Law
& Order: UK is a British police procedural and legal television
programme, adapted from the US TV series Law & Order. The programme
is financed by the production companies Kudos Film and Television, Wolf
Films, and NBC Universal. Head writer Chris Chibnall based the first
series of episodes on scripts and episodes of the parent series. Based
in London, and following the formula of the original, Law & Order:
UK stars Bradley Walsh, Jamie Bamber, Harriet Walter, Ben Daniels,
Freema Agyeman, and Bill Paterson. Law & Order: UK is the first US
drama television series to be adapted for British television.
Premise
Law & Order: UK is based in London.
Law & Order: UK (also known as: Law & Order: London in Ireland)
is the latest member of the Law & Order franchise, one of the most
successful brands in American primetime television. To summarise the
premise of Law & Order: UK, its variation on the famous Law &
Order opening statement is:
“ In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two
separate yet equally important groups. The police who investigate crime,
and the Crown Prosecutors who prosecute the offenders. These are their
stories. ”
Law & Order: UK is based in London and duplicates the episode format
of the original series. The first half focuses on the perpetration of a
crime and the related police investigation typically culminating in an
arrest, while the second half follows the legal and court proceedings in
an effort to convict the suspect. The show dwells little on the
characters' back-stories or social lives, focusing mainly on their lives
at work.
Production
Conception
Law & Order: UK had been a dream of creator Dick Wolf's for a long
time. The first 13 episodes are based on scripts from the original Law
& Order series to accommodate contractual requirements with his
company and to build on the experience with successful storytelling. The
episodes were picked by show runner and lead writer Chris Chibnall, who
had previously worked on Torchwood, Life on Mars and Born and Bred.
Chibnall delved through the so-called Law & Order bible (a
collection of synopses for every episode) and watched the series on DVD
before picking 15-16 that would translate well to British television.
The final 13 episodes are the favourites of Chibnall and producer
Richard Stokes, although one episode had to be replaced due to
incompatibility with English law. Stokes considered a 13-episode series
to be quite long for British television drama, and described the pacing
as "the only real challenge", whereas Dick Wolf was disappointed at the
short series, as the American series typically run for more than 20
episodes per season. Wolf further hopes that the show will succeed
sufficiently to allow him to push ITV for more episodes per series. The
scripts have been updated for contemporariness, and while the
difficulties of adapting the scripts for the English legal system
exceeded the expectations of the production team, Stokes opined that
audiences familiar with both shows would enjoy them for their
distinctions. Comparing UK with the original Law & Order, Wolf
described the biggest difference as the wigs, "The law is not really
that dissimilar and, you know, murder is murder." It is unknown if a
possible second series of Law & Order: UK would re-use original Law
& Order scripts.
The filming of Law & Order: UK began in January 2008. Despite
concerns expressed by star Jamie Bamber and Variety magazine as to the
possibility of a second series, it was announced in June 2009 that ITV
had commissioned a second series of 13 episodes to be produced in the
second half of 2009 and broadcast in 2010.
Sets and shooting
The Old Bailey, Sunday shooting location for
the series (14 June 2004)
Law & Order: UK frequently shoots on-location around London,
including some footage taken in the Old Bailey, the Central Criminal
Court, on Sundays. The filming of the courtroom interior, the police
station, and the CPS offices takes place on sets built in disused
Ministry of Defence buildings at Qinetiq, off the M25 motorway around
Surrey. The police station's sets were designed with an eye to realism,
tchotchkes and personal items adorn the desks, while an ironing board
and clean shirts are around for the eventuality of police officers
heading to court.
Exemplar Law & Order: UK black-and-white intertitle from "Care"
Many of the familiar hallmarks of the original Law & Order were
carried through to this iteration, including the opening music stylings,
black-and-white intertitles, and hand-held camera work; Stokes was
especially pleased to be able to use Kudos' method of "guerilla filming"
on the streets of London. The so-called Dick Wolf Cash Register Sound —
"the little 'dum dum' sound"— separates scenes as well.
International broadcasting
TV3 began to show the programme in Ireland, one day after its ITV
showing, where it is billed as Law and Order: London. Citytv broadcast
the first series in Canada starting 11 June 2009. As of August 2009
Network Ten broadcasts the series in Australia.. Other countries to have
picked up the series include France
In a December 2008 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Jamie Bamber
speculated that the show may also be broadcast in the United States,
possibly on one of NBC's cable stations. Law & Order creator Dick
Wolf also expressed interest in airing the UK version in the United
States, believing it would be strong enough to air on NBC on Saturday
nights. In a February 2009 interview, Wolf also hinted at the
possibility of a crossover episode on one of the two series. Beyond Law
& Order: UK, Wolf has mentioned that he would love to have an
iteration of the show set in a major Muslim city such as Cairo.
Cast
The cast of Law & Order: UK
Detective Sergeant Ronnie Brooks played by Bradley Walsh
Detective Sergeant Matt Devlin played by Jamie Bamber
Detective Inspector Natalie Chandler played by Harriet Walter
Senior Crown Prosecutor James Steel played by Ben Daniels
Junior Crown Prosecutor Alesha Phillips played by Freema Agyeman
Director of CPS London George Castle played by Bill Paterson
Recurring cast
The recurring cast for the first two series' included Jessica Gunning,
Tariq Jordan, Nicola Sanderson, Nicholas Blane
and Gillian McCutcheon.
Guest stars
Guest stars in the first series include Holly Aird, Iain Glen, Colin
Salmon, Juliet Aubrey, Sean Pertwee, Frances Barber, Derek Riddell, and
Keith Barron.[1] Answering fans' inquiries in February 2009 as to
whether Law & Order: Special Victims Unit character John
Munch—played by Richard Belzer—will appear on Law & Order: UK,
Chibnall joked that he believed it was a contractual obligation.
Episodes
Series 1 (2009)
Originally planned for a single series, the first run was broadcast as
two separate series in the UK, with episodes 1–7 being shown in 2009 and
episodes 8–13 in 2010.
