| 法網遊龍 Law & Order | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 格式 |
|
| 开创 | 迪克·沃夫 |
| 主演 |
|
| 国家／地区 |  美國 |
| 语言 | 英語 |
| 季数 | 23 |
| 集数 | 501（每集列表） |
| 每集长度 | 60分鐘(包括廣告) |
| 配乐 | 邁克·波斯特（英语：Mike Post） |
| 片头曲 | Theme of Law & Order |
| 制作 | |
| 制作人 | 迪克·沃夫 約瑟夫·斯特恩（英语：Joseph Stern） |
| 拍攝地點 | 紐約市 |
| 制作公司 |
|
| 发行公司 | NBC |
| 播出信息 | |
| 首播频道 | NBC |
| 图像制式 | 480i（SDTV） 1080i（HDTV） |
| 声音制式 | 立體聲 |
| 播出日期 | 原劇： 1990年9月13日 (1990-09-13)—2010年5月24日 (2010-05-24) 復甦： 2022年2月24日 (2022-02-24) - 至今 |
| 相关节目 | |
| 相关节目 | 法網遊龍系列（英语：Law & Order (franchise)） |
| 各地节目名称 | |
| 中国大陆 | 法律与秩序 |
| 台湾 | 法網遊龍 |
| 港澳 | 法網遊龍 律政風雲 |
| 外部链接 | |
| 官方网站 | |
《法網遊龍》（英語：Law & Order）是美國的一部以警匪（英语：Police procedural）和律政為題材的電視劇，由迪克·沃夫開創、沃夫娛樂（英语：Wolf Entertainment）製作。全劇在NBC播出，於1990年9月13日首播，2010年5月24完結第20季，在此十天前本劇證實被取消。[1][2][3]2021年9月28日，NBC宣布本劇將以第21季復甦，於2022年2月24日首播。本次復甦將看到首次亮相的新進常駐演員，以及系列老面孔山姆·華特斯頓和安東尼·安德森分別回歸飾演地方檢察官傑克·麥考伊（英语：Jack McCoy）與警探凱文·貝爾納（英语：Kevin Bernard）。[4][5][6]2022年5月10日，NBC續訂第22季，[7]預計於同年9月22日首播。[8][9]
本劇於紐約市取景及拍攝，並以兩部分進行：前半小時為紐約市警察局的警探調查案件（通常是謀殺案）及逮捕嫌犯，和半小時為曼哈頓地方檢察官起訴被告。劇情經常改編自近期登上頭條的真實案件，但犯案動機與主謀可能不同。
多年來本劇陣容不斷變化。演出時間最長的主要演員包括飾演地方檢察官亞當·希夫的史提芬·希爾（英语：Steven Hill）（第1到10季）、飾演警探蘭尼·布里斯科（英语：Lennie Briscoe）的傑利·歐貝屈（英语：Jerry Orbach）（第3到14季）、飾演副警監安妮塔·范·布倫（英语：Anita Van Buren）的S·伊佩瑟·默克森、飾演行政助理地方檢察官傑克·麥考伊（英语：Jack McCoy）的山姆·華特斯頓（第5到21季；後來升遷為地方檢察官）以及飾演警探艾德·格林（英语：Ed Green）的傑西·L·馬丁（英语：Jesse L. Martin）（第10到18季）。
《法網遊龍》以21季名列美國黃金時段播出時間最長的真人電視劇（英语：List of longest-running scripted U.S. primetime television series）第二名，僅次於其外傳《法網遊龍：特案組》（1999至今）。本劇的成功催生出各種衍生媒體，令《法網遊龍》成為一部系列，其中包括一部電視電影、幾部電子遊戲，以及其他國家的改編作品。多年來本劇獲得與被提名多項獎項，包括數次艾美獎。
在台灣曾由華視購入播出，2015年起則於有線頻道「HITS」重播初期季數內容。
1988年，迪克·沃夫開發出一個描述美國司法系統相對正面形象的電視劇的想法。他最初玩笑地為其取名為《Night & Day》，後來又想到了《Law & Order》這個標題。每集的前半部分將跟隨兩位警探（一名資深警探和一名初階警探）和他們的指揮官調查一起暴力犯罪案件。
該集的後半部分則會著眼在地區檢察官辦公室和法庭，跟隨兩位檢察官依照地區檢察官的建議嘗試對被告提起訴訟。藉由這點，《法網遊龍》得以調查一些當今較大的議題，把故事聚焦在登上頭條的真實案件。[10]
沃夫採納環球電視公司時任總裁凱瑞·麥克古嘉（英语：Kerry McCluggage）的想法，他指出本劇和1963年一部僅持續一季的電視劇《逮捕與審判（英语：Arrest and Trial）》雷同。兩人看了該劇的試播集，前半部分為一位警官（班·加薩拉（英语：Ben Gazzara））以武裝搶劫逮捕一名男子，後半部分為查克·康納斯飾演的辯護律師將嫌犯錯認為別人。這是該劇每週的公式。
