Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Law & Order: Deathwatch Division
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 26, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 26, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
In the recent history of television, the people have been given three separate but still gritty police procedurals set in New York City: The police who investigate crime and the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders in Law & Order, the dedicated Special Victims Unit detectives who investigate especially heinous sexually based offenses in Law & Order Special Victims Unit, and the Major Case Squad detectives who chew scenery as well as they suss out suspects in Law & Order Criminal Intent. But some of their stories may end, as producer Dick Wolf is in the midst of negotiations with NBC over the fate of Law & Order as well as L&O CI.
Wolf has wanted mothership L&O to run a few more seasons to best Gunsmoke's record of being on air, but NBC feels the show is too expensive to produce, given the sagging ratings, especially after relegating to the Friday night basement, aka where Homicide was left to languish. While Wolf refers to his relationship with NBC executives as a Catholic marriage ("There’s some stuff being thrown around in the kitchen, but everybody’s being rational."), we suspect NBC might want to look into an annulment.
Just the suggestion of a NYC film/TV landscape without Law & Order could spawn a million stories. The Post spoke to many actors who have appeared in L&O in guest roles - the L&O franchise has pretty much hired the majority of Broadway actors at one point or another! The actors give their thoughts, opinions and memories of working on the show. Khrystane Haje, who you may remember as Simone from Head of the Class, said:
"I was lucky enough to work with Jerry Orbach, which was very important to me, especially since his passing. He made such an effort to make me feel comfortable. He always went the extra mile with the guests, making sure that we knew where lunch was and that people were talking to us and that we felt included, basically. He was very cordial and friendly and, of course, a great actor."
We wonder if the city will intervene - Law & Order is worth millions to the city's film/TV industry. And for your Mariska Hargitay fans, don't worry - L&O SVU is still a hit and isn't in any danger.
Photograph from a 2005 Law & Order exhibit at the Hudson River Museum by BigAppleOfMyEye on Flickr
Tagged
arts
broadway
city
crime
criminal intent
dick wolf
District
entertainment
film
flickr
history
HOMICIDE
hudson river
in the kitchen
industry
jerry orbach
law
Major Case Squad
mariska hargitay
museum
nbc
new york
new york city
nyc
O SVU
Order Criminal Intent
people
photos
police
poll
special
special victims unit
Take Our Poll
television
the city
the post
tv
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 16, 2026
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
By
Hannah Frishberg
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
By
Sonia Rao
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .