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Law & Order

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Law & Order



 
 
Law & Order is an American
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 police procedural
Police procedural

The police procedural is a sub-genre of the detective fiction which attempts to convincingly depict the activities of a police force as they investigate crimes....
 and legal drama
Legal drama

A legal drama is a work of dramatic fiction about crime and civil litigation. Subtypes of legal dramas include courtroom dramas and legal thrillers, and come in all forms, including novels, television shows, and films....
 television series
Television program

A television program , television programme , or television show is something that people watch on television. It may be a one-off broadcast or, more usually, part of a periodically recurring television series....
 created by Dick Wolf
Dick Wolf

Richard Anthony Wolf , usually billed as simply Dick Wolf, is one of United States television's most respected drama series creators and is an Emmy Award-winning Television producer, specializing in Police procedural....
. It has been broadcast on NBC since its debut on September 13, 1990. Set in New York City
New York City

The City of New York is the List of United States cities by population in the United States, while the New York metropolitan area ranks among the List of urban areas by population....
, the series follows the professional lives of several police officers and prosecutors who represent the public interest in the criminal justice system.

The success of the series has led to the creation of additional shows under the Law & Order franchise
Law & Order franchise

The term "Law & Order franchise" is commonly used to describe a number of related United States television programs created by Dick Wolf and originally broadcast on NBC, all of which deal with some aspect of the New York City criminal justice system....
. It is the longest-running primetime drama currently on American television.

& Order", the longest-running crime series and the second-longest-running drama series in the history of television, has entered its 19th season on NBC.






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Quotations


Cookie Molina:

Look -- the heart -- that's not the part of the anatomy the girls are interested in.

Dr. Edward Auster:

Well, people like to believe that medicine is pure science. Medicine is a science. But doctors know it's also a lottery.

Elizabeth Hendrick:

Art would be much more pleasant if we didnt have to deal with artists.

Gary Pardee:

Don't make me testify. It'll ruin my career. I'm perfect for young dad parts in commercials.

Greevey:

Look, someone's lying! Whether it's Gunja Din or Doctor God, we don't know.

Jasmine:

You should have sent your partner. I don't usually do discipline, but I would love to teach him some manners.






Encyclopedia


Law & Order is an American
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 police procedural
Police procedural

The police procedural is a sub-genre of the detective fiction which attempts to convincingly depict the activities of a police force as they investigate crimes....
 and legal drama
Legal drama

A legal drama is a work of dramatic fiction about crime and civil litigation. Subtypes of legal dramas include courtroom dramas and legal thrillers, and come in all forms, including novels, television shows, and films....
 television series
Television program

A television program , television programme , or television show is something that people watch on television. It may be a one-off broadcast or, more usually, part of a periodically recurring television series....
 created by Dick Wolf
Dick Wolf

Richard Anthony Wolf , usually billed as simply Dick Wolf, is one of United States television's most respected drama series creators and is an Emmy Award-winning Television producer, specializing in Police procedural....
. It has been broadcast on NBC since its debut on September 13, 1990. Set in New York City
New York City

The City of New York is the List of United States cities by population in the United States, while the New York metropolitan area ranks among the List of urban areas by population....
, the series follows the professional lives of several police officers and prosecutors who represent the public interest in the criminal justice system.

The success of the series has led to the creation of additional shows under the Law & Order franchise
Law & Order franchise

The term "Law & Order franchise" is commonly used to describe a number of related United States television programs created by Dick Wolf and originally broadcast on NBC, all of which deal with some aspect of the New York City criminal justice system....
. It is the longest-running primetime drama currently on American television.

Broadcast

"Law & Order", the longest-running crime series and the second-longest-running drama series in the history of television, has entered its 19th season on NBC. Filmed entirely on location in New York
New York

The State of New York is a U.S. state in the Mid-Atlantic States and Northeastern United States regions of the United States and is the nation's List of U.S....
, the realistic program looks at crime and justice from a dual perspective Some cases may be simple, but most are multi-faceted. The investigations are challenging, prosecutions are complicated, and decisions about legal procedures and plea-bargaining are vexing. In the arduous and complex process of determining guilt and innocence, lives often hang in the balance.

The pilot
Television pilot

A television pilot is a test episode of an intended television series. It is an early step in the development of a television series, much like pilot lights or pilot serve as precursors to the start of larger activity, or pilot holes prepare the way for larger holes....
 episode was produced to be sold to CBS
CBS

CBS Broadcasting Inc. is an American radio network and television network. The name is derived from the initials of Columbia Broadcasting System, its former legal name....
 in 1988, but was rejected by that network. When NBC picked up the series in 1990, the pilot aired as episode six. The show is produced by Universal Media Studios
Universal Media Studios

Universal Media Studios is the television production arm of the NBC Universal Television Group. It was previously known as Revue Studios, NBC Studios, and Universal Network Television....
, formerly known as NBC Universal Television Studio, Universal Television, and Studios USA. It has been syndicated
Television syndication

In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows to multiple individual stations, without going through a broadcast network....
 on other United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 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 fifth season, according to DVD boxset information.

The series is broadcast in Canada
Canada

Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
 on CTV
CTV television network

CTV is a Canadian English language television network. It is Canada's largest privately owned network, the main television asset of CTVglobemedia, one of the country's largest media conglomerates....
 and Sister Station A-Channel
A-Channel

A is a privately-owned English language television system in Canada, owned by CTVglobemedia. The A television system consists of five television stations in Ontario and one in British Columbia, as well as a regional cable-only channel in Atlantic Canada....
. Reruns from only the latter years can be seen regularly each weeknight and weekday afternoons on TNT
Turner Network Television

TNT is an United States Cable television network created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner....
 (U.S.) and weekdays at 1:00 p.m. and weeknights at 11 p.m. on Bravo!
Bravo! Canada

Bravo! is a Canada English language cable television specialty channel owned by CTVglobemedia. It concentrates on the arts, including; music, ballet, literature, drama, visual arts, modern dance, opera, architecture....
 (Canada). It can be seen in the UK with new episodes first showing on the cable and satellite channel Sky1 and later on Sky2 with a terrestrial airing on Five and repeats of the early seasons are being shown on the Hallmark Channel
Hallmark Channel (UK)

The Hallmark Channel is a United Kingdom TV channel owned by NBC Universal, with the Hallmark brand used under licence from Crown Media . It was previously known as the Hallmark Entertainment Network....
. It was recently announced that the Law & Order franchise
Law & Order franchise

The term "Law & Order franchise" is commonly used to describe a number of related United States television programs created by Dick Wolf and originally broadcast on NBC, all of which deal with some aspect of the New York City criminal justice system....
 would be screened on Five US
Five US

Five USA is a free-to-air entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom owned by Five , launched on 16 October 2006 as Five US. It was the second digital channel to be launched by Five as part of their multi-channel strategy, the first being Fiver ....
.

In late March 2006, a shift of time slot resulted in a significant drop in ratings, but a return to the original time slot on April 5, 2006, triggered an improvement of ratings, 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. 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
USA Network

USA Network is an United States cable television channel launched in 1977. The channel shows a variety of original and second-run programming, from syndicated TV series to edited Film....
 with reruns slated to appear on NBC. This is an unusual role reversal in NBC and USA's shared or second window syndication
Television syndication

In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows to multiple individual stations, without going through a broadcast network....
 arrangement. When the future of the Law & Order staple was in doubt, TNT
Turner Network Television

TNT is an United States Cable television network created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner....
, 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. 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.

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
Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West....
 (1955–1975) as the longest-running network drama series on American television. When NBC first released its 2008-09 lineup, Law & Order was included in the January - May schedule, indicating the show would be back for a 19th season. In late October, NBC announced a primetime lineup shuffle, branding their Wednesday nights "Crime Night", featuring Knight Rider
Knight Rider (2008 TV series)

Knight Rider is a television series that follows the 1982 Knight Rider and the 2008 Knight Rider . The series stars Justin Bruening as Mike Traceur, the estranged son of Michael Knight ....
, Life
Life (TV series)

Life is a US television program created by Rand Ravich. The program airs on NBC, is produced by Universal Media Studios under the supervision of executive producers Rand Ravich, Far Shariat, David Semel, and Daniel Sackheim....
 and the 19th Season of Law & Order, effective November 5, 2008.