沃夫決定，雖然他的警探有時會犯錯，他想以一種新方式來表現這種劇情類型，從警匪劇轉變為更加寫實的律政劇。此外，起訴過程會成為大功臣，是對律師劇固定公式的反轉。[11]
起初，Fox單單基於概念預訂了13集，而沒有試播集。時任電視台負責人巴瑞·迪勒撤回此決定。儘管她喜歡這個想法，他不相信這會是“福斯節目”。沃夫後來找上CBS，成功讓該公司預訂由沃夫編劇的試播集《大家最愛的巴格曼（英语：Everybody's Favorite Bagman）》，關於一群和黑幫有瓜葛的黑警。該電視台喜歡卻並未預定該試播集，因為裡面沒有當紅明星。
1989年夏天，NBC高管布蘭登·塔奇科夫和沃倫·利特菲爾德（英语：Warren Littlefield）看了試播集並很喜歡，但他們擔心緊湊的劇情無法每週都維持。[11]然而，到了1990年，NBC主管們有足夠信心這部開創性的節目能吸引大量觀眾，最終預訂了一整季。[12]
本劇攝於紐約市，並以大量運用當地風情而見聞。[13][14]攝影棚位於切爾西碼頭（英语：Chelsea Piers）。在早期的集數裡，法庭場景在特威德法院大樓拍攝，直到法庭場景攝影棚被建好。[15]在晚近的季數裡，紐約市長魯迪·朱利安尼與麥克·彭博、律師威廉·庫斯特勒（英语：William Kunstler）及布朗克斯區議員荷西·塞拉諾（英语：José Enrique Serrano）皆在劇中出演過自己。
當地名人也經常客串演出虛構角色，像是唐娜·漢諾瓦（英语：Donna Hanover）和芙蘭·雷伯維茲飾演法官。2004年9月14日，紐約市一條通往切爾西62號碼頭（英语：Chelsea Piers）（本劇絕大部分皆在此地拍攝）的道路被重新命名為「法網遊龍大道」以玆紀念本劇。[16]
The music for Law & Order was composed by veteran composer Mike Post, and was deliberately designed to be minimal to match the abbreviated style of the series.[17] Post wrote the theme song using electric piano, guitar, and clarinet.[18] In addition, scene changes were accompanied by a tone generated by Post. He refers to the tone as "The Clang",[18] while Entertainment Weekly critic Ken Tucker has referred to the sound as the "ominous chung CHUNG",[19] actor Dann Florek (in a promo) as the "doink doink",[20] and Richard Belzer as "the Dick Wolf Cash Register Sound".[21]
According to Allan, 2021:
"The tone moves the viewer from scene to scene, jumping forward in time with all the importance and immediacy of a judge's gavel – which is exactly what Post was aiming for when he created it. While reminiscent of a jail door slamming..."[22]
...it is actually an amalgamation of "six or seven" sounds, including the sound made by 500 Japanese men walking across a hardwood floor.[18] The sound has become so associated with the Law & Order brand that it was also carried over to other series of the franchise.[23]
The UK-aired Channel Five versions of seasons 7–16 of Law & Order[24] feature the song "I'm Not Driving Anymore" by Rob Dougan in the opening credits, while seasons 17–20 used the US theme.
