Law & Order franchise

Infobox Media franchises
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title=Law & Order franchise


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creator=Dick Wolf
origin="Law & Order"
tv="Law & Order"
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"Crime & Punishment"
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"Conviction"
"Paris enquêtes criminelles"
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otherdata3=The term "Law & Order" franchise" is commonly used to describe a number of related American television programs created by Dick Wolf and originally broadcast on NBC, all of which deal with some aspect of the New York City criminal justice system.

Shared people and resources in a common fictional setting are the connecting links between the shows, e.g., Hudson University and the "New York Ledger" tabloid newspaper. Many supporting characters, such as district attorneys, psychologists and medical examiners are also shared among the shows. Occasionally, crossovers of main characters and/or shared storylines between two of the shows will occur. A few major characters have also left the cast of one show within the franchise only to eventually join another. The franchise also crossed over on several occasions with the independently conceived "".

The music, style and credits of the shows tend to be similar. The original "Law & Order", ' and ' arguably contain the most visual similarities within the franchise. Past episodes are highly successful in syndication with TNT, USA Network, and Bravo! showing episodes sometimes up to six times a day.

Location

The shows are filmed almost entirely in the New York City area, which is unusual as most television dramas (with the exception of some daytime soap operas) and many other network shows are taped in the Los Angeles area, even those shows which are set in New York City. (The original "Law & Order" series has filmed a few episodes in the Los Angeles area, however.) With some frequency, actors have appeared on the various series that make up the franchise, usually as different (sometimes very different) characters. This is to be expected since filming occurs in the New York City area and thus draw from the same pool of actors. Some prominent examples of the same actor playing different roles in different episodes are Diane Neal playing a female rapist in an earlier season of "SVU" before becoming the ADA (assistant district attorney) for that series, Annabella Sciorra playing a criminal defense attorney in ' and later Det. Mike Logan's (Chris Noth) partner in "Criminal Intent", as well as Jerry Orbach playing a defense attorney on the original series before joining it as Det. Lennie Briscoe (who despises criminal lawyers), and Ice-T playing a pimp known as Seymour Stockton in the franchise's only movie "," before taking on the role of Det. Fin Tutuola in ' (1999).

Series

Current series

* "Law & Order" (1990-present)
** The current cast includes Anthony Anderson as Det. Kevin Bernard, Jeremy Sisto as Det. Cyrus Lupo, S. Epatha Merkerson as Lt. Anita Van Buren, Linus Roache as Michael Cutter, Alana de la Garza as Connie Rubirosa, Sam Waterston as Jack McCoy and Leslie Hendrix as Elizabeth Rodgers.
*** The first half hour of the show focuses on the police investigation; the second half takes place at the Manhattan District Attorney's office and focuses on the prosecution involving the criminal(s).

* "" (1999-present)
** The current cast includes Christopher Meloni as Det. Elliot Stabler, Mariska Hargitay as Det. Olivia Benson, Richard Belzer as Sgt. John Munch, Diane Neal as Casey Novak, (In the 2008-2009 season, Diane Neal's character will be replaced by a new ADA, played by Michaela McManus), Ice-T as Det. Fin Tutuola, B. D. Wong as Dr. George Huang, Tamara Tunie as Melinda Warner and Dann Florek as Capt. Don Cragen.
*** The show's focus is on detectives who investigate sexually-based crimes and/or crimes against children.

* "" (2001-present)
** Starring Vincent D'Onofrio as Det. Robert Goren, Kathryn Erbe as Det. Alexandra Eames, Chris Noth as Det. Mike Logan, (In the 2008-2009 season, Chris Noth's character will be replaced by a new detective, played by Jeff Goldblum,) Julianne Nicholson as Det. Megan Wheeler, Eric Bogosian as Capt. Danny Ross and Leslie Hendrix as Elizabeth Rodgers.
*** This show focuses on high-profile cases investigated by the Major Case Squad, with special focus on the actions of the criminals pursued. Unusual in that it involves scenes directly from the victim's or perpetrator's lives that don't involve the police, thereby giving a hint as to the "criminal intent".

