The original Law & Order series has been running for almost two decades now, with Law & Order: SVU turning ten years old soon. With the whole franchise being so popular and enduring through the years, one must ask: what is with these series that makes it stick?

Series creator Dick Wolf recently spoke to Reuters to reveal the real deal when it comes to creating stories that reflect reality.  He said, "It is a question of coming up with a story that starts with a murder that is interesting and that does not appear to just be exploiting a specific situation but utilizing it as a lens as to what's abroad in the land.”

Moreover, he says that "A lot of things have shown up on the show almost simultaneously with events that have occurred in real life."

In fact, Wolf admits that he and the writers have found a very good source in the New York Post.  He explains, "It (the New York Post) has not been a bad piece of source material.  We can't come up with stories better than the headless body found in the topless bar.  For years, we have stolen the headline, but not the specificity of the body copy."

Wolf, who not only created Law & Order but also its equally successful spin offs Special Victims Unit and Criminal Intent, credits the production and the writers who have been behind him throughout the run of the shows.  He believes that he is "one of the luckiest people in the history of show business," adding that "The odds of this happening to anybody are slim to none and I am the beneficiary of the hard work and dedication of hundreds of people."

Meanwhile, fans can catch the next episode of Law & Order: SVU two weeks from now on November 11, when a boy is lit on fire and Detectives Elliot Stabler and John Munch investigate the devastating crime.  The investigators head to Blessed Heart High School, where they meet student escort Max Matarazzo, who will be played by guest star Jesse McCartney.  Max then introduces them to senior Alec Bernardi, who admits to hurting the victim but reveals a group of pregnant teenage women linked to the victim, thus shedding light to another side of the case.

Catch “Babes” on the return of Law & Order: SVU on November 11 at 10pm.


-Valerie Anne del Castillo, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Reuters, Ace Showbiz
(Photo courtesy of NBC)