The franchise was created by Dick Wolf, starting with the first series, Law and Order. SInce then, there have been six spin-offs created from the original (two of them have not even hit the air yet.) The two spin-offs that have yet to hit the air are, "Law and Order: True Crime" which will follow one "true-to-life case" per season. The second one is "Law and Order: You the Jury" which will "allow viewers to decide the verdict on real legal cases and to vote on the veracity of witnesses and persuasiveness of evidence throughout the trial."
1. Law and Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-present)
This one makes the top of the list because it is the first and longest running spin-off of the Law and Order franchise. Airing in 1999, the only member of the original cast from its premiere in 1999 is Mariska Hargitay, aka Detective Olivia Benson. Another member who still remains on the show although he was not apart of the original cast (he joined in 2000) is rapper Ice-T, also known as Detective Odafin "Fin" Tutuola. Law and Order
SVU follows detectives in
New York City investigating sexually based
crimes. The 19th season of this hard hitting series has neither been confirmed or denied by NBC.
2. Law and Order (1990-2010)
The original series of the franchise and so far the longest that ever ran with 20 seasons (Law and Order SVU is close behind with 18 seasons so far, NBC has neither confirmed nor denied a 19th season.) This series featured both a police investigation to the crime that was being presented and prosecution of the crime led by the New York County District Attorney. So half of an episode was an investigation led by detectives, and the other half was led by the district attorney. The series finale aired on May 24, 2010.
3. Law and Order: Criminal Intent (2001-2011)
This spin-off series is a look into a criminal's actions of a high profile case that was investigated by major crimes. it often features a look into the life of the criminal or victim that weren't previously looked into by the police. Often times the detectives were trying to get into the mind of the criminal being pursued. The show ran for 10 seasons, and its last aired on June 26, 2011.
4. Law and Order: LA (2010-2011)
This was the first Law and Order show of the franchise to occur outside of New York City. Like the original Law and Order series, half of the show was focused on the police investigation of the crime, and the other half was focused on the prosecution by the
Los Angeles District Attorney's office. The show only ran for 22 episodes before it was cancelled. The last episode aired on July 11 2011, a couple of weeks after its June 26 cancellation.
5. Law and Order: Trial by Jury (2005-2006)
This spin-off stars one of the original Law and Order stars, Jerry Orbach. The show followed both legal teams, the prosecution and defense, as they prepared for a trial. The show only lasted for 13 episodes, and during the filming of the show, Jerry Orbach passed away. His death, along with the low ratings the show was already getting, contributed to the cancellation of the show. The final episode aired on January 21, 2006.
