="3"| [[Michael Cutter]] ([[Linus Roache]])
| rowspan="3"| [[Jack McCoy]] ([[Sam Waterston]])
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Cyrus Lupo]] ([[Jeremy Sisto]])
| rowspan="2"| [[Kevin Bernard]] ([[Anthony Anderson]])
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 19)|19]]
|}
==Actors on different crime shows==
Many of the actors in the series where on different crime shows pre or post of the series including:
*[[Jeremy Sisto]] and [[Linus Roache]] were both on the shortlived [[Kidnapped]] before going on the show.
*[[Angie Harmon]] was on the recently canceled [[Women's Murder Club]] after her stint on the show.
*[[Anthony Anderson]] was on [[K-Ville]] before joining the cast this year. He also portrayed gang leader Antoine Mitchell on [[The Shield]]
*[[Jill Hennessey]] starred in [[Crossing Jordan]] after her stint on Law & Order.
== Episodes ==
{{main|List of Law & Order seasons}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Season !! Premiere !! Finale !! # of episodes
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 1)|Season 1]]
| [[September 13]], [[1990]]
| [[June 9]], [[1991]]
| align="center" |22
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 2)|Season 2]]
| [[September 17]], [[1991]]
| [[May 14]], [[1992]]
| align="center" |22
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 3)|Season 3]]
| [[September 23]], [[1992]]
| [[May 19]], [[1993]]
| align="center" |22
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 4)|Season 4]]
| [[September 15]], [[1993]]
| [[May 25]], [[1994]]
| align="center" |22
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 5)|Season 5]]
| [[September 21]], [[1994]]
| [[May 24]], [[1995]]
| align="center" |23
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 6)|Season 6]]
| [[September 20]], [[1995]]
| [[May 22]], [[1996]]
| align="center" |23
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 7)|Season 7]]
| [[September 18]], [[1996]]
| [[May 21]], [[1997]]
| align="center" |23
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 8)|Season 8]]
| [[September 24]], [[1997]]
| [[May 20]], [[1998]]
| align="center" |24
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 9)|Season 9]]
| [[September 23]], [[1998]]
| [[May 26]], [[1999]]
| align="center" |24
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 10)|Season 10]]
| [[September 22]], [[1999]]
| [[May 24]], [[2000]]
| align="center" |24
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 11)|Season 11]]
| [[October 18]], [[2000]]
| [[May 23]], [[2001]]
| align="center" |24
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 12)|Season 12]]
| [[September 26]], [[2001]]
| [[May 22]], [[2002]]
| align="center" |24
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 13)|Season 13]]
| [[October 2]], [[2002]]
| [[May 21]], [[2003]]
| align="center" |24
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 14)|Season 14]]
| [[September 24]], [[2003]]
| [[May 19]], [[2004]]
| align="center" |24
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 15)|Season 15]]
| [[September 22]], [[2004]]
| [[May 18]], [[2005]]
| align="center" |24
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 16)|Season 16]]
| [[September 21]], [[2005]]
| [[May 17]], [[2006]]
| align="center" |22
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 17)|Season 17]]
| [[September 22]], [[2006]]
| [[May 18]], [[2007]]
| align="center" |22
|-
| [[List of Law & Order episodes (season 18)|Season 18]]
| [[January 2]][[2008]]
| [[May 21]][[2008]]
| align="center" |18
|-
| List of Law & Order episodes (season 19)|Season 19
| January 2009 {{fact|date=May 2008}}
| May 2009
| align="center" |22
|}
==Response==
=== U.S. television ratings ===
Seasonal rankings (based on average total viewers per episode) of ''Law & Order'' on [[NBC]].
''Note: Each U.S. network television season starts in late September and ends in late May, which coincides with the completion of [[Nielsen Ratings|May sweeps]].'' Season 18 started in January and was held back as a mid-season replacement when NBC announced their 2007-08 schedule in May 2007.
