The original one, too. Damn. I've probably seen every episode of this show twice--and not necessarily on purpose. It seems to be playing on some channel at all hours of the day. But at its debut, Law and Order was a new kind of show, one of the first TV dramas to attempt to reveal the justice system as a partnership between the courts and law enforcement. Recent episodes rely too heavily on real-life headlines for story lines, but earlier seasons strove for authenticity.
Though it's all just speculation right now, NBC doesn't seem to be trying too hard to quash rumors: “It’s a fluid situation,” says a source close to the talks. “It’s not a done deal. It’s possible this is just a negotiations tactic.” Law and Order been an NBC mainstay for two decades; it could be considered NBC's flagship series. So, why would a mainstay need to negotiate?
Because it's old. SVU is Law and Order's younger, prettier sister--Mariska Hargitay and Chris Meloni (whoo, child) make justice exciting and sexy. Law and Order is the show my parents watch--older actors, and a formula that doesn't leave a lot of room for growth. It's familiar and predictable--while that makes for great syndication, it doesn't work so well with new episodes.
If this does happen, there are going to be some great actors out of work, S. Epatha Merkerson and Sam Watterson among them. But the show has had a good run, and it's time for it to retire. After all, we've got Law and Order: Los Angeles to look forward to.