“Law & Order”
Evergreen returns after a long break
The stars of “Law & Order”: Anthony Anderson as Detective Kevin Bernard (left) and Jeffrey Donovan as Detective Frank Cosgrove.
© 2022 Universal Television LLC. All rights reserved.
After a twelve-year break: The new episodes of the legendary cult series “Law & Order” are finally starting in Germany.
“Law & Order” fans had to wait twelve long years for new material. Season 21 premiered in the US in February 2022. A few months later, the German fans finally get their money’s worth. The pay-TV channel 13th Street will show the ten new episodes every Tuesday at 8:15 p.m. from June 21 in double episodes and as a German TV premiere. All episodes are also available on-demand after airing.
Despite the long wait, “Law & Order” continues exactly as it left off. With Sam Waterston (81) as prosecutor Jack McCoy and Anthony Anderson (51) as Detective Kevin Bernard, two fan favorites from previous seasons are returning. Newcomers include the series-experienced actors Camryn Manheim (61, “Practice”), Jeffrey Donovan (54, “Burn Notice”) and Hugh Dancy (46, “Hannibal”).
“Law & Order”: Style-forming career springboard
In 1990 “Law & Order” started on the US broadcaster NBC. 456 episodes ran as of 2010, making the series one of the longest-lived and most successful US primetime series. The innovative highlight of the series: Each episode is divided into two parts. In the first part, viewers follow the case from the perspective of the New York police. Then the perspective changes to the public prosecutor’s office. The new episodes remain true to this structure.
Many cases in the series are inspired by real crimes. Because of this and its credible description of the investigative work, “Law & Order” was and is style-defining. The thriller paved the way for many realistic and critically acclaimed formats such as NYPD Blue and Homicide.
The perennial favorite also spawned six spin-offs. The most successful offshoot to date is “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”, which has long overtaken the parent series with 516 episodes. In the UK, the adaptation “Law & Order: UK” started in 2009. Crossover episodes with series like “Homicide” and the “Chicago” franchise (“Chicago Fire”, “Chicago PD”) expanded the “Law & Order” universe.
For many stars, “Law & Order” was a real career springboard. In the first five seasons, Chris Noth (67) played one of the main roles, later Mr. Big from “Sex and the City”. Stars like Idris Elba (49), Philip Seymour Hoffman (1967-2014), Jennifer Garner (50) and Claire Danes (43) also had their first roles here.
Supplies are taken care of: Season 22 is coming
If you are new to the “Law & Order” cosmos: Before the start of the new episodes, all 20 seasons can be seen in a two-week marathon on 13th Street since June 6th. And supplies are also taken care of: the US broadcaster NBC has already ordered a 22nd season.