Historic Law & Order Three-Show Crossover Event Eyed for Fall Launch
The Law & Order universe has staged its fair share of crossovers, but it’s never dun-dun this before. [pmc_inline_gallery]
A crossover involving all three of NBC‘s Law & Order series — that’s the revived mothership, Law & Order: SVU and Law & Order: Organized Crime — is being eyed to launch the trio’s respective new seasons on Thursday, Sept. 22, sources confirm to TVLine.
This marks the first time there will be a three-way crossover exclusively between Law & Order shows. SVU has only ever been in a three-way relationship (tee-hee) with Dick Wolf’s #OneChicago mainstays Chicago P.D. and Chicago Fire.
An insider cautions that while the Law & Order crossover is intended to kick off the three series’ latest seasons, scheduling issues could push it deeper into fall.
An NBC spokesperson declined to comment for this story.
Buzz about a mashup of the three Law & Order series began circulating last spring, with the OG series’ showrunner Rick Eid telling Entertainment Tonight in May, “There’s been some talk about a three-show crossover for next season. Whether it’s the first, second or third episode, I’m not sure.”
Of the three series, the mothership arguably stands to benefit the most from the sure-to-be-highly-promoted crossover. The revival’s “freshman” run last season averaged a relatively tepid 5.9 million weekly total viewers and a 0.7 demo rating (with Live+7 DVR playback). Out of the 14 dramas that NBC aired this past TV season, Law & Order ranked No. 8 in both measures.
Shortly after wrapping its comeback season in May, it was announced that franchise vet Anthony Anderson will not be back as Det. Kevin Bernard for Season 22. Helping fill the void will be Supergirl alum Mehcad Brooks, who is joining the ensemble as a new detective. He joins a cast that currently includes Law & Order legend Sam Waterston as well as Hugh Dancy (Hannibal, The Path), Jeffrey Donovan (Burn Notice), Oldelya Halevi (Good Trouble) and Camryn Manheim (The Practice).
Wolf, of course, has a wealth of experience to draw on when it comes to navigating three-show crossovers within a single universe, having stages multiple “threesomes” with his #OneChicago triad. He also orchestrated a one-night crossover across his three FBI shows on CBS last fall (to help launch FBI: International).
Awesome :) Also hoping that the Chicago’s will cross over a bit more this coming season, I’ve missed the cross-overs!
So now I’ll have to watch that awful L&O reboot otherwise I may miss a portion of the storyline . Is that how they have to get folks to watch.
Naw, I won’t watch that drivel they call SVU but I’ll bet I’ll still be able to follow the story.
Drivel? The only drivel I see is your comment. I’m guessing that many more think it’s a great show since it’s been on for over 2 decades.
There is a very strong rumor going around and gaining strength. That these ‘many more’ who think it’s a “great show” are actually about 1/100th representing the many. And the only reason why Wolf let’s them continue is because they have reduced the spending. By cutting back on production value and going with less quality, that makes Wolf Oh so happy!
I am talking about SVU concerning my comment
No the rest of us just enjoy it. You seem fun lol
I most certainly am. Seems like you have an opinion..am I not entitled to mine. I think the reboot sucks, some dont. All about preferences
I agree with you about the reboot. I gave up watching the reboot. But I am willing to see these crossovers. I read that Angie Harmon is interested in returning.to L&O.
Nah. I watch the Mothership but not the other two shows. Most viewers who are adamantly against one or the other two shows won’t tune in just because there’s a crossover. Especially those of us that watch it on streaming, rather then on NBC.
It’s not a reboot. It’s a revival.
This is why the TV gods made DVR’s.
I feel like they were bouncing this idea around back when the mothership, SVU, and Criminal Intent were all on NBC. Remember reading somebody talking about it
Yeah they were going to have Bobby Goren be the tie between the 3. It was a terrorist plot line that was canceled because of 9/11 if I remember correctly
Was going to comment the exact thing. Was sorry it never went forward. I guess better late than never.
I’m not interested in the Olivia Benson soap opera or Angry Elliot Stabler Hour, so I’m counting on TVline to let me know how the case turns outs.
You are so right
All crossovers mean for me is I don’t watch the shows in the crossover I’d normally watch, so crossover events *decrease* their viewership by at least my family, which I suspect isn’t the goal.
