Law & Order (1990–2010)

The show follows a crime, usually adapted from current headlines, from two separate vantage points. The first half of the show concentrates on the investigation of the crime by the police, the second half follows the prosecution of the crime in court.

Creator:

Dick Wolf

Stars:

S. Epatha Merkerson, Jerry Orbach, Jesse L. Martin

Nominated for 6 Golden Globes. Another 43 wins & 157 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
S. Epatha Merkerson	...	Lt. Anita Van Buren (391 episodes, 1991-2010)
Sam Waterston	...	Jack McCoy (368 episodes, 1994-2010)
Jerry Orbach	...	Detective Lennie Briscoe (274 episodes, 1991-2004)
Steven Hill	...	D.A. Adam Schiff (229 episodes, 1990-2000)
Jesse L. Martin	...	Detective Ed Green (198 episodes, 1999-2008)

Storyline

The show follows a crime, ususally adapted from current headlines, from two separate vantage points. The first half of the show concentrates on the investigation of the crime by the police, the second half follows the prosecution of the crime in court.

---

Plot Keywords:

police | evidence | investigation | detective | district attorney | 

---

Taglines:

In the complex process of determining guilt and innocence, lives often hang in the balance.

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

---

Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Official Sites:

Bravo [ca] Five [uk]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 September 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Law & Order Prime

Filming Locations:

Bethesda Fountain, Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Studios USA Television, NBC Universal Television, Universal Network Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

45 min 45 min (456 Episodes)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Many regulars on the show made one time guest appearances before becoming regulars including S. Epatha Merkerson, Jerry Orbach, Annie Parisse, Milena Govich, and Jeremy Sisto. Jesse L. Martin was hired for a small role, but he decided not to take it.

---

Goofs

In more than one episode, characters refer to the District Attorneys of various New Jersey counties. New Jersey has County Prosecutors, not District Attorneys. However, this error is very common.

---

Quotes

Danielle Melnick: Hello, Jack. Ok, let's talk turkey. What are you up to?... And don't give me that party line about Prusse being a threat to society.
Jack McCoy: When you argue, I have this compulsive need to argue back.

---

Crazy Credits

Some (but not all) episodes show a disclaimer emphasizing the fictional nature of the story just prior to the closing credits. This is particularly important on those episodes that were inspired by well-known real- life legal cases.

---

Connections

Referenced in Jeopardy!: Episode #22.1 (2005)

---

Soundtracks

"I'm Not Driving Anymore"
(Instrumental)
Written and Performed by Rob Dougan
(UK Version)

User Reviews

"Law & Order" solves local crime

On Sunday, May 2, 2004, the local newspaper, The Free Lance-Star, reported the discovery of a body in a dumpster outside a motel. The following day , the paper reported the arrest of the murderer, thanks in part to the quick action of one of the motel residents. While the police were securing the crime scene, one of the by-standers was approached by a man who asked her what was going on. When she told him about the body, he ran across the street and jumped onto a waiting van. She later told a newspaper reporter that she had "watched enough "Law and Order" episodes to know suspicious behavior when she sees it." She got out her camera-phone and starting taking photographs of the man and the license plate on the van. The police downloaded the photos, tracked down the van, connected all the dots, and had the killer in custody 39 hours after the discovery of the body. "Law and Order" RULES !!