NBC Cancels 'Law & Order'

According to The New York Times NBC has confirmed that 'Law & Order' has been canceled. The epic crime drama has been in production in New York City since 1990. 'Law & Order' will finish its 20th season on May 24.

NBC has renewed the 'Law & Order' offspring 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' for its 12th season, NBC also announced its new series 'Law & Order: Los Angeles.'

According to Deadline.com Dick Wolf, the creator of the Law & Order franchise, is furious with this decision, and was threatening to take the show to TNT, before the official announcement was made. The chairman of NBC, Jeff Gaspin said this of Wolf "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."

The current cast of 'Law & Order' includes S. Epatha Merkerson, Sam Waterson, Anthony Anderson, Jeremy Sisto, Linus Roache and Alana De LA Garza. Past cast members include Jerry Orbach, Jesse L. Martin, Chris Noth, Benjamin Bratt, Elisabeth Rohm, Angie Harmon, and Jill Hennessy amoung others, in addition to hundreds of stage actors who have guest starred in episodes over the years.

NYT estimates that over 8,000 people in New York City are emplyed by the series and its spinoffs.

For more information visit http://www.nbc.com/