Crossovers are why I quit watching Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19. I liked both shows, and I had watch every season of Grey’s Anatomy.
Generally, I watch shows by dvr’ing them, and I watch them in different orders. Sometimes I might not watch a show for a couple of weeks to build up the number of episodes. Because of the crossovers, I needed to watch both shows to see what was going on. I just decided it wasn’t worth it. I don’t even dvr them any more, and I have unlimited dvr.
I’m surprised they haven’t tried a two-night six-show crossover between the L&O’s and the OneChicago’s.
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You have a perp with ties back to NYC wreak havoc on Chicago, he gets chased back to NYC where he’s caught, during the trial they find evidence of even more trouble. Writes itself.
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For extra flavor and scope, they could work out a deal to sprinkle in some characters from the FBI’s for backup.
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Might take a couple of years to work out the kinks before going in front of cameras, but imagine the press!
FYI, at one point there was discussion of a 3-way between L&O, SVU, and Criminal Intent, but the story line involved a bombing, and this was right after 9/11, so the plan was never put in place
I enjoy SVU, but new Law & Order is not as good as the original. As for Chris Melon…I was glad to see him exit SVU, so not watching his new show.
You guys are so cruel you know that exspecialy about Eliot Stabler! I mean you guys at least like he’s Lex Luthor or something. For the record Elliot Stabler isn’t a saint but he’s a good cop I mean he lost his wife for crying out loud give the man some sympathy for pike sake. You guys just don’t want Olivia Benson to get involved with him romantically that’s all and for yo be with Rafa Barba instead of Elliot Stabler. That’s all that is.
He’s a good cop!? Are you serious with that statement? He’s smacked around suspects more then once (innocent ones at that and never even so much as apologized), yells constantly, and has thrown furniture during interrogation more then once.
All y’all post as if these were real people. They’re TV shows for goodness sakes. TV is made for watching and enjoying. If you don’t, there’s this apparently “new” invention known as a remote control. CHANGE THE CHANNEL.
Lighten up folks!
Well I miss Stabler on svu like seeing him again out there being a cop.
Regarding his temper, look at Voight in Chicago. He can be a mean son of a biscuit.
This could be very interesting. One of the more interesting crossovers was with Homicide Life in The City and Law & Order.
Ugh. Listen, I love Law & Order, but I hate when they do crossovers. All the shows (and yes, this includes the whole of Organized Crime, from concept on down) have always been their weakest at their most serialized. The entire point of a Law & Order show is being able to watch them out of order all night long on TNT or USA network.
How about a six episode crossover with the three Chicago shows?
I didn’t see your comment until I posted mine below! I totally agree with you and would love to see that.
would love 6 episode crossover…
When you added that caveat that it might be pushed later into fall, that tells me they want it for Oct 6 to blunt the abc premieres. They’ll have sep 22 all to themselves being that they’re the only net wirh returning hits that night. That alone will give them some promotional juice. So they’ll likely save big crossover for week 3 so they can steal some thunder from S19/Greys and newbie.
This is all well and good but where is my giant crossover with the three law and order shows, three OneChicago shows, and three FBI shows.
I look forward to this but it would be epic and making history if it could be a 6-way crossover between all 3 L&O shows and 3 Chicagos! That would blow my mind haha. I doubt it’ll ever happen.
I thought there was a 3 way with SVU, trial by jury and L&O
I hate these cross-overs. It happens once – maybe twice. Then, these series live on with incomplete episodes. What Wolf should do is put each episode in each series’ syndication package. But he won’t, so I will skip all three cross-over episodes.
I don’t like crossovers for the simple reason that I rarely watch all the shows. I wish the show would realize that when a spinoff comes out, most loyal viewers give that new show a try based on their satisfaction with the original show. If they like it, great! But if they don’t, it’s annoying to be forced to watch characters you’re unfamiliar with in a show you’ve already disliked for whatever reason in order to watch the show you love. I’m a big L&O fan. Watched the first one. Watched SVU since its debut. Watched Criminal Intent. Tried Organized Crime, didn’t enjoy it. Tried the L&O reboot. Didn’t care for it either. Let me enjoy the show I like.