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background-color:#E0E0E0"
! | Season
! | Timeslot
! | Season premiere
! | Season finale
! | TV season
! | Ranking
! | Viewers (in millions)
|- style="background-color:#E0E0E0"
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
| '''5th'''
| Wednesday 10:00 p.m.
| [[September 21]][[1994]]
| [[May 24]][[1995]]
| 1994-1995
! style="text-align:center" | #27
! style="text-align:center" | 11.6<ref>http://www.classictvhits.com/tvratings/1994.htm</ref>
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
| '''6th'''
| Wednesday 10:00 p.m.
| [[September 20]][[1995]]
| [[May 22]][[1996]]
| 1995-1996
! style="text-align:center" | #24
! style="text-align:center" | 10.9<ref>http://www.classictvhits.com/tvratings/1995.htm</ref>
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
| '''7th'''
| Wednesday 10:00 p.m.
| [[September 18]][[1996]]
| [[May 21]][[1997]]
| 1996-1997
! style="text-align:center" | #27
! style="text-align:center" | 10.4<ref>http://www.classictvhits.com/tvratings/1996.htm</ref>
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
| '''8th'''
| Wednesday 10:00 p.m.
| [[September 24]][[1997]]
| [[May 20]][[1998]]
| 1997-1998
! style="text-align:center" | #20
! style="text-align:center" | 9.9<ref>http://www.classictvhits.com/tvratings/1997.htm</ref>
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
| '''9th'''
| Wednesday 10:00 p.m.
| [[September 23]][[1998]]
| [[May 26]][[1999]]
| 1998-1999
! style="text-align:center" | #13
! style="text-align:center" | 10.0<ref>http://www.classictvhits.com/tvratings/1998.htm</ref>
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
| '''10th'''
| Wednesday 10:00 p.m.
| [[September 22]][[1999]]
| [[May 24]][[2000]]
| 1999-2000
! style="text-align:center" | #15
! style="text-align:center" | 16.2<ref>http://www.quotenmeter.de/index.php?newsid=9946</ref>
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
| '''11th'''
| Wednesday 10:00 p.m.
| [[October 18]][[2000]]
| [[May 23]][[2001]]
| 2000-2001
! style="text-align:center" | #11
! style="text-align:center" | 17.7<ref>http://cache.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,8327,00.html</ref>
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
| '''12th'''
| Wednesday 10:00 p.m.
| [[September 26]][[2001]]
| [[May 22]][[2002]]
| 2001-2002
! style="text-align:center" | #7
! style="text-align:center" | 18.7<ref>http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/2002/2002-05-28-year-end-chart.htm</ref>
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
| '''13th'''
| Wednesday 10:00 p.m.
| [[September 2]][[2002]]
| [[May 21]][[2003]]
| 2002-2003
! style="text-align:center" | #10
! style="text-align:center" | 17.3<ref>http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2003/05/25/tem_sunlede25.html</ref>
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
| '''14th'''
| Wednesday 10:00 p.m.
| [[September 24]][[2003]]
| [[May 19]][[2004]]
| 2003-2004
! style="text-align:center" | #14
! style="text-align:center" | 15.9<ref>http://www.abcmedianet.com/Web/progcal/dispDNR.aspx?id=060204_11</ref>
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
| '''15th'''
| Wednesday 10:00 p.m.
| [[September 22]][[2004]]
| [[May 18]][[2005]]
| 2004-2005
! style="text-align:center" | #25
! style="text-align:center" | 13.0<ref>http://www.quotenmeter.de/index.php?newsid=10006</ref>
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
| '''16th'''
| Wednesday 10:00 p.m. / Wednesday 9:00 p.m.
| [[September 21]][[2005]]
| [[May 17]][[2006]]
| 2005-2006
! style="text-align:center" | #37
! style="text-align:center" | 11.0<ref>http://www.quotenmeter.de/index.php?newsid=14835</ref>
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
| '''17th'''
| Friday 10:00 p.m.
| [[September 22]][[2006]]
| [[May 18]] [[2007]]
| 2006-2007
! style="text-align:center" | #73
! style="text-align:center" | 8.9<ref>http://www.abcmedianet.com/web/progcal/dispDNR.aspx?id=053007_08</ref>
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
| '''18th'''
| Wednesday 10:00 p.m.
