On Friday, NBC announced it was cancelling Law & Order, the original version that started it all. While perhaps not of earth shattering importance in the grand scheme of things, I have watched the show faithfully ever since it began 20 years ago. That ties Gunsmoke as the longest-running prime time drama. Of all prime time shows, only the animated The Simpsons now in its 21st season, has lasted longer.
Last year’s renewal for this current season was uncertain, ratings were better than they had been recently. I believe this was in large part to a renewed energy from new cast members, most especially Linus Roache. But they were not yet where they once were. Then again, few shows have those numbers given the increased competition for precious viewers who have so many more media choices now.
But next season, what would have been a record breaking 21? That was secure I thought. It was widely reported four months ago that NBC vowed to renew Law & Order for a 21st, and record breaking season. In fact Angela Bromstad, NBC President of Primetime Programming, said NBC planned to make the show the longest running drama in TV history, adding, “I’m a Law & Order junkie…I wouldn’t want to be responsible for not having Law & Order break the record.” Seeing Law & Order in the already renewed column listing next year’s programs made Friday’s announcement a complete shock. Why the about face now? What network wouldn’t want to make at least a few episodes to count as a season, so they could at least claim they had created the longest running network prime time drama ever?
Cancelling such a well done, respected, and topical show as Law & Order will do nothing to help bring audiences back to network TV. I can’t begin to count the number of people I’ve heard who have washed their hands of NBC. Long gone are their glory days when Friends and Frasier ruled and had NBC at the top, or The Cosby Show and Family Ties before that. After their Jay Leno Show debacle, one that surely they should have seen coming, they decide to get rid of Law & Order. And, what do they keep? Shows like The Marriage Ref.
There has been some speculation that production could continue and original episodes could air on cable channel TNT, which has long carried reruns of the show. But as of now, TNT says it is “not in ongoing discussions” on the matter. Other networks have also been known to pick up shows another network drops. For example, Family Matters moved from ABC to CBS in its ninth season of production.
Overwhelming fan response has also been known to lead to a previously cancelled show’s revival. Most famous of these are probably Star Trek, that got an additional year (though still not nearly long enough), and Cagney & Lacey that was saved after a fan letter-writing campaign.
At the very least Law & Order deserves a proper send-off. How many great and long running shows, not to mention long-time money makers for the networks, have just ended? They just go away without any conclusion, leaving loyal viewers burned and disappointed. A bad ending can almost ruin the legacy of a great show.
We have just 2 more weeks of Law & Order. And NBC was saying they were still in negotiations to renew as recently as last week. It therefore seems sadly impossible that May 24th 2010 will see a fitting conclusion, the last episodes already long since filmed. Some shows have been given additional episodes to allow a proper series end. Jericho, for example, saw a special order for seven additional episodes after massive fan outcry. What was intended to be a season finale will now be series finale. That’s just not the same, not fair or just to the show, or its legions of loyal fans.
If I may offer my own modification of that famous opening line:
In the television entertainment system, the people are represented by two separate yet [hopefully] equally important groups: the artists, who create the shows, and the networks, who make the schedules.
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Tell them what you think at NBC – the upfronts* are today,
Monday, May 17th 2010:
jeff.gaspin@nbcuni.com
jeff.zucker@nbcuni.com
Phone:404-885-4538,
Phone:212-664-4444: Fax:212-664-4085
Feedback email for NBC/Universal:
feedback@nbcuni.com
Contact info for TNT:
Moretnt@turner.com
Viewer Comment and Question Line is 404-885-4538
Visit Save Law & Order on Facebook
* “In the North American television industry, an upfront is a meeting hosted at the start of important advertising sales periods by television network executives, attended by the press and major advertisers. It is so named because of its main purpose, to allow marketers to buy commercial airtime “up front”, or several months before the television season begins.”