# Title Directed by Written by Original airdate Viewing figures[22] Original Law & Order episode
1 "Care" Omar Madha Chris Chibnall 23 February 2009 6.96 million "Cradle to Grave" (31 March 1992)
After Dionne Farrah (Venetia Campbell) leaves her dead nine-month old
son at a local hospital, Brooks & Devlin discover that the boy was
poisoned by the gas heater in his flat. Fellow tenant Mike Turner (Tony
Maudsley) is arrested for sabotaging the heater as a means of getting
rid of tenants who refused to vacate their homes for more profitable
developers. However, the case is declared a mistrial when it is claimed
that the testimony of a French-speaking witness was wrongly translated.
Turner's boss, Maureen Walters (Lorraine Ashbourne), is found guilty
after the CPS receive testimony that she bribed environmental inspection
officials to ignore her tenants' complaints. Patrick Malahide guest
stars as the devious and unprincipled defence barrister Robert Ridley
QC.
2 "Unloved" Andy Goddard Terry Cafolla 2 March 2009 6.24 million "Born Bad" (16 November 1993)
Brooks and Devlin are emotionally affected by the case of an
unidentifiable 13-year-old boy who was kicked to death at Euston
Station. DI Chandler holds a press conference which leads to identifying
the victim as Danny Jackson who was in foster care. The trail leads to
the arrest of another young boy who was also in care at the same house
as Danny. Steel and Phillips face an "old flame" from Steel's past in
defence barrister Beatrice McArdle (Dervla Kirwan), who attempts an
audacious defence of genetic predisposition towards violence: the
suggestion that genes could be responsible for aggressive behaviour.
This could upset the whole British legal system since other defendants
could claim that genes means that they are not responsible for their
actions.
3 "Vice" Omar Madha Chris Chibnall 9 March 2009 6.61 million "Working Mom" (26 February 1997
The murder of an ex-vice cop in Paddington leads Brooks and Devlin to
investigate both the victim's boss (Sean Pertwee) and a children's
clothing store in Barnes (run by Juliet Aubrey and Deborah Cornelius),
only to discover that it is a front for a escort girl service. Steel and
Phillips face off against "formidable defence barrister" Phyllis
Gladstone (Lesley Manville), who presents a case of self-defence.
4 "Unsafe" Andy Goddard Chris Chibnall 16 March 2009 6.24 million "American Dream" (9 November 1993)
The unearthing of a shallow grave aside the Thames forces Brooks and
Devlin to reopen a contentious murder case that Steel himself prosecuted
eight years prior. As a result, it would appear that Luke Slade (Iain
Glen), convicted of the murder of his business partner, is the victim of
a miscarriage of justice. Steel himself, however, is far from convinced
and, when Slade represents himself in court, it becomes less about the
trial and more about the vendetta between the two men.
5 "Buried" Mark Everest Catherine Tregenna 23 March 2009 6.69 million "...In Memory of" (November 5, 1991)
The remains of an eight-year-old boy, later identified as Tommy Keegan,
are uncovered, twenty-five years after he was reported missing. His
childhood friend, Julia Mortimer (Holly Aird), reluctantly agrees to
undergo EMDR therapy and this leads to a history of sexual abuse and
abuse of trust. However, Steel soon finds that his whole case rests on a
very upset and potentially unreliable witness. Guest-stars Keith Barron
as the defendant.
6 "Paradise"[30] Tristram Powell Chris Chibnall 30 March 2009 5.87 million "Heaven" (26 November 1991)
When an arson attack on a Turkish club claims 17 lives, Brooks and
Devlin are under pressure to discover just who was behind it. What was
first thought of as a racist attack soons turns out to be a lot more
complicated and is not helped when a suspect's human rights gets in the
way of obtaining crucial evidence. Even when that is overcome, the
prosecutors struggle to build a case as a conflict emerges between
justice, community relations and racial harmony and Steel himself faces
an awkward situation with an old friend.
7 "Alesha"[33] Mark Everest Catherine Tregenna 6 April 2009 6.02 million "Helpless" (4 November 1992)
Phillips accuses respected gynaecologist Dr. Alec Merrick of sexually
assaulting her during a routine examination, but Brooks, Devlin and
Chandler struggle to find any firm evidence and the team becomes
divided. Phillips then resorts to desperate means to obtain justice only
to make things worse for herself and Steel is pitted against formidable
defence barrister Phyllis Gladstone (Lesley Manville). In a June 2009
interview with Digital Spy, Freema Agyeman (Alesha Phillips) described
the episode and its content as "the biggest challenge I've ever been
faced with in my career".
Series 2 (2010)
# Title Directed by Written by Original airdate Viewing figures Original Law & Order episode
1 "Samaritan"[34] Andy Goddard Chris Chibnall 30 July 2009 (Canada)
11 January 2010 (UK) 6.51 million "Manhood" (12 May 1993)
When a police constable, Nick Bentley, is shot by drug dealers while on
foot patrol it seems like a pretty straightforward case. Brooks and
Devlin eventually locate a witness who identifies one of the parties to
the drug transaction and he finally tells the police what really
happened. The witness also tells them something else: she saw another
police constable standing in the shadows while the injured policeman was
calling for help. The dead man's partner, PC Ray Griffin, claims to
have been several blocks away when his partner was shot and lay bleeding
to death but Brooks and Devlin find an anomaly in his formal statement
and they decide to investigate. What they learn is that Bentley's fellow
constables had recently learned of his sexual orientation and that his
partner Griffin is the head of a Christian group of officers that
rejects gays. For the Crown prosecutors, the question is whether they
can make an argument that Griffin had a duty of care and was obliged to
help his dying partner.