| [[January 2]][[2008]]
| [[May 21]][[2008]]
| 2007-2008
! style="text-align:center" | #38
! style="text-align:center" | 10.7<ref>{{cite web |url=http://abcmedianet.com/DNR/2008/pdf/dnr052808.pdf|title=Season Program Rankings|accessdate=2008-06-02 |date=2008-05-28|publisher=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] Medianet}}</ref>
|}
=== Awards won ===
'''[[Emmy Awards]]:'''
* Outstanding Drama Series (1997)
'''[[Screen Actors Guild]]:'''
* Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series [[Sam Waterston]] (1999)
* Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series [[Jerry Orbach]] (2005)
'''[[Edgar Award]]s:'''
* Best Episode in a Television Series Teleplay [[René Balcer]] and [[Michael S. Chernuchin]], for "Conspiracy" (1993)
* Best Episode in a Television Series Teleplay [[I. C. Rapoport]] and [[Ed Zuckerman]], for "Deadbeat" (1997)
* Best Episode in a Television Series Teleplay [[Richard Sweren]], [[Simon Wincelberg]], and [[Ed Zuckerman]], for "Double Down" (1998)
* Best Episode in a Television Series Teleplay [[René Balcer]] and [[Richard Sweren]], for "Bad Girl" (1999)
* Best Episode in a Television Series Teleplay [[René Balcer]], for "Refuge, Part 2" (2000)
Writers Guild Award
* Best Teleplay, Rene Balcer and Richard Sweren for "Entrapment" (1998)
Silver Gavel Award (American Bar Association)
* Best Television Episode, "DWB", written by Rene Balcer (1998)
* Best Television Episode, "Hate", written by Rene Balcer (1999)
Peabody Award, 1997
Norman Felton Award (Producers Guild of America), Producer of the Year, (1996)
=== Awards nominated ===
'''[[Emmy Awards]]:'''
* Outstanding Drama Series (1992–1996, 1998–2002)
* Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series [[Sam Waterston]] (1997, 1999–2000)
* Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series [[Jerry Orbach]] (2000)
* Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series [[Michael Moriarty]] (1991–1994)
* Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series [[Steven Hill]] (1998–1999)
* Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series [[Benjamin Bratt]] (1998)
'''[[Golden Globe Awards]]:'''
* Best TV Series-Drama (1992, 1994–1995, 1998–1999)
* Best Performance by an Actor in a Drama Series-Drama [[Sam Waterston]] (1995)
* Best Performance by an Actor in a Drama Series-Drama [[Michael Moriarty]] (1994)
'''[[Screen Actors Guild]]:'''
* Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (1995–2002, 2004)
* Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series [[Sam Waterston]] (1998)
==DVD releases==
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background: #f2f2f2;"
! rowspan="2" scope="col" style="text-align: center;" | Title
! colspan="3" scope="col" style="text-align: center;" | Release dates
|- style="background: #f2f2f2;"
! scope="col" style="text-align: center;" | Region 1
! scope="col" style="text-align: center;" | Region 2
! scope="col" style="text-align: center;" | Region 4
|-
! scope="row" | The Complete 1st Season
| [[October 15]] [[2002]]
| [[June 16]] [[2003]]
| [[April 14]] [[2003]]
|-
! scope="row" | The Complete 2nd Season
| [[May 4]] [[2004]]
| [[February 28]] [[2005]]
| [[January 19]] [[2005]]
|-
! scope="row" | The Complete 3rd Season
| [[May 24]] [[2005]]
| [[November 21]] [[2005]]
| [[March 8]] [[2006]]
|-
! scope="row" | The Complete 4th Season
| [[December 6]] [[2005]]
| [[July 17]] [[2006]]
| [[September 19]] [[2006]]
|-
! scope="row" | The Complete 5th Season
| [[April 3]] [[2007]]
| [[July 23]] [[2007]]
| [[July 30]] [[2007]]
|-
! scope="row" | The Complete 6th Season
| N/A
| [[January 12]] [[2009]]
| N/A
|-
! scope="row" | The Complete 7th Season
| N/A
| N/A
| N/A
|-
! scope="row" | The Complete 8th Season
| N/A
| N/A
| N/A
|-
! scope="row" | The Complete 9th Season
| N/A
| N/A
| N/A
|-
! scope="row" | The Complete 10th Season
| N/A
| N/A
| N/A
|-
! scope="row" | The Complete 11th Season
| N/A
| N/A
| N/A
|-
! scope="row" | The Complete 12th Season
| N/A
| N/A
| N/A
|-
! scope="row" | The Complete 13th Season
| N/A
| N/A
| N/A
|-
! scope="row" | The Complete 14th Season
| [[September 14]] [[2004]]
| N/A
| N/A
|-
! scope="row" | The Complete 15th Season
| N/A
| N/A
| N/A
|-
! scope="row" | The Complete 16th Season
| N/A
| N/A
| N/A
|-
! scope="row" | The Complete 17th Season
| N/A
| N/A
| N/A
|-
! scope="row" | The Complete 18th Season
| N/A
| N/A
| N/A
|-
|}
==Related media==
===Spin-offs===
The show's popularity has resulted in a [[Law & Order franchise|''Law & Order'' franchise]] with the creation of three other television dramas under the same brand: ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]'' (1999), and ''[[Law & Order: Criminal Intent]]'' (2001). These two shows focus more on the police side of a case. A short-lived spinoff, ''[[Law & Order: Trial by Jury]]'' (2005), which lasted only 12 episodes, focused almost entirely on [[courtroom drama]], but was pulled off due to low ratings, becoming the first series of the franchise to be canceled. Every spinoff uses the same theme music as the original series, albeit with differing [[arrangement]]s (harder guitars for the original ''Criminal Intent'' theme, for instance).
