Oh, snap.
I meant to post this sooner, but got busy. When this was first posted online, I ignored it as I didn't want to repeat the cancellation circus that happened last year. However, given how it's starting to be picked up by the major news orgs, I would view it as a warning only. Don't press the panic button yet. All the final words on show renewals are in May. The link also has info on CI, for those interested.
LOS ANGELES, California (Hollywood Reporter) -- "Law & Order" may stumble in its quest to replace "Gunsmoke" as the longest-running primetime drama in television history.
The NBC crime show, currently languishing in the ratings after being banished to Fridays in its 17th season, is one of several long-running series whose futures are uncertain.
NBC has begun talks with the show's producers for another season, and sources said the network is seeking a reduction in the license fee it pays for each episode. "Law & Order" is produced by NBC corporate sibling NBC Universal TV Studio and the show's creator, Dick Wolf.
"Law & Order" is one of the best-known brands in television, yielding two spinoffs, and playing strongly in reruns. Wolf has often said he wants to surpass the record of 20 seasons held by "Gunsmoke," but the ratings are not helping.
So far this season, "Law & Order" is averaging 9.3 million viewers, down from 11.6 million a year ago, when it aired in its traditional Wednesday berth, according to Nielsen Media Research. Its spinoffs, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," are averaging 12.9 million and 9.7 million, respectively, both also down markedly from last year. By contrast, top-rated dramas "CSI" and "Grey's Anatomy" pull in about 20 million viewers each.
Link: http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/13/television.law.reut/index.html
LOS ANGELES, California (Hollywood Reporter) -- "Law & Order" may stumble in its quest to replace "Gunsmoke" as the longest-running primetime drama in television history.
The NBC crime show, currently languishing in the ratings after being banished to Fridays in its 17th season, is one of several long-running series whose futures are uncertain.
NBC has begun talks with the show's producers for another season, and sources said the network is seeking a reduction in the license fee it pays for each episode. "Law & Order" is produced by NBC corporate sibling NBC Universal TV Studio and the show's creator, Dick Wolf.
"Law & Order" is one of the best-known brands in television, yielding two spinoffs, and playing strongly in reruns. Wolf has often said he wants to surpass the record of 20 seasons held by "Gunsmoke," but the ratings are not helping.
So far this season, "Law & Order" is averaging 9.3 million viewers, down from 11.6 million a year ago, when it aired in its traditional Wednesday berth, according to Nielsen Media Research. Its spinoffs, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," are averaging 12.9 million and 9.7 million, respectively, both also down markedly from last year. By contrast, top-rated dramas "CSI" and "Grey's Anatomy" pull in about 20 million viewers each.
Link: http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/13/television.law.reut/index.html