2 "Hidden" Julian Holmes Emilia di Girolamo 6 August 2009 (Canada)
18 January 2010 (UK) 6.53 million "Bitter Fruit" (20 September 1995)
Devlin and Brooks investigate the murder of a young girl, 10 year-old
Jodie Gaines, who was kidnapped some two weeks before and has now been
located, dead, in a rubbish bin. Witnesses on the day of the kidnapping
reported seeing a white van in the area and they soon arrest Nick
Carlton who is charged with murder. He is no sooner released on bail
that he is killed by the dead girl's grieving mother, Kayleigh, a
recovering drug addict who is separated from her husband who had formal
custody of the child. Crown prosecutor James Steel seeks a murder
conviction, even though he knows that Kayleigh will likely have the
sympathy of the court. When it appears that Kayleigh is to be set free,
Devlin and Brooks uncover a crucial piece of information.
3 "Community Service" Ken Grieve Catherine Tregenna 13 August 2009 (Canada)
25 January 2010 (UK) 6.07 million "Volunteers" (29 September 1993)
The police investigate an attack on a homeless bipolar man who is found
severely beaten in a neighborhood park. The investigation reveals that
the CCTV cameras had been turned away indicating that the attack may not
have been random. They also find that many in the neighborhood are
tight-lipped about the incident or about anything that might have
happened on the night in question. When they do make an arrest, it falls
to James Steel to make the case. Given the homeless man's record of
constantly interfering and threatening however, will he be able to
convince a jury that the attacker was doing anything but a public
service?
4 "Sacrifice" Robert Del Maestro Terry Cafolla and
Nathan Cockerill 20 August 2009 (Canada)
1 February 2010 (UK) 6.06 million "Sonata For Solo Organ" (2 April 1991)
When a man is found lying on the ground with a kidney surgically
removed, Brooks and Devlin have a case that they believed fell more into
the category of urban myth than real-life crime. They quickly focus on
finding the intended recipient of the stolen organ. Transplantation is
highly controlled and centralized to prevent queue jumping but they soon
find a recent transplantation that was completed from outside the
system. They soon uncover a tale of a sick woman, a concerned parent and
a greedy, disgruntled surgeon. For James Steel, the question becomes
one of which of these to prosecute. When he makes his choice, he finds
that his boss, George Castle, will defend the case.
5 "Love and Loss" Mark Everest Terry Cafolla 27 August 2009 (Canada)
8 February 2010 (UK) 6.34 million "Consultation" (9 December 1992)
When 18 year-old Debbie Powell dies from a heroin overdose just as she
returns to the UK from a holiday in Thailand, the police learn that she
was a drug mule with over 70 condoms of the drug in her stomach. With
the dead girl far from being the usual drug mule the police try to
understand why a young woman from a reasonably well-off family would get
involved in drug smuggling. Her two traveling companions ran away after
the girl died but they know she was to meet her boyfriend immediately
on their return. When an arrest is made, James Steel and the Prosecution
Service not only charge him drug importation but also with
manslaughter, arguing that he had a duty of care with respect to the
young woman. The man seems to have a history of seducing young women and
using them as mules but in court, the Crown's principal witness recants
his earlier statement saying the police coerced him. Steel pursues
another strategy to ensure justice is done.
6 "Honour Bound" Andy Goddard Chris Chibnall 3 September 2009 (Canada)
15 February 2010 (UK) 6.28 million "Corruption" (30 October 1996)
When an undercover drug buy goes wrong, DS Ronnie Brooks finds himself
in a very difficult spot. Brooks and DS Jimmy Valentine are posing as
drug dealers when Valentine shoots the dealer claiming the man pulled a
gun on him. Brooks was behind their car at the time and saw nothing but
has known Valentine for many years and has no reason to doubt him. DS
Matt Devlin on the other hand did not see the dead man pull a gun or do
anything threatening and is given 24 hours by DI Natalie Chandler to
find evidence or shut up. When the Crown Prosecution Service charges
Valentine, the dirty cop testifies that Brooks was in on a drug theft.
Ronnie has to call on an old friend to testify on his behalf but at a
great cost to herself.
Reception
Independent writer Robin Jarossi attended a special preview of the
premiere episode at the British Film Institute in London (attended to by
Wolf, Chibnall, Daniels, and Agyeman) on 5 February 2009. Jarossi
praised the uniquely British take on the franchise for balancing the new
vision while maintaining the proven Law & Order formula. Jarossi
specifically extolled the unexpected casting of Bradley Walsh, the
excellent use of their London backdrop, and Chibnall's adaptation of the
show. John Boland of the Irish Independent compared Law & Order: UK
to the original, ultimately deciding that the former is just as
engrossing as the latter, if its tone is slightly more jocular. Boland
expects ITV "[has] a winner on its hands." Andrew Billen from The Times
expects the series to be successful based on the premiere episode, and
TV Times said that "those concerned can give themselves a pat on the
back because this really, really works." The Daily Express' Matt Baylis
described the new series as "a breath of fresh air [...], and the Daily
Mirror said "It’s all highly professional and heroic."[4] Variety
magazine called the series a hit, quoting NBC Universal as saying, "'Law
and Order' has won its slot every week and is actually increasing its
ratings."[
While Radio Times reviewer Alison Graham felt the series' execution was
adequate, she criticized its pacing and writing; the former for not
matching that of the original Law & Order programmes, and the latter
for "[falling] headfirst into a typically British legal-drama trap of
the noble prosecutor [...] crusading to bring the guilty to justice
while pitted against the louche, self-serving defence barrister."
Whereas, on the other hand, The Guardian's Sarah Dempster didn't feel
that using the original series' camera work and stylings was appropriate
for British crime drama: "Fiddly. And wrong.". However, later on in the
series' run The Observer's Kathryn Flytt writes that despite her
initial prejudices, the series "seems to have absorbed the pace and
energy of the original without looking too tricksily derivative".