Format

The program generally follows a two-part 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
Arrest and Trial

Arrest and Trial is a 90-minute United States Police procedural that aired one season on American Broadcasting Company. The show was set in Los Angeles, California and aired Sundays from 8:30-10 p.m....
, although the similarities are considered to be coincidental (though both shows are currently owned by NBC Universal
NBC Universal

NBC Universal, Inc. is a mass media and entertainment company formed in May 2004 by the combination of General Electric's NBC with Vivendi part of the French Media Group, Vivendi Universal without Canal+ Group ....
). Law & Order creator Dick Wolf was reportedly unaware of them when he created his series. The series also bears similarities to the 1970s British television series Law and Order, written by dramatist G.F. Newman. In a 2008 interview, Newman explained that he lent his Law and Order tapes to friend Michael Mann
Michael Mann

Michael Mann is the name of:*Michael Mann *Hollywood Fats , accomplished blues guitarist for Hollywood Fats Band & Canned Heat*Michael E. Mann , climate researcher...
, who was working on Miami Vice
Miami Vice

Miami Vice is an United States of America television series produced by Michael Mann for NBC. The show became noted for its heavy integration and use of music and visual effects to tell a story....
 with Wolf at the time. Mann then lent the tapes to Wolf, who created the Law & Order franchise a few years later. Newman joked that Wolf owed him $300 million for the format rights. 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
Steven Zirnkilton

Steven Zirnkilton is an United States voice-over actor. He is most well known for providing the opening narration of all the shows in the Law & Order franchise....
, is spoken at the beginning of nearly every episode (but not those shown on Five in Britain
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
)

The cold open
Cold open

A cold open in a television program or Film is the technique of in medias res at the beginning or opening of the show, before the title sequence or opening credits are shown....
, lead-in of the show usually is a slice of life in New York
New York City

The City of New York is the List of United States cities by population in the United States, while the New York metropolitan area ranks among the List of urban areas by population....
 (walking a dog in Manhattan, jogging in Central Park
Central Park

Central Park is a large public, urban park in New York City, with about twenty-five million visitors annually. Most of the areas immediately adjacent to the park are known for impressive buildings and valuable real estate....
, etc.) unrelated to the main story until the character(s) in the scene suddenly discover, witness, or become victims of a crime (mostly murder
Murder

Murder as defined in common law countries, is the unlawful killing of another human being with intent , and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide....
). 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
Title sequence

A title sequence is the method by which cinematic films or television shows present their title and key cast and production members utilizing conceptual visuals and sound....
 begins.

The police
Police

Police are agents or agencies, usually of the executive , empowered to enforce the law and to ensure public and social order through the legitimized use of force....
 are represented in the show by the police lieutenant
Lieutenant

Lieutenant is a military, naval, paramilitary, fire service, emergency medical services or police commissioned officer military rank.Lieutenant may also appear as part of a title used in various other organisations with a codified command structure....
 of Manhattan
Manhattan

Manhattan is one of the five borough of New York City, located primarily on Manhattan Island at the mouth of the Hudson River.With a United States Census of 1,620,867 living in a land area of 22.96 square miles , Manhattan, coextensive with New York County, is the most population density county in the United States, w...
's fictional 27th Precinct and two homicide
Homicide

Homicide refers to the act of killing another human being. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English....
 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
Manhattan

Manhattan is one of the five borough of New York City, located primarily on Manhattan Island at the mouth of the Hudson River.With a United States Census of 1,620,867 living in a land area of 22.96 square miles , Manhattan, coextensive with New York County, is the most population density county in the United States, w...
 District Attorney's office
District attorney

In many jurisdictions in the United States, a district attorney is the local public official who represents the government in the Prosecutor of alleged criminals....
, comprising the district attorney, the executive assistant district attorney (ADA), 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
Perry Mason (TV series)

Perry Mason is an Emmy Award-winning American TV series that ran from 1957 in television to 1966 in television. Perry Mason was played by actor Raymond Burr....
), the proceedings are shown 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 usually opens with an arraignment
Arraignment

Arraignment is a formal reading of a crime complaint in the presence of the defendant to inform him of the charges against him. In response to arraignment, the accused is expected to enter a plea....
 and proceeds to trial preparation, including the junior ADA making more research into the case, plea-bargains between the leading lawyers on both sides and the DA advising on how to proceed. However, the show does, on occasion, deviate from format and centers either on indictment proceedings before a grand jury
Grand jury

In the common law, a grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether there is enough evidence for a Criminal procedure. Grand juries carry out this duty by examining evidence presented to them by a prosecutor and issuing indictments, or by investigating alleged crimes and issuing Wiktionary:presentments....
, a motion
Motion

Motion may refer to:* Motion , any physical movement or change in position or place* Motion , a procedural device in law to bring a limited, contested matter before a court...
 hearing, jury selection
Jury selection

Jury selection refers to several methods used to choose the people who will serve on a jury. The jury pool is first selected from among the community using a reasonably random method....
, or an allocution
Allocution

Generally, to allocute in law means "to speak out formally." In the field of apologetics, allocution is generally done in defense of a belief. In politics, one may allocute before a legislature in an effort to influence their position on an issue....
 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
Allocution

Generally, to allocute in law means "to speak out formally." In the field of apologetics, allocution is generally done in defense of a belief. In politics, one may allocute before a legislature in an effort to influence their position on an issue....
 to quickly conclude the show.

Many times 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 another crime while the investigation is taking place is discovered, etc.). This other crime then becomes the focus of investigation.

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 Princess Diana
Diana, Princess of Wales

Diana, Princess of Wales, was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales. Their sons, Princes Prince William of Wales and Prince Henry of Wales , are second and third Line of succession to the British throne of the British monarchy and fifteen other Commonwealth Realms....
's death in August 1997. This "ripped from the headlines" theme is reflected in the opening credits sequence that evolves from newspaper halftone
Halftone

Halftone is the reprographic technique that simulates continuous tone imagery through the use of dots, varying either in size or in spacing. 'Halftone' can also be used to refer specifically to the image that is produced by this process....
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
Disclaimer

A disclaimer is generally any statement intended to specify or delimit the scope of rights and obligations that may be exercised and enforced by parties in a legally-recognized relationship....
, 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
Arraignment

Arraignment is a formal reading of a crime complaint in the presence of the defendant to inform him of the charges against him. In response to arraignment, the accused is expected to enter a plea....
 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 motions to suppress evidence
In limine

Motion in limine is a motion made before the start of a trial requesting that the judge rule that certain evidence may, or may not, be introduced to the jury in a trial ....
 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 winning or losing attorney, usually Benjamin Stone
Benjamin Stone

Benjamin "Ben" Stone is a fictional character portrayed by Michael Moriarty in the TV drama Law & Order....
, Jack McCoy
Jack McCoy

John James "Jack" McCoy is a fictional character in the television drama Law & Order, created by Michael Chernuchin and played by Sam Waterston since 1994....
, or Michael Cutter
Michael Cutter

Michael "Mike" Cutter is a fictional character on the long-running NBC series Law & Order played by Linus Roache. The character debuted in the show's eighteenth season premiere, broadcast January 2, 2008....
.

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
Defendant

A defendant or defender is any party who is required to answer the complaint of a plaintiff or pursuer in a civil lawsuit before a court, or any party who has been formally indictment or accused of violating a crime statute....
. 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 is shot on location
Filming location

A filming location is a place where some or all of a film or television series is produced, in addition to or instead of using set construction constructed on a studio backlot or soundstage....
 in New York City and is known for its extensive use of local color
Regionalism (literature)

In literature, regionalism or local color fiction refers to fiction or poetry that focuses on specific features - including characters, dialects, customs and topography - of a particular region....
. In recent seasons, New York City mayors Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani

Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani is an United States of America lawyer, businessman and politician from the U.S. state of New York who was Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001....
 and Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg

Michael Rubens Bloomberg is an United States businessman and philanthropist, and the current Mayor of New York City. He was listed as the eighth-richest American, with a net worth of US$30 Billion, in the Forbes 400 on Sept....
, attorney William Kunstler
William Kunstler

William Moses Kunstler was an American self-described "radical lawyer" and civil rights activist....
 and Bronx Congressman Jose E. Serrano all have appeared on the show as themselves. Local personalities also have had recurring cameos as fictional characters, such as Donna Hanover
Donna Hanover

Donna Hanover is an United States journalist, radio personality and television personality, television producer, and actress, who appears on WOR radio in New York City and who also appears on the Food Network....
 and Fran Lebowitz
Fran Lebowitz

Frances Ann "Fran" Lebowitz is an United States author.Born and raised in Morristown, New Jersey, Lebowitz is best known for her sardonic social commentary on American life through her New York City sensibilities....
 as judges. On September 14 2004, in New York City, a road leading to Pier 62 at Chelsea Piers
Chelsea Piers

Chelsea Piers is a series of historic piers on the West Side of Manhattan in New York City that was a passenger ship terminal in the early 1900s that was used by the RMS Lusitania and was the destination of the Titanic....
 (where the series is mostly shot) was renamed "Law & Order Way" in tribute to the series.

The card and the sound

Most scene
Scene (fiction)

In fiction, a scene is a unit of drama. A sequel is what follows, an aftermath. Together, scene and sequel provide the building blocks of plot for short story, novels, and other forms of fiction....
 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 Richard Belzer
Richard Belzer

Richard Jay Belzer is an United States stand-up Stand up comedian, writer, and actor, perhaps best known for his work as John Munch, on Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit....
 has referred to as "the Dick Wolf Cash Register Sound". 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." It has also been jokingly referred to as simply "doink doink" by the actors.