Past series

* "Crime & Punishment" (2002-2004)
** This is the first reality series of the franchise
** This was the first "Law & Order" Spin-off to be canceled due to low ratings

* "" (2005-2006)
** Starring Bebe Neuwirth as Tracey Kibre, Amy Carlson as Kelly Gaffney, Kirk Acevedo as Hector Salazar, Scott Cohen as Det. Chris Ravell, Fred Thompson as Arthur Branch, and Jerry Orbach as Lennie Briscoe.
*** This series mostly followed the jury's side of a case.
*** This was the first written "Law & Order" spin-off to be canceled due to low ratings; Orbach's death (which occurred during taping of the show) also contributed to the show's cancellation.

* "Conviction" (2006)
** Starring Stephanie March as Alexandra Cabot, Anson Mount as Jim Steele, Eric Balfour as Brian Peluso, J. August Richards as Billy Desmond, Milena Govich as Jessica Rossi, Julianne Nicholson as Christina Finn, and Jordan Bridges as Nick Potter.
*** This was the first Spin-off of
*** The Cancelation became the third falure of the Law & Order franchise
*** The show used ""'s sets for the show

Adaptations outside the U.S.

Near the end of 2006, Global American Television and the Russian television studio Studio 2V announced a deal with NBC, Wolf Films, and NTV to adapt original "" and "Criminal Intent" scripts to the Russian justice system. Dmitry Brusnikin will both direct and star in the Russian spin-off.cite web |url=http://context.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2006/12/01/101.html |title=Good Cops, Bad Cops |work=Context.themoscowtimes.com |accessdate=2006-12-01]

In France, there has been a deal with NBC, Wolf Films, and TF1 to adapt "" to the French market as "Paris enquêtes criminelles". [ [http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://lachaine.tf1.fr/lachaine/series/0,,3429396,00-paris-enquetes-criminelles-.html&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DParis%2Benqu%25C3%25AAtes%2Bcriminelles%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG] ]

On January 3, 2008, the "Hollywood Reporter" reported that NBC and Wolf Films were in negotiations to license a UK version of the original series with the working title "". [ [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i483285045a5ab9c6cf43979c700b2863 The Hollywood Reporter ] ] The series is to be produced by Kudos for the ITV network. Chris Chibnall, previously a producer on the science-fiction drama "Torchwood", was appointed showrunner. ITV has ordered 13 episodes, which will be based on the scripts for the U.S. series. [ [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/a84156/torchwood-writer-to-lead-uk-law-order.html Broadcasting - News - 'Torchwood' writer to lead UK 'Law & Order' - Digital Spy ] ]

Versions of "Law & Order" and "SVU" shown in the UK on Channel Five have completely different opening credit sequences with different music, however UK satellite channel Sky One uses the combination of opening credits and music as seen in the US.cite web |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098844/alternateversions |title=IMDB |work= |accessdate=2007-06-06]

Related shows

* "" (1993) was often considered the sister show to the original "L&O",Fact|date=February 2008 although it was created by Paul Attanasio and not Dick Wolf.
** "H:LotS" and "L&O" occasionally crossed over.
** Richard Belzer's Det. John Munch transferred from the Baltimore PD to the NYPD on "SVU".
* "New York Undercover" (1994) was implicitly a part of the same universe as the franchise, as psychologist characters from "L&O " appeared in the series.
* "Deadline" (2000), also by "Law & Order" creator Dick Wolf, featured the franchise's fictitious newspaper, the "New York Ledger".
* "Conviction" (2006) centered on the personal stories of young ADAs and the legal sides of the cases. Though not branded as part of the "Law & Order" franchise, it used the same sets of "Law & Order: Trial by Jury" and, coincidentally, was canceled after the same number of episodes. It clearly existed within the same fictional universe with two crossover characters, Alexandra Cabot, ADA from SVU, and Arthur Branch, DA from every Law & Order.Fact|date=February 2008
* "Crime and Punishment" (2002)
** This reality series examined actual trials from the San Diego District Attorney's office.
* "In Plain Sight" (2008) is also set in the same universe.
**Deputy Marshall Mary Shannon guest stars on the June 15th, 2008 of "L&O: CI" episode "Contract" to provide additional back-story for the suspect Frank Chess, whom she placed into Witness Protection prior to the events of this episode. [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Law_%26_Order_franchise&action=edit&section=6] During the original airing on USA Network, while her character provided the background detail, a lower third advertised the episode of "In Plain Sight" that was to air immediately following.

