Law & Order (franchise)
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2008) |
| Law & Order franchise | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Dick Wolf |
| Original work | Law & Order |
| Films and television | |
| Television series | Law & Order Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Law & Order: Criminal Intent Law & Order: Trial by Jury Conviction Law & Order: Los Angeles |
| Games | |
| Video game(s) | Law & Order: Dead on the Money Law & Order: Double or Nothing Law & Order: Justice is Served Law & Order: Criminal Intent |
| Miscellaneous | |
| TV film | Exiled: A Law & Order Movie |
| Foriegn adaptations | Paris enquêtes criminelles Law & Order: UK Закон и Порядок: Отдел Оперативных Расследований |
| Related TV series | Homicide: Life on the Street New York Undercover Crime & Punishment Deadline In Plain Sight |
The Law & Order franchise is a number of related American television programs created by Dick Wolf and originally broadcast on NBC, all of which deal with some aspect of the criminal justice system. Together, the original series, its various spin-offs, the TV film, and crossover episodes from other shows constitute over 900 hours of programming.
Shared people and resources in a common fictional setting are the connecting links between the shows, e.g., Hudson University and the New York Ledger tabloid newspaper. Many supporting characters, such as district attorneys, psychologists and medical examiners are also shared among the shows. Occasionally, crossovers of main characters or shared storylines between two of the shows will occur. A few major characters have also left the cast of one show within the franchise only to eventually join another. The franchise also crossed over on several occasions with the independently conceived Homicide: Life on the Street.
The music, style and credits of the shows tend to be similar, with the voiceover in the opening of every series performed by Steven Zirnkilton.[1]. Past episodes of the American series are in syndication with TNT, USA Network, WGN America, and Bravo showing episodes sometimes up to six times a day.
Location
Setting
All of the series thus far have been filmed almost entirely in the New York City area. The original Law & Order series has filmed a few episodes in the Los Angeles area and Baltimore; these episodes or portions of episodes were set in the cities in which they were filmed and concerned multi-jurisdictional investigations or extradition.
With the 2010 introduction of Law & Order: Los Angeles, the franchise will include a new main city, the new series' namesake.
Effects on casting
With some frequency, actors have appeared on the various series that make up the franchise, usually as different (sometimes very different) characters. This is because filming occurs in the New York City area and thus draw from the same pool of actors. Some prominent examples of the same actor playing different roles in different episodes are Diane Neal playing a female rapist in an earlier season of SVU before becoming the ADA (assistant district attorney) for that series, Annabella Sciorra playing a criminal defense attorney in Trial by Jury and later Det. Mike Logan's (Chris Noth) partner in Criminal Intent, as well as Jerry Orbach playing a defense attorney on the original series before joining it as Det. Lennie Briscoe (who despises criminal lawyers), Ice-T playing a pimp known as Seymour Stockton in the franchise's only film, Exiled: A Law & Order Movie, before taking on the role of Det. Fin Tutuola in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999), and Anthony Anderson playing Detective Lucius Blaine in a 7th season episode of SVU before landing a role as Detective Kevin Bernard on Law & Order. Also, due to the New York filming, a number of actors appearing in Law & Order shows have regular or recurring roles on soaps, most notably Tamara Tunie, who in simultaneously played both medical examiner Melinda Warner on SVU, and, until 2006, D.A. Jessica Griffin on As the World Turns.
Also as the result of sharing the same pool of New York-based television actors, the series' casts have had significant overlap with that of the former HBO series, Oz. This is perhaps most pronounced in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, whose original cast included three regularly-credited (Christopher Meloni, B. D. Wong and Dean Winters) and one recurring actor (J. K. Simmons) who were also regularly-credited actors on Oz.
Series
Current series
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999–present)
- The cast for the upcoming 12th season includes Christopher Meloni as Det. Elliot Stabler, Mariska Hargitay as Det. Olivia Benson, Richard Belzer as Det. Sgt. John Munch, Ice-T as Det. Fin Tutuola, Paula Patton as ADA Mikka Von[2], B. D. Wong as Dr. George Huang, Tamara Tunie as Dr. Melinda Warner and Dann Florek as Capt. Don Cragen.
- The show's focus is on detectives who investigate sexually-based crimes and crimes against children.
- The show's focus is on detectives who investigate sexually-based crimes and crimes against children.
- The cast for the upcoming 12th season includes Christopher Meloni as Det. Elliot Stabler, Mariska Hargitay as Det. Olivia Benson, Richard Belzer as Det. Sgt. John Munch, Ice-T as Det. Fin Tutuola, Paula Patton as ADA Mikka Von[2], B. D. Wong as Dr. George Huang, Tamara Tunie as Dr. Melinda Warner and Dann Florek as Capt. Don Cragen.