Portrayal of characters


Ken Tucker sees the relationship between the show's current district attorney Jack McCoy
Jack McCoy

John James "Jack" McCoy is a fictional character in the television drama Law & Order, created by Michael Chernuchin and played by Sam Waterston since 1994....
 and executive ADA Michael Cutter
Michael Cutter

Michael "Mike" Cutter is a fictional character on the long-running NBC series Law & Order played by Linus Roache. The character debuted in the show's eighteenth season premiere, broadcast January 2, 2008....
 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."

Cast and characters

Law & Order is noted for its revolving cast. None of the original six cast members is currently on the program, although Chris Noth
Chris Noth

Christopher David "Chris" Noth is a Golden Globe Award-nominated United States actor and poet. He is known for two long-running television roles: as Mike Logan on Law & Order and Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and as Mr....
, who played Detective Mike Logan
Mike Logan (Law & Order)

Michael "Mike" Logan, played by Chris Noth, is a fictional character in the Law & Order franchise....
, appeared on Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Law & Order: Criminal Intent

Law & Order: Criminal Intent is an United States television program set in New York City. Criminal Intent premiered on September 30 2001....
 from 2005-2008 and Dann Florek
Dann Florek

Dann Florek is an United States actor and film director.Florek attended Eastern Michigan University, but never graduated from the institution....
, who played Capt. Don Cragen
Donald Cragen

Capt. Don Cragen is a fictional character in the TV drama Law & Order and its spinoff Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, played by Dann Florek....
, currently appears on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American drama television program about the Special Victims Unit in a fictional version of the 16th Precinct of the New York City Police Department....
, both reprising their original characters. Five of the longest-serving cast members are Steven Hill
Steven Hill

Steven Hill is an American film and television actor. His two best known roles were District Attorney Adam Schiff on the NBC TV drama series Law & Order, whom he portrayed for ten seasons , and Dan Briggs, the original team leader of the Impossible Missions Force on CBS's television series Mission Impossible, whom he portrayed on...
 as D.A. Adam Schiff
Adam Schiff (Law & Order)

Adam Schiff is a fictional character on the TV drama series Law & Order. He was played by Steven Hill from 1990 to 2000. Hill was the one of the main characters of the series and appeared in every episode of the first ten seasons, with the exception of the pilot....
 (1990-2000), Jerry Orbach
Jerry Orbach

'Jerome Bernard Orbach' was an United States Tony Award-winning actor, perhaps best known for his starring role as Lennie Briscoe in the Law & Order television series and for being a noted musical theater star; most notably El Gallo in The Fantasticks, Julian Marsh in 42nd Street, and Billy Flynn in the original production of Chi...
 as Detective Lennie Briscoe
Lennie Briscoe

Leonard W. "Lennie" Briscoe was a fictional character on NBC's long running Police procedural, Law & Order. He was featured on the show for 12 seasons, from 1992 to 2004....
 (1992-2004), S. Epatha Merkerson
S. Epatha Merkerson

S. Epatha Merkerson is an United States Golden Globe-, Screen Actors Guild-, NAACP Image Award- and Emmy Award-winning actress. She has also received two Tony Award nominations....
 as Lt. Anita Van Buren
Anita Van Buren

Lt. Anita Van Buren is a fictional character on NBC's long running drama, Law & Order, portrayed by S. Epatha Merkerson. She is the longest-running character on the show....
 (1993-present), Sam Waterston
Sam Waterston

Samuel Atkinson "Sam" Waterston is an Academy Award-nominated United States actor noted particularly for his portrayal of Jack McCoy on the National Broadcasting Company television series Law & Order....
 as A.D.A./D.A. Jack McCoy
Jack McCoy

John James "Jack" McCoy is a fictional character in the television drama Law & Order, created by Michael Chernuchin and played by Sam Waterston since 1994....
 (1994-present), and Jesse L. Martin
Jesse L. Martin

Jesse Lamont Martin is an United States theatre, film, and television actor, best known for originating the role of Tom Collins in Rent and as Ed Green in the NBC series Law & Order ....
 as Detective Ed Green
Ed Green

Edward "Ed" Green is a fictional character on the NBC crime drama Law & Order, created by Rene Balcer and portrayed by Jesse L. Martin....
 (1999-2008). Michael Imperioli
Michael Imperioli

James Michael Imperioli , commonly known as Michael Imperioli, is an Emmy Award-winning and Golden Globe Award-nominated American actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as Christopher Moltisanti on The Sopranos....
 played junior detective Nick Falco
Nick Falco

Det. Nick Falco is a fictional character on the NBC crime drama Law & Order, portrayed by Michael Imperioli. He first appeared as Joseph Fontana's partner in the last four episodes of the show's 15th season while Jesse L....
 in the last four episodes of the 15th season, while Jesse L. Martin took time off to film the movie Rent
Rent (film)

Rent is a 2005 in film Cinema of the United States film adaptation of the Broadway theatre Rent . It details the struggles of a group of young friends in the East Village, Manhattan area of New York City in the late-1980s, early-1990s....
. Actors portraying psychologists on the show include J.K. Simmons as Dr. Emil Skoda (1994-2004) and Carolyn McCormick as Dr. Elizabeth Olivet (1991-2008). 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 Hill's character, Adam Schiff, was based on real-life New York County
Manhattan

Manhattan is one of the five borough of New York City, located primarily on Manhattan Island at the mouth of the Hudson River.With a United States Census of 1,620,867 living in a land area of 22.96 square miles , Manhattan, coextensive with New York County, is the most population density county in the United States, w...
 District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau
Robert M. Morgenthau

Robert Morris Morgenthau is an United States lawyer. Since 1975, he has been the District Attorney for New York County, New York, which is the borough of Manhattan in New York City....
 who still serves in the post, aged 89. Leslie Hendrix
Leslie Hendrix

Leslie Hendrix is an United States actress. She is best known for playing the role of Elizabeth Rodgers on all four "Law & Order" series . She also played Judge Hannah Lampert on the soap opera All My Children....
 as Medical Examiner Elizabeth Rodgers
Elizabeth Rodgers

Elizabeth Rodgers is a recurring character in the fictional universe of the crime drama franchise Law & Order. She is played by Leslie Hendrix....
 (1991-present) is the only character from the second season to still appear on the show, though she is not a regular character.

Notable guest stars over the years include Ellen Muth
Ellen Muth

Ellen Anna Muth is an American actor, known for her role as George Lass in Showtime's short-lived series Dead Like Me. She is a member of Intertel and Mensa International....
, Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts

Julia Fiona Roberts is an American actress and former fashion model. She became well known during the early 1990s after starring in the romantic comedy Pretty Woman opposite Richard Gere, which grossed $463 million worldwide....
, James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones

James Earl Jones is an United Statesn actor of theater and screen, well known for his deep bass voice....
, Bob Gunton
Bob Gunton

Bob Gunton is an United States actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as Prison warden Samuel Norton in the 1994 in film prison film The Shawshank Redemption....
, Allison Janney
Allison Janney

Allison Brooks Janney is an Emmy Award-winning United States actor, best known for playing C. J. Cregg on The West Wing and Prudy Pingleton in Hairspray ....
, Robert Klein
Robert Klein

Robert Klein is an United States stand-up comedian and actor....
, Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel Leroy Jackson is an United States film and television actor. Jackson came to fame in the early 1990s, after a series of well-reviewed performances, and has since become a major film star and cultural icon, having appeared in a large number of high-grossing films....
, Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase

Cornelius Crane ?Chevy? Chase is an United States Emmy Award comedian, writer, and television and film actor. Born into a prominent family, Chase quickly became a key cast member in the inaugural season of Saturday Night Live, where his Weekend Update skit quickly became a staple of the show....
, Tom Berenger
Tom Berenger

Tom Berenger is an Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winning United States actor known mainly for his roles in action films....
, Laura Linney
Laura Linney

Laura Leggett Linney is an American actress. Throughout her career in film, television, and theatre, Linney has won three Emmy Award Awards, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award Award and has also been nominated for three Oscars and a BAFTA Award....
, Eric Bogosian
Eric Bogosian

Eric Bogosian is an United States actor, playwright, monologist, and novelist....
, Alan King, Gary Busey
Gary Busey

'William Gareth Jacob "Gary" Busey' is an Academy Award- and Golden Globe Award-nominated American film and stage actor and artist. He has appeared in a number of films, including Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas , The Buddy Holly Story, Big Wednesday, Lethal Weapon, Point Break, The Firm , Gingerdead Man, Black Sh...
, Nancy Marchand, Claire Danes
Claire Danes

Claire Catherine Danes is a Golden Globe Award-winning and Emmy Award-nominated American film, television, and theater actor most known for the television series My So-Called Life and the films Romeo + Juliet, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Stardust , and voice acting for Princess Mononoke....
, Lauren Graham
Lauren Graham

