It's official: NBC cancels 'Law & Order'

Image Credit: Virginia Sherwood/NBCIt’s now official: NBC has pulled the plug on Law & Order just shy of a record-breaking 21st season. The series finale will air on May 24. The network also announced the renewal of Law & Order: SVU and the pickup of new spin-off Law & Order: Los Angeles.

“The full measure of the collective contributions made by Dick Wolf and his Law & Order franchise over the last two decades to the success of NBC and Universal Media Studios cannot be overstated,” said NBC Chairman Jeff Gaspin. “The legacy of his original Law & Order series will continue to make an impact like no other series before.”

Peacock president Angela Bromstad added: “Law & Order has been one of the most successful franchises in the history of television, which is why it is so critical that we continue this important brand and our relationship with Dick Wolf and his team with LOLA and Law & Order: SVU.”

Reports surfaced late yesterday that NBC had axed the long-running procedural, but indications were that talks were continuing between the network and Wolf. The end of the series means that Wolf will have to settle for simply tying Gunsmoke‘s record as TV’s longest-running drama series. Wolf’s only comment on the matter was the following cryptic statement: “Never complain. Never explain.”

It’s unclear if Wolf plans to bring any of the show’s current castmembers over to LOLA, which NBC describes as “a procedural crime drama that will follow the theme and storylines similar to the Law & Order-brand series on the streets of Los Angeles.”

My Bubble Show Scorecard has been updated. Now please proceed to the comments section and join the mass grieving already in progress.

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