For the 1988 pilot, George Dzundza and Chris Noth were cast as the original detectives, Sergeant Max Greevey and Detective Mike Logan.[25] The producers felt that Dzundza would be a perfect senior police officer as he was someone the producers felt they could see themselves riding along with in a police cruiser.[26] Noth and Michael Madsen were candidates for the role of Logan. Madsen initially was considered the perfect choice for the role, but, in a final reading, it was felt that Madsen's acting mannerisms were repetitive, and Noth received the role instead.[27] Rounding out the police cast, Dann Florek was cast as Captain Donald Cragen.[28]
On the prosecutor's side, Michael Moriarty was Dick Wolf's choice to play Executive Assistant District Attorney Benjamin "Ben" Stone. The network, however, preferred James Naughton, but, in the end, Wolf's choice would prevail, and Moriarty received the role.[28] As his A.D.A., Richard Brooks and Eriq La Salle were being considered for the role of Paul Robinette. The network favored La Salle but, once again, the producers' choice prevailed, and Brooks received the role.[29] As their boss, Roy Thinnes was cast as District Attorney Alfred Wentworth.[28]
Nearly two years passed between the pilot and production of the series. The producers held options on Dzundza, Noth, Moriarty and Brooks. Each was paid holding money for the additional year and brought back. Florek also returned. Thinnes, however, was starring in Dark Shadows and declined to return. In his place, the producers tapped Steven Hill to play District Attorney Adam Schiff,[29] a character loosely based on real-life New York County District Attorney Robert Morgenthau. Hill brought prestige and experience to the show, and as such, the producers allowed Hill to give insight on the direction he thought the character should go.[30]
Dzundza was disappointed when he realized that the show would be more of an ensemble show rather than a show starring him. Though the cast liked his performance, they increasingly felt uncomfortable around Dzundza, who was also under stress due to the constant commute between New York City and his home in Los Angeles. Dzundza quit after only one season on the show, and Sergeant Greevey was written off as being killed in the line of duty.[31]
He was replaced by Paul Sorvino as Sergeant Phil Cerreta, who was considered more even tempered than either Dzundza's Greevey or Mike Logan. Sorvino was initially excited about the role, but would leave midway through the next season, citing the exhausting schedule demanded by the filming of the show, a need to broaden his horizons, and the desire to preserve his vocal cords for singing opera as reasons for leaving the show. Sergeant Cerreta was written off as having been shot in the line of duty and transferring to a desk job at another precinct.[32]
To replace Sorvino on the series, Wolf cast Jerry Orbach (who had previously guest starred as a defense attorney Frank Lehrman in the season 2 episode "The Wages of Love") in the role of Detective Leonard W. "Lennie" Briscoe.[33] Orbach's characterization of the world-weary, wisecracking Detective Briscoe was based on a similar NYPD character he portrayed in the 1981 film Prince of the City, which Wolf had personally requested Orbach to replicate for the show.[34]
Introduced on a recurring basis during season 2 was Carolyn McCormick as Dr. Elizabeth Olivet, a police psychologist brought in on a case-by-case basis. NBC had been pushing for the producers to add female characters to the all-male cast.[35][36] She was added to the opening credits as "also starring" in Season 3 and 4[37] but, despite the attempts of the producers to include her in as many episodes as possible, it was found to be difficult to incorporate her into the show due to the format leaning heavily on the police and prosecutors.[36] She was removed from the credits in Season 5.[37]
McCormick stayed with the show on a recurring basis, but believed that the character had become less profound and complex, and that her role had been reduced mostly to "psychobabble". She left to star on Cracker after season 7.[38] After the cancellation of Cracker, she returned beginning in season 13 and appeared occasionally until season 20.[39]
By the end of season 3, NBC executives still felt the show did not have enough female characters. On the orders of then-network president Warren Littlefield, new female characters had to be added to the cast or the show would face possible cancellation on its relegated Friday night time slot. Wolf realized that, since there were only six characters on the show, someone had to be dismissed. He chose to dismiss Florek and Brooks from the regular roster, and later said it was the hardest two phone calls he had ever made. Though producers initially claimed the firings, especially that of Brooks, who was said not to get along with Moriarty, were for other reasons, Wolf confirmed that the firings were on the orders of Littlefield.[40]
To replace Florek, S. Epatha Merkerson was cast as new squad leader Lieutenant Anita Van Buren. (Merkerson had previously guest starred as a mother of a gunshot victim in the season 1 episode "Mushrooms".)[35] To replace Brooks, Jill Hennessy was cast as Assistant District Attorney Claire Kincaid. Though no initial explanation was given on the show for the departures of Florek's or Brooks's characters, they would both later return in guest appearances, with Captain Cragen having been reassigned to the Internal Affairs Bureau and A.D.A. Robinette having become a defense attorney. Florek also returned to direct a few episodes, and his character was eventually added to the cast of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.[41]