TV movie

The "Law & Order" franchise has one TV movie, "" (1998) starring Chris Noth as Mike Logan.

Characters in the franchise

Police

Medical Examiner

Crossovers between series

As of 2006, there have been only seven crossovers in which characters from one "L&O" series meet characters from another "L&O" series. This is excluding characters who have switched shows (such as Don Cragen and Mike Logan) and characters which the franchise shares among the shows, such as medical examiners and district attorneys. The crossover episodes are the following:
* Episode "...Or Just Look Like One" "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"
* Episode "Hysteria" "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"
* Episode "Entitled Part 1" "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" / "Entitled, Part 2" "Law & Order"
* Episode "Fools for Love" "Law & Order"
* Episode "" "Law & Order: Criminal Intent"
* Episode "" "Law & Order: Criminal Intent"
* Episode "Tombstone" "Law & Order" / "Skeleton" "Law & Order: Trial by Jury"
* Episode "Night" "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" / "Day" "Law & Order: Trial by Jury"
* Episode "Design" "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" / "Flaw" "Law & Order"

Earlier, "Law & Order" had made three crossovers with another NBC show, "" (1993):
* Episode "Charm City" "Law & Order" / "For God and Country" "Homicide: Life on the Street"
* Episode "Baby, it's You" "Law & Order" / "Baby, it's You, Part 2" "Homicide: Life on the Street"
* Episode "Sideshow" "Law & Order" / "Sideshow" "Homicide: Life on the Street"

Recently, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" has made a crossover with another (USA) show, "(In Plain Sight)" (2008):
*Episode "Contract" "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" / "In Plain Sight"

Jerry Orbach (Det. Lennie Briscoe), Jesse L. Martin (Det. Ed Green), Fred Thompson (Arthur Branch), Carolyn McCormick (Dr. Elizabeth Olivet) and Leslie Hendrix (Elizabeth Rodgers) are the only actors to play the same character on all four "Law & Order" series. As of the 2007-08 season, "Criminal Intent" is the only "Law & Order" series in which Richard Belzer has not played Det. John Munch.