Law & Order shown on [[Five]] in the UK uses Rob Dougan's "I'm Not Driving Any More [Instrumental]" as the theme music; Law & Order: Crimnal Intent uses Rob Dougan's "It's Only Me [Instrumental]" as the theme music.
The latest and now canceled spinoff, ''[[Conviction (TV series)|Conviction]]'', was only loosely related to the original. While [[Alexandra Cabot]] ([[Stephanie March]]) from ''SVU'' was one of the lead characters, and a cameo by [[Fred Thompson]] tied it into the same continuity, it did not bear the "Law & Order" title, nor did it use the ''Law & Order'' theme music and scene transitions. In addition, ''Conviction'' had no coverage of the police investigations and followed the prosecutors' entire lives, rather than just the cases they argue in court.
===UK version===
UK broadcaster [[ITV]] has secured the rights to a 13-episode series entitled ''[[Law & Order: London]]'', to be based on the scripts for this series. The series is to be produced by [[Kudos (production company)|Kudos]] in association with Wolf Films and NBC.<ref>James Welsh, "[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/a84156/torchwood-writer-to-lead-uk-law-order.html 'Torchwood' writer to lead UK 'Law & Order']," ''Digital Spy'' (Thursday, January 10 2008, 09:42 GMT).</ref>
===Crossovers===
''Law & Order'' [[fictional crossover|crossed over]] six times with other NBC shows:
* '''"Charm City" (''L&O'' ep 6–13)''', continued in "For God and Country" (''[[Homicide: Life on the Street]]'' ep 4–12)
* '''"Baby, It's You – Part I" (''L&O'' ep 8–6)''', continued in "Baby, It's You – Part II" (''[[Homicide: Life on the Street]]'' ep 6–5)
* '''"Sideshow – Part I" (''L&O'' ep 9–14)''', continued in "Sideshow – Part II" (''[[Homicide: Life on the Street]]'' ep 7–15)
* "Entitled – Part I" (''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]'' ep 1–15), continued in '''"Entitled – Part II" (''L&O'' ep 10–14)'''
* '''"Tombstone" (''L&O'' ep 15–20)''', continued in "Skeleton" (''[[Law & Order: Trial by Jury]]'' ep 1–8)
* "Design" (''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]'' ep 7–2), continued in '''"Flaw" (''L&O'' ep 16–2)'''
While not considered a cross over episode, Chris Noth appears in the before-the-credits sequence of the ''Homicide'' episode "Law and Disorder" (H:LotS ep 3–15). Taking place entirely in a Baltimore train station, Logan hands off a prisoner ([[John Waters (filmmaker)|John Waters]]) to [[Frank Pembleton]] ([[Andre Braugher]]). The two detectives engage in some friendly banter about which city is better: [[New York City]] or [[Baltimore]]. They argue over topics such as [[Babe Ruth]] and [[Dorothy Parker]].
===TV movie===
{{main|Exiled: A Law & Order Movie}}
There was also a [[TV movie]] called ''[[Exiled: A Law & Order Movie]]'' (1998), which featured the fate of [[Mike Logan (Law & Order)|Mike Logan]] (played by [[Chris Noth]]), one of the popular characters who departed the series. Noth has since returned to the role of Detective Mike Logan starting in the 2005–2006 season of ''Criminal Intent''.
===Reality series===
{{main|Crime & Punishment}}
The producers crafted a [[reality television]] series, ''[[Crime & Punishment]]'' (also sometimes called ''Law & Order: Crime & Punishment'') (2002), which focused on actual trials.