Meanwhile, Moriarty's behavior both on and off the set became problematic for Wolf. After a public statement in which Moriarty called Attorney General Janet Reno a "psychopathic Nazi" for her efforts to censor television violence, Moriarty engaged in a verbal confrontation with Reno at a dinner in Washington, D.C. Wolf asked Moriarty to tone down his comments, and Moriarty responded by quitting the show the next week. This could have been caused by his drinking, as he admits to being "a very bad drunk"[42] before going on the wagon in February 2004. The final storyline for Ben Stone involves his resignation over guilt after a woman he compelled to testify against a Russian mobster was murdered by his cohorts. To replace Moriarty, Sam Waterston was Wolf's first choice for the role of Executive Assistant District Attorney John J. "Jack" McCoy Jr.; Waterston's character was markedly different from Moriarty's in that Jack McCoy was conceived as more emotionally stable and having more sex appeal.[43]
Wolf dismissed Noth when his contract expired at the end of season 5, because he felt that Lennie Briscoe and Mike Logan had become too similar to each other and the writers were having difficulty in writing their dialogue together. Furthermore, Noth had been disgruntled with the show since the dismissals of Florek and Brooks, and remained embittered against Wolf, who he felt was not a friend to his actors. The final storyline for Detective Logan involved his banishment to work on Staten Island in a domestic violence crimes unit as punishment for punching a city council member who had orchestrated the murder of a gay colleague and had managed to get acquitted of the charges. (The made-for-television film Exiled: A Law & Order Movie, in which Noth starred, centers on Logan's attempt to get back into the department's good graces.) Noth was replaced by Benjamin Bratt as Detective Reynaldo "Rey" Curtis, who was hired in an attempt to find an actor even sexier than Noth to join the cast.[44]
Hennessy chose not to renew her three-year contract at the end of season 6 to pursue other projects, and Claire Kincaid was written off as being killed in a drunk driving accident.[45] She was replaced by Carey Lowell as Assistant District Attorney Jamie Ross. Lowell remained with the show until the end of season 8, when she left to spend more time with her daughter. (Jamie Ross was written off as leaving the D.A.'s office for similar reasons.)[46] Lowell (who later returned for a couple guest appearances) was replaced by Angie Harmon as Assistant District Attorney Abigail "Abbie" Carmichael, who was conceived as being much louder and outspoken than any of her predecessors. Harmon auditioned with 85 other women, including Vanessa Williams, for the role, and was picked after Wolf heard her Texas accent.[47]
Beginning in season 8 (1997),[48] J. K. Simmons had the recurring role of Dr. Emil Skoda, a psychiatrist who worked with the Police Department. He appeared in 41 episodes until 2004. He then reappeared for three episodes in season 20.
Bratt left the series at the end of season 9, stating it was an amicable departure and he expected to eventually return for guest appearances. (He ultimately returned for the season 20 episode "Fed".) Detective Curtis was written off as leaving the force in order to take care of his wife, who was suffering from multiple sclerosis, in her final days.[49] He was replaced by Jesse L. Martin as Detective Ed Green, who was conceived of as more of a loose cannon in the mold of Noth's Logan than Bratt's Curtis was.[50] (Briscoe was described as being a recovering alcoholic, as Cragen had been; Green was described as being a recovering compulsive gambler.) In 2000, Steven Hill announced he was leaving the series after season 10. Hill, who was the last remaining member of the original cast, said his departure was mutual with the producers. He was replaced by Dianne Wiest as Interim District Attorney Nora Lewin, and Adam Schiff was written out off-screen as departing to work with Jewish charities and human-rights organizations in Europe.[51]
The following year, Harmon left the show after three seasons (with Abbie Carmichael written off as being called on to serve the U.S. Attorney's office) and was replaced by Elisabeth Röhm as Assistant District Attorney Serena Southerlyn.[52] The year after that, Wiest left the show after two seasons and was replaced by retiring U.S. Senator Fred Thompson as District Attorney Arthur Branch, whose character was conceived of as being much more right-leaning than his predecessors in the D.A.'s office, and was a direct reaction to the September 11 attacks.[53] No mention was made on the show of what happened to Nora Lewin, though producers said her character was only supposed to be an interim D.A.
After 12 years on Law & Order, Orbach announced in March 2004 that he was leaving the show at the end of season 14 for the spin-off Law & Order: Trial by Jury. Lennie Briscoe was written off as retiring from the NYPD and later taking a position as an investigator for the D.A.'s office. He was replaced at the 27th Precinct by Detective Joe Fontana, played by Dennis Farina.[54] At the time, Orbach would not state the reason for his departure,[54] but it was eventually revealed that he had been battling prostate cancer (for over 10 years) and that his role on Trial by Jury was designed to be less taxing on him than his role on the original series was. However, Orbach died from his cancer on December 28, 2004, and was featured in only the first two episodes of Trial by Jury. (His character was subsequently written off as having also died off-screen, though this was not revealed on the original series until the season 18 episode "Burn Card".)[55]
Season 15 would see the departure of Röhm mid-season. Röhm's final scene on the show, in the episode "Ain't No Love", sparked controversy within the fanbase, as A.D.A. Southerlyn asked Arthur Branch if she was being fired because she was a lesbian, a fact the scripts had never even hinted at until then.[56] Wolf said Röhm's departure was unexpected, and she exited the show in January 2005. For a few seasons, she had often argued opposing points to McCoy and Branch, and he thought she would be better as a defender rather than a prosecutor. Her replacement was Annie Parisse as Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Borgia.
