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Law & Order season 18

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Law & Order (season 18)
Season 18
Season 18 U.S. DVD cover
No. of episodes18
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseJanuary 2 –
May 21, 2008 (2008-05-21)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 17
Next →
Season 19
List of episodes

The 18th season of Law & Order premiered on NBC on January 2, 2008, and concluded on May 21, 2008.

Production

On May 13, 2007, NBC renewed Law & Order for an 18th season of 22 episodes as part of a deal made by series creator Dick Wolf and NBC.[1] Though the series was originally scheduled to air on Sundays as a midseason replacement for NBC Sunday Night Football,[2] TV Guide reported on December 4, 2007, that Law & Order would debut instead on Wednesday, January 2, 2008.[3]

René Balcer, who had developed and produced spinoff Law & Order: Criminal Intent, returned to Law & Order this season as executive producer.[4]

Cast and crew changes

In May 2007, cast member Fred Thompson departed the series to return to politics, with reports saying he would seek the Republican nomination for the 2008 U.S. presidential election.[5] His character, District Attorney Arthur Branch, was replaced in that function by Sam Waterston's Jack McCoy, with McCoy being promoted to Branch's vacant seat after serving as Executive Assistant District Attorney since the resignation of his predecessor Benjamin Stone.[6] Since this move required that a new character be added to the series, the writers created the role of EADA Michael Cutter and British actor Linus Roache was brought in to portray him.[7]

Because of the equal-time rule, which requires that broadcasters treat legally qualified political candidates equally in regard to air time, NBC announced in July 2007 that it would not broadcast any episode of Law & Order in which Thompson appeared after September 1.[8] However, Thompson did not officially declare his intention to seek nomination until September 5, 2007, when he appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.[9]

Milena Govich, who played Detective Nina Cassady, also did not return to the series after joining the cast one year earlier following the departure of Dennis Farina (Joe Fontana).[10] She was replaced by Jeremy Sisto, who had guest starred as a defense attorney in the 17th season finale, as Detective Ed Green's new partner Cyrus Lupo.[11]

Rounding out the list of departures was Jesse L. Martin, who announced he was leaving the series after portraying Det. Ed Green since 1999.[12] Martin, who was scheduled to appear in only 13 episodes this season, announced the move in February 2008 and made his final appearance in "Burn Card". Anthony Anderson, who made his debut as Detective Kevin Bernard in the same episode, was then added to the cast.[13] This remained the main cast until the end of the series.

Cast

Main cast

Recurring cast

Episodes

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
US viewers
(millions)
3941"Called Home"Allen CoulterRené BalcerJanuary 2, 2008 (2008-01-02)1800113.45[14]
3952"Darkness"Michael DinnerWilliam N. Fordes & David SlackJanuary 2, 2008 (2008-01-02)1800613.45[14]
3963"Misbegotten"Michael WatkinsDavid Wilcox & Stephanie SenguptaJanuary 9, 2008 (2008-01-09)1800211.05[15]
3974"Bottomless"Alex ChappleEd ZuckermanJanuary 16, 2008 (2008-01-16)1800411.55[16]
3985"Driven"Alan TaylorRichard Sweren & Gina GionfriddoJanuary 23, 2008 (2008-01-23)1800910.33[17]
3996"Political Animal"Jean de SegonzacEd Zuckerman & David SlackJanuary 30, 2008 (2008-01-30)1801111.14[18]
4007"Quit Claim"Jim McKayWilliam N. Fordes & David WilcoxFebruary 6, 2008 (2008-02-06)1801010.07[19]
4018"Illegal"Constantine MakrisWilliam N. Fordes & David SlackFebruary 13, 2008 (2008-02-13)1800310.24[20]
4029"Executioner"Constantine MakrisRichard Sweren & Gina GionfriddoFebruary 20, 2008 (2008-02-20)1801210.85[21]
40310"Tango"Dean WhiteStephanie SenguptaFebruary 27, 2008 (2008-02-27)1801311.45[22]
40411"Betrayal"Marc LevinRichard Sweren & Gina GionfriddoMarch 5, 2008 (2008-03-05)180059.68[23]
40512"Submission"Constantine MakrisEd ZuckermanMarch 12, 2008 (2008-03-12)1800711.68[24]
40613"Angelgrove"Darnell MartinDavid Wilcox & Stephanie SenguptaMarch 19, 2008 (2008-03-19)1800810.45[25]
40714"Burn Card"Mario Van PeeblesEd Zuckerman & David WilcoxApril 23, 2008 (2008-04-23)1801412.63[26]
40815"Bogeyman"Tim HunterTeleplay by: Richard Sweren
Story by: Richard Sweren & Gina Gionfriddo
April 30, 2008 (2008-04-30)180159.62[27]
40916"Strike"Marisol TorresWilliam N. Fordes & David SlackMay 7, 2008 (2008-05-07)180168.76[28]
41017"Personae Non Gratae"John ColesStephanie Sengupta & Matthew McGoughMay 14, 2008 (2008-05-14)180178.35[29]
41118"Excalibur"Jim McKayRené Balcer & Ed ZuckermanMay 21, 2008 (2008-05-21)180188.45[30]