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001–present)
- The current cast includes Jeff Goldblum as Det. Zach Nichols, Saffron Burrows as Det. Serena Stevens, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Capt. Zoe Callas.
- This show focuses on high-profile cases investigated by the Major Case Squad, with special focus on the actions of the criminals pursued, often including scenes from the victim's or perpetrator's lives not involving the police, thereby giving a hint as to the "criminal intent".
- This show focuses on high-profile cases investigated by the Major Case Squad, with special focus on the actions of the criminals pursued, often including scenes from the victim's or perpetrator's lives not involving the police, thereby giving a hint as to the "criminal intent".
- The current cast includes Jeff Goldblum as Det. Zach Nichols, Saffron Burrows as Det. Serena Stevens, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Capt. Zoe Callas.
Future series
- Law & Order: Los Angeles
- Projected for a Fall 2010 season premiere on NBC,[3] this will be the first American Law & Order series set outside of New York City. So far, Skeet Ulrich and Alfred Molina are the only actors to be cast in the series, as Det. John Winters and ADA Peter Morales, respectively.[4][5]
Past series
- Law & Order (1990–2010)
- The cast for the final season included Jeremy Sisto as Det. Cyrus Lupo, Anthony Anderson as Det. Kevin Bernard, S. Epatha Merkerson as Lt. Anita Van Buren, Linus Roache as EADA Michael Cutter, Alana de la Garza as ADA Connie Rubirosa, and Sam Waterston as District Attorney Jack McCoy.
- The first half hour of the show focuses on the police investigation of a crime discovered in the cold open; the second half takes place at the Manhattan District Attorney's office and focuses on the prosecution of the criminal suspect(s).
- The first half hour of the show focuses on the police investigation of a crime discovered in the cold open; the second half takes place at the Manhattan District Attorney's office and focuses on the prosecution of the criminal suspect(s).
- On May 14, 2010, NBC announced that it was canceling the original series, although various spin-offs will continue. The series finale aired on May 24, 2010. [6]
- Wolf has since stated that he is trying to find a new channel for the series to renew it for a 21st season. If he fails, Wolf considers to conclude the show with a two hour TV film to air on NBC.[7] TNT expressed no interest; but then AMC expressed interest and is currently in the talks of reviving the series.[8]
- The cast for the final season included Jeremy Sisto as Det. Cyrus Lupo, Anthony Anderson as Det. Kevin Bernard, S. Epatha Merkerson as Lt. Anita Van Buren, Linus Roache as EADA Michael Cutter, Alana de la Garza as ADA Connie Rubirosa, and Sam Waterston as District Attorney Jack McCoy.
- Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005–2006)
- Starring Bebe Neuwirth as Tracey Kibre, Amy Carlson as Kelly Gaffney, Kirk Acevedo as Hector Salazar, Scott Cohen as Det. Chris Ravell, Fred Thompson as Arthur Branch, and Jerry Orbach as Lennie Briscoe.
- This series mostly followed the preparation by the legal teams, both prosecution and defense, for a jury trial.
- This was the first Law & Order spin-off to be canceled due to low ratings; Orbach's death (which occurred during taping of the show) also contributed to the show's cancellation, as well as its competition with the hit series Numb3rs.
- Starring Bebe Neuwirth as Tracey Kibre, Amy Carlson as Kelly Gaffney, Kirk Acevedo as Hector Salazar, Scott Cohen as Det. Chris Ravell, Fred Thompson as Arthur Branch, and Jerry Orbach as Lennie Briscoe.
- Conviction (2006)
- Starring Stephanie March as Alexandra Cabot, Anson Mount as Jim Steele, Eric Balfour as Brian Peluso, J. August Richards as Billy Desmond, Milena Govich as Jessica Rossi, Julianne Nicholson as Christina Finn, and Jordan Bridges as Nick Potter.
- The show broke the mold by featuring a larger ensemble cast of young ADAs, with no police, therapists or medical examiners in lead roles
- The cancellation of Conviction was the second failure of the franchise
- The show reused Trial by Jury's sets
- After its cancellation, two of the show's actresses, Milena Govich and Julianne Nicholson, went on to star in Law & Order and Law & Order: Criminal Intent respectively as Detectives Nina Cassidy and Megan Wheeler.
- Starring Stephanie March as Alexandra Cabot, Anson Mount as Jim Steele, Eric Balfour as Brian Peluso, J. August Richards as Billy Desmond, Milena Govich as Jessica Rossi, Julianne Nicholson as Christina Finn, and Jordan Bridges as Nick Potter.
Adaptations outside the U.S.