Later that season, Martin departed early to film Rent. Ed Green was temporarily written off as being shot in the line of duty and being replaced during his recovery by Detective Nick Falco, played by Michael Imperioli, who had previously guest starred as a murder suspect in the season 6 episode "Atonement".[57] Parisse left the series at the end of season 16 (with A.D.A. Borgia written off as being murdered), and Farina announced shortly afterward that he too was leaving Law & Order to pursue other projects. (Detective Fontana was written off as having retired off-screen.)[58]
By this point, NBC executives believed the series was beginning to show its age, as the ratings had been declining since Orbach's departure.[59] Farina had never been popular with fans when he replaced Orbach, and it was felt that the cast just did not seem to mesh well together anymore.[56] In an effort to revitalize the show, Wolf replaced Parisse with Alana de la Garza as Assistant District Attorney Consuela "Connie" Rubirosa, while Martin's Green was promoted to senior detective and partnered with Detective Nina Cassady, played by Milena Govich, who had worked with Wolf on the short-lived series Conviction and served as the show's first female detective of the main cast.[59] She also briefly appeared as a bartender in the season 16 episode titled "Flaw".
However, Govich proved to be even more unpopular with fans than her predecessor was, and she left the show after one season, with the explanation being that Detective Cassady's assignment to the precinct had been temporary and had been transferred out. She was replaced by Jeremy Sisto, who had previously guest starred as a defense attorney in the season 17 episode "The Family Hour", as Detective Cyrus Lupo.[60] Around the same time, Thompson announced he would leave the show to seek the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. (No explanation was given within the show regarding Arthur Branch's off-screen departure.) Waterston's character was promoted to Interim District Attorney (later made full District Attorney in season 20) and his former position was filled in by Executive Assistant District Attorney Michael Cutter, played by Linus Roache.[61][62]
Martin later announced that he would leave the show for the second and last time near the end of season 18 to pursue other endeavors, and Detective Green was written off as resigning from the force due to burnout. He was replaced by Anthony Anderson as Detective Kevin Bernard.[56] In 2010, Merkerson announced that she would leave the show at the end of season 20, with Lieutenant Van Buren given a season-long story arc involving her battling cervical cancer.[63] However, the cancellation of the show rendered this moot.
