Born in the USA
September heralds the start of their new ratings year for 2010 -11 in the US so networks are beginning to announce their ‘fall’ schedules which include news that some shows are being axed and new shows have got the go-ahead. Their announcements of course have ramifications for Australian networks which are littered – both positively and negatively – with US product.
Sadly, after 20 seasons, Law & Order will not be renewed and it’s season finale which will air in the US on May 24 (episode 456) , which was not intended as its last show ever, is now the full stop to an incredible television chapter. Somewhat appropriately it guest stars the US Gold Medal Winter Olympian, Lindsey Vonn.
When Law & Order was first broadcast in 1990, New York’s annual murder rate peaked at 2,245. Last year the city recorded 466 — the lowest since records began half a century ago. Unfortunately for Law & Order the viewing figures suffered a similar decline. Even as the show gained an international following, its US audience fell from 19 million to about 7 million.
While the original New York version has been cancelled after 20 seasons it is to be replaced by one set on the West Coast called Law & Order: Los Angeles, which has become quickly nicknamed Lola; and Law & Order: SVU has been commissioned for a 12th season. While there is not much room these days for sentimentality in TV land, the decision by NBC to axed L&O after it’s 20th season seems a bit mean spirited. It has long been stated by Dick Wolf, L&O producer, that his ambition was to break the record for a US TV series set by Gunsmoke, the cowboy drama that ran from 1955 to 1975.
And so with a “da-da” that trade mark ‘musical’ interlude, we say farewell to the series which became a mini-industry, employing thousands of aspiring actors, writers, producers and crew. Jerry Orbach achieved fame as Detective Lennie Briscoe, and the series launched Chris Noth’s career (Sex and the City and The Good Wife) and it even helped Fred Thompson (who played Manhattan district attorney Arthur Branch) in a 2008 presidential bid.
The realistic New York police drama based on plots “ripped from the headlines” has received many accolades since the announcement. NYC’s Mayor, Michael Bloomberg said “Over the last 20 years, Law & Order became a New York City institution. It began filming in the city at a time when few series did, and it helped pave the way for the more than 150 television shows based here today. “
But surely the highest praise comes from Ray Kelly, the New York Police Commissioner, when he wrote in the New York Post, “Having spent most of my life in police work, I typically don’t bother with cop shows, if only because the mistakes and misrepresentations are too tedious to endure. Law & Order was an exception. The show produced convincing detectives, prosecutors, criminals and oddball witnesses. Even the corpses were interesting.”
In addition to L&O other shows which have been axed include Heroes, Flash Forward, Garry Unmarried, Ugly Betty (all which screen on 7 TWO), Ghost Whisperer (Channel 7), The New Adventures of Old Christine (GO!) Cold Case (Channel 9) and Numb3rs (Channel 10). But the flip side is that it makes way for new shows.
It’s been thirty years since we heard the words “book ‘em Danno” and the exciting news is that Hawaii 5-0 will be remade and star Aussie actor Alex O’Laughlin as Steve McGarrett. O’Laughlin was last seen in “Three Rivers” a medical drama set in an organ donation hospital which lasted all of three episodes before being pulled from Channel 10’s schedule. Here’s hoping the remade of this classic TV show, which ran from 1968-80, will last the same length of time, if not longer!
Meanwhile, David Lyons, whom we last saw in Sea Patrol, stars in The Cape – another show to get the green light. Lyons plays Vince Faraday, a cop who assumes the mantle of his son’s favourite comic-book hero after he’s left for dead by his corrupt police force, and sets about to clear his name.
Here’s hoping local networks screen both of these.