Lauren Helen Graham is an United States actress, best known for her starring role as Lorelai Gilmore on the WB Network dramedy series Gilmore Girls....
, Harry Hamlin
Harry Hamlin

'Harry Robinson Hamlin' is an United States film and television actor, known for his role as Perseus in the 1981 fantasy film Clash of the Titans, and as Michael Kuzak in the acclaimed legal drama series L.A....
, Chris Cooper
Chris Cooper (actor)

Christopher W. "Chris" Cooper is an Academy Award-winning United States film actor. He became well known in the late 1990s, having appeared in supporting performances in several major Hollywood films, including American Beauty , Capote , October Sky, Seabiscuit , and Breach ....
, William H. Macy
William H. Macy

William Hall Macy, Jr. is an Academy Award-nominated, double Emmy- and Screen Actors Guild Award-winning American actor. He is also a teacher and director in theater, film and television....
, Jennifer Beals
Jennifer Beals

Jennifer Beals is an United States film Actor and former teen model . She is known for her roles as Alexandra "Alex" Owens in the 1983 film Flashdance and as Bette Porter on the lesbian-themed drama series The L Word....
, Ludacris
Ludacris

Christopher Bridges , better known by his stage name Ludacris, Grammy Award-winning American rapping. Along with his manager, Chaka Zulu, Ludacris is the co-founder of Disturbing tha Peace, an imprint distributed by Def Jam Recordings....
, Werner Klemperer
Werner Klemperer

Werner Klemperer was an Emmy Award-winning comedic actor, best known for his role as Colonel Klink on the television sitcom, Hogan's Heroes....
, Candice Bergen
Candice Bergen

'Candice Patricia Bergen' is an Academy Awards-nominated and Golden Globe- and Emmy Awards-winning United States actress and former fashion model, best known for her starring role on the television situation comedy Murphy Brown, and as Shirley Schmidt, the legal partner of Denny Crane , on the American Broadcasting Company comedy-drama B...
, Ellen Pompeo
Ellen Pompeo

Ellen Kathleen Pompeo is a Golden Globe Awards-nominated and Screen Actors Guild award-winning American actress, known for playing the title role of Meredith Grey on the American Broadcasting Company medical drama Grey's Anatomy....
, Kate Walsh
Kate Walsh

Kate Walsh may refer to:*Kate Walsh , American actress*Kate Walsh , late Irish politician*Kate Walsh , British singer*Kate O'Beirne, born Kate Walsh, right-wing U.S....
, Edie Falco
Edie Falco

Edith "Edie" Falco is a three-time Emmy award-winning United States television, film and stage actor, known for her lead role as Carmela Soprano on HBO's award winning hit series The Sopranos....
, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman

Philip Seymour Hoffman is an American stage and film actor and director.Hoffman began his professional acting career in television in 1991, and the following year began appearing in films....
, Cynthia Nixon
Cynthia Nixon

Cynthia Ellen Nixon is a Tony Award-, two-time Emmy Award- and Grammy Award-winning United States actor, known for her portrayal of lawyer Miranda Hobbes in the popular Home Box Office series Sex and the City ....
, Mandy Patinkin
Mandy Patinkin

Mandel Bruce ?Mandy? Patinkin is an American actor of stage and screen and a tenor vocalist. Patinkin is known for his roles in television series such as: Chicago Hope, Dead Like Me and the first two seasons of Criminal Minds....
, Patrick Stump
Patrick Stump

Patrick Martin Stumph was born on April 27, 1984, in Glenview, Illinois. He is an American musician, composer, record producer and music critic....
, Earl Hindman
Earl Hindman

Earl John Hindman was an United States actor. He is best known for his portrayal of the character Wilson on the television situation comedy Home Improvement ....
, Jerry Stiller
Jerry Stiller

Gerald Isaac "Jerry" Stiller is an United States of America Emmy Award-nominated comedian and actor.He spent many years in the comedy team Stiller and Meara with his wife Anne Meara....
, Mercedes Ruehl
Mercedes Ruehl

Mercedes J. Ruehl is an American theater, television and film actor....
, Michael Rooker
Michael Rooker

Michael Rooker is an United States actor, known for playing the title role in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer....
, Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith

Kevin Patrick Smith is an American screenwriter and film director, as well as a script writer, author, and actor. He is also the co-founder, with Scott Mosier, of View Askew Productions and owner of Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash comic and novelty store in Red Bank, New Jersey, New Jersey....
, Bruce Vilanch
Bruce Vilanch

Bruce Vilanch is an United States comedy writer who caught the public eye when he became a wisecracking regular on the revamped Hollywood Squares, with Whoopi Goldberg....
, Michael Imperioli
Michael Imperioli

James Michael Imperioli , commonly known as Michael Imperioli, is an Emmy Award-winning and Golden Globe Award-nominated American actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as Christopher Moltisanti on The Sopranos....
, Vincent Pastore
Vincent Pastore

Vincent Pastore is an United States actor, often cast as a mobster and best known for the role of Sal Bonpensiero on The Sopranos....
, Joe Piscopo
Joe Piscopo

Joseph Charles John "Joe" Piscopo is an United States comedian and actor best known for his work on Saturday Night Live....
, Larry Miller
Larry Miller (actor)

Lawrence J. "Larry" Miller is an United States Stand-up comedy comedian, actor and columnist who frequently portrays babbling, obsequious yes man, slightly odd friends, wisecracking professionals and other Second banana characters to headlining comedians in movies and television shows....
, Mark Linn-Baker
Mark Linn-Baker

Mark Linn-Baker is an United States actor and Television director famous for his role as Larry Appleton on the television situation comedy, Perfect Strangers ....
, Tom Everett Scott
Tom Everett Scott

Thomas Everett Scott is an United States actor. He is perhaps best known for his starring role as drummer Guy Patterson in the 1996 hit movie That Thing You Do!....
, Jennifer Garner
Jennifer Garner

'Jennifer Anne Garner Affleck' is an United States actor. She is best known for her role as CIA agent Sydney Bristow on TV's Alias , as well as for her roles in the films Juno , Pearl Harbor , Dude, Where's My Car?, 13 Going on 30, Catch Me if You Can, Daredevil , Elektra , Catch and Release , and The King...
, Emmy Rossum
Emmy Rossum

Emmanuelle Grey "Emmy" Rossum is an American actress and singer-songwriter. She has starred in films such as The Day After Tomorrow, Poseidon , The Phantom of the Opera and Dragonball Evolution....
 and Charlie Day
Charlie Day

Charlie Day is an United States television and film actor best known for playing Charlie Kelly on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia....
.

Some of the actors in the series have appeared in other crime series, either before or after playing their roles on Law & Order. Such cases include Jeremy Sisto
Jeremy Sisto

Jeremy Merton Sisto is an United States actor. He has had many prominent roles in movies and television, and is probably best known for his recurring role as Billy Chenowith on the HBO series Six Feet Under and Cyrus_Lupo on "Law & Order"....
 and Linus Roache
Linus Roache

Linus William Roache is an England actor.He was born in Manchester, the son of Coronation Street actor William Roache and actress Anna Cropper....
 in Kidnapped
Kidnapped

Kidnapped may refer to:* the crime of kidnappingIn books:* Kidnapped , a book by Robert Louis Stevenson which has been adapted a number of times in different media...
, Angie Harmon
Angie Harmon

Angela Michelle "Angie" Harmon is an United States model and television/film actor. She became a well-known model in the 1990s and developed a career as a television star after roles on Baywatch Nights and Law & Order....
 in Women's Murder Club
Women's Murder Club

Women's Murder Club is an United States police procedural and legal drama, which ran on American Broadcasting Company from October 12, 2007, to May 13, 2008....
, Anthony Anderson
Anthony Anderson

Anthony Alexandre Anderson is an United States actor, comedian and writer. He has starred his own sitcom All About the Andersons, as well as dramas such as K-Ville and Law & Order....
 in K-Ville
K-Ville

K-Ville may refer to:* Krzyzewskiville, a line of students wishing to gain access to basketball games at Duke University.* K-Ville , a 2007 television series on FOX....
 and The Shield
The Shield

The Shield was an United States drama television series which aired on FX in the U.S. and other networks internationally. Known for its controversial portrayal of corrupt police officers, it was originally advertised as "Rampart, Los Angeles, California" in reference to the true life Rampart Scandal, which the show's Strike Team was loos...
, and Jill Hennessy
Jill Hennessy

Jillian Noel Hennessy is a Canada actor, known for her television roles on Law & Order and Crossing Jordan....
 in Crossing Jordan
Crossing Jordan

Crossing Jordan is an United States television crime/drama series that aired on NBC from September 24 2001 to May 16 2007. It stars Jill Hennessy as the crime-solving medical examiner, Jordan Cavanaugh....
.