After 12 years, the series was announced to be returning following the abandonment of its For the Defense spin-off. On November 1, 2021, Jeffrey Donovan was cast as a series regular to portray a New York Police Department detective, later revealed as Frank Cosgrove.[64][65] At that time it was also reported that Sam Waterston and Anthony Anderson, who starred in earlier seasons of the series, and additional former cast members were also in talks to return.[66] Waterston previously stated in 2015 that he would be open to returning.[67] Other previous cast members including S. Epatha Merkerson, Jeremy Sisto and Alana de la Garza hold starring roles on Chicago Med and FBI, respectively, with both also being part of the franchise and Wolf Entertainment series.[68] On November 23, 2021, it was announced that Hugh Dancy had been cast as an assistant district attorney and that Anderson had signed a one-year deal to return as Detective Kevin Bernard.[69] On December 10, 2021, it was revealed that Camryn Manheim had been cast as Lieutenant Kate Dixon, the successor to Merkerson's character, Lieutenant Anita Van Buren. Manheim portrayed minor characters in previous seasons of the series.[70] In December 2021, Odelya Halevi was added to the cast as Assistant District Attorney Samantha Maroun.[71] A day later, Waterston was announced to have finalized a one-year deal to return as District Attorney Jack McCoy.[72]
On May 10, 2022, the series was renewed by NBC for a 22nd season.[7] Later that same month, it was announced that Anderson would not return for the new season.[73] On June 7, Waterston signed a new deal to return for the 22nd season, making him the longest-running cast member of the series.[74] A week later, Mehcad Brooks was announced to have joined the cast, replacing Anderson.[75]
本劇常常在開頭劇情影射真實案件，其影射方式讓觀眾很容易識別出是哪起案件。[78] 一些真實案件的受害者對此感到被利用或被剝削，[78]包括一名律師拉維·巴特拉（英语：Ravi Batra）於2004年控告劇組誹謗，因為本劇第14季第7集（英语：Law & Order (season 14)）出現一位名字與特徵皆和自己相似的律師。[79]巴特拉與劇組後來以未知數目的金額達成庭外和解。[80]
《法網遊龍》於1990年9月13日在NBC首播，至今已播出456集。
本劇於1990年9月13日首播，並在2010年5月24日結束其首播，總共製作並播出456集。本劇在NBC播出20季。在當時，本劇是NBC播出最久的犯罪劇，並與《荒野大鏢客》並列播出最久的黃金時段電視劇。最初的兩季於星期二晚上十點播出。第3到16季於星期三晚上十點播出。第17季移到星期五晚上十點。第18、19季移回星期三晚上十點。第二十季於星期五晚上八點播出，春天時則移到星期一晚上十點，並在2021年5月24日播出完結篇。
1995到1996年間的季度，《法網遊龍》第一次重播在週間的有線電視頻道A&E上播出。A&E的播出被認為替當前NBC每週播出的《法網遊龍》劇集吸引一批更大的新觀眾群。2002年，A&E不再續訂對《法網遊龍》的聯賣權，因為該合約金額是當初1995年的四倍。[81]到了2021年，本劇在Sundance TV（英语：Sundance TV）、TNT、We TV（英语：We TV）、NewsNation（英语：NewsNation）、Court TV Mystery（英语：Court TV Mystery）、BBC America和Bounce TV（英语：Bounce TV）等頻道上重播。
自從2020年，《法網遊龍》被選中的幾季連同《芝加哥烈焰》、《芝加哥警署》、《芝加哥醫情》、《法網遊龍：特案組》和《法網遊龍：犯案動機（英语：Law & Order: Criminal Intent）》在孔雀平台上提供串流。然而，不像《法網遊龍：特案組》被選中的幾季可以免費觀看，《法網遊龍》只提供孔雀的付費訂閱會員觀看。[82]
| 季數 | 播出時間（ET） | 集數 | 首映 | 季終 | 電視季度 | 收視人数 排名 （百萬） | 平均 收視人数 （百萬） | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 日期 | 收視 （百萬） | 日期 | 收視 （百萬） | ||||||
| 1 | 星期二晚上10點 | 22 | 1990年9月13日 (1990-09-13) | 待定 | 1991年6月9日 (1991-06-09) | 待定 | 1990–91 | 33 | 12.2 |
| 2 | 22 | 1991年9月17日 (1991-09-17) | 待定 | 1992年5月12日 (1992-05-12) | 待定 | 1991–92 | 46 | 12.1 | |
