Law & Order Cancelled, L.A. Spin-Off Ordered

UNIVERSAL CITY: NBC’s Law & Order will end its run at the close of its 20th season this month, but the network has renewed Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and has picked up a new spin-off, LOLA (Law & Order: Los Angeles).

Law & Order will come to an end May 24 at 10 p.m. Announcing the decision, Jeff Gaspin, chairman of NBC Universal Television Entertainment, said, "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. The legacy of his original Law & Order series will continue to make an impact like no other series before."

Angela Bromstad, president of NBC prime-time entertainment and Universal Media Studios, 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."

Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and eventually tied Gunsmoke as the longest-running drama series in television history. It spawned Law & Order: SVU, now in its 11th season, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. The newest, LOLA, will follow the Law & Order theme, with story lines set in Los Angeles. Casting and pre-production work are continuing.