Merkerson appeared on the series as the mother of a murder victim, and Orbach and Sisto appeared on the series as defense attorneys before joining the cast as detectives.

Season Senior Detective Junior Detective Police
Commanding Officer
Executive Assistant
District Attorney
Assistant
District Attorney
District Attorney Also Starring
1
List of Law & Order episodes (season 1)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' premiere television season :...
Sgt. Max Greevey
(George Dzundza
George Dzundza

George Dzundza is an American actor. He played Max Greevey in the first season of the TV crime drama Law & Order....
)
Mike Logan
Mike Logan (Law & Order)

Michael "Mike" Logan, played by Chris Noth, is a fictional character in the Law & Order franchise....

(Chris Noth
Chris Noth

Christopher David "Chris" Noth is a Golden Globe Award-nominated United States actor and poet. He is known for two long-running television roles: as Mike Logan on Law & Order and Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and as Mr....
)
Capt. Don Cragen
(Dann Florek
Dann Florek

Dann Florek is an United States actor and film director.Florek attended Eastern Michigan University, but never graduated from the institution....
)
Ben Stone
Benjamin Stone

Benjamin "Ben" Stone is a fictional character portrayed by Michael Moriarty in the TV drama Law & Order....

(Michael Moriarty
Michael Moriarty

Michael Moriarty is an United States-Canada Tony Award and Emmy Award-winning actor of stage and screen, as well as a prominent jazz musician. He is best known for his role as Benjamin Stone on the long-running TV series Law & Order....
)
Paul Robinette
Paul Robinette

Paul Robinette, played by Richard Brooks , is a fictional character who appeared in the Television drama series Law & Order from the pilot episode in 1990 until the final episode of the third season, "Benevolence," in 1993....

(Richard Brooks
Richard Brooks (actor)

Richard L. Brooks is an African-American actor, singer, and film director.Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Ohio, Brooks studied acting, dance, and Voice instrumental music work at Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan....
)
Adam Schiff
Adam Schiff (Law & Order)

Adam Schiff is a fictional character on the TV drama series Law & Order. He was played by Steven Hill from 1990 to 2000. Hill was the one of the main characters of the series and appeared in every episode of the first ten seasons, with the exception of the pilot....

(Steven Hill
Steven Hill

Steven Hill is an American film and television actor. His two best known roles were District Attorney Adam Schiff on the NBC TV drama series Law & Order, whom he portrayed for ten seasons , and Dan Briggs, the original team leader of the Impossible Missions Force on CBS's television series Mission Impossible, whom he portrayed on...
)
 
2
List of Law & Order episodes (season 2)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' second season :...
Sgt. Phil Cerreta
(Paul Sorvino
Paul Sorvino

Paul Anthony Sorvino is an American actor whose career has largely been the portrayal of authority figures, on both sides of the law, in television, stage, and film....
)
3
List of Law & Order episodes (season 3)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' third season :...
Dr. Elizabeth Olivet
Elizabeth Olivet

Dr. Elizabeth Olivet is a fictional character on the TV crime drama Law & Order. She was portrayed by Carolyn McCormick from 1991 to 1997 and 1999....

(Carolyn McCormick
Carolyn McCormick

Carolyn Inez McCormick is an American actress.McCormick was born in Midland, Texas to a father who owned an oil drilling company. She graduated from Williams College in 1981 with a B.A....
)
Lennie Briscoe
Lennie Briscoe

Leonard W. "Lennie" Briscoe was a fictional character on NBC's long running Police procedural, Law & Order. He was featured on the show for 12 seasons, from 1992 to 2004....

(Jerry Orbach
Jerry Orbach

'Jerome Bernard Orbach' was an United States Tony Award-winning actor, perhaps best known for his starring role as Lennie Briscoe in the Law & Order television series and for being a noted musical theater star; most notably El Gallo in The Fantasticks, Julian Marsh in 42nd Street, and Billy Flynn in the original production of Chi...
)
4
List of Law & Order episodes (season 4)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' fourth season :...
Lt. Anita Van Buren
Anita Van Buren

Lt. Anita Van Buren is a fictional character on NBC's long running drama, Law & Order, portrayed by S. Epatha Merkerson. She is the longest-running character on the show....

(S. Epatha Merkerson
S. Epatha Merkerson

S. Epatha Merkerson is an United States Golden Globe-, Screen Actors Guild-, NAACP Image Award- and Emmy Award-winning actress. She has also received two Tony Award nominations....
)
Claire Kincaid
Claire Kincaid

Claire Kincaid is a fictional character on the television series Law & Order, played by Jill Hennessy from 1993 to 1996....

(Jill Hennessy
Jill Hennessy

Jillian Noel Hennessy is a Canada actor, known for her television roles on Law & Order and Crossing Jordan....
)
5
List of Law & Order episodes (season 5)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' fifth season :...
Jack McCoy
Jack McCoy

John James "Jack" McCoy is a fictional character in the television drama Law & Order, created by Michael Chernuchin and played by Sam Waterston since 1994....

(Sam Waterston
Sam Waterston

Samuel Atkinson "Sam" Waterston is an Academy Award-nominated United States actor noted particularly for his portrayal of Jack McCoy on the National Broadcasting Company television series Law & Order....
)
 
6
List of Law & Order episodes (season 6)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' sixth season :...
Rey Curtis
Rey Curtis

Reynaldo "Rey" Curtis is a fictional character on the TV drama Law & Order, created by Ed Zuckerman and played by Benjamin Bratt from 1995 to 1999....

(Benjamin Bratt
Benjamin Bratt

'Benjamin G. Bratt' is an Emmy Award-nominated United States actor. He is most famous for his acting on the tv show Law & Order; and in the movies Miss Congeniality , Traffic , and Pi?ero....
)
7
List of Law & Order episodes (season 7)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' seventh season :...
Jamie Ross
Jamie Ross

Jamie Ross is a fictional character on the TV drama Law & Order, created by Rene Balcer and portrayed by Carey Lowell from 1996 to 1998. She also appears in the short-lived Law & Order spin-off Law & Order: Trial By Jury, by which time the character has become a judge....

(Carey Lowell
Carey Lowell

Carey Lowell is an United States actor and former Model ....
)
8
List of Law & Order episodes (season 8)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' eighth season :...
9
List of Law & Order episodes (season 9)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' ninth season :...
Abbie Carmichael
Abbie Carmichael

Abigail "Abbie" Carmichael is a fictional character on the TV drama Law & Order created by Rene Balcer and portrayed by model /actress Angie Harmon....

(Angie Harmon
Angie Harmon

Angela Michelle "Angie" Harmon is an United States model and television/film actor. She became a well-known model in the 1990s and developed a career as a television star after roles on Baywatch Nights and Law & Order....
)
10
List of Law & Order episodes (season 10)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' tenth season :...
Ed Green
Ed Green

Edward "Ed" Green is a fictional character on the NBC crime drama Law & Order, created by Rene Balcer and portrayed by Jesse L. Martin....

(Jesse L. Martin
Jesse L. Martin

Jesse Lamont Martin is an United States theatre, film, and television actor, best known for originating the role of Tom Collins in Rent and as Ed Green in the NBC series Law & Order ....
)
11
List of Law & Order episodes (season 11)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' eleventh season :CastLaw*Jerry Orbach ? Lennie Briscoe...
Nora Lewin
Nora Lewin

Nora Lewin was a fictional television character on the TV show Law & Order, played by two-time Academy Awards winning actress Dianne Wiest from 2000 to 2002....

(Dianne Wiest
Dianne Wiest

Dianne Wiest is an American actress. She has enjoyed a successful career on stage, television, and film, and has won two Academy Awards, two Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award....
)
12
List of Law & Order episodes (season 12)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' twelfth season :...
Serena Southerlyn
Serena Southerlyn

Serena Southerlyn is a fictional fictional character on the long-running NBC drama series Law & Order....

(Elisabeth Röhm
Elisabeth Röhm

Elisabeth R?hm is a Germany-born United States television actress, best known for playing Assistant District Attorney Serena Southerlyn on the television drama Law & Order, a role she played from 2001 to 2005 and as Detective Kate Lockley during season one and two of the tv series Angel ....
)
13
List of Law & Order episodes (season 13)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' thirteenth season :...
Arthur Branch
Arthur Branch

Arthur Branch is a fictional attorney and a regular character on the TV crime dramas Law & Order and Law & Order: Trial by Jury. Branch has also appeared on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Conviction ....

(Fred Thompson)
14
List of Law & Order episodes (season 14)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' fourteenth season :...
15
List of Law & Order episodes (season 15)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' fifteenth season :CastLaw*Dennis Farina ? Joe Fontana ...
Joe Fontana
(Dennis Farina
Dennis Farina

Dennis Farina is an United States film and television actor. He is a character actor, often typecasting as a mobster or police officer....
)
Alexandra Borgia
Alexandra Borgia

Alexandra Borgia is a fictional character, played by Annie Parisse, who appeared on the long-running NBC drama series Law & Order from 2005-2006....