Guest-Starred before Cast Regulars

While many cast members of the various "Law & Order" shows previously appeared in other roles, there are a few who have done so more than once:
* Eric Bogosian ("CI":Capt. Danny Ross)
**("L&O": Conspiracy; Night & Fog) as Gary Lowenthal
* Courtney B. Vance ("CI": A.D.A. Ron Carver)
**("L&O": By Hooker, By Crook) as a mayoral aide
**("L&O": Rage) as a stockbrocker
* Julianne Nicholson ("CI": Det. Megan Wheeler)
**("L&O": All My Children) as Jessie Lucas
* Milena Govich ("L&O": Det. Nina Cassidy)
**("L&O": Flaw) as Geneva
* S. Epatha Merkerson ("L&O": Lt. Anita Van Buren)
**("L&O": Mushrooms) as Denise Winters, the mother of the shooting victims
* Jerry Orbach ("L&O" & "TBJ": Det. Lennie Briscoe)
**("L&O": The Wages of Love) as defense attorney Frank Lehrman
* Michael Imperioli ("L&O": Det. Nick Falco)
**("L&O": Atonement) guest-starred
* Diane Neal ("SVU": A.D.A. Casey Novak)
**("SVU": Ridicule) as a female rapist, Amelia Chase, who plead guilty after being prosecuted by Alexandra Cabot.
* Amy Carlson ("TBJ": A.D.A. Kelly Gaffney)
**("SVU": Asunder) as Patricia Andrews, a woman who claimed that her police officer husband had raped her, later to rescind her statement
**("L&O": Dead Wives Club )as Collette Connolly, who kills the woman who stole her husband after the murder victim's first husband was killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
* Ice-T ("SVU": Det. Odafin Tutuola)
**("Exiled: A Law & Order Movie") as Seymour 'Kingston' Stockton, a pimp
* Scott Cohen ("TBJ": Det. Chris Ravell)
**("L&O": Judgement in L.A.: D-Girl; Judgement in L.A.: Turnaround; Judgement in L.A.: Showtime) as murder suspect
* Tamara Tunie ("SVU": Dr. Melinda Warner)
**("L&O": Deadbeat) as a defense attorney Caroline Bennett
* Annie Parisse ("L&O": A.D.A. Alexandra Borgia)
**("L&O": Attorney Client) as Jasmine Blake, a stripper and former prostitute
* Jeremy Sisto ("L&O": Det. Cyrus Lupo)
**("L&O": Family Hour) as defense attorney Clint Glover
* Bebe Neuwirth ("TBJ": E.A.D.A. Tracey Kibre)
**("SVU": ) as Nina Laszlo, a drug-dealing modeling agent
* Anthony Anderson ("L&O": Det. Kevin Bernard)
**("SVU": Fat ) as Lucius Blaine, a Queens SVU detective who temporarily serves as Elliot Stabler's partner

Parodies

* "Law & Order: Parking Violations Unit" was the subject of a comedy sketch on NBC's own "Saturday Night Live" (October 6, 2001).
* "Law & Order: Elevator Inspectors Unit" was briefly depicted in an episode ("Helter Shelter"; December 1, 2002) of the animated series "The Simpsons". [cite web |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0701106/movieconnections |title=The Simpsons "Helter Shelter" episode |accessdate=2008-03-10 |publisher=imdb.com ]
* "Law & Order" was parodied on the "Robot Chicken" episode "Tapping a Hero", where human chickens act out a normal episode only saying bawks and bagahas. Seth Green explained this on NPR, saying that "Law & Order" episodes are all the same and that one doesn't even need the dialogue to understand the show.
* "Law & Order: PCAMPIEOFTD (Petty Crimes Against Municipal Property in Excess of Five Thousand Dollars)" was Lois Griffin's response to Peter when asked, "Which "Law & Order" is this?" in a scene from "Family Guys ' (released September 27, 2005) set 30 years in the future.
* "Family Guy" parodied the "Law & Order" opening titles in the episode "Fast Times at Buddy Cianci Jr. High". It featured Steven Zirnkilton doing the opening voiceover: "In the television comedy world, the people are entertained by two separate yet equally important types of shows. Traditional sitcoms, that get laughs out of everyday situations like trying to fix your own plumbing, or inviting two dates to the same dance, and animated shows that make jokes about farting. This is the latter." The cast are shown as Peter Griffin, Lois Griffin, and Greased Up Deaf Guy. At the end of the credits, when characters are walking toward the camera in the courthouse, Peter and Lois are shown walking with Meg and Chris when Glenn Quagmire streaks them.
* On an episode of "Saturday Night Live", NBC unveiled its new gay-themed fall schedule, including "Law & Order: Queer Squad".
* "Law & Order: Special Letters Unit" was the subject of a "Sesame Street" segment. The muppets used represented Don Cragen, John Munch, Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler.cite web|url=http://blogs.nbcuni.com/laworder/2006/09/sesame_street_special_letters.php |title=Sesame Street "Special Letters Unit" |work=Blogs.nbcuni.com |accessdate=2007-09-23]
* On an episode of "The Tonight Show", a special "Jaywalk" segment about legal terms was aired as "Law & Order: Special Jaywalk Unit".
* On the fourth episode of Acceptable.tv, one of the shorts is entitled "Law & Order: Production Unit". The skit spoofs several aspects of the show while at the same time attempting to produce a new "Law & Order" series called "Law & Order: Mounted Police".
* When Steven Zirnkilton appeared on the "Hamish and Andy" show, he recorded several humorous "Law & Order"-styled voiceovers, one of which was, "In the radio broadcasting system, when the red light goes on, you talk into a talking stick. Hamish and Andy know how to do that. This is them now."
* In the cartoon "Back at the Barnyard", an episode entitled "Fowl Play", a narrator (not from the franchise) says the voiceover: "In the Barnyard Justice System, there are animals who commit crimes and animals who prosecute them. Some of them have udders."