| 3 | 星期三晚上10點 | 22 | 1992年9月23日 (1992-09-23) | 待定 | 1993年5月19日 (1993-05-19) | 待定 | 1992–93 | 56 | 12.1 |
| 4 | 22 | 1993年9月15日 (1993-09-15) | 待定 | 1994年5月25日 (1994-05-25) | 待定 | 1993–94 | 38 | 15.3 | |
| 5 | 23 | 1994年9月21日 (1994-09-21) | 待定 | 1995年5月24日 (1995-05-24) | 待定 | 1994–95 | 27 | 15.3 | |
| 6 | 23 | 1995年9月20日 (1995-09-20) | 待定 | 1996年5月22日 (1996-05-22) | 待定 | 1995–96 | 24 | 15.3 | |
| 7 | 23 | 1996年9月18日 (1996-09-18) | 待定 | 1997年5月21日 (1997-05-21) | 待定 | 1996–97 | 27 | 15 | |
| 8 | 24 | 1997年9月24日 (1997-09-24) | 待定 | 1998年5月20日 (1998-05-20) | 待定 | 1997–98 | 24 | 14.1 | |
| 9 | 24 | 1998年9月23日 (1998-09-23) | 待定 | 1999年5月26日 (1999-05-26) | 待定 | 1998–99 | 20 | 13.8 | |
| 10 | 24 | 1999年9月22日 (1999-09-22) | 待定 | 2000年5月24日 (2000-05-24) | 待定 | 1999–2000 | 13 | 19.48 | |
| 11 | 24 | 2000年10月18日 (2000-10-18) | 待定 | 2001年5月23日 (2001-05-23) | 待定 | 2000–01 | 27 | 17.7 | |
| 12 | 24 | 2001年9月26日 (2001-09-26) | 待定 | 2002年5月22日 (2002-05-22) | 待定 | 2001–02 | 7 | 19.5 | |
| 13 | 24 | 2002年10月2日 (2002-10-02) | 待定 | 2003年5月21日 (2003-05-21) | 待定 | 2002–03 | 10 | 17.3 | |
| 14 | 24 | 2003年9月24日 (2003-09-24) | 待定 | 2004年5月19日 (2004-05-19) | 待定 | 2003–04 | 14 | 15.9 | |
| 15 | 24 | 2004年9月22日 (2004-09-22) | 待定 | 2005年5月18日 (2005-05-18) | 待定 | 2004–05 | 25 | 13.0 | |
| 16 | 22 | 2005年9月21日 (2005-09-21) | 待定 | 2006年5月17日 (2006-05-17) | 待定 | 2005–06 | 35 | 11.2 | |
| 17 | 星期五晚上10點 | 22 | 2006年9月22日 (2006-09-22) | 待定 | 2007年5月18日 (2007-05-18) | 待定 | 2006–07 | 54 | 9.4 |
| 18 | 星期三晚上10點 | 18 | 2008年1月2日 (2008-01-02) | 待定 | 2008年5月21日 (2008-05-21) | 待定 | 2007–08 | 38 | 9.7 |
| 19 | 22 | 2008年11月5日 (2008-11-05) | 待定 | 2009年6月3日 (2009-06-03) | 待定 | 2008–09 | 62 | 8.2 | |
| 20 | 星期五晚上8點（第1到12集） 星期一晚上10點（第13到23集） | 23 | 2009年9月25日 (2009-09-25) | 待定 | 2010年5月24日 (2010-05-24) | 待定 | 2009–10 | 60 | 8.2 |
| 21 | 星期四晚上8點 | 10 | 2022年2月24日 (2022-02-24) | 待定 | 2022年5月19日 (2022-05-19) | 待定 | 2021–22 | 待定 | 待定 |
2010年5月14日，NBC正式取消《法網遊龍》，[83]轉而選定《法網遊龍：洛杉磯》作為下一部電視劇，並續訂《法網遊龍：特案組》第12季。[1]節目開創者迪克·沃夫持續向製作公司NBC環球施壓，要求向擁有節目聯賣權的TNT達成協議，藉由協商可接受的許可費換取第21季的播出權。雙方的會談在前期流程後展開。[84]然而，TNT在一份聲明中表示他們對新一季的播出不感興趣。[85]
在跟TNT協商失敗後，有線電視台AMC也在考慮恢復《法網遊龍》；[86]然而，這次嘗試失敗了，並且根據開創者迪克·沃夫，這部劇“成了歷史”。[87][88][89]
2015年2月，NBC考慮將本劇恢復成10集的有限劇集。[90][91]
2021年9月28日，NBC宣布已續訂第21季。[5]新一季在該年夏天一部外傳《法網遊龍：國防》的計畫付諸東流後被公布。[92][93]2021年11月1日，傑佛瑞·唐納文確認會在新劇集裡擔任常駐演員，後來山姆·華特斯頓和安東尼·安德森也確認將會回歸。[66]2021年11月12日，第21季確認將於2022年2月24日首播。[6]
2021年11月23日，休·丹希確認會加入演出第21季，安東尼·安德森也確認會回歸演出他的原劇角色凱文·貝爾納（英语：Kevin Bernard）。[69]
2021年12月10日，卡姆琳·曼海姆被揭曉將飾演副警監凱特·狄克森，S·伊佩瑟·默克森飾演的副警監安妮塔·范·布倫（英语：Anita Van Buren）的繼任者。曼海姆在前幾季裡飾演次要角色。[70]2021年12月15日，歐迪雅·哈列維確認會加入飾演助理地區檢察官薩曼莎·馬龍[71]。隔天，山姆·華特斯頓確認達成為期一年的合約回歸飾演地區檢察官傑克·麥考伊（英语：Jack McCoy）。[72]《法網遊龍》於2022年2月24日12年來第一次正式播出新的一集。
2022年5月10日，NBC續訂本劇第22季。[94]2022年5月26日，安東尼·安德森確認不會回歸第22季。[95]2022年6月7日，山姆·華特斯頓確認會在第22季回歸飾演其原有角色麥考伊。[96]2022年6月13日，有報導指出麥卡德·布魯克斯（英语：Mehcad Brooks）將會出演第22季。[97]