(Annie Parisse
Annie Parisse

Anne Marie Cancelmi , known as Annie Parisse, is an United States television, film and theater actress, known for playing Alexandra Borgia on the television drama Law & Order, a role she played from 2005 until 2006 in 33 episodes as well as Julia Lindsey Snyder from the daytime soap opera As the World Turns....
)
Nick Falco
Nick Falco

Det. Nick Falco is a fictional character on the NBC crime drama Law & Order, portrayed by Michael Imperioli. He first appeared as Joseph Fontana's partner in the last four episodes of the show's 15th season while Jesse L....

(Michael Imperioli
Michael Imperioli

James Michael Imperioli , commonly known as Michael Imperioli, is an Emmy Award-winning and Golden Globe Award-nominated American actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as Christopher Moltisanti on The Sopranos....
)
16
List of Law & Order episodes (season 16)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' sixteenth season :...
Ed Green
Ed Green

Edward "Ed" Green is a fictional character on the NBC crime drama Law & Order, created by Rene Balcer and portrayed by Jesse L. Martin....

(Jesse L. Martin
Jesse L. Martin

Jesse Lamont Martin is an United States theatre, film, and television actor, best known for originating the role of Tom Collins in Rent and as Ed Green in the NBC series Law & Order ....
)
17
List of Law & Order episodes (season 17)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' seventeenth season :...
Ed Green
Ed Green

Edward "Ed" Green is a fictional character on the NBC crime drama Law & Order, created by Rene Balcer and portrayed by Jesse L. Martin....

(Jesse L. Martin
Jesse L. Martin

Jesse Lamont Martin is an United States theatre, film, and television actor, best known for originating the role of Tom Collins in Rent and as Ed Green in the NBC series Law & Order ....
)
Nina Cassady
Nina Cassady

Det. Nina Cassady is a fictional character on the NBC crime drama Law & Order, portrayed by Milena Govich. Govich initially appeared as a bartender in a sixteenth season episode called Flaw....

(Milena Govich
Milena Govich

Milena Govich is an United States actress. She was born in Norman, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, both of her parents, Bruce and Marilyn Govich,are professors of music, Bruce worked at University of Oklahoma and Marilyn currently works at The University of Central Oklahoma....
)
Connie Rubirosa
Connie Rubirosa

Consuela "Connie" Rubirosa is a fictional character, portrayed by Alana de la Garza, who joined the cast of long-running NBC drama series Law & Order during the List of Law & Order episodes premiere episode "Fame."...

(Alana de la Garza
Alana de la Garza

Alana de la Garza is an United States actress....
)
18
List of Law & Order episodes (season 18)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' eighteenth season ....
Cyrus Lupo
Cyrus Lupo

Det. Cyrus "Lupes" Lupo is a fictional character on the long-running NBC series Law & Order. He is played by Jeremy Sisto and replaced Nina Cassady, who was written out of the show due to Milena Govich departure from the cast....

(Jeremy Sisto
Jeremy Sisto

Jeremy Merton Sisto is an United States actor. He has had many prominent roles in movies and television, and is probably best known for his recurring role as Billy Chenowith on the HBO series Six Feet Under and Cyrus_Lupo on "Law & Order"....
)
Michael Cutter
Michael Cutter

Michael "Mike" Cutter is a fictional character on the long-running NBC series Law & Order played by Linus Roache. The character debuted in the show's eighteenth season premiere, broadcast January 2, 2008....

(Linus Roache
Linus Roache

Linus William Roache is an England actor.He was born in Manchester, the son of Coronation Street actor William Roache and actress Anna Cropper....
)
Jack McCoy
Jack McCoy

John James "Jack" McCoy is a fictional character in the television drama Law & Order, created by Michael Chernuchin and played by Sam Waterston since 1994....

(Sam Waterston
Sam Waterston

Samuel Atkinson "Sam" Waterston is an Academy Award-nominated United States actor noted particularly for his portrayal of Jack McCoy on the National Broadcasting Company television series Law & Order....
)
Cyrus Lupo
Cyrus Lupo

Det. Cyrus "Lupes" Lupo is a fictional character on the long-running NBC series Law & Order. He is played by Jeremy Sisto and replaced Nina Cassady, who was written out of the show due to Milena Govich departure from the cast....

(Jeremy Sisto
Jeremy Sisto

Jeremy Merton Sisto is an United States actor. He has had many prominent roles in movies and television, and is probably best known for his recurring role as Billy Chenowith on the HBO series Six Feet Under and Cyrus_Lupo on "Law & Order"....
)
Kevin Bernard
Kevin Bernard

Kevin Bernard is a fictional character on the TV crime drama Law & Order, portrayed by Anthony Anderson....

(Anthony Anderson
Anthony Anderson

Anthony Alexandre Anderson is an United States actor, comedian and writer. He has starred his own sitcom All About the Andersons, as well as dramas such as K-Ville and Law & Order....
)
19
List of Law & Order episodes (season 19)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' nineteenth season ....


Seasons

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 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.
Season Premiere Finale No. episodes Timeslot Ratings rank Viewership (millions)
Season 1
List of Law & Order episodes (season 1)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' premiere television season :...
September 13, 1990 June 9, 1991 22 Tuesday 10:00 p.m.  
Season 2
List of Law & Order episodes (season 2)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' second season :...
September 17, 1991 May 14, 1992 22  
Season 3
List of Law & Order episodes (season 3)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' third season :...
September 23, 1992 May 19, 199322 Wednesday 10:00 p.m.  
Season 4
List of Law & Order episodes (season 4)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' fourth season :...
September 15, 1993 May 25, 199422  
Season 5
List of Law & Order episodes (season 5)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' fifth season :...
September 21, 1994 May 24, 199523 #27 11.6
Season 6
List of Law & Order episodes (season 6)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' sixth season :...
September 20, 1995 May 22, 199623 #24 10.9
Season 7
List of Law & Order episodes (season 7)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' seventh season :...
September 18, 1996 May 21, 199723 #27 10.4
Season 8
List of Law & Order episodes (season 8)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' eighth season :...
September 24, 1997 May 20, 199824 #20 9.9
Season 9
List of Law & Order episodes (season 9)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' ninth season :...
September 23, 1998 May 26, 199924 #13 10.0
Season 10
List of Law & Order episodes (season 10)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' tenth season :...
September 22, 1999 May 24, 200024 #15 16.2
Season 11
List of Law & Order episodes (season 11)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' eleventh season :CastLaw*Jerry Orbach ? Lennie Briscoe...
October 18, 2000 May 23, 200124 #11 17.7
Season 12
List of Law & Order episodes (season 12)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' twelfth season :...
September 26, 2001 May 22, 200224 #7 18.7
Season 13
List of Law & Order episodes (season 13)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' thirteenth season :...
October 2, 2002 May 21, 200324 #10 17.3
Season 14
List of Law & Order episodes (season 14)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' fourteenth season :...
September 24, 2003 May 19, 200424 #14 15.9
Season 15
List of Law & Order episodes (season 15)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' fifteenth season :CastLaw*Dennis Farina ? Joe Fontana ...
September 22, 2004 May 18, 200524 #25 13.0
Season 16
List of Law & Order episodes (season 16)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' sixteenth season :...
September 21, 2005 May 17, 200622 #37 11.0
Season 17
List of Law & Order episodes (season 17)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' seventeenth season :...
September 22, 2006 May 18, 200722 Friday 10:00 p.m. #73 8.9
Season 18
List of Law & Order episodes (season 18)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' eighteenth season ....
January 22008 May 21200818Wednesday 10:00 p.m. #38 10.7
Season 19
List of Law & Order episodes (season 19)

The following is a list of Law & Order episodes from the series' nineteenth season ....
November 5 2008 TBA 22 N/A 8.29


Awards and honors


Awards won

Emmy Awards:
  • Outstanding Drama Series (1997)


Screen Actors Guild
Screen Actors Guild

The Screen Actors Guild is an American trade union representing over 120,000 film and television actor and extra worldwide. According to SAG's Mission Statement, the Guild seeks to: negotiate and enforce collective bargaining agreements that establish equitable levels of compensation, benefits, and working conditions for its performers; col...
:
  • Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series Sam Waterston
    Sam Waterston

    Samuel Atkinson "Sam" Waterston is an Academy Award-nominated United States actor noted particularly for his portrayal of Jack McCoy on the National Broadcasting Company television series Law & Order....
     (1999)
  • Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series Jerry Orbach
    Jerry Orbach

    'Jerome Bernard Orbach' was an United States Tony Award-winning actor, perhaps best known for his starring role as Lennie Briscoe in the Law & Order television series and for being a noted musical theater star; most notably El Gallo in The Fantasticks, Julian Marsh in 42nd Street, and Billy Flynn in the original production of Chi...
     (2005)