In Australia, Melinda Houston commented favourably in The Age on the
show's opening series; opining that the fusion between British crime
drama and the US Law and Order Franchise is like "a match made in
Heaven." The premiere episode which aired on 12 August 2009, only rated
775,000 viewers (compared with the average numbers of 1 million viewers
on the major commercial networks) and was outside the top 15 rated
shows for that period.
Law
& Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television
series, created by Dick Wolf, that airs on NBC, its related cable
networks, and in syndication. Law & Order premiered on September 13,
1990, and is currently in its twentieth and last primetime season,
which began airing on September 25, 2009. Law & Order is currently
the longest running crime drama on American prime time television and is
tied for longest running American drama of all time with Gunsmoke.
Set and filmed in New York City, the series follows a two part approach:
in the first half hour, the investigation of a crime and apprehension
of a suspect by New York City police detectives is shown, followed by
the prosecution of the offenders by the Manhattan District Attorney's
office in the second half. Plots are often based on real cases that have
recently made headlines. The show has been noted for its revolving cast
over the years. Its current season stars Jeremy Sisto as Detective
Cyrus Lupo, Anthony Anderson as Detective Kevin Bernard, Linus Roache as
Executive Assistant District Attorney Michael Cutter, and Alana de la
Garza as Assistant District Attorney Connie Rubirosa.
The success of the series has led to the creation of additional shows
within the Law & Order franchise, a television film, several video
games, and international adaptations of the series. It has won and been
nominated for numerous awards over the years, including a number of Emmy
awards. On May 14, 2010, NBC announced that it had canceled Law &
Order and would air the final episode on May 24, 2010. Wolf has since
stated that he is trying to find a new home for the show to continue as a
weekly series. Should all efforts to find a new home for the show fail,
Wolf is also considering a "last resort" plan to conclude the show with
a two hour TV film to air on NBC.
Production
History and development
In 1988, Dick Wolf developed a concept for a new television series that
would depict a relatively optimistic picture of the American justice
system. He initially toyed with the idea of calling it Night & Day
but then hit upon the title Law & Order. For the first half of each
episode, the show would follow two detectives and their commanding
officer as they investigate a violent crime. The second half of the show
would center around the District Attorney's Office and the courts as
three prosecutors attempt to convict the criminal. Through this, Law
& Order would be able to investigate some of the larger issues of
the day by focusing on stories that were based on real cases making
headlines.
Wolf took the idea to then-president of Universal Television Kerry
McCluggage, who pointed out the similarity to a 1963 series titled
Arrest and Trial that lasted one season. The two watched the pilot of
that series, in which a police officer, played by Ben Gazzara, arrested a
man for armed robbery in the first half, and the defense attorney,
played by Chuck Connors gets the perpetrator off as the wrong guy. Wolf
discovered this was the formula of the show every week, and decided
that, while his detectives would occasionally be fallible as Gazzara's
was, he wanted a fresh approach to the genre that would go from police
procedural to prosecution with a greater degree of realism. In addition,
the prosecution would be the hero instead of the defense, a reversal of
the usual formula in lawyer dramas.
Initially, the show was ordered by Fox for thirteen episodes with no
pilot based on the concept alone. The decision was reversed by
then-network head Barry Diller, who loved the idea but did not believe
it was a Fox show. Wolf then went to CBS, which ordered a pilot,
"Everybody's Favorite Bagman", written by Wolf, which centered around
corrupt city officials involved with the mob. The network liked the
pilot but did not order it because there were no breakout stars in the
show. In the summer of 1989, NBC's top executives, Brandon Tartikoff and
Warren Littlefield, screened the pilot and liked it, but were concerned
the intensity of the series could not be repeated on a week by week
basis. However, there was enough faith from executives that the series
was innovative and could appeal to a wide audience that the series was
ordered by NBC for a full season in 1990.
Filming
The series is shot on location in New York City and is known for its
extensive use of local color. In recent seasons, New York City mayors
Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg, attorney William Kunstler and Bronx
Congressman José Serrano all have appeared on the show as themselves.
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.
Music and sound effects
Opening Theme
The Law & Order "clang" sound
Problems listening to these files? See media help.
The music for Law & Order is composed by veteran composer Mike Post.
The music is deliberately designed to be minimalist to match the
abbreviated style of the series.Post wrote the theme song using electric
piano, guitar, and clarinet. In addition, scene changes are accompanied
by a tone generated by Post. He refers to the tone as "The Clang,"
while Entertainment Weekly critic Ken Tucker has referred to the sound
as the "ominous chung CHUNG" and Richard Belzer as "the Dick Wolf Cash
Register Sound." The tone consists of only two notes and was generated
electronically combining six or seven different sounds to get just the
right deadbolt effect. Post has noted one of the sounds the interlude
incorporates the sound of "five hundred Japanese men stamping their feet
on a wooden floor. The sound has become so associated with the Law
& Order brand that it was also carried over to other series of the
franchise.
Casting and characters
The twentieth and last season cast of Law & Order; from left, S.
Epatha Merkerson as Van Buren (which she has played for 13 seasons),
Jeremy Sisto as Lupo, Anthony Anderson as Bernard, Sam Waterston as
McCoy, Alana de la Garza as Rubirosa, and Linus Roache as Cutter.
For the 1988 pilot, George Dzundza and Chris Noth were cast as the
original detectives, Sergeant Max Greevey and Mike Logan. Among others,
Dzundza was up against Jerry Orbach for the role, and the producers felt
that Dzundza would be a perfect senior police officer as he was someone
the producers felt they could see themselves riding along with in a
police cruiser. Noth and Michael Madsen were candidates for the role of
Logan. Madsen initially was considered the perfect choice for the role,
but, in a final reading, it was felt that Madsen's acting mannerisms
were repetitive, and Noth received the role instead. Rounding out the
police cast, Dann Florek was cast as Captain Donald Cragen.
