'Law & Order' Not Quite Dead Yet?
Never say die.That's Dick Wolf's motto, anyway. Which some might find a bit ironic considering how many countless fictional victims have been killed by the 'Law & Order' creator over the past 20 years.
But according to The New York Times, Wolf isn't quite ready to admit case closed on 'Law & Order' just yet, as he is working behind the scenes to bring the series back for a record-breaking 21st season.
His efforts are necessary, of course, because NBC announced last week that they were canceling the show, in part to make room for the latest 'Law & Order' franchise spin-off, 'Law & Order: Los Angeles.' But while Wolf is no doubt pleased as punch to add a fifth 'Law & Order' series to his resume (following ongoing efforts 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' and 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' as well as the one-and-done dud 'Law & Order: Trial By Jury'), he's still hoping to break the record for longest running television drama, which 'Law & Order' currently shares with the classic western 'Gunsmoke.'
Just how Wolf intends to bring about 'Law & Order's' return is still unclear, but it wouldn't be the first time that unusual steps have led to the return of a canceled show. 'Friday Night Lights,' for instance, survived under a special deal in which the show debuted new episodes on DirecTV before being rerun on NBC, while 'Scrubs' switched networks to ABC for two final seasons. Considering NBC and its affiliated cable holdings will still be airing three other 'Law & Order' franchises, it seems unlikely that the original would be allowed to move to a competitor, but it remains possible that, like 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent,' the series may gain a second life on USA Network.
Should these last minute efforts fail, it appears Wolf and NBC may end up at least serving up one last resounding chung-chung to its loyal audience in the form of a new, two-hour farewell movie that could reunite some of the show's legendarily huge cast. But for now, at least, some hope lives on as Wolf exhausts every avenue of appeal.
Whether or not NBC will suspend its sentence or act as judge, jury and executioner for 'Law & Order' remains to be seen.

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