- Paris enquêtes criminelles (2007–present)[9]
- Starring Vincent Pérez as Lieutenant Vincent Revel, Sandrine Rigaux as Lieutenant Claire Savigny, Jacques Pater as Police Chief Bonnefoy, Hélène Godec as Judge Frances Lherbier, Laure Killing as Judge Fontana, and Audrey Looten as Mélanie Rousseau.
- The show follows the format of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, adapted to Paris and the French legal system under the Napoleonic Code.
- Starring Vincent Pérez as Lieutenant Vincent Revel, Sandrine Rigaux as Lieutenant Claire Savigny, Jacques Pater as Police Chief Bonnefoy, Hélène Godec as Judge Frances Lherbier, Laure Killing as Judge Fontana, and Audrey Looten as Mélanie Rousseau.
- Закон и Порядок: Отдел Оперативных Расследований (Law & Order: Division of Field Investigation) (2007–present)[10]
- Starring Ivan Oganesyan, Alisa Bogart.
- The show follows the format of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, set in Moscow and adapted to the Russian justice system.
- The show follows the format of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, set in Moscow and adapted to the Russian justice system.
- Starring Ivan Oganesyan, Alisa Bogart.
- Закон и порядок: Преступный Умысел (Law & Order: Criminal Intent) (2007–present)[10]
- Starring Igor Lagutin, Alyona Kovalchuk.
- The show follows the format of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, adapted to the Russian justice system.
- Starring Igor Lagutin, Alyona Kovalchuk.
- Law & Order: UK (2009–present)[11][12]
- Starring Bradley Walsh as DS Ronnie Brooks, Jamie Bamber as DS Matt Devlin, Harriet Walter as DI Natalie Chandler, Ben Daniels as James Steel, Freema Agyeman as Alesha Phillips and Bill Paterson as George Castle.
- This show follows the format of the original Law & Order show but adapts it to the new setting of London, England, with detectives from the Metropolitan Police CID and the Crown Prosecution Service attempting to secure conviction.
- Starring Bradley Walsh as DS Ronnie Brooks, Jamie Bamber as DS Matt Devlin, Harriet Walter as DI Natalie Chandler, Ben Daniels as James Steel, Freema Agyeman as Alesha Phillips and Bill Paterson as George Castle.
Related shows
- Homicide: Life on the Street (1993), although it was created by Paul Attanasio and not Dick Wolf, was definitely set in the same universe.
- Homicide and L&O occasionally crossed over.
- Richard Belzer's Det. John Munch transferred from the Baltimore PD to the NYPD on SVU; one of Lennie's former lovers had been previously married to Det. Munch; although Munch was initially resentful of Briscoe, the two quickly bonded over their mutual resentment of the woman.
- Various characters from L&O and Homicide appeared on the opposite series, as two-part stories were periodically begun on an episode of one series and concluded on the other, the same criminal having committed crimes in both Baltimore and New York City, or a crime in one city having a connection in the other.
- New York Undercover (1994), co-created by Kevin Arkadie and Dick Wolf, was implicitly a part of the same universe as the franchise, as psychologist and psychiatrist characters from L&O appeared in the series.
- Deadline (2000), also by Law & Order creator Dick Wolf, featured the franchise's fictitious newspaper, the New York Ledger.
- Crime & Punishment (2002–2004) was a reality/documentary series about real-life criminal cases in the San Diego area. Produced by Dick Wolf, it used the L&O presentation style while documenting the case.
- In Plain Sight (2008) has also crossed over with the franchise.
- Deputy Marshall Mary Shannon guest stars on the June 15th, 2008 of L&O: CI episode Contract to provide additional back-story for the suspect Frank Chess, whom she placed into Witness Protection prior to the events of this episode.
TV film
The Law & Order franchise has one TV film, Exiled: A Law & Order Movie (1998) starring Chris Noth as Mike Logan.