References

  1. ^ "NBC Renews Original L&O; Criminal Intent Goes to USA". TV Guide. May 13, 2007. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  2. ^ Mitovich, Matt (May 14, 2007). "NBC's Fall Banks on Bionic Woman, Other Heroes". TV Guide. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  3. ^ Mitovich, Matt (December 4, 2007). "Law & Order, Legal at Last, Cops a New 'Tude". TV Guide. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  4. ^ Mitovich, Matt (May 21, 2007). "Let's Make a Deal: Veteran Producer Returns to L&O". TV Guide. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  5. ^ Cameron, Carl (May 31, 2007). "Fred Thompson Quits 'Law & Order,' Moves Closer to 2008 White House Bid". FOX News. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  6. ^ Mitovich, Matt (June 8, 2007). "New Law & Order DA Predicts "Fireworks"". TV Guide. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  7. ^ "Linus Roache to Join NBC's 'Law & Order' Cast". FOX News. July 18, 2007. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  8. ^ "NBC to Drop Fred Thompson in Reruns". TV Guide. July 17, 2007. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  9. ^ Steve McGookin (September 5, 2007). "Thompson Finally Steps Onstage". Forbes. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  10. ^ "'Law and Order' Casting News: Milena Govich Out, Jeremy Sisto In". Tv Jots. June 1, 2007. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  11. ^ Mitovich, Matt (June 1, 2007). "In Today's Casting News: A New L&O Cop, a Heroes Mutant". TV Guide. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  12. ^ "Out of Order: Jesse L. Martin Calls It Quits". TV Guide. February 21, 2008. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  13. ^ Rudolph, Ileane (April 23, 2008). "Will Anthony Anderson Bring New Order to Law & Order?". TV Guide. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  14. ^ a b Gorman, Bill (January 8, 2008). "Top NBC Primetime Shows, Dec 31 - Jan 6". Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  15. ^ Seidman, Robert (January 10, 2008). "Overnight Results for Wednesday, January 9". Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  16. ^ Seidman, Robert (January 17, 2008). "Overnight Results for Wednesday, January 16". Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  17. ^ Seidman, Robert (January 24, 2008). "Overnight Results for Wednesday, January 23". Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  18. ^ Seidman, Robert (January 31, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings: Weds, Jan 30: Idol Reigns". Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  19. ^ Seidman, Robert (February 7, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings Wed, Feb 6: Idol Moment". Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  20. ^ Seidman, Robert (February 14, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings Wed, Feb 13: Another Idol Moment". Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  21. ^ Seidman, Robert (February 21, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings for Wed Feb 20: Idol Rules, CBS Needs to Fire People". Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  22. ^ Seidman, Robert (February 28, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings for Wed Feb 27: Idol Dominates, Les Moonves Gives Up". Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  23. ^ Seidman, Robert (March 6, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings for Wed, March 5: Woe is Big Brother". Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  24. ^ Seidman, Robert (March 13, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings for Wed, March 12: Idol Cruises as CBS Ages". Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  25. ^ Seidman, Robert (March 20, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings Wed, March 19: FOX Crushes Competition". Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  26. ^ Seidman, Robert (April 24, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings April 23: Waving Goodbye to Jesse L. Martin on Law & Order". Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ Seidman, Robert (May 1, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings April 30, 2008: CBS Improves, Boston Legal and Law & Order Suffer". Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  28. ^ Seidman, Robert (May 8, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings May 8, 2008: Worst May Sweeps EVER!". Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  29. ^ Seidman, Robert (May 15, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings May 14: FOX Wins, Idol Set for David vs. David Battle". Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  30. ^ Seidman, Robert (May 22, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings May 21, 2008: David Cook Wins, Now You Can Too". Retrieved May 7, 2012.
Preceded by
Season Seventeen
(2006-2007)
List of Law & Order seasons
(1990-2010)
Succeeded by
Season Nineteen
(2008-2009)