Fred Thompson Departs L&O

From The Hollywood Reporter — Fred is leaving the mothership. Personally, I think it's more than past time that they put McCoy's character in charge, and get someone else as the EADA. Should be interesting the next few weeks.....

Also: The apocrypha interview with Thompson, from 2004 is here.

Thompson leaving NBC's 'Law'

By Nellie Andreeva

May 31, 2007

Fred Thompson is giving up his post as D.A. on NBC's "Law & Order."

Thompson, a former Republican senator from Tennessee who has flirted with the idea of running for president but has yet to announce his candidacy, played District Attorney Arthur Branch on the long-running crime drama for the past five seasons.

"I've spoken to Fred today, and although he told me he has not made a firm decision about his political future, he felt that given the creative and scheduling constraints of the upcoming season, he asked to be released from his responsibilities to the show," "Law & Order" creator/executive producer Dick Wolf said Wednesday. "I will sincerely miss working with him on a regular basis, and I obviously wish him the best of luck with whatever the future holds."

The statement came hours after news reports indicated that Thompson will form a presidential committee this week.

It has been rumored for months that Executive A.D.A. Jack McCoy, played by "L&O" veteran Sam Waterston, might be bumped up to Branch's position in the show's upcoming 18th season.

A breakdown being floated has "L&O" potentially adding a D.A. and two detectives next season. There are two police detectives on the series, played by veteran Jesse Martin and Milena Govich. Sources indicated that Govich would not be coming back, while Martin might return for another season.

Through a spokeswoman, Wolf declined to discuss any further casting changes on the show.

Balcer Lands at the Mothership (Again!)

Hurrah!

Rene Balcer's back! (I thought that might happen, once I heard he was on set at "Criminal Intent" recently, but having him at the mothership again is even better than if he'd taken the helm at CI.)

Two apocrypha interviews with Balcer from over the years:

1998
1999

Balcer back on 'Law & Order' beat
Showrunner returns for 18th season
By JOSEF ADALIAN
"Law & Order" vet Rene Balcer is returning to the mothership, signing on as showrunner for the skein's 18th season.

Deal comes in the wake of "L&O's" last-minute renewal by NBC. In addition to producer changes, "L&O" mogul Dick Wolf is expected to institute some cast changes at the show as well.

Balcer--who developed "Law & Order: Criminal Intent"-- dipped his toes back into the "L&O" waters earlier this spring when he agreed to serve as a consultant on the last few episodes of the season (Daily Variety, March 13).

New deal has him returning full-time, taking over showrunner duties from Nick Wooton.

"Rene's talent has been manifest since the first season of 'Law & Order,'" Wolf said. "It was under his watch that the show won the Outstanding Drama Series Emmy Award and his work on 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' was groundbreaking. Rene's return to 'Law & Order' signals a creative renaissance on the mothership that should carry us closer to my ultimate goal of beating 'Gunsmoke'."

Having joined "L&O" during its first season back in 1990, Balcer became showrunner/head writer in 1996. His four-year stint coincided with the skein's emergence as a top 10 hit and its first Emmy win as best drama.

CAA-repped Balcer teamed with Wolf to develop "Criminal Intent," which premiered in 2001. He served as "CI" showrunner until last year, when he handed off the gig to Warren Leight (but remained as a consultant).

More on the good news

From the original press release about the renewals:

ALL THREE “LAW & ORDER”- BRANDED SERIES WILL CONTINUE ON THE NETWORKS OF NBC UNIVERSAL

NBC CHANGES THE TELEVISION LANDSCAPE ONCE AGAIN,
AS 'CRIMINAL INTENT' MOVES TO TOP-RATED USA NETWORK THIS FALL, WITH A SECOND WINDOW ON NBC

'LAW & ORDER' WILL RETURN FOR UNRIVALED 18TH SEASON ON NBC

AS PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED, 'LAW & ORDER: SVU' RETURNS TO NBC IN THE FALL

NEW YORK – May 13, 2007 – NBC Universal is bringing back all three "Law & Order'-branded series for the 2007- 2008 television season.

"Law & Order" will return to the NBC network for an unprecedented 18th season.  It joins the previously announced "Law & Order: SVU" on the network's prime time schedule. "Law & Order" is the longest running crime drama in television history, and second only to the longest running drama series "Gunsmoke," which ran for 20 years, from 1955 to 1975.