On the prosecutor's side, Michael Moriarty was Dick Wolf's choice to
play Chief Assistant District Attorney Ben Stone. The network, however,
preferred James Naughton, but, in the end, Wolf's choice would prevail,
and Moriarty received the role. As his ADA, Richard Brooks and Eriq La
Salle were being considered for the role of Paul Robinette. The network
favored La Salle but, once again, the producers' choice prevailed, and
Brooks received the role.As their boss, Roy Thinnes was cast as District
Attorney Alfred Wentworth.
Nearly two years passed between the pilot and production of the series.
The producers held options on Dzundza, Noth, Moriarty, and Brooks. Each
was paid holding money for the additional year and brought back. Florek
also returned. Thinnes, however, was starring in Dark Shadows and
declined to return. In his place, the producers tapped Steven Hill to
play District Attorney Adam Schiff, a character loosely based on
real-life Manhattan DA Robert Morgenthau. Hill brought prestige and
experience to the show and, as such, the producers allowed Hill to give
insight on the direction he thought the character should go.
Dzundza was disappointed when he realized the show would be more of an
ensemble show than a show starring him. Though the cast liked his
portrayal of Greevey, they increasingly felt uncomfortable around
Dzundza, who was also under stress due to the constant commute between
New York City and his home in Los Angeles. Dzundza quit after only one
season on the show. Dzundza was replaced on the show by Paul Sorvino as
Detective Sergeant Phil Cerreta, who was considered more even tempered
than either Greevey or Logan. Sorvino was initially excited about the
role, but would leave after twenty-nine episodes, citing the exhausting
schedule demanded by filming of the show, a need to broaden his
horizons, and the desire to preserve his vocal chords for singing opera
as reasons for leaving the show.
Also introduced on a recurring basis in the second season was Carolyn
McCormick as Dr. Elizabeth Olivet, a police psychiatrist brought in on a
case-by-case basis. NBC had been pushing for the producers to add
female characters to the all male cast. She was added to the opening
credits as "also starring" in seasons three and four but, despite the
attempts of the producers to include her in as many episodes as
possible, it was found to be difficult to incorporate her into the show
due to the format leaning heavy on the police and prosecutors. She was
removed from the credits in season five.McCormick stayed with the show
on a recurring basis, but believed that the character had become less
profound and complex, and that her role had been reduced mostly to
"psychobabble." She left to star in Cracker after the eighth
season.After the cancellation of Cracker, she returned beginning in the
thirteenth season and has appeared occasionally since.
Jerry Orbach was initially hesitant about starring in an hour long drama
after witnessing the exhausting effect it had on his friend David
Janssen on The Fugitive, but changed his mind as he got older. He had
twice before auditioned for the role of the senior detective in 1988 and
1991. When Dzundza and Sorvino were picked instead of him, he made a
guest appearance as a defense lawyer in the season two episode "The
Wages of Love." While there, Orbach heard Sorvino raving about the
quality of the show and how Sorvino believed he had found a winning
series to do. After Sorvino's departure during the third season, Orbach
decided to audition a third time and was given the role of Detective
Lennie Briscoe.
By the end of the third season, network executives still felt the show
did not have enough female characters. On the orders of Warren
Littlefield, new female characters had to be added to the cast or the
show would face possible cancellation on its relegated Friday night time
slot. Wolf realized that, since there were only six characters on the
show, someone had to be fired. He choose Florek and Brooks, and later
said it was the hardest two phone calls he had ever made. Though
producers initially claimed the firings, especially Brooks, who was said
not to get along with Moriarty, were for other reasons, Wolf confirmed
that the firings were on the orders of Littlefield. To replace Florek,
S. Epatha Merkerson was cast as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren. Jill
Hennessy replaced Brooks as Assistant District Attorney Claire Kincaid.
Meanwhile, Moriarty's behavior both on and off the set became
problematic for Wolf. After a public statement in which Moriarty called
Attorney General Janet Reno a "psychopathic Nazi" for her efforts to
censor television violence, Moriarty engaged in a verbal confrontation
with Reno at a dinner in Washington, D.C. Wolf asked Moriarty to tone
down his comments, and Moriarty responded by quitting the show the next
week. To replace Moriarty, Sam Waterston was Wolf's first choice to join
the cast as Executive Assistant District Attorney Jack McCoy, a
character markedly different from Moriarty's Stone in that McCoy was
conceived as more emotionally stable and having more sex appeal than
Stone.
Wolf fired Noth when his contract ended at the end of season five
because he felt that Briscoe and Logan were too alike and the writers
were having trouble finding ways to write them since they agreed on
everything. Noth had been disgruntled with the show since the firings of
Florek and Brooks, and remained embittered against Wolf, who he felt
was not a friend to his actors. The decision to fire Noth was extremely
controversial with fans and critics alike, who felt that Noth's absence
left a void on the show that was never filled. Noth was replaced by
Benjamin Bratt as Detective Rey Curtis, who was hired in an attempt to
find an actor even sexier than Noth to join the cast.
Hennessy chose not to renew her three year contract at the end of the
sixth season to pursue other projects. She was replaced by Carey Lowell
as Assistant District Attorney Jamie Ross. Lowell remained with the show
for two seasons until the end of season eight, when she left the show
to spend more time with her daughter. Lowell was replaced by Angie
Harmon as Assistant District Attorney Abbie Carmichael, who was
conceived as being much louder and outspoken than any of her
predecessors. Harmon auditioned with eighty-five other women, including
Vanessa Williams, for the role, and was picked after Wolf heard her
Texan accent.
Bratt left the series at the end of the ninth season, stating it was an
amicable departure and he expected to eventually return for guest
appearances. He was replaced by Jesse L. Martin as Detective Ed Green,
who was conceived of as more of a loose cannon in the mold of Logan than
Bratt's Curtis had been. In 2000, Hill announced he was leaving the
series at the end of season 10. Hill, who was the last remaining member
of the original cast, said his departure was mutual with the producers.
He was replaced by Dianne Wiest as Interim District Attorney Nora Lewin.
