NY1 DVD Review: "Law & Order: The Complete Series"
Updated: 11/12/2011 01:31 PM
By: Neil Rosen
A massive new 104-disc collection, comprised of enough episodes to fill over two weeks of continuous viewing, is an appropriate capstone to the legendary “Law & Order” series. NY1’s Neil Rosen filed the following review.
“Law & Order,” the original series which ran from 1990 to 2010, was a definitive New York TV show. Now, every episode of that classic program is available in a special DVD box set.
For its entire 20-year run, “Law & Order” was shot entirely on location in New York. As the cast and crew hit the city streets, the show often reflected the city itself, focusing on criminal cases that were ripped from the headlines.
The familiar “ching ching” sound effect, used to transition scenes, became almost iconic.
The format immediately hooked viewers as the show would open with a crime. Viewers would see how detectives found suspects, and in the second half, how the legal system dealt with the situation.
The show went through numerous cast changes over the years, but ratings remained solid. Some of the stars included Paul Sorvino, Chris Noth, Jerry Orbach and Sam Waterston. Plus, those who peruse the episodes will see some guest stars who were relatively unknown at the time, like Cynthia Nixon , Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney.
Mayors Michael Bloomberg and Rudy Giuliani appeared on the show and several segments were even shot in the NY1 newsroom.
Creator and executive producer Dick Wolf's program became the longest running crime drama in the history of television.
The complete box set also demonstrates how the landscape of New York City has changed in 20 years. It's interesting to look at buildings that have now been restored, structures that no longer exist and the changing face of New York neighborhoods that went from filthy, graffiti-infested and crime-ridden to gentrified.
The “Law & Order” box set is now available and is ideal for fans of the show.
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