Law & Order’s Hidden 60s Inspiration

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  • ‘Law & Order’ vs. ‘Arrest and Trial’
  • How ‘Law & Order’ Managed to Stand Out

Drumroll please! The Law & Order franchise has graced our TV screens since 1990, making it a staple of our television landscape. Across its original series and spin-offs, the franchise spans an impressive 67 seasons and boasts more than 1,300 episodes. Despite its legendary status, it’s fascinating to learn that its concept was heavily inspired by another show—the ’60s series titled Arrest and Trial.

If you’re not familiar with the show called “Arrest and Trial”, you’re probably not the only one. This series aired for a single season on ABC and combined aspects of police procedurals and courtroom dramas. Interestingly, “Law & Order” didn’t intentionally copy “Arrest and Trial”‘s concept. The similarities were noticed after Dick Wolf pitched his series. Instead of abandoning the idea, Wolf and his team decided to rework it with some unique modifications. It’s possible that “Law & Order” might have had a different look without this lesser-known ’60s series. So, why did “Arrest and Trial” only last one season? What was its premise, and can it be found anywhere today?

‘Law & Order’ vs. ‘Arrest and Trial’

The “Law & Order” collection, known for its police procedural genre, might just be the most legendary franchise ever produced. Kicking off in 1990, the initial series aired for an astounding 20 seasons before concluding in 2010. Interestingly, it was rebooted for a 21st season in 2022 and is now on its 24th installment. Notably, “Law & Order” gave birth to numerous offshoots, with the standout being “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” which premiered in 1999. Since then, it has outdone its predecessor in terms of both episodes and seasons.

The TV shows “SVU” and the original series rank second and third in terms of longest-running scripted primetime television series, but they still have a significant way to go before they catch up with “The Simpsons” in first place. Besides these, spin-offs like “Criminal Intent”, “Trial by Jury”, “LA”, “True Crime”, and “Organized Crime” were also produced. In fact, at least one “Law & Order” series has been on air every year on NBC for the past 35 television seasons. Incredibly, it was almost not created at all.

The crime drama series titled “Arrest and Trial” premiered on ABC during autumn of 1963, marking an era when re-run weeks were not yet commonplace. Consequently, all 30 episodes aired consecutively over a single TV season spanning from September to April. The show revolved around detectives Nick Anderson (Ben Gazzara) and Dan Kirby (Roger Perry) of the LAPD, who hunted down criminals. Post-investigation, the narrative shifted to lawyers John Egan (Chuck Connors) and Jerry Miller (John Larch), who would frequently find themselves squaring off in court over the defendant’s case. It was not uncommon for these legal eagles to discover that the detectives had mistakenly apprehended the wrong individual.

Arrest and Trial represented a groundbreaking fusion of police investigations and courtroom dramas, with Vincent Gazzara striving for authenticity in his portrayal, eschewing typical law enforcement stereotypes. This relatively unknown cop series boasted some high-profile guest stars like Robert Duvall, Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, Mickey Rooney, George Segal, William Shatner, and Martin Sheen. The show aired for a single season from September 1963 to April 1964, with reruns lasting until September 1964. Interestingly, the episodes were originally longer at 90 minutes, compared to the current standard hour-long format. Unfortunately, it’s not available for streaming today, but you can purchase the entire series on DVD.

How ‘Law & Order’ Managed to Stand Out

In the late ’80s, when presenting Law & Order, Wolf underscored a twofold structure for each episode: The initial segment would depict detectives examining a gruesome crime, while the latter portion would show lawyers and prosecutors working to secure a conviction of the perpetrator. This format has become synonymous with police procedurals and continues to define Law & Order today. Often, cases were inspired by real-life headlines, drawing on recent newsworthy incidents. However, during Wolf’s initial pitch, the then-president of Universal Television, Kerry McCluggage, noted the resemblance to Arrest and Trial.

After making the shift, Wolf and his team aimed to distinguish their new production. The original two-part structure – investigation followed by prosecution – would still hold. However, instead of glamorizing the system, Wolf sought authenticity. The detectives and lawyers on Law & Order aren’t flawless or idealized; they’re human with their own imperfections. There was a stronger focus on the legal aspects rather than the investigative side. While they don’t portray them as infallible, the series tends to present prosecutors in a favorable light, which has attracted some criticism for perpetuating the “copaganda” narrative. Yet, Wolf didn’t abandon Arrest and Trial, as he executive produced a syndicated court show under the same name in 2000.

Initially, the show “Law & Order” didn’t find a home at NBC, despite Wolf putting in enough effort for it to have a chance. Instead, the then-novel network Fox initially picked up the show but later changed their mind. Next, CBS placed a pilot order for it, only to abandon the project after viewing the first episode. However, the tables turned when NBC executives stepped in and saved the day, leading to the show becoming a staple on NBC for over three decades. It’s hard to believe that such an iconic series almost didn’t make it due to an unremarkable ’60s drama. Now, you can watch “Law & Order” on Peacock.

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2025-03-01 01:02