Law & Order is one of television’s longest-running and most successful shows, and for good reason.  The police who investigate crimes and the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders definately have their work cut out for them, and every episode has a new twist.

I’ll admit that most of what I know about the American criminal justice system comes from this show (and from legal thriller bestseller novels). It might gloss over the details and take liberties with reality, but I still maintain that Law & Order is very educational. 

There’s always a legal or investigative twist, and the show is never dull. And all this, despite the show’s refusal to turn into a prime-time soap opera. The focus is on the crime, the investigation, and the law, not on the main characters’ personal lives.  This has enabled it to survive cast juggling with minimal disruption.

Now entering its 13th season and with three spinoffs (and counting), Law & Order looks like it will be around for a while yet. And that’s a good thing!