I am – Hercules!!
Buried at the bottom of a Thursday Business Week story comes word that NBC plans to bring “Law & Order” back for a 21st season, which would break CBS’ old “Gunsmoke” record for longest-running primetime drama:
“I’m a ‘Law & Order’ junkie,” [NBC primetime entertainment president Angela] Bromstad said. “I wouldn’t want to be responsible for not having ‘Law & Order’ break the record.”
“The Simpsons,” which launched nine months earlier than “L&O,” is currently in its 21st season and holds the record for primetime sitcom. “60 Minutes,” launched in 1968, is in its 41st season and holds the record for primetime series.
Outside primetime, “Meet The Press” is the longest-running TV series, having debuted in 1947. “Guiding Light” began life on radio in 1937, hopped to TV in 1952 and finally left the air last fall.
“L&O’s” 20th season premiere pulled a miserable 1.2 in the 18-49 demo, but the series has improved steadily since. Its last new episode of 2009 hit a 1.7, matching its season high in the 8 p.m. Friday timeslot.
Find the Business Week story here.
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