Good news for Law & Order fans! After the buzzing news over Law & Order’s possible cancellation due to significant ratings drop, the police procedural series has finally been picked up by NBC for an 18th season, making the legal drama the second-longest running drama in television history, next to Gunsmoke, which aired for 20 years from 1955 to 1975.

Law & Order, which premiered in September 1991, centers on the detectives’ work in solving crimes and the legal action surrounding it. The current cast includes Milena Govich, Sam Waterston, Fred Dalton Thompson, S. Epatha Merkerson, Jesse Martin, and Alana de la Garza.

Other shows with seemingly doubtful renewals have also been renewed by NBC. Friday Night Lights, a freshman drama who have significantly lagged in the ratings, has surprisingly been picked up. The network is expected to order a full 22-episode of Friday Night Light’s second season, which will most likely air later than its previous 8 pm slot.

Adapted from the film of the same title, the series is about a high school football team in a small Texas town. Friday Night Lights stars Kyle Chandler as Eric Taylor, Connie Britton as Tami Taylor, Gaius Charles as Brian Williams, Zach Gilford as Matt Saracen, Minka Kelly as Lyla Garrity, Taylor Kitsch as Tim Riggins, Adrianne Palicki as Tyra Collette, Scott Porter as Jason Street, and Aimee Teegarden as Julie Taylor.

While the renewal of these two programs have sparked the network to re-up another acclaimed but low-rated comedy show, 30 Rock, which stars Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin, NBC has decided to move Law & Order: Criminal Intent to the NBC-owned USA Network for the show’s next season.


-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist

Source: EW

_{(Photo Courtesy of NBC)}