'Law & Order' Cancellation Costs New York City Dearly

By Scott Harris Posted May 17th 2010 02:31PM

With the cancellation of 'Law & Order' now official, fans of the beloved NBC institution will have to look elsewhere for their dose of hard-boiled crime fighting. Luckily for television aficionados, shows like 'CSI,' 'Dexter' and the newest 'Law & Order' spinoff, 'Law & Order: Los Angeles,' will continue to bring the drama each week. So for viewers, as sad as 'Law & Order's' cancellation is, at least there are plenty of other options.

For New York City, however, the future is not so rosy.

According to The New York Times, 'Law & Order's' departure is leaving a hole in the city's economy that may be impossible to repair. The loss of the show, which in New York City entertainment circles was known as "the mother ship," is expected to cost the city over $79 million dollars annually. More than 4,000 people per year were employed by the series, which is estimated to have brought in more than $1 billion dollars to New York City over its 20-year run.

Even more disturbing for the city is the fact that 'Law & Order's' departure isn't an isolated incident. Over the past few years, more and more New York productions have departed the city because of cancellation, as in the case of 'Ugly Betty,' or to save on production costs. 'All My Children,' for instance, moved from New York to Los Angeles this past January after almost 40 years in the Big Apple.

And the departures are taking their toll on New York's legendary theater community, which has long relied on steady guest-starring gigs on shows such as 'Law & Order' and 'All My Children' to supplement stage incomes and bolster industry credentials. With the loss of 'Law & Order,' many actors may now be facing a decision: stay in New York for the prestigious theater work, or move to Los Angeles in order to make a decent living.

One-time 'Law & Order' guest-star Ivan Quintanilla is among those now at a loss.

"What you make in a week or two weeks doing a theater job, you can make that in one day. And then on top of that, you add residuals, which is a wonderful thing for actors, and you can end up making a nice chunk of money off one episode," Qunitanilla told Marketplace. And that money that is becoming increasingly hard to find. "There are not that many opportunities for television. 'The Sopranos' was huge, 'Ugly Betty' came and went in a year, and 'Law & Order' really is important in employing a lot of actors."

And just because new shows may take place in New York doesn't mean they will help fill the void left by 'Law & Order's' departure -- series set in New York City are increasingly being filmed in Canada or on Hollywood sound stages instead. That, in turn, means millions of dollars supporting other industries are lost, as well; caterers, clothing stores and transportation businesses are among those who will now be looking for new sources of income as shows continue to migrate west.

In the end, then, while New York City's loss may become a financial gain for Hollywood or Vancouver, it's not just the acting community that loses out. Fans of television are also becoming poorer for the move. Because while series like 'CSI: Miami' and 'Law & Order: Los Angeles' may have the crime and the drama, there's one thing those shows can never replace: the heart that an authentic New York City location provides. And by forcing actors and entertainers to decide between work and art -- between money and soul -- Hollywood is putting everyone in a no-win situation.

Because there's only one right answer to that question. It's just one that Hollywood has yet to answer correctly.

Tags: Law and Order

Comments

(16)

Monday 17 May

By juan

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they should move the series to miami, we have enough corruption
just among are cuban politicians that it could run for at least 20 more years, no problem

By Candy

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One-time 'Law & Order' guest-star Ivan Quintanilla is among those now at a loss.
Life is so lonely. I'm a doctor, 31, rich but still single. It's hard to get a girlfriend in my town,m ost of them like my money more than like me. I just want to find my true love. so i uploaded my hot photos on M-E-E-T-R-I-C-H-E-S(C/-O/-M) under the name of hot561. maybe you are the one who i'm looking for!!!

By Pool man

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Why kill the original but keep the spin off series

By bob

CANT BELIEVE NBC NO BRAINS CORP CANCELED L&O.MONEY SPENT MAKING THE SHOW HAS TO BE THE ANSWER.COUNT THE BEANS.

By Bev

If they would have left it at the same time slot, maybe the ratings wouldn't have slipped. Networks do this all the time and then wonder why people stop watching.

By bcody1944

z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z

By glinda

I watch law n order everyday re-runs it doesnt matter, i like the show because of the actors, same ole same ole, not every year new actors, when will the tv studio heads realize you cant mess with an original. Whatever new show is going in law n orders time slots remember this it WILL not last for 2 seasons. shame on nbc!

By Sandy

Well there another go show those people take good shows off the air , change times and then cry ,good shows like Deadwood, Prison Break just to name a few , those idoits make good money and then they tweek the showtimes, lets keep all the L & O's on one channel how about that NBC you guys also own USA . lets start a boycott of NBC maybe they will listen to us KEEP LAW AND ORDER

Wednesday 19 May

By Bob

NBC should let Law and Order go out in style by letting them have a farewell season in which they bring back many of the actors who have performed on the show and get the entire city to pay its respects.

By Guillermo Sanchez

I want a new show with babes in bikinis and running in slow motion.

By judithlynn37

Well...I guess there's another reason not to watch their stupid network!!!!

By SUSAN

There's a rumor floating around that TNT may pick up the option for another season of L&O.
I sure hope that's true; L&O is one of the only two series worth watching today (the other is the also-cancelled COLD CASE).

By bobby99

L+O done in N.Y. because of(as mayor Bloomberg said) lone white terrorist mad about obama healthcare bill.Bombs scare people Bloomy- Keep up the raising taxes and corruption, you'll have the whole city to yourselve.

Tuesday 18 May

By heather

Congratulations NBC - you've made a clean sweep - now you have nothing that takes more than one brain cell to watch. I guess that's why your doing soooo well in the ratings.

By Keith

Is there anyone at NBC that knows what they're doing?? Does'nt appear to be. Should've spent the extra nickel and hired someone with some "ability". NBC - No Body Cares.

Monday 24 May

By stacy34667

New York city has been killing the movie and Tv industry for years, I as a small independent film maker had to leave NYC as they charged for everything under the sun if they had no fee they made one up. F-NYC Hope they loose all the money and Bloomberg will reach into his own deep pockets and starts feeding the city,s actors... F NYC...

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