'The Jeff Probst Show' Has Been Canceled
'Grey's' Isn't Going Anywhere
Why It's Good That 'Law and Order' Is Over
by Allison Waldman, posted May 15th 2010 10:00AM
When the news was finally confirmed today that NBC had decided to cancel 'Law and Order' after 20 years on the air, there were some who were sad that this day had arrived. They were likely the same people who were rooting for this veritable crime procedural to remain on NBC until it broke the record -- held by 'Gunsmoke' -- for the longest running television drama ever. 'Law and Order' is over. It had a great run. Really. It spun-off four other shows, including the drama that's taking its place on NBC in fall 2010, 'Law and Order: Los Angeles.' It made a lot of sense for the original to finally wrap with this May 24th's season finale, and here's five reasons why:
1. It's going out on top. Too many shows overstay their welcome, lingering long after they're still a viable program on the schedule or have good stories to tell. That's not the case with 'L&O.' In fact, this season has been a good one and the pairing of Linus Roache with Sam Waterson has been dynamic. For all intents and purposes, 'Law' is going out while still something special.
2. It had become too formulaic. The 'ripped from the headlines' formula that was been 'Law and Order's' bread and butter had become a twisted mess in the past couple of years. Maybe it was the headlines, but the roman a clef storylines were cutting too close to the bone and with every new scandal, you just waited for 'Law and Order' to do their spin on it. Elliot Spitzer? Did it. Mel Gibson? Yes. Heidi Fleiss? Check.
3. NBC needs to move on. After the year that NBC has had, this was no time for sentiment to trump practicality. It's true that Angela Bromstad, NBC Entertainment President, said that she didn't want to be the executive to pull the plug on 'Law and Order,' but I give her credit for making the tough decision. NBC doesn't need to hold onto the past; it's time to embrace the future. That means new drama series that might have a run half as long as 'Law.'
4. Television history has already been made. Does the record book really matter to anyone? Most people don't even remember that 'Gunsmoke' had the longest run in television history. So 'Law and Order' will be tied with that CBS western, big deal. They're both still way behind 'Guiding Light' which had 72 years on the air -- radio and television -- before ending in September 2009. And if you want to know about history, Fox's 'The Simpsons' currently wrapping year 21 and will be back for a 22nd.
5. It's not really gone. While NBC will not be producing new episodes of 'Law and Order,' the show will hardly be gone and forgotten. It's a huge fixture in syndication as well as on USA Network. The program plays all over the world in television markets and the DVDs are available for sale and rent. Also, since there really won't be an ending to 'L&O,' it wouldn't shock me if two or three years from now creator/executive producer Dick Wolf convinces NBC to do a TV movie, reuniting some of the original cast members. If not a reunion movie, perhaps a series of TV movies. Don't be shocked ... it could happen.
139 Comments