From NBC Universal Media Village

‘LAW & ORDER’ AND ‘LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT’ RETURN TO NBC LINEUP ON WEDNESDAYS IN EARLY JANUARY
Published: December 3, 2007

“Law & Order” Resumes with Two-hour Season Premiere on Wednesday, January 2 and Will Be Joined by “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” One Week Later on January 9

BURBANK, Calif. - December 3, 2007 - NBC will lawyer-up on Wednesday nights as the Emmy Award-winning “Law & Order” resumes with a two-hour season premiere event on Wednesday, January 2 (9-11 p.m. ET), and will continue on Wednesdays starting January 9 (10-11 p.m. ET) preceded by this season’s network broadcast premiere of “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” (9-10 p.m. ET) in its return to NBC that night.

Joining the “Law & Order” cast for the show’s 18th season are Jeremy Sisto as Detective Cyrus Lupo and Linus Roache as Chief Assistant District Attorney Michael Cutter. Cutter reports to Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) who has been promoted to District Attorney, replacing Arthur Branch (Fred Thompson).
“The last time Rene Balcer was showrunner of ‘Law & Order’ we won the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series. I am thrilled he is back,” said Dick Wolf, creator and executive producer of “Law & Order.” “Jeremy and Linus bring a new energy to the cast and we hope the return to our longtime timeslot of Wednesday at 10 will bring renewed success to the show, not just from our core fans, but from a new generation of viewers as well.”

Last season, “Law & Order” averaged a 2.7 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49 and 9.0 million viewers overall. “Law & Order” improved the Friday 10 p.m. (ET) hour by 12 percent in adults 18-49 versus NBC’s average for the prior season and delivered Friday’s most upscale audience (in concentration of homes with $100,000-plus incomes in its adult 18-49 audience).

Last season, “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” delivered a 2.7 rating, 7 share in adults 18-49 and 8.7 million viewers overall, averaging a 23 percent build on its adult 18-49 lead-in. This season, with original telecasts on USA Network, “Criminal Intent” has generated an average of 1.8 million 18-49 viewers, more than doubling USA’s Thursday 10 p.m. results of a year earlier and leading USA to a 70 percent increase in its Thursday primetime average.

“Law & Order,” the longest-running crime series and the second-longest-running drama series in the history of television, enters its 18th season on NBC. The brainchild of creator Dick Wolf, “Law & Order” is the most successful brand in primetime television. It is the 1997 Emmy Award winner for Outstanding Drama Series and the record holder for the most consecutive (11) nominations in that category for a primetime series (tied with “Cheers” and “M*A*S*H”).

Detective Edward Green (Jesse L. Martin) and his new partner Detective Cyrus Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) investigate crimes and apprehend suspects under the supervision of their precinct lieutenant, Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson). In the second half-hour, the focus shifts to the criminal courts, as Chief Assistant District Attorney Michael Cutter (Linus Roache) and the Executive Assistant District Attorney Connie Rubirosa (Alana De La Garza) work within a complicated justice system to prosecute the accused under the guidance of the newly appointed District Attorney Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston). “Law & Order” is a Wolf Films production in association with Universal Media Studios. Dick Wolf is creator and executive producer; Rene Balcer, Fred Berner and Peter Jankowski are the executive producers.

This season viewers can expect exciting new guest star appearances, including Patrick Stump (from musical group “Fall Out Boy”), Lara Flynn Boyle (“The Practice”), and January Jones (“Mad Men”).
In “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” Detective Mike Logan (Chris Noth) and his partner, Detective Wheeler (Julianne Nicholson), make up the Major Case Squad alongside long-time partners Detectives Robert Goren (Vincent D’Onofrio) and Alexandra Eames (Kathryn Erbe). The two Major Case Squad detective teams split the caseloads week to week. The series takes viewers into the minds of its criminals while following the psychological approaches the Major Case Squad uses to solve the crimes. D’Onofrio (“Men in Black”) stars as Detective Goren, an exceptionally bright homicide investigator with well-honed instincts that match up favorably with his criminal quarry. Likewise, his partner, Detective Eames (Erbe, “Oz”), brings an independence and stylish edge to her work that meshes well with Goren.

Alicia Witt (“Vanilla Sky”) joins the cast for the first six episodes as Logan’s detective partner while Nicholson is on maternity leave.

Eric Bogosian also plays Captain Ross who was rewarded with the Major Case Squad after heading a successful three-year Joint Task Force on International Money Laundering. “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” is a Wolf Films production in association with Universal Media Studios. Wolf, Warren Leight, Peter Jankowski and Norberto Barba are executive producers.

Dear Folks on this Forum and at NBC,
My husband and I just saw the promos yesterday that told us that L & O will be back in January. This is very good news! Kudos to NBC for returning an all time, out of time, favorite. We have been watching L & O in reruns as we are die hard fans and love the marathons with the older episodes. That L & O: Criminal Intent is also returning to NBC is a real treat for us too. It was hard to understand why, after 18 seasons, that this program was not on the fall line-up. But whatever the problem, one of the best dramatic shows ever is back!
Thank you very much from a grateful fan.

I missed the premiere - will the full episodes be available online tomorrow?
thanks

I was just starting to wonder when Law & Order was going to come back on. I'm glad it'd be back to Wednesdays, that's when I would be able to watch it. I've been watching Law & Order ever since its premiere. If it wasn't for the seasons on DVDs I wouldn't have remembered any of the episodes I may have watched in the beginning. I watched the season premiere, loved it! I say to Jack, way to go!

Could someone fill me in with the last season? How did it end? It was next to impossible for me to catch all the shows.

Emma Jean

I missed it too! Are they going to show it again? Did you find out if it is online yet or not?

Unfortunately, none of the Law and Order franchise shows are available for online viewing at this time. Keep your eye on http://www.nbc.com/ for updates however, as that could change at anytime.

JD/Forum Moderator

Thanks - that's unfortunate given the writer's strike and serious decline of network tv numbers. Occasional SVU episodes are available on Cablevision's On Demand service - any idea if this season's premiere of L&O will be available there? Seeing as it aired in a holiday week and it's a double episode kicking off a revamped cast, you'd think they'd figure out that making it available as re-run is a good idea, on NBC itself or on one of the cable networks or demand or online. Otherwise it's a needless slap in the face of an audience they need. Hope you'll keep viewers posted.
teevoz

I've viewed the Premier and am very upset that Jack isn't a prime character any longer. It's just not enough watching him walking around for about 30 seconds of the hour, in the office with his arms crossed . I'd like to see more of him in the courtroom this coming season.