Characters in the franchise
Police and District Attorney investigators
District Attorney's office
| Name | Actor | Series | Years |
| Alfred Wentworth | Roy Thinnes | L&O | 1990 (pilot only) |
| Ben Stone | Michael Moriarty | L&O | 1990–1994 |
| Paul Robinette | Richard Brooks | L&O | 1990–1993, 1996, 2005, 2006 |
| Adam Schiff | Steven Hill | L&O SVU |
1990–2000 2000 |
| Claire Kincaid | Jill Hennessy | L&O H:LotS |
1993–1996 1996 |
| Jack McCoy | Sam Waterston | L&O H:LotS Exiled SVU TBJ |
1994–2010 1997–1999 1998 2000– 2005 |
| Jamie Ross | Carey Lowell | L&O H:LotS TBJ |
1996–1998, 1999, 2001 1997 2005 |
| Abbie Carmichael | Angie Harmon | L&O SVU |
1998–2001 1999–2000 |
| Nora Lewin | Dianne Wiest | L&O SVU CI |
2000–2002 2001–2002 2001 |
| Alexandra Cabot | Stephanie March | SVU Conviction |
2000–2003, 2005, 2009–2010 2006 |
| Serena Southerlyn | Elisabeth Röhm | L&O | 2001–2005 |
| Ron Carver | Courtney B. Vance | CI | 2001–2006 |
| Arthur Branch | Fred Thompson | L&O SVU CI TBJ Conviction |
2002–2007 2003–2006 2005 2005 2006 |
| Casey Novak | Diane Neal | SVU | 2003–2008 |
| Alexandra Borgia | Annie Parisse | L&O | 2005–2006 |
| Tracey Kibre | Bebe Neuwirth | TBJ SVU |
2005 2005 |
| Kelly Gaffney | Amy Carlson | TBJ | 2005 |
| Connie Rubirosa | Alana de la Garza | L&O | 2006–2010 |
| Michael Cutter | Linus Roache | L&O | 2008–2010 |
| Kim Greylek | Michaela McManus | SVU | 2008–2009 |
| Sonya Paxton | Christine Lahti | SVU | 2009 |
| Jo Marlowe | Sharon Stone | SVU | 2010 |
| Mikka Von | Paula Patton | SVU | 2010– |
| Peter Morales | Alfred Molina | LA | 2010– |
| Joe Dekker | Terrence Howard | LA | 2010– |
| Eva Price | Regina Hall | LA | 2010– |
Psychiatrists and psychologists
| Name | Actor | Series | Years |
| Elizabeth Olivet, Ph.D. | Carolyn McCormick | L&O NYU SVU CI TBJ |
1991–2010 1996 1999–2001 2006 2005 |
| Emil Skoda, M.D. | J.K. Simmons | L&O NYU SVU CI |
1997–2010 1998 2000–2001 2002 |
| Agent George Huang, M.D. | B.D. Wong | SVU | 2001– |
Medical examiners
| Name | Actor | Series | Years |
| Elizabeth Rodgers, M.D. | Leslie Hendrix | L&O SVU CI TBJ |
1992–2010 1999–2000 2001– 2005 |
| Melinda Warner, M.D. | Tamara Tunie | SVU | 2000– |
Crossovers between series
As of 2009[update], there have been only seven crossovers in which characters from one L&O series meet characters from another L&O series. This is excluding characters who have switched shows (such as Don Cragen and Mike Logan) and characters which the franchise shares among the shows, such as medical examiners and district attorneys. The crossover episodes are the following:
- Episode "...Or Just Look Like One" Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
- Episode "Hysteria" Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
- Episode "Entitled Part 1" Law & Order: Special Victims Unit / "Entitled, Part 2" Law & Order
- Episode "Fools for Love" Law & Order
- Episode "Poison" Law & Order: Criminal Intent
- Episode "Badge" Law & Order: Criminal Intent
- Episode "Tombstone" Law & Order / "Skeleton" Law & Order: Trial by Jury
- Episode "Night" Law & Order: Special Victims Unit / "Day" Law & Order: Trial by Jury
- Episode "Design" Law & Order: Special Victims Unit / "Flaw" Law & Order
Games
There are three computer games based on the original Law & Order. The player must investigate crimes and then prosecute the resulting cases. Actors from the television series reprised their roles in vocal form in these games:
There is also one computer game based on Law & Order: Criminal Intent. While it shares many similarities with the other Law & Order games, the Criminal Intent game focuses more on investigations and interrogations, not prosecution.
References
- ^ "Ask the Editors"; TV Guide; April 19, 2010; Page 6.
- ^ Zap2it.com, "'Law & Order: SVU': Paula Patton joins the cast", 21 July 2010 (accessed 21 July 2010)
- ^ The Spy Report, "Law & Order cancelled", 15 May 2010 (accessed 20 May 2010)
- ^ Ausiello Files, "Scoop: 'Law & Order: Los Angeles' subpoenas Skeet Ulrich", 7 July 2010 (accessed 20 July 2010)
- ^ Zap2it.com, "'Law & Order: Los Angeles': Alfred Molina is Deputy D.A. Morales", 24 July 2010 (accessed 24 July 2010)
- ^ Scott, Andrew (May 13, 2010). "Law & Order officially cancelled". TV Squad (AOL).
{{cite news}}: Text "accessdate May 14, 2010" ignored (help) - ^ http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/17/law-order-creator-still-looking-to-bring-original-back/
- ^ http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/07/law_order_amc.html
- ^ French producer's website
- ^ a b "Good Cops, Bad Cops". Context.themoscowtimes.com. Retrieved 2006-12-01.
- ^ The Hollywood Reporter
- ^ Broadcasting - News - 'Torchwood' writer to lead UK 'Law & Order' - Digital Spy