“Law & Order” marks its 12th season on NBC and is television’s longest-running current drama series. The series explores crime and the legal system and was the 1997 Emmy Award winner for Outstanding Drama Series as well as the record holder for the most consecutive (10) nominations in that category.
With its renewal through May 2005, “Law & Order” is set to become the longest-running police series and second longest-running drama series in the history of television.
Filmed entirely on location in New York City, this realistic program looks at crime and justice from a dual perspective. In the first half-hour, Detectives Lennie Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and Edward Green (Jesse L. Martin) investigate crimes and apprehend suspects under the supervision of their precinct lieutenant, Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson). In the second half-hour, the focus shifts to the criminal courts. Under the watchful eye of District Attorney Nora Lewin (two-time Oscar winner Dianne Wiest), Executive Assistant District Attorney Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) and Assistant District Attorney Serena Southerlyn (new cast member Elisabeth Rohm, “Bull”) must work within a complicated justice system to prosecute the accused.
Some cases may be simple, but most are multi-faceted. The investigations are challenging, prosecutions are complicated, and decisions about legal procedures and plea-bargaining are vexing. In the arduous and complex process of determining guilt and innocence, lives often hang in the balance.
Last year, during its record-setting 11th season, “Law & Order” averaged a 6.8 rating and 18 share in adults 18-49 (up eight percent vs. the previous season), ranking the show among the top 13 series on television in this key demographic. The show achieved its top total viewers average in its history with 17.7 million viewers overall (up 9 percent vs. the previous season), ranking the series in the top 11 in this category. Aside from NBC’s Thursday-night series, “Law & Order” was the highest-rated program in adults 18-49 (tied with “Frasier”) and most dominant time period winner on NBC's schedule.
"Law & Order" is a Wolf Films production in association with Studios USA Television. Dick Wolf is creator and executive producer, Barry Schindel and Jeffrey Hayes are executive producers; Lewis J. Gould, Richard Sweren, and Arthur Forney are co-executive producers.
