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UPDATE: At the NBC luncheon today, producer Dick Wolf was saying this about the status of his Law & Order: “The flagship series is in a medically induced coma, waiting for a live-saving medicine.” He noticeably spent about 10 to 15 minutes in deep conversation with NBC honcho Marc Graboff.
As Deadline previously reported when we scooped the news that NBC had cancelled the Law & Order flagship, Dick Wolf was intent on taking the show to TNT for a record-breaking 21st TV season. Well, that’s exactly what is happening. Wolf still has the 3 L&O spin-offs on the air at NBCU, ergo his clout at NBCU is considerable. So he’s pressuring the flagship’s producer NBC/Universal Media Studios to make a TNT deal for originals if an acceptable license fee can be bargained. Talks between the two will start up after upfronts. On the other hand, things didn’t go very well during their last round of bargaining pre-upfronts.
To keep L&O on NBC, Universal Media Studios was supposed to negotiate a new TNT deal whereby the cable net would finance some original L&O episodes in order to continue getting runs of the show. That’s when accusations started flying; that NBC was unwilling to engage in a serious way with TNT, and vice versa. They’re sure to play hardball again, especially with NBC in control of setting the license fee. After all, NBC is now revealing to everyone that Wolf “makes $350,000 a episode on a show that only does a 1.7″ rating. Will TNT, like NBC, expect Dick to kick in $100K-$150K an episode to help finance Law & Order out of all the money he’s made — only to hear a howl out of Wolf?
Given that TNT’s off-network deal for L&O is up at the end of this season anyway, there’s incentive for the cable net to keep the flagship going. TNT, of course, is where John Wells and Warner Bros took Southland after it, too, was cancelled by NBC. In that case, NBC tried to hold up the move. Might that happen this time, too, or even something much more complicated since Law & Order is a UMS show? Stay tuned.
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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Hey Dick, maybe it’s time to crate a “NEW” show, something with a title that doesn’t begin with “Law & Order”. I think you’ve milked that one long enough.
He has. Many times. The most recent was “Conviction,” just a few seasons ago. Like all the others, it flopped–which is why people only remember his “Law & Order” shows.
Conviction was also a Law & Order spinoff.
Wrong. Conviction was not a L&O spinoff. It doesn’t have: Law and Order: Conviction in the title, does it? The show TAKES place in the L&O universe. There is a huge difference. Like for example, Without a Trace takes place in the CSI universe. Does that make Without a Trace a CSI branded franchise? No, I really don’t think so.
Right on Alex. SVU was the only spinoff worth anything, and even that has gone downhill. Also, the original L&O lost its luster many years ago. It hasn’t good since the ’90s.
I hope NBC doesn’t end up canceling Law & Order: SVU and Law & Order: LA
With Law and Order and Conan O’Brien headed to cable…TBS and TNT are going to get more NBC viewers watching their channels than watching NBC. LOL!
Law and Zzzzzzzzzder
You know I can’t believe I’m saying this, because I think most of these producers, directors, actors, etc … are way over paid, but considering how much money Dick Wolf has made for NBC and will likely still make for them in the future $350,000 an episode is not a lot of money for them to cough up.
Trust me, 350,000 k for a guy that hasn’t written in years is outrageous. That screws the rest of the staff out of any decent money. Makes sense. He is a lawyer.
If the economics of doing some version of the show on TNT could work, why doesn’t NBC put the version of the show that TNT would be getting on Bravo?
Can’t tell you how much I want this to happen. Very very much doesn’t even come close.
why would NBC negotiate anything with TNT when they own every other station showing L and O series–USA (Criminal Intent, Special Victims Unit), Bravo (Criminal Intent) etc. Its in their best interest to see the TNT deal fall apart…
Maybe, hopefully, maybe we have a stay!
It’s important to note that an agreement with TNT was in place, only that Zucker killed it. That’s one thing. Secondly, the show didn’t have a 1.7 rating, that’s insane as well. On friday’s, it was pulling in the 8′s, very respectable and actually dominant for a Friday show. And, on Mondays, it was in the 6′s, no matter how much NBC wants to toss aside those over 45.
Anyway, TNT has long wanted the show not just for Seasson 21, but beyond. While having a 21st season on NBC would be nice, the better long term home (for survival beyond Season 21) is TNT, anyway.
And, I don’t believe it was never about Wolf’s salary. That was Zuckertalk to me.
What year are those ratings from you stated? 1993? That’s about how long it’s been since L&O has done a 8.0 rating? As someone who see TV ratings everyday, I know for a FACT that L&O has not done a 8.0 rating anytime recently. Not even in HH ratings, let alone 18-49. You are way off.
I’m a fan of L&O too, but get your facts straight. Here is a quote from Ad Age that makes good sense:
In 2006, Mr. Wolf told The Wall Street Journal that the “Law & Order” dramas “should last as long as the ratings stay at the level they have been.” He added: “At a certain point, the numbers will not support the expense of making the shows, and at that point, they will be canceled.”
Ordering 13 new episodes as part of an extension of the rerun package would enhance TNT programming and fit the cabler’s niche nicely. I wouldn’t be surprised if the deal included rerun rights to LOLA.
Hey F. How abou this one… Law and Snoreder?
Honest question. How much does a 1 hr. drama pilot on USA, the CW, or Showtime sell for if you’ve only sold one or two scripts, but never had a movie made? I know basic cable and network is apples and oranges, it depends on how much they want the pilot, that sort of thing, but ballpark.
I do see it from both sides. NBC could have been classy about it and promoted the heck out of the “longest running drama in series history” if that really means anything to anyone anymore in the long run; and given it a good send-off.
But also, I’m sorry you can argue with those number$ (and it’s gotta be more than 350,000 an episode for Wolf once you factor everything in). If he wants his 21st season, really wants it, he should give up some of his coin.
The day of people being paid a gagillion dollars for not doing anything day-to-day and being figure-heads for work they once did are coming to a close. Hear that Redstone? At the very least the day of producers not working and getting paid that much are really start to be coming to a close. Of course, looking at a couple of these pilot orders with 12 executive producers that may not be the case but pull this post up in about five years and I bet I’m right.
While the ratings for the show certainly justify NBC the network cancelling the show, the continued popularity of the reruns do not do the same for the NBC the production company. IOW, if one decision is just business, so is the choice to continue production of the show. Even if the company were to take on some of the cost of the production this is still a no brainer. While the profits won’t be as large as when the entire production cost was covered by the first run broadcaster, in a short time the network will break even and the episodes will produce a profit stream long past most syndication deals. If Zucker gets in the way of that, it will just be one more notch in his belt for his championship Worst Executive Ever buckle.
I can’t believe that TNT is willing to pay MORE than NBC. Or have I just stepped into The Twilight Zone?
Yes yes yes! Please save Law and Order!
THAT was a great read!
jesus.
Thanks Nikki!!!
-PC
They pay Wolf WAY to much.
Law+order should stay jus need new stories I say go bklyn for new stories