===Computer games===
In addition, there are three [[computer game]]s of ''Law & Order'' in which the player investigates crimes and then prosecutes the resulting cases: There is also a computer game based on the "Law and Order: Criminal Intent" franchise.
* ''[[Law & Order: Dead on the Money]]''
* ''[[Law & Order: Double or Nothing]]''
* ''[[Law & Order: Justice is Served]]''
* ''[[Law & Order: Criminal Intent(game)|Law & Order: Criminal Intent]]''
===Books===
'''''Law and Order: Dead Line''''' When a woman's body is found at the bottom of a hotel air shaft in Times Square, it looks like a routine suicide. Enter Detectives. Lennie Briscoe and Ed Green. Something about the woman seems out of place in the tourist trap. Her clothing suggests wealth. No socialite would be caught dead in a place like this. The trail leads to an about-to-be published tell-all novel destined to be a best-seller. Now Briscoe and Green have to find out what's in it that's worth murder.
'''''Law & Order: The Unofficial Companion''''' (published 11/99 by) The Unofficial Companion was written with the cooperation of the show's creator and executive producer, Dick Wolf, and features interviews with the stars, producers, and writers. It is the first-ever guide to this popular, Emmy award-winning police drama. You'll get the inside scoop on: the past and current stars of the show-including Paul Sorvino, Jerry Orbach, Jesse L. Martin, Chris Noth, S. Epatha Merkerson, Sam Waterston, Carey Lowell, Angie Harmon, and Michael Moriarty; and find out who was fired, who left willingly, and who remains; the show's continued problems with censorship issues and advertiser fallout; the behind-the-scenes anecdotes about cast regulars, including the fights, both verbal and physical, that have peppered the production; how Wolf was forced to increase the estrogen and decrease the testosterone on the show; the detailed history behind the creation and development of the show; and season-by-season critiques of each episode through the entire 1999 season.
'''''Law & Order: Crime Scenes''''' (published 12/03 by Sterling) written by Dick Wolf describing the setup, and the thoughts that goes into producing the crime scenes.
'''''True Stories of Law & Order''''' (published 11/06 by Berkley/Penguin) chronicles 25 real cases that inspired some of the most popular "ripped from the headlines" episodes of the show. Authors Kevin Dwyer and Juré Fiorillo discuss famous cases including the Bernie Goetz subway shootings, the murder of Jennifer Levin in Central Park, and the San Francisco dog mauling of Diane Whipple, as well as lesser-known crimes such as the death by exorcism of Torrance Cantrell and the tragic murder of Anthony Riggs, a soldier who returned from the Gulf War only to be ambushed by a hitman hired by his wife. The book also includes facts about police and legal procedure.
==See also==
{{wikiquote}}
* [[List of Law & Order cast members]]
* [[NYPD Blue]]
* [[Homicide: Life on the Street]]
* [[Hill Street Blues]]
* [[Law & Order franchise]]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
== External links ==
* [http://www.nbc.com/Law_&_Order Official ''Law & Order'' website]
* [http://www.tnt.tv/title/0,,333808,00.html Official Website for reruns] on [[Turner Network Television|TNT]]
* [[wikia:lawandorder:Law & Order|''Law & Order'']] on the [[wikia:lawandorder|Law & Order Wiki]]
* [http://www.lawandorderdvd.com/ ''Law & Order'' DVD] official [[Universal Studios]] website
* [http://members.aol.com/dwalheim/lawandorder/lofaq.html ''Law & Order'' FAQ (compiled 1995-1996 by a fan)]
* [http://www.nyc.gov/html/film/html/locations/sets_law_and_order.shtml ''Law & Order'' filming locations], Mayor's Office of Film, Theater, and Broadcasting
{{EmmyAward DramaSeries 1976-2000}}
{{Law & Order}}
{{Lawandorderpolice}}
{{Lawandorderprosecutors}}
{{Actors in Law and Order}}
[[Category:1990 television series debuts]]
[[Category:1990s American television series]]
[[Category:2000s American television series]]
[[Category:Crime television series]]
[[Category:Edgar Award winning works]]
[[Category:Five television programmes]]
[[Category:Law & Order]]
[[Category:Legal television series]]
[[Category:NBC network shows]]
[[Category:Peabody Award winners]]
[[Category:Television shows set in New York]]
[[Category:Television series by NBC Universal Television]]
[[Category:Television shows produced by Universal Studios]]
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