Law & Order - TV-14

Dead bodies + courtroom drama = mature teens only.

TV Rating: TV-14 Network: NBC Cast: Dennis Farina, Jesse L. Martin, Sam Waterston Genre: Drama
Available on: DVDDownload

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that the Law & Order franchise isn't designed for kids (despite the presence of the hunkie Jessie Martin, whom many teens know now from the movie Rent). The first half of the hour-long show focuses on a violent crime -- often perpetrated on kids. The second half of the show centers on the courtroom drama and may bore the more action-oriented viewers.

Families who do watch together can discuss the show's "ripped from the headlines" theme. How does a true crime change when scripted for television?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Liz Perle

Part police procedural, part courtroom drama, LAW & ORDER is in its 16th season on NBC, and its success has spawned two other series (a third was cancelled).

Created by Dick Wolf, Law & Order gets its story inspiration from real crimes. It's "ripped from the headlines" mantra makes engaging -- but fictional -- drama. Key to its popularity is the first rate cast: Detectives Joe Fontana (Dennis Farina in his best role ever) and Edward Green (Jesse L. Martin who is a heartbreaker) lead the criminal investigations (and make wonderful wisecracks). Their supervisor is precinct lieutenant Anita Van Buren (brilliantly played by Emmy Award winner S. Epatha Merkerson).

In the second half of the show, the focus shifts to the criminal courts, as Executive Assistant District Attorney Jack McCoy (played with gravitas by Sam Waterston) and Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Borgia (newcomer Annie Parisse who has yet to find her place in this accomplished cast) work within a complicated justice system to prosecute the accused under the guidance of District Attorney Arthur Branch (acted by former Senator Fred Thompson).

Because of both the subject matter and the details of the courtroom procedures, this is not a show for kids.

Fans of the show may also want to check out the two Law & Order spin-offs, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content No sex is shown but sometimes the crimes involve sexual acts.
Violence Lots of shooting, guns, blood, bodies -- it's a police show!
Language A few spicy words but otherwise tamish.
Message
	Social Behavior The cops are good, the perps are bad, and the court and juries can go either way.
	Commercialism
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Occasionally a perp will smoke or do drugs.