The following year, Harmon departed the show after three seasons and
was replaced by Elisabeth Röhm as Assistant District Attorney Serena
Southerlyn.After two seasons, Wiest left the show at the end of the
twelfth season and was replaced by retiring Senator Fred Dalton Thompson
as District Attorney Arthur Branch, whose character was conceived of as
being much more right leaning than his predecessors in the DA's office,
and was a direct reaction to the September 11 attacks.
After twelve years on Law & Order, Orbach announced in 2004 that he
was leaving the show for the third Law & Order spin-off, Law &
Order: Trial by Jury. At the time, Orbach would not state the reason for
his departure. In December of the same year, however, Orbach revealed
he had prostate cancer and Wolf said the role on Trial by Jury was
designed to be less taxing than his role on the original series. Orbach
was only able to film two episodes of Trial by Jury before succumbing to
his cancer on December 28, 2004. Orbach was replaced on Law & Order
by Dennis Farina as Detective Joe Fontana.
The fifteenth season would also see the departure of Röhm mid-season.
Röhm had never been popular with fans, and her departure has been called
the worst in the franchise's history, with Southerlyn implying to McCoy
and Branch that she is being fired because she is lesbian, a fact never
cited before her departure. Wolf said Röhm's departure was unexpected,
and she exited the show in January 2005. Her replacement was Annie
Parisse as Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Borgia. Later that
season, Martin departed early for the season to film Rent. During his
absence, he was temporarily replaced by Michael Imperioli as Detective
Nick Falco. Parisse left the series at the end of the sixteenth season
when Borgia was killed, and Farina announced shortly afterwords that he
was leaving Law & Order to pursue other projects.
By this point, NBC executives believed the franchise was beginning to
show its age as ratings for the show had dropped 15 percent from the
previous season and 30 percent over the previous three seasons.Farina
had never been popular with fans when he replaced Orbach, and it was
felt that the cast just did not seem to mesh well together. In an effort
to revitalize the show, Wolf brought in Alana de la Garza as Assistant
District Attorney Connie Rubirosa to replace Parisse. Martin's Green was
promoted to senior detective, replacing Farina, and his new partner was
Detective Nina Cassady, played by Milena Govich, who had worked with
Wolf on the short-lived series Conviction, and served as the show's
first female detective. Govich proved to be even more unpopular with
fans than her predecessor, however, and she only stayed with the show
one season and she was replaced the next season by Jeremy Sisto as
Detective Cyrus Lupo. Around the same time, Thompson announced he would
leave the show in order to seek the 2008 Republican presidential
nomination. Waterston's McCoy was promoted to Interim District Attorney
and Linus Roache joined the cast as Executive Assistant District
Attorney Michael Cutter.Sisto in particular received praise for his
portrayal of Lupo, with critics saying he was an improvement over
Govich. Ken Tucker sees the relationship between McCoy and Cutter as "a
nicely overstated case of oedipal conflict. McCoy sees in Cutter his
younger, more impetuous self, while Cutter sees an aging father figure
he wants to vanquish by proving he's smarter and more daring than the
old coot. It makes for some superfine debates over points of law that
also carry personal, emotional weight for the protagonists, an approach
the Law & Order mothership has rarely taken over the years." Other
critics said the line-up was the best in years, with the chemistry
finally seeming just right after years of cast members who did not seem
to fit well in the cast.
Despite critics' praise, the line-up was short-lived. Martin announced
he would leave the show near the end of the season to pursue other
endeavors. He was replaced by Anthony Anderson as Detective Kevin
Bernard. In 2010, prior to the show's cancellation Merkerson announced
she would leave the show at the conclusion of the twentieth season.
Format
"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."
—Opening narration spoken by Steven Zirnkilton
The cold open, lead-in of the show usually is a slice of 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 (usually a 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's office, comprising the executive assistant
district attorney (ADA) and an assistant prosecutor, who answer to the
district attorney. 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.
The detectives often have few or no good clues—they might not even 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.
Unlike many legal dramas (e.g. Perry Mason), the proceedings are shown
from the prosecution's point of view, with the ADAs trying to prove the
defendant's guilt as opposed to his or her innocence. The second half
usually opens with the arraignment of defendants and proceeds to trial
preparation, including legal research and plea negotiations. Some
episodes include legal proceedings beyond the testimony of witnesses,
including indictments before grand juries; motion hearings, often
concerning admissibility of evidence; selections of juries; and
allocutions, usually as a result of plea bargains. Many episodes employ
motions to suppress evidence as a plot device, and most of these end
with evidence or statements being suppressed, often on a technicality.
This usually begins with the service of the motion to the ADAs, follows
with argument and case citations of precedent before a judge in some
setting, and concludes with visual reaction of the winning or losing
attorney.
In many episodes, the crime first investigated is not the one that goes
to court (a person related to the deceased kills the killer, someone
else is found to be involved, evidence of a separate crime is
discovered, etc.). This other crime then becomes the focus of
investigation.
"Ripped from the Headlines"
Often the plot of an initial portion of an episode resembles a
recognizable aspect of an actual case. In early seasons, the details of
these cases often closely followed the real stories, such as the season
one episode "Subterranean Homeboy Blues", which had a woman shooting two
attempted muggers and paralleled the Bernhard Goetz case. Another early
episode focused on a racially charged rape case that mimicked the
Tawana Brawley case. Later seasons would take real life cases as
inspiration but diverge more from the facts. Often this would be done by
increasing the severity of the crime in question, usually by adding a
murder. This "ripped from the headlines" theme is reflected in the
opening credits sequence that evolves from newspaper halftones 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. Some real life crime victims have felt used and
exploited, with one lawyer, Ravi Batra, going so far as to sue the show
in 2004 for libel.
Episodes
Law & Order premiered September 13, 1990 and is currently airing on NBC, with 455 episodes having been produced.