《法網遊龍》的長壽與成功催生出六部美劇（《法網遊龍：特案組》、《法網遊龍：犯案動機（英语：Law & Order: Criminal Intent）》、《法網遊龍：陪審團（英语：Law & Order: Trial by Jury）》、《法網遊龍：洛杉磯（英语：Law & Order: Los Angeles）》、《法網遊龍：真實重案（英语：Law & Order: True Crime）》及《法網遊龍：有組織犯罪（英语：Law & Order: Organized Crime）》）和一部電視電影（《放逐：法網遊龍電影（英语：Exiled: A Law & Order Movie）》）。《法網遊龍》這個名字的商業潛力抵銷了對於失敗外傳（例如《法網遊龍：陪審團（英语：Law & Order: Trial by Jury）》和《法網遊龍：洛杉磯（英语：Law & Order: Los Angeles）》）可能侵蝕原劇觀眾的擔憂。[98]為了與其它系列影集區分開來，《法網遊龍》常常被製片與評論家比喻為“母艦”。[99]
《法網遊龍》有與其它系列影集產生交叉集。此外，本劇亦與《紐約臥底警探（英语：New York Undercover）》和《定罪（英语：Conviction (2006 TV series)）》產生交叉；儘管皆不屬於《法網遊龍》系列，它們皆同處一個架空世界，且皆由迪克·沃夫開創。本劇還與《凶殺：街頭生涯（英语：Homicide: Life on the Street）》產生數集交叉集。《法網遊龍》的成功催生出兩部處於相同宇宙的外部系列（《芝加哥系列》及《聯邦調查局系列（英语：FBI (franchise)）》）。《芝加哥》與《法網遊龍》兩部系列藉由《芝加哥烈焰》和《芝加哥警署》在《法網遊龍：特案組》裡的交叉集產生連結。
本劇被改編為場景設為倫敦的英國電視劇《法網遊龍：英國（英语：Law & Order: UK）》。
《法網遊龍》播映期間獲得多部電視獎項提名，其中贏得的獎項包括1997年黃金時段艾美獎最佳影集（英语：Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series）、分別於1999年與2005年頒給山姆·華特斯頓和傑利·歐貝屈（英语：Jerry Orbach）（死後追贈）的美國演員工會獎傑出電視影集男演員，以及多次愛倫·坡獎電視影集最佳集數。
2002年，《法網遊龍》於電視指南50部史上最偉大電視節目（英语：TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time）排名24。[100][101]本劇還在娛樂週刊新電視經典（英語：New TV Classics）列表中排名27。[102]
2013年，電視指南在他們的60部史上最偉大節目列表裡將《法網遊龍》排名14。[103]
標題為《法網遊龍合輯》（英語：Law & Order Producer's Collection）的盒裝版於2000年以VHS發行。[104]該3卷录像带包含本劇的其中6集。
環球工作室（英语：Universal Pictures Home Entertainment）在區域1以DVD發行了14季，以及本劇的完整系列。《法網遊龍完整系列》盒裝版包含全部20季。每一季皆個別包裝（以托盤堆疊的形式），並有全新的封面。該盒裝還有名為《劇集導讀》（英語：The Episode Guide）的50頁彩色書；除了每集的標題和劇情大綱，還收錄本劇的冷知識、幕後花絮、劇本筆記和超過80張彩色照片。在區域2，環球Playback（英語：Universal Playback）在英國發行了本劇前7季的DVD。在區域4，環球影業在澳洲與紐西蘭發行了全部20季的DVD。
| 標題 | 集數 | 發行日期 | ||
| 區域1 | 區域2 | 區域4 | ||
| 第1年 | 22 | 2002年10月15日 / 2013年6月4日（slimline版） | 2003年6月16日 | 2003年4月2日 / 2011年8月31日（slimline版） |
| 第2年 | 22 | 2004年5月4日 / 2014年6月3日（slimline版） | 2005年2月28日 | 2011年8月31日 |
| 第3年 | 22 | 2005年5月24日 / 2014年6月3日（slimline版） | 2005年11月21日 | 2011年8月31日 |
| 第4年 | 22 | 2005年12月6日 / 2014年6月3日（slimline版） | 2006年7月17日 | 2011年8月31日 |
| 第5年 | 23 | 2007年4月3日 / 2014年6月3日（slimline版） | 2007年7月23日 | 2011年8月31日 |
| 第6年 | 23 | 2008年12月2日 / 2015年5月26日（slimline版） | 2009年2月16日 | 2011年8月31日 |
| 第7年 | 23 | 2010年1月19日 / 2015年5月26日（slimline版） | 2010年4月12日 | 2011年8月31日 |
| 第8年 | 24 | 2010年12月7日 / 2015年5月26日（slimline版） | 2011年8月31日 | |
| 第9年 | 24 | 2011年12月6日（slimline版） | 2016年8月3日 | |
| 第10年 | 24 | 2012年2月28日（slimline版） | 2016年8月3日 | |
| 第11年 | 24 | 2012年11月6日（slimline版） | 2016年8月3日 | |
| 第12年 | 24 | 2013年2月26日（slimline版） | 2016年10月5日 | |
| 第13年 | 24 | 2013年11月5日（slimline版） | 2016年10月5日 | |
| 第14年 | 24 | 2004年9月14日 / 2014年2月25日（slimline版） | 2016年10月5日 | |
| 第15年 | 24 | 2014年11月4日（slimline版） | 2017年3月2日 | |
| 第16年 | 22 | 2014年11月4日（slimline版） | 2017年3月2日 | |
| 第17年 | 22 | 2014年11月4日（slimline版） | 2017年3月2日 | |
| 第18年 | 18 | 2015年5月5日（slimline版） | 2017年4月5日 | |
| 第19年 | 22 | 2015年5月5日（slimline版） | 2017年4月5日 | |
| 第20年 | 23 | 2015年5月5日（slimline版） | 2017年4月5日 | |
| 1-20季全系列 | 456 | 2011年11月8日（盒裝版） | 2016年11月16日[105] | |
儘管本劇自從第15季便轉換為ATSC格式，該盒裝DVD系列皆以NTSC格式收錄。
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