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TV of Tomorrow: Fall TV Preview 2010
'Law & Order' out, Conan O'Brien in? Weird doings at NBC
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The longest-running drama currently on TV could stop running in a couple weeks: There's a report that NBC is cancelling "Law & Order." Just as strange, it's looking like a series executive produced by NBC pariah Conan O'Brien has a real chance at a midseason spot on the network's schedule.
The word on "L&O" comes from Deadline.com, which says the network decided to cancel the show after 20 seasons. NBC declined to comment on the report to Zap2it.
"Law & Order" is in its 20th season, which ties it with "Gunsmoke" as the longest-running prime-time drama in TV history. NBC Entertainment president Angela Bromstad said earlier this year that she didn't want to be the executive who canceled the show, but that may indeed end up being the case.
That won't mean the end of the "Law & Order" brand, though: "SVU" is a near-lock to return next season, and Deadline says that a West Coast incarnation of the show, "Law & Order: Los Angeles," is a go for 2010-11 as well.
Meanwhile, Deadline.com also reports that NBC is strongly considering a midseason order for "Garza," a show produced by O'Brien's company Conaco (and which was ordered to pilot shortly after O'Brien's "Tonight Show" exit). The drama stars Jimmy Smits as a Supreme Court justice who gives up his seat and returns to private practice.
John Eisendrath ("Alias," "My Own Worst Enemy") created the show, which has flown under the radar for much of pilot season but has apparently gained quite a few fans at the network once the finished product came in.
NBC announces its schedule for next season on Sunday (May 16).
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Nooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Way to go America. You're so busy feeding your brain with the crap crime dramas on CBS that a quality program may end up getting cancelled. Kudos on being brain-dead fools. Save Law & Order!!!
In the words of Julia Roberts from "Pretty Woman" ...
"Big mistake ... HUGE."
NBC is an idiot if they cancel "L&O".
Come on ... a show on for 20 years deserves better treatment than this.
Gobsmacked. No other word to describe this. Cancelling the show when it could beat Gunsmoke's record?
I couldn't agree more. To just end it without a proper "thanks for 20 years of service" seems harsh. I guess we've come to accept this from NBC, but if true it will be the final nail in the coffin for me. I'll be done with NBC FOREVER!
Did I not say that Bromstad is not a lackey to Zucker but should be fired for her inept programming decisions? She's an idiot and worse than Silverman. Now you know how us Las vegas fans felt two years ago.
This is a huge mistake....NBC is going to have less and less to watch which means lousy ratings
What happened to Law & Order UK?
I'm sure that they'll renew it... and then cancel it after 21 seasons.
Wow. So close to the record too.
I noticed when discussing the "L&O brand", Criminal Intent isn't even mentioned. I thought the point of pushing out Goren & Eames, then cramming Nichols down our throat was for a more marketable program. Then again, the author may just be limiting the discussion to NBC, and not the NBC/Universal family (which USA network is a pretty high profile member).
Finally, the end of this dinosaur! Great move, NBC!
Now, if we could rid ourselves of an equally puerile relic from the same era, i.e., The Simpsons.
NOOOOOOOO! Do NOT cancel L & O!
Also, get rid of the stupid poster who keeps putting up dating ads as posts on all these blogs. You're wasting our space and time!