Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
End Of An Era: <em>Law & Order</em> Officially Canceled
By
Jen Chung
Published May 14, 2010
Modified May 14, 2010
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 May 14, 2010
Modified May 14, 2010
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 world of television watching, the people fall into two separate yet unequally passionate groups: those who watch Law & Order and the NBC executives who canned the show. It's a sad day, because NBC confirmed that it had canceled the long-running crime procedural. NBC TV chairman Jeff Gaspin said, "The full measure of the collective contributions made by Dick Wolf and his ‘Law & Order’ franchise over the last two decades to the success of NBC and Universal Media Studios cannot be overstated. The legacy of his original ‘Law & Order’ series will continue to make an impact like no other series before."
Yesterday, there were rumors that the show was canceled—driven partly by the fact that L&O staffers were told the show was kaput—as well as hopes that these were just discussions for NBC and Wolf to negotiate (back in 2007, there was a similar L&O Deathwatch). Now that the show's end is real, there are questions about what productions might fill the void of providing jobs to literally thousands of actors, electricians, costumers, etc.—it's believed that the three L&O shows have contributed $1 billion to NYC's economy. And it's a cruel coincidence that Law & Order: Los Angeles was picked up by NBC—how are we going to say, "Hey, that's my dry cleaner in the background!" (L&O SVU was renewed.)
Maybe not every single person watches Law & Order, but you'd be hard-pressed not to find someone who was at least a little familiar with the ripped-from-the-headlines touches, the Mike Post theme song, the revolving door of sexy ADA's, the quips from the detectives (Lenny Briscoe!), and imaginary addresses on the title cards. Promise us you'll watch it on TNT when you get home (it's on numerous times this weekend).
Tagged
canceled
cancellation
Law & Order
nbc
tv
worst day ever
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
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
Thanks to Dua Lipa, Kim Kardashian, Timothée Chalamet and more, the rideshare program is having a moment.
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Published Oct 8, 2026
Is NYC’s hottest attraction the free observation deck at 1 Centre Street?
If you're playing tourist in your own town, this is an in-demand option.
By
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
Is NYC’s hottest attraction the free observation deck at 1 Centre Street?
If you're playing tourist in your own town, this is an in-demand option.
By
James Ramsay
What happens when NYC kids take lessons in rock music? Really good bands.
By
Jayson Greene
Inside a photographer's journey to visit every neighborhood in New York City
By
Sonia Rao
Banned books and Winnie the Pooh: October in NYC libraries
By
Alec Hamilton
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 .