Law and Order - The Original Show

Law & Order is an American television police procedural and legal drama set in New York City. Created by Dick Wolf, with award-winning theme music composed by Mike Post, the award-winning Law & Order is broadcast on the NBC network and syndicated on other US networks, as well as worldwide. The show is produced by NBC Universal Television Studio, formerly known as Universal Television and Studios USA.

Law & Order first appeared on the NBC network in the fall of 1990, and its success has resulted in the creation of additional shows under the Law & Order franchise. It is the longest-running primetime drama currently on American television. Only two other current primetime series - FOX's animated comedy 'The Simpsons' and CBS News' magazine program 60 Minutes - have been on the air longer.

The pilot episode was produced for CBS in 1988, but it never aired on that network. Instead, it aired as Episode 6 on NBC in 1990.

The show follows a small team of New York City homicide detectives from the fictional 27th Precinct who occasionally investigate other serious crimes. Generally, about halfway through the hour-long program the focus shifts from the investigation of the crime to the prosecution of the offender, which is always handed over to the same small team of lawyers from the Manhattan District Attorney's office.

The two-tiered format of the program, with investigation of the crime and prosecution of the crime, is almost identical to a 1960s series entitled Arrest and Trial, although the similarities are considered to be coincidental. Law & Order creator Dick Wolf was reportedly unaware of them when he created his series.

The prosecution portion of Law and Order is unusual in that it shows more legal proceedings than just a trial. The second half almost always opens with an arraignment and then proceeds to trial preparation. However the show does on occasion deviate from this format and centers on either indictment proceedings before a Grand Jury or an allocution upon entering a plea of guilty, usually in consideration for a plea bargain. It is very uncommon for legal dramas to show Grand Jury proceedings. This format is usually seen once or twice per season, with a trial being the norm. Grand Jury episodes focus on the difficulty of obtaining an indictment for a particular accused and often end with a guilty plea and allocution to wrap up the show quicky.

(Source: Wikipedia)

* I specifically asked for him to be put on suicide watch. Apparently, here at Riker's that means that they watch you commit suicide.

* New Hampshire. I spent a year there one weekend.

* It's like I always say: parking in this city will kill ya. (after finding a body in a parking lot)

* I'm trying to decide what to arrest you for: obstruction of justice, harboring a fugitive or just being a general pain in the ass!

* [holding handcuffs and talking to someone accused of stealing a telescope and murder] You've heard of the Seven Rings of Saturn? These are the Two Rings of Riker's.

* There's no such thing as hooker-client confidentiality.

* (To the deceased's wife) Your husband had sexual narcolepsy. He kept falling into bed.

* (Spotting a man in a full leg cast) Oh look, John. It's the latest thing in menswear.

* If I was kidding I'd be wearing a Fez and no pants.

* (Responding to Purgatorio of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy) Isn't that a strip club?

* [After being asked by a suspect what the charge against him was] There's no charge; this one's on us!

* She shopped 'til she dropped

(Source: Wikipedia)

Emmy Awards:
* Outstanding Cinematography for a Series Constantine Makris for Stalker (1998)
* Outstanding Drama Series (1997)
* Outstanding Cinematography for a Series Constantine Makris for Mad Dog (1997)
* Outstanding Guest Actress - Drama Series Elaine Stritch for "Point of View" (1993)
* Outstanding Individual Achievement in Cinematography for a Series Constantine Makris for Conspiracy (1993)
* Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Editing for a Series for Heaven (1992)

Screen Actors Guild:
* Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series Sam Waterston (1999)
* Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series Jerry Orbach (2005) - posthumously awarded

Edgar Awards:
* Best Episode in a Television Series Teleplay René Balcer and Michael S. Chernuchin, for "Conspiracy" (1993)
* Best Episode in a Television Series Teleplay I. C. Rapoport and Ed Zuckerman, for "Deadbeat" (1997)
* Best Episode in a Television Series Teleplay Richard Sweren, Simon Wincelberg, and Ed Zuckerman, for "Double Down" (1998)
* Best Episode in a Television Series Teleplay René Balcer and Richard Sweren, for "Bad Girl" (1999)
* Best Episode in a Television Series Teleplay René Balcer, for "Refuge, Part 2" (2000)

Writers Guild Award:
* Best Teleplay, Rene Balcer and Richard Sweren for "Entrapment" (1998)

Silver Gavel Award (American Bar Association):
* Best Television Episode, "DWB", written by Rene Balcer (1998)
* Best Television Episode, "Hate", written by Rene Balcer (1999)

Peabody Award, 1997

Norman Felton Award (Producers Guild of America)
* Producer of the Year (1996)

NAACP Image Awards:
* Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series S. Epatha Merkerson (2006 & 2010)

Most L&O episodes are self-contained, with only a few exceptions over the many years of production.

The cold open or lead-in segment of the show usually shows a slice of New York life (walking a dog in Manhattan, jogging in Central Park, etc.) apparently unrelated to the main story until the (usually non-recurring) characters in the scene suddenly discover, witness, or become victims of a crime (most often, murder). The scene immediately cuts to the police making a preliminary examination of the crime scene in which the featured detectives make their first observations and theories followed by a witty comment or two before the title sequence begins.

The plots often have a resemblance to actual cases. This "ripped from the headlines" nature can also be seen in the opening credit sequence which flows from newspaper headlines, print copy, and photographs into photographs of the actors that evolve from newspaper halftones into high resolution photos. The format lends itself to exploring different outcomes or motives that similar events could have had under other circumstances.