Edgar Award
Edgar Award

The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America. They honor the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction, television, film and theatre published or produced in the past year....
s:
  • Best Episode in a Television Series Teleplay René Balcer
    René Balcer

    Ren? Balcer is an Emmy-Award winning Canada television writer and producer.He was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and attended the Lower Canada College in Montreal....
     and Michael S. Chernuchin, for "Conspiracy" (1993)
  • Best Episode in a Television Series Teleplay I. C. Rapoport
    I. C. Rapoport

    I.C. Rapoport is known both for his work as a photojournalist in the 1960s and more recently as a TV and film screenwriter. Rapoport's photography career is noted for his Life photo essay on the aftermath of the tragic Aberfan, Wales disaster, and also for his exclusive and rare photographs of Joseph Pilates, the now famous fitness mast...
     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
    René Balcer

    Ren? Balcer is an Emmy-Award winning Canada television writer and producer.He was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and attended the Lower Canada College in Montreal....
     and Richard Sweren, for "Bad Girl" (1999)
  • Best Episode in a Television Series Teleplay René Balcer
    René Balcer

    Ren? Balcer is an Emmy-Award winning Canada television writer and producer.He was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and attended the Lower Canada College in Montreal....
    , 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
    Sam Waterston

    Samuel Atkinson "Sam" Waterston is an Academy Award-nominated United States actor noted particularly for his portrayal of Jack McCoy on the National Broadcasting Company television series Law & Order....
     (1997, 1999–2000)
  • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Jerry Orbach
    Jerry Orbach

    'Jerome Bernard Orbach' was an United States Tony Award-winning actor, perhaps best known for his starring role as Lennie Briscoe in the Law & Order television series and for being a noted musical theater star; most notably El Gallo in The Fantasticks, Julian Marsh in 42nd Street, and Billy Flynn in the original production of Chi...
     (2000)
  • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Michael Moriarty
    Michael Moriarty

    Michael Moriarty is an United States-Canada Tony Award and Emmy Award-winning actor of stage and screen, as well as a prominent jazz musician. He is best known for his role as Benjamin Stone on the long-running TV series Law & Order....
     (1991–1994)
  • Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Steven Hill
    Steven Hill

    Steven Hill is an American film and television actor. His two best known roles were District Attorney Adam Schiff on the NBC TV drama series Law & Order, whom he portrayed for ten seasons , and Dan Briggs, the original team leader of the Impossible Missions Force on CBS's television series Mission Impossible, whom he portrayed on...
     (1998–1999)
  • Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Benjamin Bratt
    Benjamin Bratt

    'Benjamin G. Bratt' is an Emmy Award-nominated United States actor. He is most famous for his acting on the tv show Law & Order; and in the movies Miss Congeniality , Traffic , and Pi?ero....
     (1998)
  • Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Drama Series for "Manhood" Robert Nathan
    Robert Nathan

    Robert Gruntal Nathan was an United States novelist and poet.Nathan was born into a prominent New York City family. He was educated in the United States and Switzerland and attended Harvard University for several years beginning in 1912....
     & Walon Green
    Walon Green

    Walon Green is an American documentary film director and screenwriter for both TV and films....
     (1993)


Golden Globe Awards:
  • Best TV Series-Drama (1992, 1994–1995, 1998–1999)
  • Best Performance by an Actor in a Drama Series-Drama Sam Waterston
    Sam Waterston

    Samuel Atkinson "Sam" Waterston is an Academy Award-nominated United States actor noted particularly for his portrayal of Jack McCoy on the National Broadcasting Company television series Law & Order....
     (1995)
  • Best Performance by an Actor in a Drama Series-Drama Michael Moriarty
    Michael Moriarty

    Michael Moriarty is an United States-Canada Tony Award and Emmy Award-winning actor of stage and screen, as well as a prominent jazz musician. He is best known for his role as Benjamin Stone on the long-running TV series Law & Order....
     (1994)


Screen Actors Guild
Screen Actors Guild

The Screen Actors Guild is an American trade union representing over 120,000 film and television actor and extra worldwide. According to SAG's Mission Statement, the Guild seeks to: negotiate and enforce collective bargaining agreements that establish equitable levels of compensation, benefits, and working conditions for its performers; col...
:
  • Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (1995–2002, 2004)
  • Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series Sam Waterston
    Sam Waterston

    Samuel Atkinson "Sam" Waterston is an Academy Award-nominated United States actor noted particularly for his portrayal of Jack McCoy on the National Broadcasting Company television series Law & Order....
     (1998)


Edgar Award
Edgar Award

The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America. They honor the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction, television, film and theatre published or produced in the past year....
s:
  • Best Episode in a Television Series Teleplay David Black
    David Black

    David Black may refer to:* David Black , Scottish international football player* David Black , Canadian football offensive lineman* David Black , Western Australian historian...
     & Robert Nathan
    Robert Nathan

    Robert Gruntal Nathan was an United States novelist and poet.Nathan was born into a prominent New York City family. He was educated in the United States and Switzerland and attended Harvard University for several years beginning in 1912....
    , for "Happily Ever After" (1991)


Related media


DVD releases

Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a home video company founded in 1978 as MCA DiscoVision. The company is owned NBC Universal, the entertainment division of General Electric and Vivendi....
 has released Law & Order on DVD in Regions 1, 2 & 4 for the very first time. Seasons 1-6 have been released in Regions 1 and 2, while in Region 4 they have released Seasons 1-5. Season 6 will be released in Region 4 on March 4, 2009.

Title Ep# Release dates
Region 1 Region 2 Region 4
The Complete 1st Season22 October 15, 2002 June 16, 2003 April 14, 2003
The Complete 2nd Season22 May 4, 2004 February 28, 2005 January 19, 2005
The Complete 3rd Season22 May 24, 2005 November 21, 2005 March 8, 2006
The Complete 4th Season22 December 6, 2005 July 17, 2006 September 19, 2006
The Complete 5th Season23 April 3, 2007 July 23, 2007 July 30, 2007
The Complete 6th Season23 December 2, 2008 February 16, 2009 March 4, 2009
The Complete 7th Season23 TBA TBA TBA
The Complete 8th Season24 TBA TBA TBA
The Complete 9th Season25 TBA TBA TBA
The Complete 10th Season24 TBA TBA TBA
The Complete 11th Season24 TBA TBA TBA
The Complete 12th Season24 TBA TBA TBA
The Complete 13th Season24 TBA TBA TBA
The Complete 14th Season24 September 14 2004 TBA TBA
The Complete 15th Season24 TBA TBA TBA
The Complete 16th Season22 TBA TBA TBA
The Complete 17th Season22 TBA TBA TBA
The Complete 18th Season18 TBA TBA TBA
The Complete 19th Season  TBA TBA TBA


Spin-offs

The show's popularity has resulted in a Law & Order franchise
Law & Order franchise

The term "Law & Order franchise" is commonly used to describe a number of related United States television programs created by Dick Wolf and originally broadcast on NBC, all of which deal with some aspect of the New York City criminal justice system....
 with the creation of three other television dramas under the same brand: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American drama television program about the Special Victims Unit in a fictional version of the 16th Precinct of the New York City Police Department....
 (1999), and Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Law & Order: Criminal Intent

Law & Order: Criminal Intent is an United States television program set in New York City. Criminal Intent premiered on September 30 2001....
 (2001). These two shows focus more on the police side of a case. A short-lived spinoff, Law & Order: Trial by Jury
Law & Order: Trial by Jury

Law & Order: Trial by Jury is an United States television drama about criminal trials set in New York City. It is the fourth spin-off from the long-running Law & Order franchise....
 (2005), which lasted only 13 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
Arrangement

In music, an arrangement is either a rewriting of a piece of existing music with additional new material or a fleshing-out of a compositional sketch, such as a lead sheet....
s (harder guitars for the original Criminal Intent theme, for instance). Law & Order shown on Five in the UK uses Rob Dougan
Rob Dougan

Rob Dougan, also known as Rob D is a genre-blending music composer. Mixing elements of orchestra, trip hop, and bluesy vocals, his work is tangentially relatable to electronic music....
's "I'm Not Driving Any More [Instrumental]" as the theme music; Law & Order: Criminal Intent uses Rob Dougan's "There's Only Me [Instrumental]" as the theme music.

