Law & Order

First aired in September 1991

Law & Order, is the longest running crime series in the history of American television. The series was created by Dick Wolf, and first aired in September 1990. Law & Order went on to become the most successful TV brand in the history of US primetime television winning the 1997 Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series The series has also joined Cheers and M*A*S*H in the elite club of shows which have recieved the most consecutive best series nominations, with 11.

Law & Order has given birth to a number of successful spinoffs Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Crime & Punishment and Law & Order: Trial by Jury.

Filmed on location around New York City, Law & Order looks at the crime and the legal process of bringing the perpetrator to justice. In the first half-hour of the show, the police, investigate crimes and apprehend suspects. In the second half the District attorneys office takes over and we see the case move through the criminal justice sytem.

Although the series is fictional the cases and the stories are realistic. Often there is no clear cut right or wrong, and many of the cases can be complicated and morally challenging. The show closely reflects the complicated cases which exist in real life and the the difficulties of defining guilt and innocence.

Law & Order was renewed through 2007 and delivers some of the highest ratings on television. The series stars Dennis Farina as Detective Joe Fontana, and Jesse L.Martin and Detective Edward Green, who work under their boss Lieutenant Anita Van Buren played by S.Epatha Merkerson. The District Attorneys office is represented in the series by, Sam Waterston who plays the part of Executive Assistant District Attorney Jack McCoy,and District Attorney Arthur Branch played by Fred Daton Thompson.