Cancellation
On May 13, 2010, reports surfaced that Law & Order might be canceled
after 20 seasons on the air, preventing it from unseating Gunsmoke as
longest running American primetime drama unless another network picked
it up.By May 14, 2010, The New York Times, Daily Variety and the Los
Angeles Times reported official cancellation of the series. Continuation
of characters on spin-off series — including the forthcoming Law &
Order: Los Angeles — has been mentioned as a possible means of providing
closure beyond the series finale.
On May 14, 2010, NBC officially canceled the show, opting instead to
pick-up Law & Order: Los Angeles for a first season, and renewed Law
& Order: Special Victims Unit for a twelfth. The cancellation was
announced after last-minute talks between NBC and Dick Wolf to extend
the series failed to lead to an agreement.
The chairman of NBC Universal Television Entertainment, Jeff Gaspin,
stated: "The full measure of the collective contributions made by Dick
Wolf and his Law & Order franchise over the last two decades to the
success of NBC and Universal Media Studios cannot be overstated. The
legacy of his original Law & Order series will continue to make an
impact like no other series before."
Angela Bromstad, President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal
Media Studios, said, "Law & Order has been one of the most
successful franchises in the history of television, which is why it is
so critical that we continue this important brand and our relationship
with Dick Wolf and his team with L&O: LA and Law & Order: SVU."
Following the cancellation announcement, Wolf announced that he still
hoped to continue the series, and stated that he was seeking "other
offers" from potential outlets to air the series. Wolf also discussed
the possibility of airing a two hour TV film on NBC to conclude Law
& Order, but said that such a plan had been delayed until he had
exhausted every other possibility for continuing the series. Wolf did
not specify whether NBC had already offered to air such a movie.
Dick Wolf stated that, "The flagship series is in a medically induced
coma, waiting for a live-saving medicine." Wolf's pressuring the
series's producer NBC/Universal Media Studios to make a TNT deal for
originals if an acceptable license fee can be bargained. Talks between
the two will start up after upfronts.
Spin-offs and adaptations
Law & Order (franchise)
The longevity and success of Law & Order has spawned a number of
series and a television film that all use the name Law & Order.
Although there were fears initially that the failure of such shows could
hurt the original series, it was felt the brand name was needed because
of the commercial desirability such a brand name creates To
differentiate it from other series in the franchise, Law & Order is
often referred to as "The Mother Ship" by producers and critics.
Exiled: A Law & Order Movie
The firing of Chris Noth in 1995 was, at the time, one of the least
popular cast changes among fans. Noth remained popular with fans after
his firing and received so much fan mail as a result that he had to hire
a personal assistant to help him handle the volume. Although Dick Wolf
defended the decision to fire Noth, he decided in 1998 to produce a
television film that would explore what happened to Noth's Detective
Mike Logan after he left the series. Originally titled Logan in Exile,
the film's title was changed to Exiled: A Law & Order Movie during
production. The film shows Logan as an officer on Staten Island assigned
to domestic crimes. He takes on a murder case in the hopes of it
leading to a return to his old Manhattan beat and is teamed with
Detective Frankie Silvera (Dana Eskelson). The case soon leads to his
old precinct, however, and the possibility that one of his old
colleagues may be taking bribes from the mob. The movie was criticized
for not measuring up to the standards of the series and for placing Noth
in a blatantly dominant role in the story. Wolf had planned to make
Exiled the first in a series of films in the franchise, but the film was
less successful than expected and, as a result, future plans for films
were eliminated. The movie also marks the final appearance of John Fiore
in his recurring role as Detective Tony Profaci.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Haunted by the murders of Robert Chambers, Dick Wolf planned a new
television series to focus on the investigation of sexually-based
offenses and serve as a mechanism for addressing complex issues through
the context of popular culture. Originally titled Sex Crimes, the show
was renamed Law & Order: Special Victims Unit to take advantage of
the popularity of the original series. Starring Christopher Meloni as
Detective Elliot Stabler and Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia
Benson, the series premiered on September 20, 1999 and is currently in
its 11th season. Also reprising their roles are Dann Florek as Captain
Donald Cragen, a role he originated in the first three seasons of the
original series, and Richard Belzer as Detective Sergeant John Munch, a
character originally featured on Homicide: Life on the Street that also
appeared in three crossover episodes for Law & Order. Law &
Order: Special Victims Unit has become the highest rated show of the
franchise and has won and been nominated for numerous awards, including
an Emmy award for Hargitay as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
during the 2005–2006 season.
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
The second series of the franchise, Law & Order: Criminal Intent,
premiered on September 30, 2001. Focusing almost exclusively on the
investigation of high profile crimes, the series follows the detectives
of the NYPD's Major Case Squad. The show originally starred Vincent
D'Onofrio as Detective Robert Goren and Kathryn Erbe as Detective
Alexandra Eames. Unlike the other series of the franchise, Criminal
Intent showed the crimes from the perspective of the criminal(s) as well
as of the police. In season 5, Chris Noth joined the cast, reprising
his role as Detective Mike Logan, a role he played in the first five
seasons of the original series. He would star in half of each season's
episodes, alternating with D'Onofrio and Erbe,In 2007, facing sagging
ratings and the possibility of cancellation, new episodes of Criminal
Intent were moved from NBC to the USA Network, where the series received
a larger audience and has run since. Noth departed the series in 2008
and was replaced by Jeff Goldblum as Detective Zach Nichols. D'Onofrio
and Erbe left the series at the beginning of the ninth season in 2010,
and Goldblum now stars in all current episodes, along with his partner,
Detective Serena Stevens, played by Saffron Burrows.
