and part of the Law & Order franchise
. It aired on NBC
, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24, 2010. At the time of its cancellation, Law & Order was the longest-running crime drama on American primetime television, and tied for longest running American primetime drama series of all time with Gunsmoke
; both are the second longest-running scripted primetime series with ongoing characters after The Simpsons
.
Set and filmed in New York City
, the series follows a two-part approach: in the first half hour, the investigation of a crime and apprehension of a suspect by New York City Police Department
homicide detectives is shown, followed by the prosecution of the defendant by the Manhattan District Attorney's office
in the second half.
Green is intensly questioning a suspect while Briscoe and the suspects attorney look on
Defense attorney: Detective! (to Briscoe) put a leash on your partner!
Briscoe: We gave up, he chewed through all of ours
I specifically asked for him to be put on suicide watch. Apparently, here at Riker's that means that they watch you commit suicide.
New Hampshire. I spent a year there one weekend.
It's like I always say: parking in this city will kill ya. (after finding a body in a parking lot)
I'm trying to decide what to arrest you for: obstruction of justice, harboring a fugitive or just being a general pain in the ass!
[holding handcuffs and talking to someone accused of stealing a telescope and murder] You've heard of the Seven Rings of Saturn? These are the Two Rings of Riker's.
There's no such thing as hooker-client confidentiality.
(To the deceased's wife) Your husband had sexual narcolepsy. He kept falling into bed.
(Spotting a man in a full leg cast) Oh look, John. It's the latest thing in menswear.