The latest and now canceled spinoff, Conviction
Conviction (TV series)

Conviction is an United States television program drama on NBC that debuted as a midseason replacement on Friday, March 3 2006. The cast includes Stephanie March reprising her Law & Order: Special Victims Unit role as Alexandra Cabot ....
, 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

Law & Order: UK, named Law & Order: London in early reports, received its debut airing on February 23, 2009, on Britain's main commercial network ITV
ITV

ITV is a public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom television network of British television broadcasters, set up under the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC....
. The series stars Jamie Bamber
Jamie Bamber

Jamie St John Bamber Griffith is a United Kingdom actor....
, Freema Agyeman
Freema Agyeman

Freema Agyeman is a British actor of Ghanaian and Iranian peoples descent who is best known for playing Martha Jones, former Companion of the Tenth Doctor in the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who, and its...
, Bradley Walsh
Bradley Walsh

Bradley Walsh is an England Comedy and television actor....
, Harriet Walter
Harriet Walter

Harriet Mary Walter, Order of the British Empire, is a United Kingdom actress....
 and Bill Paterson
Bill Paterson

Bill Paterson is a Scotland stage, film, and television actor....
, with scripts based on episodes from the US original. It is produced by Kudos
Kudos (production company)

Kudos Film & Television is a UK-based film and television production company, which has produced drama series for most of the major television networks in the United Kingdom....
 in association with Wolf Films and NBC.

Crossovers

Law & Order crossed over
Fictional crossover

A fictional crossover is the placement of two or more otherwise discrete fictional fictional character, Setting s, or fictional universe into the context of a single Narrative....
 six times with other NBC shows:

  • "Charm City" (Law & Order 6x13), continued in "For God and Country" (Homicide: Life on the Street
    Homicide: Life on the Street

    Homicide: Life on the Street is an United States television police procedural series chronicling the work of a fictional Baltimore Baltimore Police Department homicide unit....
     4x12)
  • "Baby, It's You – Part I" (Law & Order 8x6), continued in "Baby, It's You – Part II" (Homicide: Life on the Street
    Homicide: Life on the Street

    Homicide: Life on the Street is an United States television police procedural series chronicling the work of a fictional Baltimore Baltimore Police Department homicide unit....
     6x5)
  • "Sideshow – Part I" (Law & Order 9x14), continued in "Sideshow – Part II" (Homicide: Life on the Street
    Homicide: Life on the Street

    Homicide: Life on the Street is an United States television police procedural series chronicling the work of a fictional Baltimore Baltimore Police Department homicide unit....
     7x15)
  • "Entitled – Part I" (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American drama television program about the Special Victims Unit in a fictional version of the 16th Precinct of the New York City Police Department....
     1x15), continued in "Entitled – Part II" (Law & Order 10x14)
  • "Tombstone" (Law & Order 15x20), continued in "Skeleton" (Law & Order: Trial by Jury
    Law & Order: Trial by Jury

    Law & Order: Trial by Jury is an United States television drama about criminal trials set in New York City. It is the fourth spin-off from the long-running Law & Order franchise....
     1x8)
  • "Design" (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American drama television program about the Special Victims Unit in a fictional version of the 16th Precinct of the New York City Police Department....
     7x2), continued in "Flaw" (Law & Order 16x2)


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
John Waters (filmmaker)

John Samuel Waters, Jr. is an United States Film director, actor, writer, celebrity, visual artist and art collector, who rose to fame in the early 1970s for his transgressive art cult films....
) to Frank Pembleton
Frank Pembleton

Francis Xavier "Frank" Pembleton is a fictional character homicide detective on the television drama series Homicide: Life on the Street portrayed by Emmy Award winning actor Andre Braugher....
 (Andre Braugher
Andre Braugher

Andre Braugher is a two-time Emmy Award-winning United States actor. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of fiery detective Frank Pembleton on Homicide: Life on the Street from 1993 to 1998, and again in the 2000 made-for-TV movie....
). The two detectives engage in some friendly banter about which city is better: New York City
New York City

The City of New York is the List of United States cities by population in the United States, while the New York metropolitan area ranks among the List of urban areas by population....
 or Baltimore. They argue over topics such as Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth

George Herman Ruth, Jr. , also popularly known as "Babe", "The Bambino", and "The Sultan of Swat", was an United States Major League Baseball baseball player from –....
 and Dorothy Parker
Dorothy Parker

Dorothy Parker was an American writer and poet, best known for her caustic wit, wisecracks, and sharp eye for 20th century urban foibles.From a conflicted and unhappy childhood, Parker rose to acclaim, both for her literary output in such venues as The New Yorker and as a founding member of the Algonquin Round Table, a group she later...
.

TV movie


The franchise also includes the TV movie Exiled: A Law & Order Movie
Exiled: A Law & Order Movie

Exiled: A Law & Order Movie is a 1998 television movie that is based on the Law & Order television series; it originally aired on NBC. Written by Charles Kipps and Chris Noth , the movie revolves around Noth's Mike Logan character....
 (1998), which featured the fate of Mike Logan
Mike Logan (Law & Order)

Michael "Mike" Logan, played by Chris Noth, is a fictional character in the Law & Order franchise....
 (played by Chris Noth
Chris Noth

Christopher David "Chris" Noth is a Golden Globe Award-nominated United States actor and poet. He is known for two long-running television roles: as Mike Logan on Law & Order and Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and as Mr....
), one of the popular characters who departed the original series. Noth returned to the role of Detective Mike Logan in Criminal Intent, starting in the 2005 season and leaving again in 2008.

Reality series


The producers crafted a reality television
Reality television

Reality television is a genre of television programming which presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors....
 series, Crime & Punishment
Crime & Punishment

Crime & Punishment, also known as Law & Order: Crime & Punishment, was a 2002 reality television spin-off of the Law & Order franchise....
 (also sometimes called Law & Order: Crime & Punishment) (2002), which focused on actual trials.

Computer games

In addition, there are three computer games of Law & Order in which the player investigates crimes and then prosecutes the resulting cases. There is also a computer game based on Law and Order: Criminal Intent.

  • Law & Order: Dead on the Money
    Law & Order: Dead on the Money

    Law & Order: Dead on the Money is the first in a series of computer games based on the television series Law & Order by Legacy Interactive....
  • Law & Order: Double or Nothing
    Law & Order: Double or Nothing

    Law & Order: Double or Nothing is a computer game released in 2003. The game is based on the popular US television series, Law & Order....
  • Law & Order: Justice is Served
  • 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
    Central Park

    Central Park is a large public, urban park in New York City, with about twenty-five million visitors annually. Most of the areas immediately adjacent to the park are known for impressive buildings and valuable real estate....
    , and the San Francisco dog mauling of Diane Whipple
    Diane Whipple

    Diane Alexis Whipple was a lacrosse player and coach, who is best known as the victim of a fatal dog attack in San Francisco in January 2001. The dogs involved were two Perro de Presa Canario/mastiff mixes named Bane and Hera , owned by neighbors living in the same apartment building....
    , 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
    Gulf War

    "Persian Gulf War" and "First Gulf War" redirect here. For other uses, see Persian Gulf War .The Persian Gulf War was a United Nations-authorized military conflict between Iraq and a Coalition of Gulf War from 34 nations commissioned with expelling Iraqi forces from Kuwait after Iraq's Invasion of Kuwait of Kuwait in August 1990....
     only to be ambushed by a hitman hired by his wife. The book also includes facts about police and legal procedure.


See also

  • List of Law & Order cast members
    List of Law & Order cast members

    These are the actors and actresses, past and present, who have been regular members of the cast for Law & Order....
  • Law & Order franchise
    Law & Order franchise

    The term "Law & Order franchise" is commonly used to describe a number of related United States television programs created by Dick Wolf and originally broadcast on NBC, all of which deal with some aspect of the New York City criminal justice system....
  • Homicide: Life on the Street
    Homicide: Life on the Street

    Homicide: Life on the Street is an United States television police procedural series chronicling the work of a fictional Baltimore Baltimore Police Department homicide unit....
  • Dragnet
    Dragnet (series)

    Dragnet, also known as L.A. Dragnet and syndicated as Badge 714, is a long-running radio and television Police procedural about the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners....
  • Adam-12
    Adam-12

    Adam-12 is an United States television drama which originally aired from September 21, 1968 to August 30, 1975 on NBC for 175 episodes. The show was produced by Jack Webb's Mark VII Limited, which also produced Dragnet and Emergency!....
  • The D.A
  • Hill Street Blues
    Hill Street Blues

    Hill Street Blues is a serial police drama that was first aired on NBC in 1981 and ran for 146 episodes on primetime into 1987. It is currently being aired on AmericanLife TV Network on Sunday nights in the United States, and on weekday afternoons on digital network More 4 in the United Kingdom....
  • NYPD Blue
    NYPD Blue

    NYPD Blue is an United States TV show police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan.....
  • New York Undercover
    New York Undercover

    New York Undercover is a one-hour Police procedural that aired on the FOX television network from 1994 in television to 1998 in television. The program was popular among its Hip hop culture target audience....


External links

  • on TNT
    Turner Network Television

    TNT is an United States Cable television network created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner....
  • Law & Order on the Law & Order Wiki
  • official Universal Studios
    Universal Studios

    Universal Studios , a subsidiary of NBC Universal, is one of the six Worldwide major American film studios. Its production studios are located at 100 Universal City Plaza Drive in Universal City, California....
     website
  • , Mayor's Office of Film, Theater, and Broadcasting