Law & Order: Trial by Jury
The third series of the franchise, Law & Order: Trial by Jury,
premiered on March 3, 2005. Unlike the other series of the franchise,
Trial by Jury focused almost exclusively on the prosecution of criminal
offenses, and often showed cases from the perspectives of defense
attorneys and judges as well as the prosecutors. The series starred Bebe
Neuwirth as Assistant District Attorney Tracey Kibre and Amy Carlson as
Assistant District Attorney Kelly Gaffney, the first time a Law &
Order series has featured two female leads. Also reprising their roles
from the original series were Jerry Orbach as retired NYPD
Detective-turned-DA Investigator Lennie Briscoe, who was originally
planned as a regular but was only able to film two episodes due to his
illness, and Fred Dalton Thompson as District Attorney Arthur Branch,
playing the role simultaneously on both series. Reception of the new
series was mixed, with some critics feeling like it would be a fourth
hit for Wolf, while other critics believed the show was unoriginal and
put defendants and defense attorneys in an overly negative light. Trial
by Jury was canceled by NBC after only thirteen episodes, making it the
first series of the franchise to be canceled.
Law & Order: Los Angeles
On January 10, 2010, NBC programming chief Angela Bromstad announced at
the winter TCA Press Tour that the network was in talks with Dick Wolf
about producing a new series, entitled Law & Order: Los Angeles, and
indicated that NBC was seeking to hire writers for a pilot.
Reports in early May suggested that NBC had made the decision to pick up
Law & Order: Los Angeles with a 13-episode order for fall 2010,
having brought Brotherhood creator Blake Masters on board to co-create
the new series set in Los Angeles with Wolf. NBC confirmed the new
series order on May 14, 2010. The fall timeslot for Law & Order: Los
Angeles will be Wednesdays at 10:00 P.M. (Eastern) on NBC.
The series will be the first series in the Law & Order franchise to
be set outside New York and the fifth series in the franchise.
Crime & Punishment
In 2002, Dick Wolf produced a reality series based around the
prosecution of cases in the District Attorney's office of San Diego,
California. Alternately titled Crime & Punishment and Law &
Order: Crime & Punishment, elements of Law & Order were used to
take advantage of the franchise including using the same font as the
original series' title screen, opening narration similar to that of
other franchise shows, and the use of Mike Post's "clang" sound. Each
episode followed a different case and a different prosecutor as a case
unfolded in the court room. Often the prosecutor was the only fully
"fleshed out" character in each episode while witnesses appeared and
disappeared without much development and defendants often did not
testify in open court. Because of this, many critics felt the series had
more in common with shows such as COPS or The Jerry Springer Show than
it did with Law & Order.The series ran for 26 episodes between 2002
and 2004.
British adaptation
Main article: Law & Order: UK
Law & Order: UK, named Law & Order: London in early reports,
received its debut airing on February 23, 2009, on one of Britain's main
commercial networks ITV. The series stars Bradley Walsh, Jamie Bamber,
Freema Agyeman, Harriet Walter and Bill Paterson, with scripts based on
episodes from the US original. It is produced by Kudos in association
with Wolf Films and NBC.
Crossovers and other appearances
Law & Order crossed over seven times with other NBC shows.
Homicide: Life on the Street
"Charm City" (Law & Order 6x13), continued in "For God and Country" (Homicide: Life on the Street 4x12)
"Baby, It's You – Part I" (Law & Order 8x6), continued in "Baby, It's You – Part II" (Homicide: Life on the Street 6x5)
"Sideshow – Part I" (Law & Order 9x14), continued in "Sideshow – Part II" (Homicide: Life on the Street 7x15)
While not considered a cross over episode, Chris Noth appears in the
before-the-credits sequence of the Homicide episode "Law and Disorder"
(ep 3x15). Taking place entirely in a Baltimore train station, Logan
hands off a prisoner (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.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
"Entitled – Part I" (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit 1x15), continued in "Entitled – Part II" (Law & Order 10x14)
"Design" (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit 7x2), continued in "Flaw" (Law & Order 16x2)
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
During the first season of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, several
cast members from the original series made guest appearances as their
Law & Order characters. Dianne Wiest appeared in the first episode
of the series, "One", Jerry Orbach and Jesse L. Martin guest starred in
the episode "Poison", S. Epatha Merkerson appeared in the episode
"Badge", and J.K. Simmons appeared in the episode "Crazy." Leslie
Hendrix also reprises her role as Medical Examiner Dr. Elizabeth Rodgers
as a recurring character throughout the run of the series starting with
the first season episode "The Faithful."
In 2005, Chris Noth reprised his role as Detective Mike Logan for the
show's fourth season. This appearance led to Noth joining the cast in
the fifth season, appearing in the starring role for half the episodes
of the season. Noth remained with the show for three seasons before
departing in 2008. Also appearing during the show's fifth season were
Fred Dalton Thompson[88] and Carolyn McCormick.
Law & Order: Trial by Jury
Fred Dalton Thompson appeared as a regular in Trial by Jury, reprising
his role from the original series.Jerry Orbach was originally planned as
a regular but was only able to appear in two episodes before succumbing
to prostate cancer. A crossover episode between Trial by Jury and the
original series featured the resolution of Ed Green's shooting during
the fifteenth season episode of the original series, "Tombstone," and
featured Dennis Farina, Jesse L. Martin, S. Epatha Merkerson, and Sam
Waterston.Carey Lowell appears in two episodes of Trial by Jury as Jamie
Ross, who is now a judge. Also appearing on Trial by Jury were Leslie
Hendrix in the episode "Baby Boom" and Carolyn McCormick in the episode
"Day."
Other appearances
Carolyn McCormick and J. K. Simmons each made appearances on the FOX
series New York Undercover, a series produced and co-created by Dick
Wolf, in the psychiatrist roles they originated in Law & Order.
McCormick appeared in the show's third season episode "Smack is Back" as
Dr. Elizabeth Olivet. while Simmons appeared in the fourth season
episode "Mob Street" as Dr. Emil Skoda.Fred Dalton Thompson also
appeared in a cameo as District Attorney Arthur Branch in the first
episode of the short-lived Wolf-produced series Conviction, which also
featured Stephanie March reprising her Special Victims Unit role as
Bureau Chief Alexandra Cabot.