Other pop culture references

* In an episode of "Cyberchase", during the "Cyberchase for Real" segment, Harry finds that an advertised stain remover doesn't work like it should, so he has a vision in which he puts the advertiser on trial. You can hear part of the "Law & Order" theme music being played at the beginning of the vision.
* An episode of "My Gym Partner's a Monkey" is entitled "Law & Odor".
* In the "Arrested Development" episode "Exit Strategy", Richard Belzer appears as Professor John Munch, although it later turns out that this is Detective Munch's disguise to try to get evidence on George Bluth.
* An "Arthur" episode entitled "Flaw and Order" steals the notorious "Law & Order" sound, as well as the black screen with location/date/time of the scenes.
* Gaia Online features a line of clothing articles for one's avatar titled "Lawl and Order". The line resembles that of a police uniform.
* The "30 Rock" character Jenna's filmography includes starring in a "Law & Order" spin-off as a Lady Rapist, which mirrors Jane Krakowski's portrayal of a female murderer on "Law & Order: SVU".
* In "Back at the Barnyard" the episode "Fowl Play" uses the signature title colors and bong sound.
* One good franchise deserves another: The eighth volume (2005) of Forbidden Broadway, the off-Broadway series spoofing musical theatre shows, was subtitled "Special Victims Unit,' a gentle roast-tribute to Jerry Orbach's dual career as Broadway leading man and television detective. The show announced it was "investigating homicides of a theatrical nature."
* In the television series friends the character Joey was scheduled to make an appearance as a victim but his scene was cut. He then attempted to pretend to his grandmother that he was ADA McCoy to which his grandmother replied "no, Sam Waterstone!"

Games

There are three computer games based on the original "Law & Order". The player must investigate crimes and then prosecute the resulting cases. Actors from the television series reprised their roles in vocal form in these games:
* ""
* ""
* ""

There is also one computer game based on "Law & Order: Criminal Intent". While it shares many similarities with the other "Law & Order" games, the "Criminal Intent" game focuses more on investigations and interrogations, not prosecution.

Special Notes

* The font used in the series' distinctive logos is Friz Quadrata.
* The voiceovers in the opening of each series were done by Steven Zirnkilton.
* The theme music was written by composer Mike Post.

References

External links

* [http://www.nbc.com/Jump/index.shtml NBC's official website for the Law & Order franchise]
** [http://www.nbc.com/Law_&_Order/ NBC's official website for Law & Order]
*** [http://www.tnt.tv/title/0,,333808,00.html TNT's official website for reruns of Law & Order]
** [http://www.nbc.com/Law_&_Order:_Special_Victims_Unit/ NBC's official website for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]
*** [http://www.usanetwork.com/series/svu2/ USA Network's official website for reruns of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]
** [http://www.nbc.com/Law_&_Order:_Criminal_Intent/ NBC's official website for Law & Order: Criminal Intent]
*** [http://www.usanetwork.com/series/criminalintent/ USA Network's official website for reruns Law & Order: Criminal Intent]
*** [http://www.bravotv.com/Law_&_Order:_CI/ Bravo's official website for reruns of Law & Order: Criminal Intent]