In a groundbreaking move, the acclaimed drama "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" will move from NBC to USA, the top-rated basic cable network, which is owned by NBC Universal. "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" will return for its seventh season with its premiere runs on USA, followed by an encore play on NBC. USA is the #1 basic cable network, among households, total viewers, and all key demos.  For the last six seasons, "Criminal Intent" has run first on NBC and then had its second window on USA. Beginning next year, that scenario flips.

"With this innovative programming move, we have significantly strengthened the already powerful USA network, given NBC maximum flexibility, and in the process have changed the paradigm of prime time television," said Jeff Zucker, NBC Universal's President and Chief Executive Officer. "By changing the traditional way programs are rolled out, we have reinforced NBC Universal's forward thinking approach to new programming strategies and our willingness to embrace bold thinking. In the end, it is all about our viewers. And this will allow our viewers continuing access to the finest programming across the premier networks of NBC Universal." Zucker added, "We are thrilled to continue our successful business relationship with Dick Wolf and his team."

Creator/Executive Producer Dick Wolf said, "I am thrilled and delighted that Wolf Films and NBC Universal will continue the longest running and most successful partnership in television. This is a win-win for everybody. With all three Law & Orders on the air, formats of 'SVU' and 'CI' on in Russia and France, and discussions ongoing in other territories, this new deal encourages and enhances our mutual desire for our companies to become a major force in global television. This is the tip of the sphere of a new media paradigm."

He added, "I am very grateful that 'Law & Order' is coming back for its 18th season on NBC. Creatively, the show is still firing on all cylinders and I have no doubt that the show's quality can and will continue for years to come. We are scheduled to celebrate our 400th episode next season, which is a milestone that is absolutely staggering. And we are now one year closer to my ultimate dream - to become the longest running drama in the history of television, beating Gunsmoke." Wolf continued, "SVU redefined the network/cable broadcast model when it premiered in 1999, by creating a repurposed window on basic cable for a network show.  Now Criminal Intent adds a new dimension to that model, with a groundbreaking licensing of a repurpose window in reverse, to the network. CI enjoyed a creative resurgence last season and I expect the new USA/NBC dual broadcast window will bring new life to the show in its seventh year."

"'Law and Order' has remained one of NBC's defining series and dependable performers for its entire, formidable 17 year run." said Kevin Reilly, President, NBC Entertainment, "We're so pleased that Dick Wolf and his talented team of producers will continue this legacy of quality storytelling on NBC."

"'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' is perfect for USA -- smart, character-driven programming that's already a proven hit with our viewers," said Bonnie Hammer, president of USA Network and SCI FI Channel.  "It's also a blockbuster procedural, a terrific complement to the award-winning  'Monk' and last year's top-rated new show, 'Psych'.  Combined with the powerhouse WWE and the rest of the network's dynamic slate, it ensures that USA will continue to dominate the cable landscape and remain #1."

The "Law & Order" brand accounts for the #1, 2 and 3 off-network primetime series on basic cable through the first four months of 2007 in adults 25-54, with "Criminal Intent" on USA (1.020 million adults 25-54), "SVU" on USA (945,000 adults 25-54) and "Law & Order" on TNT (864,000 adults 25-54).

More than 100 million viewers watch the "Law & Order" dramas on cable or broadcast each month, making it television's most-watched drama franchise.

"Law & Order" runs in syndication on TNT.  "Law & Order: SVU" is also seen in national syndication on USA, Bravo and on weekends on local broadcast stations.  Starting this fall, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" will air on local broadcast stations on a Monday through Friday basis, as well as continuing to air on USA and Bravo.

The "Law & Order" franchise is also seen in hundreds of territories around the world and has continued its expansion overseas with new format deals for "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (France and Russia) and "Law & Order: SVU" (Russia).

"Law & Order" is the most successful brand in primetime television.  The realistic program looks at crime and justice from a dual perspective. Some cases may be simple, but most are multi-faceted. The investigations are challenging, prosecutions are complicated, and decisions about legal procedures and plea-bargaining are vexing.

Fridays at 10 p.m. (ET), the original "Law & Order" has averaged a 2.7 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49 and 9.0 million viewers overall.  "Law & Order" has improved the time period versus NBC's year-ago 18-49 average by 12 percent and is Friday's most upscale series on any network (in concentration of adults 18-49 living in homes with $100,000-plus incomes).

"Law & Order: SVU" chronicles the life and crimes of the Special Victims Unit of the New York Police Department, the elite squad of detectives who investigate sexually based crimes.