Because of the nature of the format, the detectives rarely encounter a simple murder where the perpetrator does little to hide his guilt (which is actually very common). Instead, the detectives often have few or no good clues to start with - they may not even know the identity of the victim - and must chase down several dead ends before finding a strong suspect. Towards the middle of a show, the police begin working with the prosecutors to make the arrest, and an arraignment scene is usually shown. The police may appear again to testify in court or arrest a subsequent suspect, but most investigation in the second segment is done by the assistant DAs, who always consult with the District Attorney for advice on the case.

In contrast to many other detective shows (Perry Mason and Matlock, for example), the protagonists of Law & Order do not always win their cases; episodes frequently finish without full resolution. Sometimes the true facts of the crime are left ambiguous to the audience. Sometimes the case against the offender is won, but justice still seems lacking. Often the viewer identifies with the defendant and wonders whether punishment under the law is even appropriate.

(Source: Wikipedia)

EMMY AWARDS:
* Outstanding Drama Series (1992-1996, 1998-2002)
* Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Sam Waterston (1997, 1999-2000)
* Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Jerry Orbach (2000)
* Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Michael Moriarty (1991-1994)
* Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Shirley Knight (guest appearance) (1992)
* Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Steven Hill (1998-1999)
* Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Benjamin Bratt (1998)
* Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Barbara Barrie (guest appearance) (1992)
* Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Tovah Feldshuh (2003)
* Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Jane Alexander (2000)
* Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Julia Roberts (1999)
* Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series Matthew Penn for Empire (1999)
* Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series Edwin Sherin for Sideshow, Parts 1 & 2 (crossover episode with Homicide: Life on the Street)(1999)
* Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing in a Drama Series for Conspiracy Edwin Sherin (1993)
* Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Drama Series for "Manhood" Robert Nathan & Walon Green (1993)
* Outstanding Cinematography for a Series for Endurance John Beymer
* Outstanding Cinematography for a Series for Entitled, Part II Constantine Makris (2000)
* Outstanding Editing for a Series - Single Camera Production for Judgment in L.A. Part II" David Siegel (1997)
* Outstanding Individual Achievement in Editing for a Series - Single Camera Production for Sanctuary Billy Fox and Laurie Grotstein (1994)
* Outstanding Individual Achievement in Editing for a Series - Single Camera Production for Misconception Arthur W. Forney (1992)
* Outstanding Single Camera Sound Mixing for a Series for School Daze (2001)
* Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Series for Gunshow (2000)
* Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Series for Empire (1999)
* Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Series for D-Girl (1997)
* Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Editing for a Series for Hot Pursuit (1996)
* Outstanding Casting for a Series (2002)
* Outstanding Casting for a Series (2001)
* Outstanding Casting for a Series (2000)
* Outstanding Casting for a Series (1999)
* Outstanding Casting for a Series (1998)
* Outstanding Costume Design for a Series for Refuge, Parts 1 & 2 (1999)

NAACP Image Awards:
* Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series S. Epatha Merkerson (1997-2001, 2007-2008)

Golden Globe Awards:
* Best TV Series-Drama (1992, 1994-1995, 1998-1999)
* Best Performance by an Actor in a Drama Series-Drama Sam Waterston (1995)
* Best Performance by an Actor in a Drama Series-Drama Michael Moriarty (1994)

Screen Actors Guild:
* Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (1995-2002, 2004)
* Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series Sam Waterston (1998)

Edgar Awards:
* Best Episode in a Television Series Teleplay David Black & Robert Nathan, for "Happily Ever After" (1991)

On May 13, 2010, reports surfaced of the possibility that Law & Order could be canceled after 20 seasons on the air, preventing it from unseating Gunsmoke as longest running American primetime drama unless another network picked it up.[57] By May 14, 2010, The New York Times, Daily Variety and the Los Angeles Times reported official cancellation of the series.[3][58] Continuation of characters on spin-off series - including Law & Order: Los Angeles - has been mentioned as a possible means of providing closure beyond the series finale.

On May 14, 2010, NBC officially canceled the show, opting instead to pick-up Law & Order: Los Angeles for a first season, and renewed Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for a twelfth.[1] The cancellation was announced after last-minute talks between NBC and Dick Wolf to extend the series failed to lead to an agreement.

The chairman of NBC Universal Television Entertainment, Jeff Gaspin, stated: "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."[59]

Angela Bromstad, President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal Media Studios, said, "Law & Order has been one of the most successful franchises in the history of television, which is why it is so critical that we continue this important brand and our relationship with Dick Wolf and his team with L&O: LA and Law & Order: SVU."

(Source: Wikipedia)

Medical Examiner Elizabeth Rodgers: I got another body coming in. Guy took a javelin to the chest.
Det. Lennie Briscoe: Why are you still in this line of work?
Medical Examiner Elizabeth Rodgers: Free javelins.

Det. Rey Curtis: Hey, didn't you learn anything from Mister Rogers? A policeman is your best friend.

Arraignment judge: Life is beautiful. All God's children are innocent.

Abbie Carmichael: Ugh. Doctors. I can't believe my mother wanted me to marry one.

Lt. Anita Van Buren: It wasn't the eighteen floors from the window to the street that killed her, it was the sudden stop.

Det. Ed Green: [a suspect, who'd complained of radiating pain in his neck, tries to escape from his apartment; Green goes to apprehend him] That's good, now radiate your ass up against the wall!

Lt. Anita Van Buren: I'd better go. I'm late for my daily spanking at One Police Plaza.

Det. Ed Green: If you're going to lie, be creative or we'll get bored.

Jack McCoy: Your grief might seem a little more real had you not just admitted you cut off your wife's head.

(Source: IMDB)