Tuesdays at 10 p.m. (ET), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" is #1 in the time period in every key ratings category and an original "SVU" hasn't lost the slot in adults 18-49 to regular competition in more than two years.  For the season, "SVU" has delivered a 4.2 rating, 11 share in adults 18-49 and 12.0 million viewers overall.  This season, "SVU" built on its 18-49 lead-in by 50 percent.

"Law & Order: Criminal Intent," takes viewers into the minds of its criminals while following the psychological approaches the Major Case Squad uses to solve the crimes.

Tuesdays at 9 p.m. (ET), "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" has averaged a 2.8 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49 and 8.9 million viewers overall for the 2006-07 television season.  "Criminal Intent" has built on its 18-49 lead-in by 27 percent in adults 18-49.

All three 'Law & Order' programs are produced by Wolf Films and NBC Universal Television Studios.

The wait is over: Good news!

Well, that was a close one: the Mothership and CI will return, although originals of CI will now be on USA Network.

NBC renews 'Law' for 18th season

By Nellie Andreeva

May 14, 2007

After months of intense negotiations, NBC and Dick Wolf closed a deal over the weekend to bring veteran crime drama "Law & Order" back to the network for an 18th season.

Another "Law & Order" series whose future was up in the air, sequel "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," will move to NBC Universal's USA Network this fall, with a second window on NBC.

Additionally, Wolf has extended his overall deal with NBC through 2012.

With its last minute renewal before NBC's upfront presentation Monday, the mothership "L&O" series is closing in on "Gunsmoke," which holds the record for longest running drama series, 20 years.

Meanwhile, "L&O: CI" will return for a seventh season with premiere runs on USA, followed by an encore play on NBC. USA has had syndication rights to "CI," airing reruns of the crime drama.

"With this innovative programming move, we have significantly strengthened the already powerful USA network, given NBC maximum flexibility, and in the process have changed the paradigm of prime time television," said Jeff Zucker, NBC Universal's president and CEO. "In the end, it is all about our viewers. And this will allow our viewers continuing access to the finest programming across the premier networks of NBC Universal."

The move of "CI" to USA follows rumors about a possible migration of the original "L&O" series to TNT, which owns the syndication rights to it.

Dick Wolf, creator/executive producer of the "L&O" franchise, called the deal for "L&O" and "L&O:CI" "a win-win for everybody." The third "L&O" series, "L&O: SVU," was renewed in January.

"With all three 'Law & Orders' on the air, formats of 'SVU' and 'CI' on in Russia and France, and discussions ongoing in other territories, this new deal encourages and enhances our mutual desire for our companies to become a major force in global television," Wolf said. "I am very grateful that 'Law & Order' is coming back for its 18th season on NBC. We are scheduled to celebrate our 400th episode next season, which is a milestone that is absolutely staggering. And we are now one year closer to my ultimate dream -- to become the longest running drama in the history of television, beating Gunsmoke."

The "Law & Order" series rank as the top three off-network primetime series on basic cable through the first four months of 2007 in adults 25-54, led by "Criminal Intent" on USA (1.020 million adults 25-54).

So far this season, the original "L&O" has averaged a 2.7 rating/8 share in adults 18-49 and 9.0 million viewers overall in the Friday 10 p.m. time slot.

All "L&O" series are produced by Wolf Films and NBC Universal TV Studio.

New York Magazine Article on SVU

New York magazine's John Leonard had a few things to say recently about what he calls the "Donk Donk" dynasty. Well, he doesn't call it that, the headline writer did.

From the piece:

Still, we may have wearied of the Law & Order prototype (in which, week after ripped-from-the-headlines week, in spite of Sam Waterston’s hangdog exasperation, justice is denied by pettifogging, hairsplitting, bleeding-heart judges), and of its Criminal Intent sibling (in which even Eric Bogosian finds himself gasping after Vincent D’Onofrio eats all the air in the room). But Benson and Stabler keep us watching SVU. No other creatures in the Dick Wolf stable are allowed such emotional dishabille. It probably doesn’t hurt that almost every episode of SVU can be counted on to obsess about and drool all over occasions of rape and/or pedophilia.

Meanwhile, the countdown on the fate of the other L&O shows continues. Answer should be known by the end of the week, or Monday at the latest (that's when NBC holds its upfronts and has to say what it'll be plugging into its slots, as it were). It's not a great sign that both shows are hanging by a thread, and it's hard to know how much extra time may be bought if they both survive. But one interesting idea has recently surfaced: Should the mothership be shuttered, perhaps it'll end up on a cable station. No reason why the same thing couldn't happen for "Criminal Intent" ....